23
Volume1 Issue2
|
I
ssues and
P
eople
InConversationwithPat Redmond:
TheBonavistaClinic
Dr. PatRedmond, adentistwithaprivatepractice inGander,was involved in
openingadental clinic inBonavista, a town thathasn’thadadentist since2002.
Dr. Redmond spokewithCDAabout thenewclinicandhow itfinallycame tobe.
Whathasbeen thebiggestchallenge insettingupapractice in
Bonavista?
Finding suitable space.Weeventuallyendedup in the space that
wasusedby the lastdentist topractice thereover adecadeago.
Theclinicusedby thepreviousdentistwas located inacommercial
building, and thecostof rentmeant that apractisewasn’tgoing to
befinanciallyviable.Normally,whathappens in these small towns
is that theirdental clinicsare located inaprovincial building, likea
hospital, so there isvery littleorno rent. But inBonavista, therewas
noavailable space inanyprovincial building. Eventually, the town
came inandofferedusfinancial incentives tobasicallyoffsetmostof
thecostsof our rent.
Whydid it takeso long toopen theclinic?
Bonavistakeptgoing to theprovincial government looking for
dentists, and thegovernment’s responsewas, “Wellwehave this
bursaryprogram inplace toattractnewgraduates.”ButBonavista
neededadentist to setup theofficeandnoonewaswilling todo it.
Wecouldn’tget adentist togo therewithout aclinicbeingbuilt that
theycould seefirst. Andweweren’twilling togoand investmoney
inaclinicandcommit topayingcommercial rent,without knowing if
we’regoing tohaveadentistornot.
SoDrs.WadeAbbott, JonBallardandmyselfdecided toget together
so that even ifwedon’thaveadentist,wecango there2daysa
montheach, andwecanhireahygienist tobe there2daysaweek.
Sowe foundaway tomake itworkwithout anassociatedentist, and
the town stepped in to resolve the issueof rent.
Is theclinicopen forpatients?
Everything’sgonea littlebitquicker thanweanticipated.We’ve
been successful ingettinganassociate tocomeand shewanted to
start right away. As soonas theclinicwasoperational,wewere fully
booked! The townprovideduswithabig listofpatients tocall.
a
This interviewhasbeencondensedandedited.
Recently, Bonavista
residents received some
goodnews.Through the
efforts ofDr. Redmond
and2dental colleagues,
alongwithhelpfrom the
NLDA, the province, and
Bonavista town council,
the townfinallyhas its
owndental clinic.
PatRedmond
All scenicphotographs: Newfoundland&Labrador Tourism
(p. 20–21 - Copyright Barrett &MacKayPhotography)
