A Supplement to the Free Press
CELEBRATING ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 2025 | A SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025
Celebrating Allied Health Professionals 2025
Inside
■ HEARING LOSS IN OLDER ADULTS ■ AT-HOME DIALYSIS ■ VACCINES – ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE ■ TELEHEALTH IN REMOTE COMMUNITIES ■ SAY AHHHHHH! - DEALING WITH DENTAL ANXIETY
■ WEST END
WELCOMES NEW HEALTH CLINIC
Main photo by Darcy Finley | Mia B/peopleimages.com / Ilzer/peopleimages.com / DP / Adobe Stock
View online at winnipegfreepress.com/fp-features
To all the allied health professionals in Manitoba, thank you for taking care of others. Now let us take care of you. Visit wellness.mb.bluecross.ca for articles, resources and tips to help you focus on your own health and well-being. We appreciate you!
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2 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025
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Statistics from the Canadian Association of Retired Persons show that 38 per cent of Canadians are impacted by some form of hearing loss.
Hear, Hear HEARING LOSS IS SOMETHING MANY OLDER ADULTS MUST DEAL WITH
By Todd Lewys H earing is one of the most essential senses for human beings. When it’s working properly, it enables us to com- municate effectively with others and process what’s happening around us. However, when it isn’t functioning proper- ly – especially as we get older – it can cause a decline in cogni- tive abilities such as attention and memory. While it’s a fact that isn’t advertised, hearing loss is quite prev- alent in Canada. According to the Canadian Association of Re- tired Persons, 38 per cent of Canadian adults are impacted by hearing loss. Another 37 per cent of Canadian adults also struggle with tin- nitus, a ringing in the ears. Additionally, about 60 per cent of Canadians aged 19 to 79 have suffered from hearing-related health problems including tinnitus and hearing loss that was di- agnosed through audiometric testing. Most alarmingly, statistics show that many Canadians between the ages of 40 to 79 don’t know they are suffering from hearing loss. Those over the age of 70 are particularly susceptible. The reason for that is hearing loss is subtle, compounding bit by bit as we age. That’s something that Orlando Buduhan sees every day at Winnipeg’s West End Active Living Centre.
times be a barrier that prevents seniors from admitting they don’t hear as well as they used to. “I think many people are aware of it, but they don’t want to ad- mit to it,” Buduhan says. “When we ask them about their hearing, they usually say that they’ve been checked by their own doctor. It’s a tough topic to tackle.” And while many older seniors don’t want to acknowledge that their hearing has dropped off, many do – only to come face to face with financial reality. “Cost is another issue,” he notes. “Government rebates of about $2,000 only cover some of the cost for hearing aids. While some accept the fact that their hear- ing isn’t good, they say that they just can’t afford hearing aids, even with the rebate.” Even those who do get hearing aids encounter issues, Budu- han says. “Those that go get them use them to listen to TV, and that’s the only thing they use them for,” he explains. “When they come out for activities like dance or Tai Chi, they leave them in their room because they’re afraid of losing them. Some will use them, but they need to be very careful because the small hearing aids are easy to lose.” That situation can lead to some interesting dynamics. “When we have dance in the gym, we put the ones without hearing aids closer to the music and the ones with hearing aids further away – the ones with hearing aids complain the music is too loud if they’re up front.” In most instances, people simply learn to cope as best they can with hearing loss. “As long as they’re functioning and coming out for activities, we keep encouraging them, because getting out to be active is so important,” Buduhan says. “It’s challenging to help someone who has hearing issues. We want to help them hear better but also want to maintain their dignity.” Signs of hearing loss include asking others to repeat them- selves, having to turn up TV volume, struggling to hear in noisy environments, difficulty keeping up with conversations and problems hearing on the phone. If you notice that, bring it to your loved one’s attention and suggest getting help. That could include a visit with an audiol- ogist who can perform a comprehensive hearing assessment, select and fit an appropriate hearing aid or provide aural reha - bilitation services. Buduhan acknowledges that can sometimes be a challenge. “You can help those who want it but it’s difficult to help those that don’t want it. If people don’t let us know or don’t want help, we need to respect that.” ■
“Being with seniors every day, I would say most of them really don’t know they have hearing loss – it’s quite common,” says the cen- tre’s president. “In many cases, a person who used to listen well starts to decline. You need to re- peat what you said to them, something that you didn’t have to do a few years ago. We see it more between the ages of 80 and 90.” Buduhan says hearing is- sues – like it or not – are a part of aging. “Aging is like a car getting old- er. At a certain point, it starts to deteriorate. The same thing happens with hearing as you get older.” He notes that pride can some-
Aging is like a car getting older. At a certain point, it starts to deteriorate. The same thing happens with hearing as you get older.
