A new lung clinic set to open in Halifax by the end of November aims to address lengthy wait times for breathing tests and serve as a tool to recruit respiratory therapy professionals in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Lung Wellness Clinic, in development for over two years, was conceived as a response to the significant wait times faced by individuals needing quick spirometry tests during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sanja Stanojevic, an associate professor at Dalhousie University, emphasized the clinic’s importance in providing prompt diagnostic services for lung conditions like asthma and COPD, which affect an estimated 13% of Nova Scotians. Stanojevic highlighted the risks of misdiagnosis in the absence of timely spirometry tests, likening the situation to delaying essential blood tests for diabetic patients.
The clinic, a collaborative effort among the Lung Association of N.S. and P.E.I., Nova Scotia Health, and the provincial Health Department, is financially supported by GSK Canada. The company has allocated $300,000 for an 18-month pilot program to test the clinic’s effectiveness in reducing wait times and addressing staff shortages in respiratory therapy.
Catherine Gunn, overseeing the educational aspect of the clinic, anticipates a significant reduction in the backlog of patients awaiting tests monthly once the clinic is operational. By training respiratory therapy students within the province, the clinic also aims to increase the likelihood of retaining these professionals in Nova Scotia, mitigating recruitment challenges faced in the past.
Gunn emphasized the innovative nature of the clinic’s approach, highlighting its potential to provide quality care, valuable learning experiences for students, and improved accessibility for patients seeking respiratory diagnostic services. The clinic plans to prioritize individuals with long-standing waitlist placements for testing and aims to expand referral options in the future, including self-referral for patients without primary care providers.
