U of S and Saskatoon Health Region Unveil Design of Saskatoon's New West Side Primary Health Centre

Posted June 23, 2005


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 23, 2005 2005-06-07-ME

Design of Saskatoon's New West Side Primary Health Centre Unveiled

SASKATOON, June 23, 2005 -- A new and innovative way to deliver health
services to Saskatoon west-side residents is one step closer to reality
today with the unveiling of the architectural design for the "University of
Saskatchewan and Saskatoon Health Region West Winds Primary Health Centre."

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 will jointly occupy and operate the
Centre. This is the first time in Saskatchewan and Canada that a health
region and a college of medicine have partnered together to bring a
community team approach to primary health. The partnership will result in a
fully integrated service, teaching and research team.

The partners envision a fully integrated Primary Health Centre with a full
range of services including individual health screening, intervention,
treatment and population health promotion in one convenient location.

"We are very pleased to be working jointly with the Department of Academic
Family Medicine to be able to respond to the health needs of Saskatoon's
residents, especially the west-side citizens, by improving access to these
primary health services," says Sheila Achilles, General Manager, Primary
Health, Saskatoon Health Region.

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 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," says Dr. Keith Ogle, Chair, Department of
Academic Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan.

Primary Health involves teams of health care providers working with
individuals, families and communities in order to best address and meet
their specific health needs.

West Winds is slated to open sometime in late 2005 - early 2006. West Winds
is located in the former Union Centre on Fairlight Drive in Saskatoon.

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Leanne Nyirfa
Corporate and Public Affairs
Saskatoon Health Region
(306) 655-3386


Tina Merrifield
University Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2213


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BACKGROUNDER

Programs and services at West Winds include:

- Academic Family Medicine (College of Medicine)
- Client Patient Access Services (CPAS)
- Clinical Psychologist
- Diabetes Education
- Food for Thought
- Healthy and Home
- Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby
- Home Care
- Inmotion
- KidsFirst
- Mental Health/Addictions
- Nutrition Services
- Nurse Practitioner
- Pharmacist
- Public Health Dental Clinic
- Public Health
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Social Work

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