By Melanie Jollymore

Any time his stage-four COPD flares up, Sheldon Williams can end up spending several breathless hours in the emergency room, waiting to be assessed and given the medication he needs to clear the obstructive secretions from his compromised lungs.

The Shelburne-area resident is eager to see if his participation in a health services study through the Shelburne Collaborative Family Practice will improve his access to timely care when he has a flare.

By Deidre Taylor

The Avon Medical Clinic in Windsor was established just over a year ago, when two family physicians, a family practice nurse, a nurse practitioner and clerical staff came together to form a collaborative family practice team.

When a variety of health professionals work together as part of a collaborative family practice team, it creates capacity within the team to be able to efficiently see patients, especially when patients see the most appropriate provider for their health care needs. 

By Deidre Taylor

(Published in Nova Scotia Health's 2018/19 Annual Report)

The Shelburne collaborative family practice team opened the doors of its new primary health care clinic to patients in early February.

“This clinic space is a lot bigger and more suited to our needs,” said Dr. John Keeler, a family physician with the Shelburne Family Practice team.

“This is a space specifically for a collaborative practice. It’s a lot better for staff, providers and patients.”

Learn how the team at the Collaborative Family Practice in Springhill are making their healthcare model work for their community, and their work-life balance.

By Margaret Angus

(Published in Nova Scotia Health's 2017/18 Annual Report)

"I liked it from Day One," Len Thomas said of his experience as a patient at the Eastside Collaborative Care Centre. He has been a patient at this collaborative practice in New Glasgow for the past five years.

(Published in Nova Scotia Health's 2017/18 Annual Report)

Work continues on the new collaborative health centre being built next to Roseway Hospital. Construction is expected to be complete in fall 2018.

By Deidre Taylor 

(Published in Nova Scotia Health's 2017/18 Annual Report)

When children come to see Angela Morgan, the family practice nurse at the Digby & Area Health Services Centre, they don’t just get needles. 

When Angela sees children for their wellness checks she asks if they are being read to daily. “When children are read to daily, it has a positive impact on their outcomes,” said Angela. “It can improve kids’ success in school, their language and social skills, and even help when they eventually enter the workforce. Being read to makes kids healthier.”

(Published in the Cape Breton Post)

Creating teams of physicians, nurse practitioners and other health-care providers won’t just help people who don’t have family doctors — it could save lives.

Earlene MacMullin attended a community information session on collaborative-care practices in Sydney on Monday night.

By Wendy Martin

(Published by CBC News)

Collaborative model allowing Dr. Steven MacDougall to take on as many as 40 new patients a month

A longtime doctor in Sydney, N.S., is accepting as many as 40 new patients a month from the provincial doctor wait list after switching his practice to a collaborative model.