Riverside Medical is celebrating becoming a finalist for the 2022 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction in the Health and Wellness category.
The clinic is operated by Dr. Rithesh Ram and Dr. Veronique Ram, and is celebrating five years in the community. Rithesh is proud of the accomplishment.
“We were selected as finalists against an intense amount of competition, and are up against competitors that have seemingly unlimited pocketbooks: The City of Grande Prairie, the entire County of Parkland, and a Fortune 500 company,” he said.
Riverside Medical brought a unique model of delivery to Rural Alberta, establishing a Patient Medical Home model clinic.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to being distinguished as a Patient Medical Home, we continue to offer same day and walk-in appointments and have the largest per physician panel of patients within a 150 kilometre radius. Moreover, as a result of our accessibility and inclusivity, we have patients travelling over 200 kilometres for health care visits,” he said.
He adds, even during the height of the pandemic, the clinic thrived while other clinics throughout the province were closing.
“We grew as a business, hiring more staff and taking on new medical providers. Opening our clinic has greatly improved local access to health care and decreased the amount of unnecessary and costly emergency department visits,” he said.
The clinic has also been active in the community, supporting and volunteering for many different causes, and donating to schools and many other community organizations.
It also established Diwali celebrations in the community.
The Alberta Business Awards of Distinction were established in 1992 and were originally presented by the province. Today, the Alberta Chamber of Commerce has taken over the program.
The Canadian Badlands Passion Play won the Arts & Culture Award of Distinction in 2015.
Also nominated in the Health and Wellness category were the City of Grande Prairie, Fluor (Calgary), and Sicurica (Parkland County).
The awards will be presented on June 24 at a ceremony in Edmonton.