How West Bedford Medical Clinic offers a glimpse of primary care’s future

West Bedford Medical Clinic only accepts patients through the Need a Family Practice Registry. If you need a family doctor or nurse practitioner, please register at NeedAFamilyPractice.NSHealth.ca.

When Dr. Akeem Adebayo arrived in Nova Scotia in 2023, he brought with him a rich background in family medicine, addiction medicine and chronic pain management. What he didn’t expect was how one personal experience would shape the way he chose to practise here.

As many Nova Scotians can relate, one day Adebayo found himself needing medical attention for his child. He did what most parents would do and checked around in his community to see what same-day care options were available. There were none that could see his child right away and the experience left him discouraged. He could see the system pressures that made timely access difficult for families.

Instead of focusing on what was not working, he began imagining a clinic built around access and efficiency. “I wanted a space where anyone who walked in would immediately feel relaxed and supported,” he said. “And I wanted to make sure that everyone working in the clinic wasn’t having to work harder than necessary.”

That vision became the foundation for West Bedford Medical Clinic, which opened less than a year ago and has already gained attention for its modern, patient-centered approach.

A clinic built on lean principles and continuous improvement

From the moment you enter the clinic, it’s clear the staff operates with the patient experience in mind. The environment is intentionally calming, and every detail from lighting, to seating, to exam room layout has purpose behind it.

Behind the scenes, the team uses quality improvement methods to guide daily operations. Regular huddles, process reviews and a commitment to continuous improvement help the team respond quickly to any inefficiencies. “We want to be better than yesterday,” Adebayo said. “We rely on feedback from patients, staff, and visitors, and we take it seriously.”

Feedback isn’t just welcomed, it actively shapes operations. 

For instance, when a patient became upset after being unable to check in without their physical health card, even though they knew their health card number, the team saw it as an opportunity to improve. They explored digital check-in options and introduced a touch-screen kiosk that allows patients to enter their health card number, verify their identity, and check in independently. The system integrates directly with Med Access, reducing administrative workload and supporting smoother flow.

The clinic has invested heavily in digital tools, including dual monitors for staff, advanced telephone systems and high-quality microphones paired with AI Scribe. These tools allow clinicians to complete charting in real time, support virtual care, and maintain a high level of accuracy. “It’s all about creating efficiency so we have more time to focus on patients,” said Adebayo.

Improved access, strong team-based care

In less than a year, the clinic has grown to accept more than 1,000 patients from the Need A Family Practice Registry, with hundreds more in the onboarding process. They offer walk-in availability and have developed a streamlined chronic pain consultation pathway, with wait times averaging two to four weeks.

The clinic operates smoothly within its community, working closely with a nearby pharmacy to support patients with chronic disease management, medication reviews and lifestyle counselling. Nova Scotia Health’s primary health care practice support program is now supporting the clinic to further refine scheduling and workflow improvements as they grow.

For administrative professional Abby Ayinla, the possibilities of this collaboration are exciting. “They’re helping us see what else can be done to improve our processes and understand what resources are available,” she said. “The more coordinated we are, the better it is for our patients.”

A model that reflects where primary care is headed 

Much of what the clinic has implemented - team-based care, digital access tools, shared accountability, community partnerships and an emphasis on patient experience - aligns closely with the Health Home model that is evolving in clinics across the province.

Dr. Valerie Lewis, department head for Primary Health Care and Chronic Disease Management in Central Zone, says that beginning to work with West Bedford is a helpful reminder to all clinics of the support available through the Department of Family Practice. “The Department of Family Practice is here to support all family physicians, not only those who hold formal contracts with Nova Scotia Health,” she said. “When a physician or clinic chooses to build care around patient experience and access, it benefits the entire system.”

Lindsay Cormier, director of Primary Health Care and Chronic Disease Management, sees similar alignment. “Nova Scotia has been laying the groundwork for modernized, team-based primary care for several years,” she said. “Seeing those ideas reflected in a community clinic, implemented with such intention, is both encouraging and inspiring. Their use of technology and tools like AI Scribe, which Primary Health Care is currently piloting in other settings, shows how new approaches can reduce administrative burden and give clinicians more freedom to focus on care.”

For Adebayo, the momentum feels both exciting and validating. “This started as a vision that I wasn’t sure could become real,” he said. “To see it working, and to know we’re helping people receive timely, comprehensive care, brings a lot of fulfilment. We want to keep improving, keep learning, and hopefully inspire what is possible in other clinics too.” 

To learn more about Health Homes, visit NSHealth.ca/Health-Homes

If your primary health care team would like support from the Primary Health Care Practice Support team, please email PHCPracticeSupport@NSHealth.ca.

Photo of Dr. Akeem Adebayo.