ABOUT US
LIVING LONGER … LIVING BETTER
ABOUT US
LIVING LONGER … LIVING BETTER
At C-health our team of medical specialists and allied healthcare professionals work together to offer the best integrative care to each and every patient.
WHO WE ARE
C-health is committed to access, innovation, and system enhancement in healthcare. At C-health we are more than just a group of doctors – we are innovative thinkers that challenge traditional norms with the goal of delivering quality care in a new and sustainable way. We are not just focused on delivering care today, but we are envisioning and creating the healthcare of tomorrow. We do this with a strong commitment to working within, supporting, and enhancing the public health system.
At C-health we believe all Albertans deserve access to a comprehensive and integrated model of healthcare.
MISSION AND VISION
C-health is committed to leadership in our communities, and across Alberta, to enhance specialist care access and integration with family doctors and the wider healthcare system.
OUR VISION
LIVING LONGER … LIVING BETTER
Access, Quality, and Sustainability
It is said that the greatest wealth is health. As such C-health is focused on evaluating and enhancing health through Patient Care, System Enhancement, and Innovation. We are committed to Access, Quality, and Sustainability. C-health works across healthcare providers, organizations, and systems to provide integrated and comprehensive care.
Everyone from our physicians to our administrative team follows these 10 fundamentals to ensure the best possible experience for our patients
C-Health Fundamentals
1. Timely Access to Specialist Care
At C-health we believe that quick access to our team of specialists reduces patient anxiety and takes advantage of the best opportunity to educate patients – when they are actively thinking about their medical concerns and are most likely to take action. By providing timely access to our team of experts the likelihood of patients going to emergency departments is reduced, relieving strain on our healthcare system.
2. Multi-Specialty Team
Working as a team allows doctors to tap on each other’s shoulders to review cases and discuss strategies. A multispecialty team is a requirement for a patient to receive comprehensive care. Each practitioner brings something to the table – by building an infrastructure that encourages collaboration, we enhance the support for physicians and the quality of care for patients. We have Emergency Doctors, General Internal Medicine Specialists, Geriatricians, Cardiologists and Endocrinologists. We also have 5 interpreting pulmonary specialists that read our PFTs and provide clinical guidance. We are partnered with one of the largest Radiology groups in Calgary (EFW) and have frequent interactions with their nuclear radiologists.
3. Multidisciplinary Team
At C-health our team includes registered nurses, pharmacists, cardio techs, registered dietitians, and other healthcare professionals to deliver world-class care to our patients. Our multidisciplinary model brings together medical specialists with an allied health team to offer integrated care. We incorporate allied healthcare professionals in the community to improve patient access to meeting their healthcare needs. Each member of the team is responsible for providing excellent quality of care.
4. Patient-Centered Care
At C-health we keep our patients at the heart of everything we do. We focus all processes to ensure that the needs of the patient are met. This includes trying to minimize patient wait time in the clinic, ensuring that information is communicated across providers to reduce duplication of information collection, and ensuring that patients have access to a comprehensive website and education resources, to offer programs to support patient care and education.
5. Culturally Competent Care
C-health mirrors the diversity seen in our communities. We speak 17 different languages and the members of our team appreciate cultural nuances. Our team is always open to learning about cultural norms and optimal ways to deliver care to individuals with respect and sensitivity.
6. Efficient Service Delivery
Our patients’ time is valuable; we strive to respect their time throughout their healthcare journey with C-health. Our model schedules their care in a manner that reduces wait times, improves access, and respects our patients’ other commitments.
7. Highly Functional Environment
C-health strives to create environments where the doctors have access to the staff and resources, they need to make a diagnosis and provide care. Our doctors are focused on delivering care and the management team deals with ensuring they have what they need to deliver high-quality and timely care, with the timely return of information to the GP.
8. Strategically Located/Distributed Delivery
C-health clinics are located at the intersection of major roads for convenience. There is ample public transit access and lots of parking. This makes it convenient for patients from across the city to access our services. At our central facility in Calgary, we have sophisticated testing modalities that could not be replicated elsewhere – this includes treadmill labs, nuclear cardiology facilities, and PFT machines. However, in the hopes of enhancing care for patients in their local communities, C-health has launched several satellite clinics and it works with allied health providers in the community.
9. Diverse Referral Base
Our patients come to us from over 800 Family Practitioners and all Emergency Departments in Calgary. C-health is integrated into the broader Calgary healthcare environment ensuring that patients receive the investigations and care they need. As C-health opens in Edmonton we are excited to welcome new partners to join us in providing world-class comprehensive care to the people of Alberta.
10. Integration into the broader Healthcare Network
C-health creates external collaborations both within and outside Alberta Health Services (AHS) to ensure patients receive the care they need from the best provider to deliver that care. We have strong partnerships with the Atrial Fibrillation Clinic, and the Diabetes Hypertension and Cholesterol Clinic (DHCC). We collaborate with Certified Diabetes Educators in the community to enable our patients to receive care close to home.
PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE
Comprehensive Care through our Multiple Divisions
At C-health our goal is to provide our patients with complete comprehensive care. We provide this through the collaboration of our multiple divisions:
- C-era Cardiometabolic Evaluation and Risk Assessment Clinic,
- C-endo Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic
- C-impact Multi-Specialty Community Clinic
- C-health Research Innovations in Clinical Trials, Diagnostics, and Care Delivery
- C-diagnostics Cardiometabolic and Cardiopulmonary Testing
Consistent Care Across Providers
There is an art to medicine and a science. While it is important to nurture the art of medicine, it is important to do so in a manner that builds upon what is known. There are so many ways in which care can be delivered. Science has shown us that certain interventions are more effective than others and have the secondary benefit of reducing complications, reducing death, and reducing morbidity. So, we focus first and foremost on ensuring that those interventions – the fundamentals of care- are delivered first.
