Mobile Health Clinic Victoria
Doctors of the World deployed a Mobile Health Clinic in Victoria, British Columbia in Spring 2018 to provide primary health care to our most marginalized community members.
WHO WE ARE
Doctors of the World operates a Mobile Health Clinic that travels Greater Victoria, including Sidney and Sooke, offering primary health care to people in need where they are: in parks, shelters, streets…
The Clinic is staffed by a Registered Nurse with support from outreach workers and volunteers. We work with more than 10 community partners to ensure our services are complementary and help bridge the gaps in primary care services.
WHO WE SERVE
People accessing the Clinic often face challenges:
- Experiencing homelessness
- Behavioural and/or mental health problems
- Alcohol and other drug use
- Lack of trust in health system/public authorities
- Insufficient resources as new adults
- Rejection from family, friends, community
The needs of marginalized people in Victoria
Doctors of the World Canada conducted a needs assessment in September 2016 in Victoria BC. Findings showed that people who urgently needed support for healthcare services included:
- People with substance use disorder
- People experiencing homelessness
- Indigenous population
- Sex workers
In the context of the province facing a shortage of health care professionals, these marginalized groups face additional challenges when accessing the public health system. Focus groups conducted during the need assessment highlight the lack of culturally and ethnically sensitivity of the public system health providers, posing a significant barrier to marginalized people reaching out for services.
WHAT WE DO
Doctors of the World focus on harm reduction, health promotion and education to empower and support people to take care of themselves and reduce risks.
Aboard the Clinic, in a private and safe environment, Nurses develop relationships, provide care, and listen without judgment.
The contribution of community partners and volunteers is essential to the intervention model. A volunteer and/or outreach worker from a community partner is onboard for each outing. Volunteers assist the Nurse by welcoming people, distributing information and harm reduction supplies and creating a supportive space.
Services onboard include:
- Wound care
- STI testing
- Over-the-counter medications
- Vitamins
- Harm reduction supplies (condoms, safer injection and inhalation materials)
- Foot care
- Vaccinations
- Contraceptives and more…
Our Impact
Since the beginning, in 2018:
452 Outings
4160 Visits to the Mobile Health Clinic
1062 Consultations with the nurse (in 2018 & 2019)
1346 Individuals visited the Mobile Health Clinic (in 2018 & 2019)
Offer your support
By making a donation, you contribute to the Mobile Health Clinic in Victoria, BC providing our most marginalized community members with access to healthcare.
QUESTIONS?
Please email the Volunteer & Logistics Manager (Victoria, BC) at tina.price@doctorsoftheworld.ca
Volunteer
*VOLUNTEER PROGRAM UPDATE IN RESPONSE TO COVID 19*
Please note, we are not actively recruiting nor receiving applications for new volunteers at this time.
Information about volunteer positions and the application process will be posted here once volunteer recruitment recommences. We appreciate your patience and understanding during these unfamiliar times.
Our Mobile Health Clinic is powered by
About our partnership with Telus
- Since the beginning of the Mobile Health Clinic was enriched by the extraordinary expertise from TELUS and TELUS Health. Telus shares our passion for innovation, striving for flexibility to respond better to populations facing multiple challenges.
- The Mobile Health Clinics are equipped with electronic medical record (EMR) technology and TELUS LTE Wi-Fi network technology to assist onboard healthcare providers in delivering immediate and quality care.
- The vehicles include an examination area, a computer workstation for healthcare providers, and a consultation area.
- This partnership now unites the mission of commitment and social responsibility of TELUS to the mission Doctors of the World. TELUS has become our most important technological, financial and logistic partner.