Emery Keelesdale Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic; the gateway to a comprehensive delivery of primary care

BY PAUL JUNOR

It has been thirteen years since the Emery Keelesdale Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (EKNPLC) has been in operation. According to the promotional brochure, NPLCs are public-funded clinics designed to provide high quality, comprehensive and accessible health care. A Nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse with an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or above), allowing them to practice independently. At these clinics, these NPs are the lead providers, working with a multidisciplinary team to ensure all aspects of physical, mental, and social health are prioritized.

EKNPLC hosted an open house on Tuesday, July 4^th, 2023. The event was billed to show collective commitment to healthier communities. Danae Peart, Executive Director, talked about the history of EKNPLC and the NP-LED model of care. She mentioned some of the specific programs and services that are offered at the site and the individuals who are part of her dynamic multicultural team. She took the guests on a tour of the site and highlighted rooms where specific services are delivered.

Colleen Clark, NP, Chairman of the Board of Directors spoke at the open house. She introduced other members of the Board: Bruce Mann.Abi Kartheepan, Tracy Chinman, and Tanya Acadams. She stated, “The Board has recently upgraded our comprehensive strategic plan, we have outlined our objectives, and milestones, and crafted a roadmap for success. This plan emphasizes our commitment to providing exceptional care, promoting health and wellness to the unique needs of our patient population.”

She continued, “Our clinic serves as the gateway to a comprehensive delivery of primary care, led by compassionate Nurse Practitioners, and allied health. As you may know, clients who resort to this are cared for in all aspects of their health care, which includes: assessment, diagnosis, treatment options, diagnostic tests, referrals to specialists and ongoing follow up for their lifelong care.”

She states further, “I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to our dedicated Executive Director Danae Peart who has been with the clinic six years, and has seen us through immense difficult challenges. Danae’s visionary leadership, unwavering commitment, and exceptional management have been the driving force behind the realization of our clinic’s success. Her tireless efforts in overseeing day-to day-operations, ensuring seamless coordination among staff members, and fostering a culture of excellence have contributed to the exceptional care we provide to our patients.”

The four strategic priorities of EKNPLC are:

Responsiveness to community needs

Anticipate and respond to the changing social determinants of health of those living in Humber Summit and Keele and Eglinton neighbourhoods.

Advancement of the Nurse Practitioner-Led Model

Advocate for the clinic’s model of care and advance its impact on residents in our communities.

Increased professional capacity

Build on our stature as health care professionals within the community.

Enhanced internal structures

Enhance our internal capabilities ensuring current and future employees and volunteers are better able to support EKNPLC and the work we do.

The four areas of the operational plan are:

Programmatic and service solutions

• Improve client engagement and feedback
• Engage with sector partners to identify needs and opportunities
• Provide targeted programs and outreach, e.g.: home visiting, STOP, flu clinics, diabetes management, and group workshops

Strategic partnerships and communication

• Increase or maintain EKNPLC presence at planning tables, community events, committees, etc
• Develop effective storytelling and communication pathways, e.g., social media, mailing lists, and stakeholder’s engagement

Quality of services

• Promote a culture of evaluating and improving the quality, safety and efficiency of our services
• Maintain a high standard of care that meets and exceed health care sector standards

Recruitment, retention and best practices

• Implement crisis-response strategies and sustainable operational policies
• Advance best practices for staff performance while attracting and retaining highly qualified staff

Anyone interested in learning about Emery Keelesdale Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic can check their website: www.eknplc.ca