BC Gov News

Yasmin Jetha, vice-president community services, Vancouver Coastal Health –

“RISE Community Health Centre will be an important part of the network of care serving residents of Renfrew-Collingwood and surrounding communities. The new centre complements Vancouver Coastal Health’s Evergreen Community Health Centre to provide increased access to residents needing quality and timely primary care.”

Dr. Kathleen Ross, president, Doctors of BC –

“We look forward to the integration of the RISE Community Health Centre in this community to provide more timely access to health-care services for all while supporting those important long-term relationships and continuity of care that result in better outcomes for patients.”

Dr. Fiona Duncan, physician lead, Vancouver Division of Family Practice –

“The Vancouver Division is thankful to the Collingwood Neighbourhood House Society for participating in this innovation and to the medical community for lending their voice in its development. We see opportunity in learning from the model as the network for patient care further evolves in Renfrew-Collingwood and the surrounding communities.”

Greg Allen, board chair, Collingwood Neighbourhood House Society –

“Collingwood Neighbourhood House has been at the heart of the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood for decades, working with local residents to improve the social determinants of health locally and giving people a sense of belonging. Opening RISE Community Health Centre gives us the satisfaction of knowing we have yet one more way to work with local residents to help improve their lives and give them the tools to achieve a healthier life.”

Sandra Bodenhamer, director, RISE Community Health Centre (CHC) –

“RISE CHC understands that the social determinants of health greatly influence individual and community health. In addition to providing direct medical care, RISE staff work with individuals and groups to address underlying social and economic factors that can negatively impact health and, in doing so, supports the health and resilience of the Renfrew-Collingwood community.”

The new community health centre in Renfrew-Collingwood is operated by the Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH) Society.

• Government will provide approximately $2.7 million in annual operating funding once RISE is fully operational. In addition, the Province has approved one-time funding of $1.1 million, mainly for renovation costs.
• RISE stands for Resilience, Integration, Social Justice and Equity.
• RISE’s target populations are youth, Indigenous peoples, newcomers, isolated seniors, gender diverse people (LGBTQ2SI+), sex workers, those who are inadequately housed, people with mental health concerns and people with addictions.
• RISE has had 1,126 patient visits through a clinical space located at CNH from November 2019 to May 2020.
• The hours of operation are:
  • Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m.  to 5 p.m.
  • Wednesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • The first and third Saturday of the month from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Services available include:
  • New client intake and screening visits
  • Regular/follow-up visits with clients concerning:
    • New symptom or diagnosis
    • Chronic disease management, including diabetes, asthma and heart disease
    • Pregnancy/prenatal/postpartum care
    • Contraception advice and treatment options
    • Mental health assessment/treatment/support
    • Substance use and addiction treatment/support, including opioid antagonist therapy
    • Medication prescription refills
    • Screening, i.e. sexually transmitted infections, well child checks, cervical cancer/PAP smear
    • Treatments/procedures, i.e. IUD insertion, cerumen (ear wax) removal
    • Referrals to medical specialist and social services and completing forms
    • Support with systems navigation (health care and social systems) with a community health worker
    • Support with social determinants of health (finance, housing, education, etc.) with a community health worker
    • Outreach to local community partners
    • Harm Reduction supplies
• With the partnership of the Vancouver Division of Family Practice, the centre is facilitating attachment for residents seeking a patient-centre primary-care provider.
• RISE Community Health Centre is working with the Vancouver Division of Family Practice and Vancouver Coastal Health to support primary care network planning in East Vancouver.