Meet Kristen Goldsworthy, site lead for Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre

As opening day at the new Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre draws closer, Kristen Goldsworthy has a front-row seat.

The newly named site manager for the centre and health services manager for the medical surgical clinics, Goldsworthy is busy getting things organized for the various teams, all of which have unique needs regarding staffing, supplies and equipment. Then there are other critical aspects of operations including emergency preparedness and occupational health and safety that need to be in place.

“This role has opened up a whole new learning opportunity for me as there are pieces I’ve never had to think about before in the inpatient world,” said Goldsworthy. “Fortunately I have many different teams and groups around me as I work my way through the learning curve.”

With a background in emergency and acute care nursing and a passion for improving patient care, Goldsworthy will soon oversee the successful operation of the facility as it prepares to open its doors to patients on November 20, 2023. Her primary focus is to ensure the smooth functioning of the ambulatory, medical and surgical clinics, beginning with an initial opening capacity of 60 per cent.

“Every day we see the finishing touches coming together which adds to the excitement,” said Goldsworthy, who recalls her reaction when she first walked into the building’s main entrance. “When you come in the front door and look down the great hall it really is impressive, as is the rehabilitation gym and the eye-catching artwork and colour schemes in each department. It’s a bright, modern and positive place to provide patient care.”

As part of her role, Goldsworthy is also becoming well-versed in the unique aspects of Public-Private Partnership (P3) builds, as the new outpatient centre represents the first P3 health care project in Nova Scotia. P3 builds involve collaboration between the public sector (government) and the private sector (EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare consortium of companies) to design, construct, finance, and maintain public infrastructure projects.

Goldsworthy looks forward to seeing the outpatient centre evolve and expand its services. “There is potential to bring in more clinical teams in the coming year, which will further increase capacity and access to medical care for the community. This is exciting to think about.”

The Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre (BLCOC) will provide care to endocrinology, medicine, plastic surgery and orthopedic surgery patients within the first week of opening, as well as eye care, diagnostic imaging, blood collection, dialysis, orthopedic assessment and rehab.  

There will be a Halifax Transit (route number 28) stop in front of the BLCOC seven days a week, beginning on November 20, 2023.