New Brunswick·NewOinpegitjoig, also known as Pabineau First Nation, will host a new health clinic aimed at helping residents access rheumatology care. Oinpegitjoig First Nation will host Vitalité doctor once a monthSam Farley · CBC News · Posted: Nov 25, 2025 3:45 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Jean-Phillip Deslauriers, centre, will lead a new rheumatology care clinic in Oinpegitjoig. (Vitalite Health Network)Oinpegitjoig, also known as Pabineau First Nation, will host a new health clinic aimed at helping residents access rheumatology care.The clinic, run by Dr. Jean-Phillip Deslauriers with Vitalité Health Network, will be similar to one he already operates in Ugpi’ganjig, also known as Eel River Bar First Nation. The goal is to diagnose and treat inflammatory or autoimmune diseases affecting joints, muscles and bones, such as arthritis, lupus and fibromyalgia.Deslauriers said the first time he treated a patient from a First Nations community, he was taken aback by the delay between the onset of symptoms and the first assessment the patient was able to get.“I thought the time was considerable and I wanted to see if there was anything we could do to try to avoid this similar instance in the future,” Deslauriers said in an interview with CBC Radio’s Shift. He said his clinics are open access, meaning patients do not need any prior referral from a physician or any previous tests. Deslauriers has already held two clinics at the location in Oinpegitjoig, which is about 10 kilometres south of Bathurst, but now it will be a permanent once-a-month fixture.There will also be a time slot during each clinic when members of other First Nations are allowed to come too, he said. Oinpegitjoig First Nation Chief Terry Richardson said he’s heard nothing but good feedback from his community about the rheumatology clinic. (Erica Butler/CBC)Oinpegitjoig Chief Terry Richardson said his community has an aging population, just like the rest of New Brunswick.“We’re excited to have more care,” Richardson said, adding that the community already has a nurse practitioner.“The members are happy that it’s another service they’re able to access.”Richardson said the new clinic not requiring a referral will make a difference.“In our experience with members, when they’re going to get that referral, it’s sort of like a turn-off,” he said.”It’s a long period of time.”Deslauriers said the need is there and First Nations see a higher prevalence of autoimmune diseases. Now with the ability to get treatment in their community by Deslauriers and his team, which includes nurses from Oinpegitjoig, he said patients will face fewer barriers.Deslauriers said the longer it takes a patient to be treated for autoimmune diseases can mean that treatment has less of an effect.Deslauriers said he is the only rheumatologist in northern New Brunswick and has 3,500 active patients. In the future, he said he hopes to open more clinics to service the Acadian Peninsula, Campbellton and Dalhousie areas.“I travel and I go see my patients closer to where they live and that’s another barrier that we can remove,” he said.ABOUT THE AUTHORSam Farley is a Fredericton-based reporter at CBC New Brunswick. Originally from Boston, he is a journalism graduate of the University of King’s College in Halifax. He can be reached at sam.farley@cbc.caWith files from Shift
Rheumatology care clinic expanding to second First Nation in northern N.B.
