SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Six weeks after its opening, the Yellowknife Primary Care Centre has been receiving some positive reviews from patients, who now have greater access to health care services downtown than ever before.

Dr. Ewan Affleck, medical director for the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, shows the newly-installed X-ray equipment at the Yellowknife Primary Care Centre. The mega clinic opened six weeks ago. - Peter Varga/NNSL photo

"It's awesome, more convenient. Everything's centralized," said James Pickering, 53, who had previously gone to Gibson Medical Clinic for medical care. "I think having all the doctors together in one building is certainly better all around."

The centre's June 22 opening was part of a transition of medical services in the city from four clinics to two. The Frame Lake Medical Clinic on Old Airport Road was the only existing one to remain open. It now shares a full range of services with the primary care centre, located on 48 Street in the lower level of the former Panda II Mall.

Continuing to offer quality care while making the various changes has been challenging, said Dr. Ewan Affleck, medical director for Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority.

"In a lot of industries, you can just shut the thing down and get everything set up. We don't have that luxury," he said.

The transition has gone smoothly so far, according to several patients who recently passed through the primary care centre, which has 11 doctors and three nurse practitioners on staff.

"I would say it's quicker, and the location is more convenient," said Pickering, a retired auto-mechanic.

"They've taken their time, designing it well, I think. It's a better experience for people coming in."

Sarojini Jhankur, 35, accompanied her daughters, aged 12 and 8, who had gone in for check-ups at the mega clinic

"It's wonderful, a lot better," she said. "It's very nice, now you can book anything you want, and you can find everything here. The hours are longer, eight to nine. You can book appointments at the same time."

Robin Bigcharles, 31, did not offer such a ringing endorsement, but she was still complimentary.

"I guess it's OK, it seems a little bit better," she said. "It seems nice, quiet, you don't have to wait too long. It's still kind of split - you have here and then you have Frame Lake."

Extended hours and increased services have been achieved, not by altering the number of staff or physicians, but by putting a new electronic medical record system online, and pooling all resources into two expanded sites, according to Ruth Robertson, CEO for the Yellowknife Health Authority.

"The staff rotate between both sites," she said. "We're in the process of streamlining our practices so that it's a standard that you can work at both locations, whereas before there were four different ways of doing things."

The primary care clinic, which cost $6.6 million to complete, includes mental health services, integrated home care services and public health services. Diagnostic imaging services previously offered only at Stanton Territorial Hospital have also been installed - including X-rays and bone densitometry.

Meanwhile, the Frame Lake Community Clinic at the other end of town has extended its hours of operation to include weekday evenings not covered by the downtown clinic. It has also increased the number of practitioners at the site, and added family counselling services.

"It takes a little time to settle in to a new system, so inevitably there will be some imperfections," said Affleck. "We've had a new phone system that hasn't worked perfectly, but we're making adjustments in trying to perfect it."

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