by Sylene Argent
Representatives of the Essex County Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (ECNPLC) hosted the Annual General Meeting last Wednesday evening, inside the Shaheen Community Room at the Essex Centre Sports Complex.
This year’s AGM theme was, “Here We Grow,” which was coupled with an exciting expansion announcement.
Though the ECNPLC currently has two locations to serve the region, one in Essex Centre and the other at the Drouillard Road Outreach Site, the local organization is excited to expand into Amherstburg to continue its mission statement of maintaining and improving the health and wellbeing of patients and clients through collaborative, team-based nurse practitioner-led holistic care.
ECNPLC Board of Directors President and Treasurer Michael Lavoie explained the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has approved funding for a Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic in Amherstburg. He hopes the new clinic will be up and running by the end of this year or by early 2019.
“These are indeed exciting times for our clinic,” he said.
Lavoie thanked the Board members who volunteer to ensure patient needs are being met, and Executive Director Pauline Gemmell and her staff for their dedication. In her Executive Director’s Message, Gemmell said staff members of the clinic are looking forward to the new and exciting journey.
John Miceli, CAO of Amherstburg, was the special guest speaker at the AGM. He is looking forward to the project to come to fruition, which will improve access to healthcare. The new clinic will be located at the former St. Bernard school, which will be part of a Seniors’ hub.
He explained in August of last year, a motion at the Amherstburg decision-making table, which was council supported, directed administration to look into physician recruitment.
While looking into the matter, Miceli began to understand the benefits of a nurse practitioner-led clinic.
In October, he received direction from Amherstburg Council to work with Gemmell to develop a business case and apply for funding for a nurse practitioner-led clinic, which had to be submitted by mid-November of 2017.
Lavoie said in order to become a leader, a clinic must stay connected to its community and surrounding area and take note of needs to ensure services are available and are supported with best practices.
The Essex Centre-based ECNPLC will change its location locally by the end of the year as well. Currently located in the Victoria Avenue Wellness Plaza, the Essex Centre ECNPLC office will soon be located inside the Essex Medical Centre, 186 Talbot Street South, to occupy the second level.
During the AGM, the ECNPLC recognized some of its staff members with pins for years of service. Janice Scratch, Joelle Jean, and Lindsey Trotechaud were recognized for three years of service; and Kate Bolohan was recognized for five years of service.
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