Southern Alberta Medical clinic to open next month in Medicine Hat

The 15-thousand square-foot facility also features a rehabilitation gym.

Cardiologist and President of Southern Alberta Medical Dr. Daniel Anselm says the goal of the clinic is to provide ongoing specialty care locally.

And create a centre where patients can have access to services where they would typically have to travel to Calgary.

He says referrals to visit the clinic will come through family physicians or directly from the hospital.

“We’re going to be offering clinical services for cardiology, neurology, comprehensive diagnostic services, echocardiography, cardiac stress testing, cardiac nuclear imaging, with plans to further expand to respiratory services, neurology services, etc down the road.”

Dr. Anselm says there are currently a few specialists who work in Medicine Hat but predominate care is delivered in primary care physician offices and sometimes the hospital.

With the clinic opening during a pandemic, he adds they are compliant with all prevention control guidelines including physical distancing, and will also be offering virtual consultations.

According to a release, the clinic will also reduce emergency wait time and hospital admissions for cardiac patients at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital through the introduction of the RACE Program (Rapid Access to Cardiac Evaluation) that will be located onsite at SAM.

“Depending on what the service is if they have an immediate need to be seen relatively urgently we’ll triage them and we’ll be able to see them within 72 hours. Whereas if it’s more of a routine requirement it will be a few weeks to a month depending on the waitlist, etc.”

Dr. Anselm says they have five doctors starting off at the clinic with cardiology and a couple of neurologists and an internist. Two other cardiologists are being recruited at this time.

“The long term plan is to try to integrate and bring together all the specialists in the city to work collaboratively in the city.”

Dr. Anselm thought about this project 3 or 4 years ago when he was a trainee and realized there was a large need for care and continuity of care especially from a cardiac perspective.

The project got in motion in late 2017, acquired the property in 2019, with a 12-14 month renovation that followed.

The Southern Alberta Medical Clinic is on Strachan Road beside the new Nissan dealership.

by Chantal Wagner

Southern Alberta Medical clinic to open next month in Medicine Hat

Our Community