BONNYVILLE - The Bonnyville Medical Clinic has been praised for their hard work and dedication to the community.
They received the 2019 Patient’s Medical Home Award for Outstanding Family Practice from the Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP). The honour recognizes leadership and excellence in patient and community care in clinics across the province. Members of the ACFP submitted names of deserving colleagues with those nominated filling out a profile to be submitted.
The Bonnyville Medical Clinic is a rural primary care centre. In 2018, their doctors and nurses had over 75,700 appointments. They provide accessible healthcare to Bonnyville and the surrounding area.
Dr. Keeve De Villiers, who works out of the Bonnyville Medical Clinic, believes the nod highlights their goal of providing the best patient care possible.
“It’s really a big recognition of the quality of the team that we have and the staff,” he expressed. “The fact that we’ve been able to put everything together into what I think works for the patients, and that’s really what this award aims to do is recognize that this practice does a good job of providing a space where patients can access healthcare in a safe environment.”
In a statement, president of the ACFP, Vishal Bhella, said, “The commitment and dedication to your patients and community act as a benchmark for others to follow... The ACFP and its membership commend you for your leadership in serving your community.”
When it was announced on Dec. 13 that the local clinic was chosen, De Villiers said the team was blown away by the news.
“It was fantastic. I really think it’s recognition of a lot of the work that the practice does, and the team and staff for the dedication that they show. It’s nice when you get recognized for wanting to do something well.”
The clinic consists of 16 full-time family physicians, six part-time doctors, one intern, and three nurse practitioners.
De Villiers noted “it’s quite rare in Alberta to have as many doctors as we do in one place to all get along and work on the same team.”
“Part of the strength of our clinic is our doctors are very committed and engaged,” he continued. “It’s all the same doctors that are working at the hospital and doing emergency shifts... We also have visiting specialists who do a lot of coverage for us here, and that has been instrumental in the way that Bonnyville has been given such great service is having this group of doctors together.”
Along with assisting patients in the clinic, physicians are busy in the oncology department and other areas of the hospital.
When asked what he enjoys most about being part of the clinic, De Villiers said it was working alongside his colleagues.
“There’s something that works about the doctors in Bonnyville in terms of rural practice and the ability of the group of doctors to support one another, which makes it possible to live and work here... (Burn out) for doctors in rural settings is a huge thing because you’re expected to be everywhere. But, it’s fun because you have to have really good colleagues who are willing to help each other out, and that makes it manageable,” he detailed. “I think we do a bit of a better job at it than other places, and the patients in Bonnyville I think have an appreciation for the quality of care that we try to provide here. I think they see it when they come to the clinic, and it’s just a happier environment.”
Along with the Bonnyville Medical Clinic, the Westgrove Clinic in Spruce Grove was also chosen as a recipient of the 2019 award.
