By Matthew Moore

(Published by CBC News)

Working at the Eskasoni Health Centre is like coming home for a new doctor and a new nurse practitioner.

Athanasius Tanas Sylliboy of Eskasoni started working as a nurse practitioner at the centre in April. Dr. Carl Marshall, originally from nearby Potlotek First Nation, started his family practice at the centre earlier this month.

By Deidre Taylor

Susan Savage joined the collaborative family practice team at North Queens Medical Centre in Caledonia two years ago as a nurse practitioner.  

The collaborative practice’s two nurse practitioners and family doctor provide primary care for residents of the small, close-knit community, along with those living in the surrounding areas.

At the end of March, Savage began providing virtual appointments for patients using Zoom for Healthcare, like many others, once it became available for health care providers in Nova Scotia.

By Fraser Mooney

By mid-December, most high school students are looking forward to Christmas break. 

But at Digby General Hospital an enthusiastic group of students were looking forward to learning about health care careers.

On Dec. 12 a health care panel and discussion took place at Digby General Hospital to introduce local high school students to different professionals and job opportunities in health care.  

The goal was to encourage students to explore–and hopefully pursue–a health care career.   

By Nayo Upshaw

Nurse practitioner Heidi Fairbanks-Smith values the community connections she’s been able to establish.

“I like the social aspect and personal connections; I know a lot of people and they know me,” said Fairbanks-Smith, who works out of the River Hebert Primary Health Care clinic.

Every day is different for Fairbanks-Smith, an important member of her clinic’s collaborative health care team.

By Deidre Taylor

When Wendy Brenton moved back to Truro after 25 years, first living in Ontario and then the United States, she called her previous family doctor to see if he would be willing to accept her as a patient again.

“Understandably, he couldn’t take me back, since he was planning to retire soon.”

She called a number of family practices, and her sister told her to add her name to the Need a Family Practice registry.

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.”

By Chelsea Tucker

Nurse practitioner Maria Ceschiutti always saw herself working in health care.
 
“I don’t know if I ever thought of myself as anybody other than a professional in health care,” said Ceschiutti, who works out of the newly constructed collaborative health care centre in Shelburne, nestled conveniently next to Roseway Hospital.

But Ceschiutti wasn’t exactly sure what role she wanted to play in the health care system until university.

By Kathy Johnson

(Published in the Tri-county Vanguard)

There is good reason to celebrate the new primary heath care centre in Sandy Point, which has already attracted one primary health care provider to the area and has just upped Shelburne’s game for physician recruitment.

The opening of the $3-million facility was celebrated during an open house on Feb. 12.

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

Gabriela Vellego’s first language is Portuguese. She also speaks fluent French, English and Spanish and is learning German and Italian. Languages aren’t just an interest for Vellego; they’re a passion.