Expanding access to care through the Nova Scotia Health and The North Grove partnership

Meeting people where they are 

Expanding access to care means thinking beyond traditional healthcare settings. 

The North Grove is a well-established community hub that provides valuable preventative healthcare services that range from prenatal classes and food skills programs to free meals and family support.  

That made The North Grove a perfect fit for a collaboration with Nova Scotia Health to begin offering primary care in the Dartmouth North community. 

By bringing primary care into this environment, Nova Scotia Health meets patients where they already are, making it easier for them to access medical care alongside other essential services. 

Caralee McDaniel is manager of Hub Services at The North Grove. She reflected on the impact of the partnership, highlighting that it introduced new people to their space who may not have otherwise visited.  

"Any service that brings new community members to The North Grove helps increase awareness of our programs and helps connect people to other services," she said. "Community members have been excited to see our partnership with Nova Scotia Health expand over the past year, and they continue to tell us how important it is to access multiple services from one location." 

Many North Dartmouth residents struggle to access the healthcare services they need. "Our team knows that the community of Dartmouth North has a significantly high number of people living with chronic health conditions who have not been attached to a primary care practitioner for some time," Caralee said.  

"We knew this model could work because we had an existing clinic space from our partnership with the Nova Scotia Brotherhood and Nova Scotia Sisterhood. We were committed to working through logistics to make the partnership work, like finding space that worked for both patients and our community programs," Caralee said. 

Sydney Eaglestone is the nurse practitioner at the heart of this effort. She sees firsthand how bringing healthcare into a trusted space makes a difference for residents waiting for care. 

“Transportation is often a barrier here,” Sydney said. "Having services available in their own neighborhood made a meaningful difference. Patients expressed gratitude for the convenience and accessibility, emphasizing how the partnership bridged gaps in care." 

The proximity to programs at The North Grove also allows for a more holistic approach to health. 

"The services offered by The North Grove align closely with preventative and primary health care education, which allowed me, as a primary care provider, to encourage my patients to engage with local programs that support their overall health and well-being while fostering strong community connections," Sydney said. 

The ability to integrate healthcare with social support services helped individuals take proactive steps toward better health outcomes. Patients received health screenings, comprehensive assessments, and early treatment close to home. 

“We set up the waiting area in the big dining room near the front, adding dividers for privacy and a second doorbell marked ‘clinic’, so it was clear whether someone was here for an appointment or a community program,” Caralee said. 

This partnership also increased community awareness about the Need a Family Practice Registry and the upcoming Dr. Maria Angwin Memorial - Wyse Road Clinic, creating more pathways for Nova Scotians to access primary care. 

Breaking barriers to care 

The initiative wasn’t just about providing temporary care; it was about reimagining where and how care can be delivered. 

"Rather than focusing on why it wouldn’t work, we led with ‘yes’ and eliminated challenges as they arose," said Janelle Richer, health services manager for primary health care in Central Zone. "This partnership was about reducing barriers to access care, meeting people where they are and finding ways to provide care in spaces they trust." 

Dartmouth North health services lead Ryan Singh echoed what Janelle said about having a can-do attitude. "This initiative demonstrated what’s possible when we take a community-first approach." 

By the end of the initiative, 260 Nova Scotians gained access to a primary care provider and are set to transition into the Dr. Maria Angwin Memorial-Wyse Road Health Clinic this June. This effort aligned with the Dartmouth North Health Neighbourhood model, which promotes strong connections between healthcare providers and social supports. 

Looking ahead 

The North Grove partnership is an inspiring model of care that has potential to be replicated within other Nova Scotia communities. By working with local organizations, healthcare providers can extend their reach and provide care in a way that feels natural and accessible for patients. 

As for The North Grove, service providers continue to encourage health partnerships to better serve the community. “With ongoing communication and some creativity, health services can be successfully delivered out of community spaces,” said Caralee.  

For Dartmouth residents, this partnership was more than just access to care - it showed how collaborative, community-driven healthcare can support overall wellbeing and preventative care. 

"If healthcare teams find themselves with limited space but have providers ready to work, I encourage them to explore partnerships with community organizations," said Janelle. "Having the right mindset, flexibility and a solution-focused approach can make all the difference." 

Photo of (L-R) Caralee McDaniel, Manager Hub Services, The North Grove; Janelle Richer, Health Services Manager, Primary Health Care Central Zone; Sydney Eaglestone, Nurse Practitioner, Dartmouth North Clinic; Ryan Singh, Health Services Lead, Primary Health Care Central Zone.