The construction of a multi-doctor family medical clinic and pharmacy in Delburne is officially underway.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Delburne Medical Centre on Main Street was held Monday.
The facility, a joint initiative of the Village of Delburne, Red Deer County and Dr. Muti Kauchali, is expected to be open in the fall.
Kauchali, who has been a doctor for 24 years, said when he worked at the Red Deer hospital, he would meet people coming in for conditions that should have been treated sooner.
“They were saying that there were no family doctors in the area, so they waited and the situation would get worse. I started to look into it, and they were right – there are no family medical practices in the area,” he said.
It has been more than 60 years since a clinic space has operated in Delburne. After meeting with council, he developed plans to build a medical centre in the village.
The clinic will provide care for a range of acute and chronic medical services.
“This is a patient-centred, comprehensive, team-based care that has much better health outcomes,” said Kauchali. “We will also be looking at providing phlebotomy services, so patients won’t have to travel out to get their blood tests done.”
Kauchali lives in Red Deer County with his family and is actively recruiting physicians to join him in the new space. He is a partner with the Sylvan Family Health Centre in Sylvan Lake and a clinic lecturer at the University of Alberta.
Bill Chandler, Delburne mayor, said the groundbreaking was a great day for the village and region.
“Most of our resident currently travel into Red Deer or Stettler – more than a 30-minute drive. This can be a real barrier to seeking care,” said Chandler.
The project entails a 7,500 square-foot facility that provides clinic spaces, a pharmacy, allied medical spaces, meetings spaces, and an ambulance transfer bay. The clinic space will include: exam rooms, consultation rooms, a procedure room, and administrative spaces.
Allied health services, such as home care nursing, are planned operate in the clinic.
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