New clinic at Calvary integrated care site
The primary health facility will support residents, patients and the wider community.
A new general practice clinic has opened at a Calvary health, aged care and retirement living precinct in Victoria.
Operated by Family Clinics Australia, the facility – based at Calvary’s Kooyong site in Caulfield South in Melbourne – is the not-for-profit provider’s latest step in delivering integrated care to its residents and patients.
Calvary Kooyong general manager Shannon Thompson said having a primary health clinic located within the precinct aligns with the needs of the local community and an ageing population.
“The aim of Calvary Kooyong has always been to support our residents and patients to live well and in place as they age, or as their needs change.”
As well as providing access to a GP, the ground-floor clinic will offer pathology and geriatrician services, as well as a mix of allied health professionals, commencing with a physiotherapist.
“Having the clinic in place is our next step to providing holistic, integrated health and wellbeing services onsite for the precinct community,” said Ms Thompson. “We also hope to have a community pharmacy in the future.”
Opening last year, Calvary Kooyong incorporates retirement living apartments, an aged care home, and a specialist sub-acute hospital for people needing palliative care or living with progressive neurological conditions.
“We aim to provide a multidisciplinary health service while removing any barriers to care – especially for our elderly patients,” said practice lead Dr Bimsara Gurusinghe.
Dr Gurusinghe – who will be working alongside colleague Dr Yael Gold – said the provision of integrated accessible care at the precinct would hopefully encourage Calvary residents to be more proactive in managing their health needs. “And, because we are onsite, we can always go to them if need be, which is a great additional service we provide.”
Dr Gurusinghe said Family Clinics was excited to be working closely with Calvary Kooyong and helping to support its residents and patients as well as the wider neighbourhood. “Our goal is for our new Caulfield South practice to be a clinic that can serve the whole community.”
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