New health home, learning centre opens in New Glasgow, N.S.

A new health home and learning centre has opened to patients in Nova Scotia’s Pictou County.

The Highland Health Home and Learning Centre opened on Westville Road in New Glasgow earlier this month.

It was previously announced as the Pictou County Collaborative Learning and Health Home.

The province says a collaborative learning centre is set to open in the space later this year.

The Westville Medical Clinic has also relocated to the clinic and expanded with the capacity for about 3,000 patients.

Patients receive comprehensive care from a team of health-care professionals at the health home that can include doctors, nurse practitioners, dietitians, social workers or other providers.

The province says it hopes to include more roles, and recruitment is underway to add three new physicians.

The health home also has two simulation exam rooms that will be used by health-care professionals actively learning and specializing in their fields.

The province says a simulation specialist and clinical nurse educator will also be hired.

“The Highland Health Home and Learning Centre represents a new way of working together to serve our patients and our community,” said Dr. Brad MacDougall, a family physician at the Highland Health Home and Learning Centre.

“By combining comprehensive, team-based care with a dedicated learning and simulation space, we are not only improving access for thousands of Nova Scotians but also building the next generation of health professionals right here in Pictou County. We are proud to develop a model of care that puts patient care and professional growth side by side.”

The home has 31 exam rooms, meeting rooms, an office space and a family room.

There are currently more than 118 health homes across Nova Scotia. The province says the New Glasgow one will be evaluated to see if the model can be expanded to others in the province.

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