April 28, 2006 Source: :
http://www.usask.ca/events/news/articles/20060428-2.html New Primary Health Centre Officially Opens on Saskatoon's West Side Organization: University of Saskatchewan Communications
Email: communications@usask.ca
Released: Apr. 28, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 28, 2006
2006-04-17-ME New Primary Health Centre
Officially Opens on Saskatoon's West Side Today, Saskatoon Health Region (SHR) and the University of Saskatchewan's
Department of Academic Family Medicine opened Saskatoon's newest primary
health centre, the "University of Saskatchewan and Saskatoon Health Region
West Winds Primary Health Centre", on Saskatoon's west side. West Winds Primary Health Centre is a joint initiative between Saskatoon
Health Region (SHR) and the College of Medicine's Department of Academic
Family Medicine. Both organizations jointly occupy and operate the Centre. The partners have created a fully integrated Primary Health Centre with a
broad range of services including individual health screening, intervention,
treatment and population health promotion in one convenient location. The
Centre features a state-of-the-art training program for Family Medicine
Residents and facilities for primary care research, thus contributing to an
ongoing supply of family medicine practitioners for the province. Health Minister Len Taylor said, "In 2001, our government made a commitment
to improve and sustain our health care system. We recognized the importance
of primary health care and made it an integral part of our plan. Since then,
we have developed and implemented many successful primary health care teams
in communities across this province. We congratulate the Saskatoon Health
Region and the College of Medicine for successfully developing their unique
partnership, marrying primary health care services with training and
research." "We are proud to be working in partnership with the University of
Saskatchewan as this new interdisciplinary primary health care team works
with individuals, families and communities to meet their specific health
needs." says Maura Davies, President and CEO, Saskatoon Health Region. "We
are also proud to work with the Government of Saskatchewan to help secure
the provision of primary health services to Saskatchewan residents." The Department of Academic Family Medicine relocated from Royal University
Hospital to West Winds. Saskatoon Health Region has relocated complete
health provider groups to the Centre including Public Health Services
(West), Healthy Mother Healthy Baby, and Healthy and Home. A number of
individual health professionals have also joined the West Winds team
including Chronic Disease Management, Client/Patient Access Services,
Clinical Health Psychology, Home Care, KidsFirst, Mental Health and
Addictions; a Nurse Practitioner, a Pharmacy Educator, Public Health Dental
Clinic, Social Work; and Therapies. As identified by recent SHR and U of S studies, the west side of Saskatoon
is one of the least well-serviced areas from a health needs perspective.
"We hope that the West Winds Primary Health Centre will help reinforce the
University's commitment to its communities, to socially accountable health
care education and research, and to the improved health of residents living
in west-side neighborhoods surrounding the new Centre. We are pleased to be
partnering with Saskatoon Health Region service providers in this exciting
new interdisciplinary venture," said University of Saskatchewan President
Peter MacKinnon. West Winds Primary Health Centre is located in the former Union Centre at
3311 Fairlight Drive.
-30- For more information, please contact: Tina Merrifield
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2213 Kerilyn Voigt
Corporate and Public Affairs
Saskatoon Health Region
(306) 655-3386
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