Orlando Buduhan, president, West End Active Living Centre Supplied photo
— West End Active Living Centre president, Orlando Buduhan
HomeyCosy / Adobe Stock
3 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025
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It’s estimated that more than 600 Winnipeggers receive in-hospital dialysis treatment on a weekly basis.
Dialysis Analysis OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST HELPS BREAK DOWN BARRIERS FOR AT-HOME DIALYSIS
By Sherry Kaniuga A tragic family experience when she was a teen led Carly Sanders to a career where she now helps people who require dialysis to live their lives to the fullest. An occupational therapist for dialysis working in the Renal Health Clinic at Seven Oaks General Hospital, the home base for the Manitoba Renal Program, Sanders works with people with chronic kidney disease who are on home dialysis across Manitoba, as well as in Nunavut. Sanders has been in this role for the last third of her 18 years as an occupational therapist or OT. She is grateful for the opportunities that led her here – despite the unfortunate circumstances that introduced her to the value of occupa- tional therapy in the first place. “When I was 15, my dad passed away from a brain tumour. He was in the hospital for many months leading up to that, and we worked with a variety of health professionals. Interacting with dif- ferent therapists in particular really started to pique my interest about these ‘helping professions’ and things you can do to help with someone’s recovery,” Sanders recalls. “After going through that, I started researching some of the options and took the steps towards becoming an occu- pational therapist, and just didn’t look back.” As an OT, Sanders has worked in several areas including neuro rehab, geriatric rehab and mental health. The oppor- tunity to switch to working with dialysis patients presented itself as a bit of a fluke. While on maternity leave with her second daughter, Sanders learned her department would be moving across the city, but was offered the chance to stay
at Seven Oaks by taking on a new role as a part-time OT in the dialysis program. Seven Oaks hosts about 200 of Winnipeg’s 660 hemodial- ysis patients at one of the hospital’s in-centre hemodialysis units three or four times a week, while another 100 or so patients dialyze or undergo dialysis at home on their own. Home dialysis patients use one of two methods of filtering waste, toxins and excess fluid from the blood: peritoneal dialysis or home hemodialysis. While a patient’s physician prescribes the most appropriate method and a nurse pro- vides training, Sanders steps in to ensure the patient’s situ- ation and surroundings are amenable to dialyzing at home. She typically begins by telling new clients – who range in age from 18 to over 100 – what an occupational therapist does, as many don’t know. “I like to describe it in a really simple way, so my clients under- stand what the process that we’re engaging in is going to look like. I explain that I get involved with their care when people have an illness or an injury that prevents them from doing what they want to do, need to do or have to do,” she says. “I ask questions that allow me to get to know the individu- al and their circumstances better. We get a complete picture of what the barriers are for them to participate fully in their life, and then we work at breaking those things down.” Sanders and her colleagues assess not just the person’s phys- ical health and environment, but also their mental health and cognition. A younger patient’s main concern may be balancing dialysis with working and raising a family, while for older patients, mobility and accessibility are key, along with supportive care to ensure they are safe in their homes. For patients in Winnipeg, Sanders will do a home visit to
Carly Sanders Supplied photo
assess how a person is getting around. For example, can they manage stairs or does their home need modifications? “I might work with contractors, insurance companies, or government programs and grant funding to see if, for ex- ample, we can get a ramp put onto a house for someone if they’re wheelchair dependent. We might look at setting up transportation options. We’ll look at making sure the home environment is safe, so they’re not risking falls and injury, and we collaborate with the home care program to get peo- ple supports that they need.” For patients from northern parts of the province and Nun- avut, Sanders mainly consults with them by phone. If they need a product such as a wheelchair, Sanders will gather as much information as possible in advance, then when the patient is able to travel to Winnipeg she’ll complete the pro- cess by taking measurements and ordering the equipment to be shipped to the patient, often through a community nursing station. ■
CELEBRATING allied health professionals
I like to describe it in a really simple way, so my clients understand what the process that we’re engaging in is going to look like.
