Fall 2021 Project Update - Teeswater Medical Centre Development Steering Committee

The Teeswater Medical Centre Development Steering Committee has been working for nearly two years to bring the vision of a new, fully accessible and modern medical centre to the community of Teeswater.  Some excellent progress has been made in recent months, and the Committee is proud to have purchased, with the support of Council, a facility that will be renovated into the new medical centre, as well as the adjacent land for parking or further development.

The committee has undertaken extensive research and reviewed of a number of aspects of the operation of a medical centre, including the layout and design; the required equipment; potential opportunities for public-private partnerships; and the most effective methods for operating and providing oversight of the facility and its operations.

The following is an overview of the current status of the project.

Building Acquisition and Renovation:

The properties at 26 and 28 Clinton Street South have been purchased by the Municipality on behalf of the Committee.  Preliminary drawings have been completed for renovations of the former Studio 410 building to include 2 doctor’s offices and exam rooms, pharmacy, a reception area, staff washroom and lunchroom, rental offices and elevator for basement floor access.

Business Model:

An important part of the operation of the medical clinic is the business model that will define how the facility is operated.  The Business Model Subcommittee has spent considerable time researching other clinics and systems in order to be able to recommend a community-based, cost-effective system.

Based on their research, the Subcommittee is recommending the medical clinic follow a not-for-profit management structure for the facility to ensure that it operates without taxpayer funding for operating expenses.  The Committee and the Municipality are presently seeking legal opinion on the proposed not-for-profit structure.

Fundraising:

The project is now entering a very important phase, which is the capital funding campaign.  To date, the Committee has been fortunate to have the support of the Wingham and District Hospital Foundation, who have generously provided the services of their Executive Director, Nicole Duquette, to guide and lead the discussions around fundraising.  Nicole conducted a feasibility study to determine the ability of the community to support the project and it’s proposed capital budget of just over one million dollars.  Thanks to her work and leadership, the Committee feels confident that the capital campaign fundraising goal can be reached.  In the very near future, the Fundraising Subcommittee will be moving forward with a formal capital fundraising campaign.

After many months of meetings with constructive and informative discussions, the Committee looks forward to moving into the next stages of fundraising, renovating, and establishing the management structure for the facility, with the support of Council and the community.