Nurse champions team care at Dartmouth clinic

Elizabeth Colson Fehlberg is part of a committed team focused on community well-being at Dartmouth’s Dr. Maria Angwin Memorial Wyse Road Health Clinic.

As a family practice nurse, the collaborative health home model aligns with her passion for team-based, patient-centered care. A nurse for two decades, Elizabeth is committed to working in a setting that offers patients co-ordinated and collaborative care.

She’s part of a diverse team that includes family physicians, a family practice nurse, a nurse practitioner and five administrative support staff.

“What's important is that, first and foremost, people have access to care; that’s how we strengthen communities and improve health one person at a time,” Elizabeth says. “It starts with listening, providing education, advocating and focusing on health promotion and prevention.”

The Dr. Maria Angwin Memorial Wyse Road Health Clinic offers a wide range of collaborative healthcare services, such as primary care within a home health model, in addition to gynecology, obstetrics, urology, midwifery and community programs.

The Newfoundland and Labrador native began working in Nova Scotia after graduating from university in the early 2000s. She began her family practice role in 2018 with another Halifax area clinic. Seeking a new challenge, she joined the Dartmouth health home team and its supportive, team-driven atmosphere.

“To be honest, I love it here. It’s excellent,” she says. “The addition of the Dr. Maria Angwin clinic is improving access to healthcare services and focuses on improving overall health of the community in reducing health inequities.”

In her role, Elizabeth supports patients in all stages of life from infancy to senior years.

One of her favourite roles involves education. Teaching drew her into family medicine and she gets to apply her expertise and knowledge in areas such as well woman visits, well baby/child visits, immunizations and chronic disease management.

As an example, she does a comprehensive visit with diabetic patients, which could include a discussion of food choices and portion size, physical activity, stress reduction, sleep hygiene and diabetic foot exams. These visits can help educate and encourage individuals to improve their overall health.

“I believe it’s essential to educate people about their health and promote autonomy and self-care. When you share knowledge, it can make a real difference, not only for individuals but for the health of the entire community.”

She values opportunities to share that knowledge, empowering patients to make informed decisions about their care.

For this, Elizabeth is happy to be a part of the North Dartmouth health home and its surrounding community.

Photo of family practice nurse Elizabeth Colson Fehlberg pictured outside Dartmouth’s Dr. Maria Angwin Memorial Wyse Road Health Clinic.