Thidaphon / Adobe Stock
WAB KINEW YOUR MLA FOR FORT ROUGE Wab.Kinew@yourmanitoba.ca 204-615-1922
NELLIE KENNEDY YOUR MLA FOR ASSINIBOIA Nellie.Kennedy@yourmanitoba.ca 204-888-3188
JIM MALOWAY YOUR MLA FOR ELMWOOD Jim.Maloway@yourmanitoba.ca 204-415-1122
LOGAN OXENHAM YOUR MLA FOR KIRKFIELD PARK Logan.Oxenham@yourmanitoba.ca 204-831-6689
MALAYA MARCELINO YOUR MLA FOR NOTRE DAME Malaya.Marcelino@yourmanitoba.ca 204-788-0800
—Carly Sanders, occupational therapist and dialysis educator
RENÉE CABLE YOUR MLA FOR SOUTHDALE Renee.Cable@yourmanitoba.ca 204-222-9038
ADRIEN SALA YOUR MLA FOR ST. JAMES Adrien.Sala@yourmanitoba.ca 204-792-8779
ROBERT LOISELLE YOUR MLA FOR ST. BONIFACE Robert.Loiselle@yourmanitoba.ca 204-505-2800
MIKE MOYES YOUR MLA FOR RIEL Mike.Moyes@yourmanitoba.ca 204-421-4666
CARLA COMPTON YOUR MLA FOR TUXEDO Carla.Compton@yourmanitoba.ca 204-416-1140
LISA NAYLOR YOUR MLA FOR WOLSELEY Lisa.Naylor@yourmanitoba.ca 204-792-2773
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4 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025
It’s Time to ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVE FLU, COVID VACCINES HELP BUILD
IMMUNE SYSTEM, REDUCE ILLNESS
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Exchange District Pharmacy director Ryan Chan says vaccinations help to reduce hospitalizations, illness and how long someone may be off work. Photo by Darcy Finley
By Jennifer McFee W hen you roll up your sleeve for a flu or COVID vac - cine this fall, you will be giving yourself a better shot at enjoying a healthy season. Vaccines help the body’s immune system to rec- ognize and fight bacteria and viruses that can cause disease. Ryan Chan, pharmacy director at Exchange District Pharma- cy, outlined some of the benefits of getting vaccinated against flu or COVID. “It’s always a good idea to get the vaccine. In health care, it’s all about prevention — it’s easier to prevent something from hap- pening than to treat it. Vaccinations are one of those prevention methods. They can reduce hospitalization, reduce illness and re- duce how long you’re going to be off work,” Chan says. “The vaccines build and prime your immune system so when you do see the virus, you’re better prepared. They reduce the spread and reduce the chances of other people getting it as well.” For those who don’t get vaccinated, they run a higher risk of contracting COVID or the flu. “Everyone’s risk factor is very different. It comes down to ex- posure risk and personal health risk. Exposure risk depends on how much of the virus is currently out there and whether you’re working in a place like a hospital where you’ll see a lot of people with the virus. There might also be a higher exposure risk in very crowded places,” Chan says. “The second kind of risk relates to your own personal health. Older adults typically face the greatest risk. As you get older, your body is just not the same as when you’re 20 years old, so the risk of getting more ill or more severe sickness are higher when you’re older. Individuals with immunocompromised con- ditions, (a) weak immune system, chronic illnesses, asthma conditions and COPD conditions might also be at higher risk.” Manitobans aged six months and older are eligible for the flu and COVID vaccines free of charge. Pharmacists can vac - cinate children aged two years and older. Adults aged 65 and
older are eligible for a higher dose. “Most health-care professionals will say it’s always recom- mended to get the shot. Everyone is eligible for the flu and COVID vaccines,” Chan says. “You can usually get them at any physi- cian’s office or pharmacy.” To find out about the availability of walk-in appointments, check out the vaccine provider map at www.manitoba.ca/vaccine. More information about where to get the vaccine is available online at www.gov.mb.ca/health/flu/. Chan also recommends calling the pharmacy directly to con- firm. At Exchange District Pharmacy, people can book vaccina - tion appointments directly through their website. “When they come in, we ask all the appropriate questions. We want to make sure you’re not allergic to it and that there’s no drug interaction,” he says. “We’ll ask about any medical conditions during the pre-assessment and provide you with all the important information — so all you’ve got to do is show up.” When you show up for your vaccination, you’ll need to bring your Manitoba Health card and you should wear a short-sleeved shirt. If you’re experiencing flu-like symptoms, it’s best to reschedule. While you may experience some mild side effects after getting the vaccines, they should be short-lived. “The vaccine makes your immune system work. Any time your immune system is working, it takes energy so it might cause a fever and you might get a little dehydration leading to headaches and dizziness. But most of the time, you won’t feel anything,” Chan says. “There also might be pain or soreness at the site of the needle, but that should all subside in a couple days.” For anyone who has questions about getting flu and COVID vaccines this fall, Chan encourages them to speak to a health-care provider such as a pharmacist or physician for practical information. “Fall is designated as flu season. There’s usually an uptick in infections this time of year,” he says. “Vaccines are one of the easiest ways to prevent complications — and to help protect your- self and your family.” ■
Vaccines build and prime your immune system so when you do see the virus, you’re better prepared. They reduce the spread and reduce the chances of other people getting it as well.
