New health centre serves military veterans, RCMP
The opening of Echelon Wellness’s new clinic on Legget Drive was carried out with a piper on hand. The centre is accepting veterans and RCMP members as new patients.
Military veterans have a new place to seek health care. Echelon Wellness opened its sixth Canadian clinic on Nov. 6 on Legget Drive. The centre also accepts active and retired RCMP officers.
Igor Gimelshtein, the CEO of the company, said Echelon Wellness is Canada’s first healthcare clinic dedicated exclusively to military veterans and RCMP. It offers treatments and services in a one-stop shop, providing physiotherapy, chiropractic care, disability assessments, acupuncture, and many other procedures, including individual, group and virtual counselling.
While veterans and RCMP members could visit other health care centres, Echelon staff — some of them veterans themselves —are familiar with the kinds of issues that are associated with military and police service. Maybe more valuable for some clients is Echelon’s ability to take care of administrative tasks, including billing systems for their care.
“We seek the approvals on their behalf,” Gimelshtein said. “They pay nothing out of pocket. If they’re not going to a veteran-focused clinic, the administration is cumbersome. We want it to be aseasy as possible so they can focus on feeling better.”
He said clients don’t need a referral from their family doctor and they keep 100 per cent of the entitlements they receive from the government.
Echelon opened its first location inBedford, N.S. in 2024 and Kanata is location number six. Gimelshtein said staff members include nurse practitioners, physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, registered massage therapists and psychotherapists. There is space available for new clients at the new location at 555 Legget.
“We’re hiring high quality staff — people who deeply care about our purpose,” said the CEO.
The addition of the Ottawa site made sense, he said.
“It’s where veterans live and work,” he said. “We want to be where they are underserved and where there’s a density of veteran population. And in the National Capital Region we can also help serve active and retired RCMP.”
Other locations he has identified for future Echelon sites are Petawawa, Ont., Winnipeg and Victoria. The company also offers a national virtual mental health platform that can help clients who live far from in-person services.
James Smith, a retired master warrant officer, spoke to a packed room at the Kanata office launch.
Smith said veterans will sense some of the camaraderie they likely felt as a member of the Armed Forces when they visit for care.
“Echelon is filling a gap in people’s medical and psychological health needs,” he said.
Sue McLean, the service officer at the Legion’s Kanata branch, was in attendance at the launch and said the new site will be important to retirees from the Armed Forces.
“I think it’s a great thing because they are catering to veterans’ needs,” she said. “I think they will be more understanding.”
McLean said the company seems to have a good reputation already, mentioning their location in Kingston.
“I hear it does great things elsewhere,” she said.
For more information, visit www.echelonwellness.ca.
