Major health care transformation project launched in Blenheim

Health care in the Blenheim area is poised for a major transformation to meet the growing needs of the community.

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Plans for a multi-million Health Hub have been announced by the newly formed Blenheim Medical Health Foundation.

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Cathy Smith, a foundation spokesperson, said 21,000 residents in Chatham-Kent don’t have a family physician and there is need for more space for them to work in.

The Blenheim Medical Center serves more than 5,600 patients, but Smith said the building is “woefully inadequate in terms of its size for any kind of programs that we’re looking to implement.”

Dr. Andrew Lanz-O’Brien, a foundation member who works with four other doctors in the medical center, explained how tight it is in the building.

“If all five of us were to try to work at the same time on the same day, we’d run out of examination rooms,” he said.

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The effort to overhaul the provision of medical care in Blenheim is off to a flying start the acquisition 26,000-square-foot building, at 2 Hyland Dr., which has been donated by local residents Annie and Peter Timmermans.

“Now we can focus on fundraising for the renovation as opposed to fundraising for the purchase of the building,” Smith said.

“The building is fantastic,” she said, but noted renovations are needed to provide the specific requirements for it to operate as a medical facility.

She said millions of dollars will need to be raised for the project and plans are moving forward to have the building open by 2025.

Lanz-O’Brien said most areas of Ontario have a shortage of doctors.

“It’s hard for patients to get a doctor, it’s hard to get timely access to care, it’s hard to get the tests and consults you need,” he said.

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But, the doctor is of the opinion “build it and they will come.

“The idea of ​​this project is, ‘Let’s have a beautiful new place that is just a dream to work in,’” he added.

The foundation envisions having diagnostic imaging, such as X-ray and ultrasound, along with laboratory, pharmacy and mental health services to complement more doctors.

Lanz-O’Brien said with doctors and other health care providers having colleagues to make referrals to, “essentially, its integrated care, one-stop shopping.”

This is the kind of a facility that will get the attention of doctors, he added.

“If you’re a doctor working in a place like that, you know your patients are going to get the care they need right away and it makes your job easier. It makes the work environment more attractive.”

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Lanz-O’Brien said additional phases are planned for the health hub with additional structures and healthcare providers.

“These are stretch goals that are going to happen over the next decade-plus.”

Smith said there is sufficient property with the land “to be able to do all sorts of wonderful things” in the future.

The foundation also plans to invest in recruiting medical professionals.

Lanz-O’Brien said if local people obtain health care training whether it be at medical or nursing school and decide to return to Chatham-Kent, some of the money being raised after the first phase is done will go to scholarships and recruitment efforts.

“If people already have roots here that’s certainly going to help retain them.”

However, Lanz-O’Brien said they will also need to do a broad recruitment effort so having a new beautiful facility will help.

The doctor is impressed with how the community has already stepped up.

“We want this project to feel like the community owns it,” Lanz-O’Brien said.

He added it is a not-for-profit organization that is there for the betterment of the community.

Although discussions have been going for a few years, the initiative has is now going and both Smith and Lanz-O’Brien say watch for more to come.

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