– Pharmacist, Ryan Chan
5 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025
Vaccines are one of the easiest ways to prevent complications — and to help protect yourself and your family.
– Pharmacist, Ryan Chan
The Exchange District Pharmacy on McDermot Avenue has been open for business since 2016.
Photo by Darcy Finley
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6 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025
Follow-ups for chronic conditions and cold or flu symptoms are now often addressed by Manitoba doctors as part of virtual visits with patients.
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By Jim Bender D octors and patients alike have been saving time and money since the introduction of telehealth or virtual medicine. Virtual medicine is defined as the provision of medical care by means of electronic communication like phone or video, according to Doctors Manitoba, the professional organization which represents doctors in the province. Virtual visits w ere first covered in Manitoba in 2020 to help keep patients and doctors connected during the pandemic. However, Dr. Ravi Dookeran, an ophthalmologist with a sub-specialty in retinal surgery, brought teleopthalmol- ogy – “the remote delivery of eye care using telecommu- nications technology and digital medical equipment” – here about 22 years ago. “The way it started is that I was actually training in Mc- Gill in Montreal and one of my residents whom I trained with started this program in Alberta,” recalls Dookeran, who asked that resident to help set up the same program for Manitoba. “She had a nurse in place and she was flying up to these northern remote communities. We supplied her with a camera and got a server set up where I could ac- tually examine patients from Northern Manitoba from my living room in … Montreal. So, it was a slow start because I was going to school and doing this training. I was al- ready looking into this specialty training of my fellowship as a retinal surgeon.” Dookeran soon started making referrals to colleagues already in Winnipeg. “So, we were able to bypass really long wait times be- cause we were able to triage them and say, ‘Let’s get this patient down a little more urgently,’” Dookeran says. “We have a system where we are able to actually ex- amine diabetics remotely by nurses stationed up north. They fly up to northern communities and they do a series of steps in the eye exam, including vision, eye pressures. They take pictures of the front of the eye, then they do a whole series of 14 images of the back of the eye – special scans. They put it on a secure server, then we log into that server at a later date, and we examine the patient remote- ly. We have all of their medical information and some of their history, based on what the nurses have acquired.” Then, Dookeran and other doctors can evaluate those patients and decide whether or not they need to travel south for further examination or refer them to a different specialist, such as a cataract surgeon. In some cases, they may only need to get a pair of glasses. Telehealth has since expanded to other areas. A wide range of allied health care professionals in Manitoba can now provide telehealth services.That includes clinical psychologists, speech-language pathologists, nutrition- ists and clinical social workers. “There are other telehealth programs, like e-consults where people will do similar things,” Dookeran says. “They’ll upload pictures, a brief history and they can work on triaging the patients to determine whether they need to come down for examination or if they can go to a dif- ferent kind of specialist.”