At C-health we practice evidence-based medicine. We follow guidelines. And we do this consistently across all our providers. Regardless of which doctor or allied healthcare professional you see – rest assured that the care you receive will be consistent with current practice standards.
Collaborating to Enhance System Capacity
We recognize that for our patients to receive good care, they need to receive good care not only through us, but through their GP, and through their Primary Care Network (PCN). Hence, we at C-health have taken on the challenge of trying to improve healthcare system resources with regards to quality of care and access to care. One example of this is our Professional Diabetes Education Program through C-endo. Many CDEs from PCNs and community pharmacies come to work with and learn from the experienced CDEs at our clinic to improve the care patients can receive close to home. We also collaborate with Calgary Laboratory Services (CLS) to both interpret ECGs but also help enhance the quality of ECGs done through CLS by offering an online training program to their team.
Supporting Knowledge Development and Innovation
At C-health we have an active research program and get involved in trials that change thinking. We are first and foremost a clinical organization. Our involvement in clinical trials keeps us on the cutting edge and offers our patients access to new and innovative therapies. We also have an active quality assurance program; we are constantly evaluating how we deliver care and if we have met the needs of the patients we care for.
LEADERSHIP
DR. ALYKHAN NANJI, Medical Director
Driven by a desire to make the maximum impact on society, Dr. Nanji found himself drawn to the medical field in the form of Internal Medicine, building a career as a General Internal Medicine specialist. Having considered himself a “Health Care Entrepreneur,” Dr. Nanji wanted to open a clinic that was solely focused on patient care and research. To do this, Dr. Nanji obtained his MBA from Wharton Business School and Master of Public Health from Harvard. With those qualifications, his dream of building a successful patient-centered clinic was on its way.
Dr. Nanji believes in living the life he encourages for his patients, including daily exercise (yoga, kayaking, and climbing), healthy eating, and a work-life balance. Dr. Nanji is a committed life-long learner and educator; here are a few highlights of his career and education:
- MD from McMaster University (1994)
- Harvard University, Masters in Public Health
- Wharton Business School, MBA
- Calgary Foundation, Health, Seniors, and Special Needs Committee
- Mount Royal University, Board of Governors
- Harvard University and Wharton Business School, Alumni Interviewer
- Immigrant of Distinction Award
- American Public Health Association (APHA)
MAUREEN THOMAS, Manager of Administration
Maureen Thomas has a background as a paralegal and moved into healthcare administration over 25 years ago. In 2012, she joined the C-era Medical Clinic and is now the C-health Manager of Administration overseeing the C-era, C-endo, and C-impact division needs. Originally from Montreal, Maureen has called Calgary home for several decades now. She is grateful to work alongside such wonderful physicians and staff.
ELYSE MORTON, Manager of Endocrinology, Research & Innovation
After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the University of Alberta, Elyse completed an 11-month internship in Calgary that saw her become a registered dietitian through the College of Dietitians of Alberta. Beginning her career in endocrinology and clinical research in 2009, Elyse soon realized the significant impact she could have beyond her current role as a dietitian, diabetes educator, and research coordinator, within the health system.
Passionate about endocrinology, leadership, and utilizing research and innovation to improve access to quality specialist care services and health outcomes, Elyse soon moved into her current role as the Manager of Endocrinology, Research and Innovation and has been an integral part of the development and growth of both the C-health Research division and the C-endo division. With a lifelong commitment to enhancing her ability to be an effective leader in health care, Elyse continues with her education in master level courses in the areas of leadership and business administration; here are a few highlights of her career and education:
- RD from University of Alberta
- Member of Dietitians of Canada
- Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE)
- Member of Canadian Diabetes Educator Certification Board (CDECB)
ROBYN TYRRELL, Manager of Human Resources & Operations
Robyn started her professional career in the financial sector before taking time off to enjoy family time with her husband and three amazing sons.
In 2007, when she re-joined the workforce, her path crossed with Dr. Nanji who had a courageous vision to change how healthcare could be delivered and her career changed direction. Having always been passionate about medicine and healthcare, it was an easy decision to join the C-health team.
Since 2007, Robyn has enjoyed many opportunities within C-health and is now the Manager of Operations for the C-era division and Manager of Human Resources for all C-health divisions.
As a lifelong learner, Robyn continues her education in leadership and human resources.
CAITLIN HENDERSON, Manager of Edmonton Operations
After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the University of Alberta, Caitlin completed an 11-month internship in Calgary that saw her become a Dietitian through the College of Dietitians of Alberta. Caitlin is passionate about supporting her patients throughout their healthcare journey and ensuring they live the life they want. She is committed to professional growth and is always open for feedback from her patients and fellow professionals; here are a few highlights of her career and education:
- RD from University of Alberta
- Member of College of Dietitians of Alberta
- Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE)
C-HEALTH REPORT TO COMMUNITY
At C-health we believe everyone deserves access to a comprehensive and integrated model of healthcare. Our patients have access to a dedicated team of medical specialists with a commitment to service delivery, innovation, and system enhancement. Here, our team continues to work together to provide everyone with timely access to the highest quality care – the right care provided at the right time and in the right place.