Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services, along with community partners, is pleased to announce a key milestone for rural communities with the grand opening of the NL Health Services Rural Innovation Hub. Located in Grand Falls-Windsor, the state-of-the-art facility was created to support the development, testing, and implementation of innovative approaches to improve rural health care and foster economic development within the region. 

The Rural Innovation Hub will serve as a collaborative space where health-care professionals, researchers and community partners can work together to develop forward-thinking solutions that address challenges facing rural communities.  

“Our new government is committed to supporting frontline health care providers and providing care closer to home,” said the Honourable Lela Evans, Minister of Health and Community Services. “The Rural Innovation Hub will ensure providers can practice their skills and learn new techniques close to home so that their patients receive the best care with the fewest disruptions.” 

“Everyone deserves quality care, no matter where they live,” said Ron Johnson, CEO (Interim) of NL Health Services. “The Rural Innovation Hub is grounded in the principle of providing care closer to home. By giving clinicians in rural communities access to advanced training, technology, and simulation opportunities locally, we can strengthen patient care, while reducing the need for travel for both health-care providers and patients.” 

Located within the Excite Building, the NL Health Services Rural Innovation Hub provides an environment where health-care innovation can thrive, while creating new opportunities to enhance service delivery in rural settings. 

The facility features a simulation training lab that replicates a hospital environment. It is designed to support health-care providers serving rural and remote communities through hands-on demonstration and training, helping clinicians prepare for a wide range of clinical situations. The simulation lab will also support continued learning, allowing for care delivery to maintain pace with evolving technology and practices.  

“Our government is ensuring that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians outside of the overpass have access to quality health care,” said the Honourable Chris Tibbs, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change, and MHA for the District of Grand Falls-Windsor – Buchans. “The Rural Innovation Hub will enhance the quality of care for the people in my district as well as those in surrounding areas. This new hub will also encourage economic growth in the region.”  

“The partnership behind this project is truly impactful, with each organization playing a vital role in its success. The Innovation Hub is a key pillar of the community, supporting a broader innovation ecosystem. It represents an important step toward building a lasting culture of innovation and economic growth in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.” said Mike Browne, Mayor of the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor.

Plans for the NL Health Services Rural Innovation Hub were designed for scalability. In addition to the simulation lab, future phases of the facility include human factors testing, clinical trials expansion and increased industry collaboration to support NL Health Services’ clinicians as well as partner organizations. 

The Rural Innovation Hub is a collaborative partnership between NL Health Services, the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor, Memorial University Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University Faculty of Nursing, the South and Central Health Foundation, Excite Corporation, the Northpine Foundation, and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.   

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