Going the Distance TELEHEALTH PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE TO REMOTE COMMUNITIES
About 130,000-140,000 virtu- al visits are being delivered a month, including by family phy- sicians and allied health profes- sionals, Doctors Manitoba says. It adds that the best conditions or concerns for a virtual visit include: • follow-ups for chronic conditions • follow-ups to in-person visits with- in two weeks • cold/flu symptoms • eye problems • minor injuries, aches and pains • skin conditions
• sleep or mood problems • mental health concerns • medication questions
A wide range of allied health professionals in Manitoba can now assist patients via telehealth services. The list includes: • Art therapist • Clinical psychologist • Clinical social worker • Communicative disorders assistant • Dietitian • Nutritionist • Mental health counselor • Psychotherapist • Speech-language pathologist
lembergvector / Adobe Stock
“Medical problems that cannot be treated without an in-person examination are not suitable for virtual visits,” Doctors Manitoba says. Those include patients suffering from chest pains, shortness of breath, sudden weakness or numbness, and muscle and joint injuries. Patients are recommended to call their doctors to see whether an in-person or virtual visit is best suited to treat their ailments. There are more than 195 telehealth sites across Mani- toba, which offer “reduced time away from home or work to receive care, reduced costs and risks associated with travel, and improved access to health services that may not be available in your home community or region, ac- cording to the Manitoba Telehealth website. “Most of the major cities in Canada are located near the (U.S.) border and we still have a whole population up north that would not otherwise have access to us,” Doo- keran says. “So, this provides them access to sub-spe- cialty care and they’re able to do that closer to home, without the travel, without leaving their communities, their supports, that sort of thing.” ■
lembergvector / Adobe Stock
7 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025
An open, honest conversation with members of their dental team can help can help to alleviate any anxiety a patient may feel about upcoming treatment.
DP / Adobe Stock
By Kristin Marand O ver the years, Dr. Jeff Hein and his team of assistants and hygienists have treated all manner of dental pa- tients, from those who don’t bat an eye to others who battle varying degrees of anxiety before they get in the chair. Anxiety may seem more common now than a few decades ago, but that is due in part to the growing awareness around mental health. Hein says that dentists are keenly aware that not everyone is comfortable visiting the dentist, and a significant portion of dental education is now devoted to the management of people’s pain and anxiety. As such, mental health supports in the field of dentistry are becoming more common. “Dentists come out of school understanding that patients are anxious about dental care, some more than others,” he says. “Anxiety for different people can come from different places. So for some, it might be cost-related. For others, it might be re- lated to a bad previous experience, or an experience in child- hood that scared them when they went to the dentist. It might be a fear of needles or perhaps the sounds that they hear in a dental office, like the drill, for example. And for others, it might be embarrassment. They might feel as though they’ll be judged negatively by a dental team for having neglected their mouth.” Hein acknowledges that there are many reasons people might neglect dental care, including financial hard times, drug abuse and abusive relationships. He cautions that avoiding routine up- keep can lead to more serious adverse health outcomes. Patients who put off visiting the dentist for a prolonged period are often driven to seek help due to pain. For a patient with anx- iety, the pain becomes severe enough to override their anxiety. But by the time a person is in pain, the treatment required to correct the problem is often more costly and extensive than if the issue had been discovered and diagnosed sooner. Say Ahhhhh! DEALING WITH DENTAL ANXIETY
“A person who avoids dental care, especially preventive care, like a regular checkup or cleaning, can end up with pain. They can end up with infections, and in some cases, can wind up los- ing some or all of their teeth as a result of that,” he explains. “I’ve seen it happen to patients of all ages. When a patient is faced with losing their teeth, the impact can be devastating, not only psychologically, but also to their ability to chew food, to get good nutrition, and to smile, which can affect their employ- ment opportunities. There are deep implications to not having a healthy mouth and a good smile.” Hein explains that there are many ways to address patients’ anxieties, but it begins with understanding the cause. If the source is financial worry, your dentist can potentially arrange a payment plan to spread out the cost. The new Canadian dental care plan can also provide coverage. If a patient’s anxiety stems from sounds in the clinic, Hein rec- ommends using earplugs, noise-cancelling headphones or playing relaxing music in the treatment room. Comfort items, like stuffed animals for children or a support person, are often welcome. Taking a patient directly into a treatment room and eliminat- ing the waiting room period can be reassuring. As can a calm, soothing environment and a careful explanation of what to ex- pect during treatment. Even the simple distractions of watching television or using virtual reality glasses can go a long way. For those with more serious anxiety, an anti-anxiety medica- tion, which any dentist can prescribe (as long as there are no medical contraindications), or sedation can be an option. One of the best ways for patients to deal with any anxiety they may be feeling is to discuss the issue with members of their dental team ― which typically includes dental assistants, hygienists and therapists ― prior to being seen by their dentist. “An open, honest discussion with your dental team about your anxiety ahead of time can really help,” Hein says. ■
Dr. Jeff Hein says that there are many ways to address what a dental patient may be feeling, but it begins with understanding the cause. Photo supplied by the Manitoba Dental Association.
