The South Health Campus Family Medicine Teaching Clinic team has been honored with the Outstanding Family Practice award. Photo by Melanie Veriotes.
Outstanding Family Practice honor highlights excellent patient care
Story & photo by Melanie Veriotes
CALGARY — The team at the South Health Campus Family Medicine Teaching Clinic had a great reason to get together to celebrate in January — the Alberta College of Family Physicians awarded them the 2022 Outstanding Family Practice award for a Patient’s Medical Home.
Now in its 10th year of operation, the clinic not only delivers primary healthcare to more than 7,000 patients a year, but is also a teaching site for the University of Calgary where it provides learning experiences for family medicine residents as well as nursing, pharmacy and medical office assistant students.
“This model of care puts the needs of patients at the forefront — and the future of family medicine is looking brighter than ever,” says Dr. Sudha Koppula, president of the Alberta College of Family Physicians.
The clinic takes a team approach to patient care through its family physicians, nurses, social work, a pharmacist, dietitian, medical office assistants and receptionists.
Dr. Divya Garg, medical director of the Department of Family Medicine, speaks with pride of the team’s ability to provide care as a medical home: “Our team is constantly developing innovative models of care to meet the changing needs of the community we serve.”
She cites an example of this innovation through the chronic disease education workshops that the clinic provides for patients, delivered by physicians and other health professionals. In the past, patient education groups have covered topics such as diabetes, anxiety and insomnia.
Clinic manager Jane Bowman adds that while the clinic doesn’t operate alone, its a team model dovetails with the South Health Campus pillars of patient- and family-centred care. She says that the clinic values patient engagement to improve the patient experience.
The clinical team is also working with the hospital on a pilot educational program, using the site’s wellness kitchen, that’s expected to be rolled out for patients in a couple of months.
