Open Health Niverville to expand facility

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This article was published 19/05/2024 (395 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Open Health Niverville is set to expand its facility with renovations beginning May 15.

“Effectively we have a growing clinic at the end of the day. We’ve been told theoretically that our health services are probably not going to be coming down the road for the community so it’s important for the community to start planning their own needs for the future, to continue to make sure that we have good opportunities for health care in our community and show leadership in the creation and continuation of Open Health,” said Coun. Nathan Dueck, president of Niverville Health Care Services Inc.

The expansion will add four exam rooms bringing the total to 15. It will also have a lab, a small reception area, and a minor procedures room. The expansion will be an additional 970 sq. ft. and will cost $100,000.

“We’re the only community probably of our size that in Manitoba right now that doesn’t have a hospital and any intentions or conversations that we’ve had with the provincial government in the last 10 years suggests, from both sides, that we will not be getting a hospital. So, it’s important to make sure that we start making our own medical facilities for the community,” said Dueck.

In 2020, the town took over the ownership of the clinic in order to have growth and meet the needs of patients. At the time it had only about five or six doctors. Today the clinic has 12 doctors with the intention of bringing in four more in the next six months.

As to how the town is able to attract and retain doctors when other communities are struggling, Dueck said that was due to the fact that people want to work in Niverville.

“We have medical people that are currently working within our community that are telling other people about the clinic, and the concepts of the clinic, and about the future of the clinic, and it’s creating a workspace where people want to be. We have a forward-looking government that’s looking to make sure that this becomes a priority in the community and treating the whole entire concept with respect in terms of making sure that it’s a space where people want to be.”

Currently, the clinic serves 152 patients a day from the municipalities of Hanover, Tache, Ritchot, and De Salaberry. Last year, the clinic reported a profit of about $10,000. For the expansion, the town will provide the funds to be paid back once the not-for-profit starts to see more money coming in the form of grants.

“Overall, it was an endeavor we decided to pick up to make sure that we had sustainable health care in the community as opposed to losing 100 percent of it. It’s the best investment – in my opinion – the community has ever done for long term feasibility for the community.”

The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 or beginning of 2025. The clinic is located at the Heritage Centre Campus.