One of the best ways for patients to deal with any anxiety they may be feeling is to discuss the issue with members of their dental team ― which typically includes dental assistants, hygienists and therapists ― prior to being seen by their dentist.
freeslab / Adobe Stock
3324 Portage Ave. (204) 837 8184 • https://grenkowdental.ca email: office@grenkowdental.ca
8 Celebrating Allied Health Professionals
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2025
West End Welcomes New Health Clinic BALMORAL CLINIC LOOKING TO GROW, ADD NEW PATIENTS
By Jim Bender T he Balmoral Clinic is seeking more patients who need family doctors. The locally owned and operated medical facility opened this past January. “So, it’s been 10 months,” says owner/director Kris Allen. “It’s been good. It’s going in the right direction, just not as fast as we would like it to. So (we want to) give it a little jump start on the numbers. But it’s fine. We’re still busy, we’re still good.” The clinic features three doctors – Dr. Emeka Enyia, his wife, Dr. Okiemute Enyia, and Dr. Mohsin Rana. “We had a bit of a different situation because we had three doctors who all started at the same time with no patient load,” Allen says. “So, we’re building three practices from ground zero. We have too much doctor power and not enough new patients coming in as fast as we would like. We’ll get there. We’re on the right path, but we want to kick it up a notch. It’s growing, we just want to speed it up a bit” Allen recruited all three doctors, who had been practising in the United Kingdom, himself. “They’re not new grads, they (had) been practising for some time over there,” says Allen, a pharmacist and business owner. “I got them through connections.” The clinic currently has six examination rooms. “We are expanding, actually. We need more space because the physicians have some areas of special interest and we need more exam rooms and space to do those procedures” Allen says. “So, we’re expanding to accommodate those services … It’s a lot of work but we like our challenges around here.” The doctors have their own areas of special interest beyond the normal treatments. “We have minor injury and minor surgery procedures (such as removing skin tags) that Dr. Rana will do,” says Arlene Garcia, gen- eral manager for the clinic and a former pharmacist assistant who once worked for Manitoba Health. “And of course, (Dr. Okiemute Enyia) is doing IUD insertions and women’s health stuff.” Dr. Rana also speaks Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu, Garcia adds. The clinic also offers nurse practitioner services for opioid ag- onist therapy. Flu, COVID and other vaccinations are also avail- able there. “We just want to expand our reach,” Allen says. “We want to point out that we’re open seven days a week, including stat
holidays. So, we’re extremely accessible.” The clinic also offers free on-site parking and an on-site pharmacy. The clinic, which is located at 555 Balmoral St., is not part of the recently-renovated New Balmoral Hotel, which has a differ- ent address. “Because we are the Balmoral Clinic and it used to be the Bal- moral Hotel, everybody gets us confused so that is kind of frus- trating, but we are not related at all,” Allen says. “We are the clinic that is next to the former Jumbo Pizza loca- tion … Weirdly enough, they (renovated the hotel) just around the same time as us (opening). That was just strangely coincidental. We are not related whatsoever. We’re a different organization.”
Allen has also made the nearby Health Sciences Centre aware that its emergency department could take advantage of the clin- ic’s proximity for patients who could be treated at a walk-in. “We have actually reached out to the HSC emerg department to say, if you need somewhere to refer patients, not only are we available seven days a week, including walk-ins, but if you have patients coming through there that don’t have a family doctor, we can help in that capacity, too,” he says. The clinic includes three full-time and one part-time employee. “Our services are not confined to people in the West End,” Al - len says. “Anybody from around Winnipeg or anyone from out of town who want to come see us, come on in.” ■
(From left to right) Dr. Okiemute Enyia, Dr. Emeka Enyia, Dr. Mohsin Rana and owner/director Kris Allen outside the Balmoral Clinic in the West End. Photo by Darcy Finley
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