A new patient medical facility at UPEI’s recently established medical school is set to commence operations next week, as confirmed by Health P.E.I. CEO Melanie Fraser. Fraser disclosed plans to start with a small team of around 12 members, with expectations to expand the staff to over 30 in the future. Initially, the clinic aims to accommodate 100 patients while gradually scaling up its services.
Describing the concept of medical homes, Fraser emphasized the collaborative approach where doctors work alongside various healthcare professionals. It has been projected that the UPEI medical home will cater to approximately 10,000 patients within a span of two years. Presently, there are over 35,500 individuals on the provincial patient registry awaiting assignment to a primary care provider.
Fraser highlighted the challenge of reducing the registry, particularly when physicians retire, leaving a substantial number of patients without medical support. It may require the recruitment of two to three new physicians to address the workload gap. Health P.E.I. is actively working on enhancing access to healthcare, with notable progress in reducing the cataract surgery waitlist and expanding virtual healthcare services.
Furthermore, Fraser mentioned the positive outcomes of investments in the UPEI medical school, emphasizing the integration of patient medical homes into the school’s educational framework. She expressed optimism in leveraging the academic environment to foster learning opportunities for students across various healthcare disciplines.
In conclusion, Health P.E.I. envisions leveraging the educational setting of the new clinic to engage with multiple faculties and provide a rich learning experience for future healthcare professionals.