A $300,000 capital investment from the Rotary Club of Toronto Charitable Foundation helps Sherbourne Health Centre build a new and enhanced mobile health clinic for Toronto.
TORONTO, Mar. 24, 2017 – Sherbourne Health Centre has received a $300,000 capital investment from The Rotary Club of Toronto to help build a state-of-the-art mobile health clinic for its Health Bus program.
Sherbourne’s brand new mobile clinic will provide enhanced services, address a wider array of health issues and promote greater continuity of care in the delivery of primary care, mental health services and health education.
This “Health Bus 3.0” is the latest iteration of The Rotary Club of Toronto Health Bus, which has been in operation since 1996. The first Bus was operated by the Wellesley Hospital until its closure, at which time it transferred to Sherbourne Health Centre in 2002.
Key features of the customized vehicle include a private and fully equipped exam room to offer quality on-board care, a separate consultation area for mental health counselling and health education visits, wheelchair accessibility in the form of an integrated chairlift, and temperature regulation and weather proofing for all-season functionality.
These enhancements to the Bus will make it possible for the program to:
The new Bus is currently being produced by a specialty company in Saskatchewan. Sherbourne hopes the new vehicle will be on the road by late summer-early fall followed by a launch event. This is a significant advancement in Sherbourne’s Health Bus program and a new era of mobile health services for homeless, under-housed and under-served communities in the city.
Quotes
“Health Bus 3.0 is purposefully designed to address the complex needs of our clients. The new model will offer comfort and privacy to clients, optimized space for clinicians, safety for clients and staff, and added features so we can successfully adapt to the healthcare needs of our evolving and diverse communities.”
– Chantel Marshall, Director, Urban Health, Sherbourne Health Centre
“Our Health Bus program has been instrumental in increasing health care access for street-involved people and connecting clients with primary care at Sherbourne. Allowing clinicians to practice at full scope on the Health Bus will contribute to a health system priority of diverting clients from emergency departments for conditions best treated in primary care. Essentially the Health Bus will evolve from being a connector to services, to functioning as a ‘Sherbourne on Wheels’ program that takes full primary care services to the people and places of most need.”
– Hazelle Palmer, CEO, Sherbourne Health Centre
“As a supporter of the Health Bus program for over 20 years, The Rotary Club of Toronto is proud to renew our investment in the new Health Bus. Our club is passionate about projects that support and improve quality of life for the most vulnerable members of our communities. We believe the Health Bus program plays a crucial role by bringing healthcare services to people who otherwise may not be able to get them.”
– Susan Hunter, President, The Rotary Club of Toronto
Quick Facts – Why a Health Bus?
About Sherbourne Health Centre
Sherbourne Health Centre is an urban health agency in downtown Toronto that provides holistic primary care and chronic disease management, mental health services, health promotion and education, and outreach and social supports. Sherbourne’s doors are open to everyone, with a focus on the LGBTQ community, homeless and under-housed people and newcomers to Canada, whose complex needs are often not met by traditional health care. Sherbourne combines high quality clinical care with responsive, culturally appropriate community development programs that bring barrier-free services to people in the surrounding communities who need it most.
Contact
Jamie Louie
Communications Officer
Sherbourne Health Centre
Tel: 416-324-4100 ext. 5270
jlouie@sherbourne.on.ca