New neurology clinic opens at WestView Health Centre

Stony Plain, AB

A new neurology clinic at the WestView Health Centre is helping more patients living in rural areas get the care they need in their community.

The clinic, led by neurologist Dr. James Scozzafava, opened to patients in July and will run monthly at first before eventually moving to a weekly schedule.

“We’re focused on treating patients with acute neurological conditions, or new diagnoses,” says Scozzafava. “If a patient has concerning symptoms such as sudden unexplained weakness in an arm, or facial numbness, their family doctor will likely provide a referral to a neurologist,” he says. “But if the patient has to wait 12 to 18 months or longer for an appointment, they’ve lost a lot of time in regard to the investigation,” says Scozzafava.

Now, with the new clinic available, that wait time is drastically reduced to one to three months for patients in the area.

“We’re all excited because local patients will be able to be seen quickly and can avoid those long waits and needing to drive long distances to be seen by a neurologist,” says Scozzafava.

WestView is an ideal location for a neurology clinic because the site has space and clerical support already available, with no additional equipment or staff required. The neurology clinic operates out of an existing shared clinic space that also offers clinics for casts, geriatric assessment, pediatric asthma and general pediatric assessments.

“The addition of the neurology clinic to WestView Health Centre is fantastic news for our community,” says Searle Turton, MLA for Spruce Grove-Stony Plain and Minister of Children and Family Services. “We want all Albertans to be able to receive the care they need where they need it and when they need it. This clinic is a great example of the dedication of health care professionals and the innovative work being done to improve access to healthcare to all, especially those in rural communities.”

Patients who need to see a neurologist can ask their doctor to refer them to WestView Health Centre.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.