Residents and families of Victoria will soon have better access to day-to-day primary health care services with the opening of the new Luther Court Community Health Center (CHC).
Services will begin on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, prior to the completion of the CHC expansion and renovation.
Work is underway to create 260 square meters (2,800 square feet) of purpose-built clinical space at Luther Court’s current location at 1525 Cedar Hill Cross Rd. The center is expected to open in June 2022 and operate at full capacity. by 2024-25.
The Luther Court CHC team will initially expand to include a doctor and three nurses who will begin tethering patients and offering virtual appointments next week. Patients requiring in-person care will be able to receive services in a temporary off-site space. The expansion will also add more registered nurses and other allied health care providers to the team.
“We are delighted that the Luther Court Society is already beginning the work of connecting the people of Victoria to the health care services they need in preparation for the completion of the Community Health Center refurbishment,” said Adrian Dix, health Minister. “As the company adds a community health center to its existing services, residents will have one more place to go to get the daily health care they need closer to home.
Once the center opens at its main location, approximately nine additional full-time equivalent clinical health care providers will be recruited to join existing staff at Luther Court to provide comprehensive primary care services with an emphasis on older people and people living with mental health issues. and substance use conditions. The team will include family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, a licensed practical nurse, a mental health and addictions worker, a community health outreach worker, a dietitian and an occupational therapist.
In addition, approximately six full-time equivalent support staff, including a primary health care director, will assist the clinical care team in delivering health promotion and wellness services and increasing access to housing. intergenerational.
The center will begin by opening Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Government of British Columbia will provide more than $2.2 million in operating budget once the center reaches full capacity. The province also provided one-time funding of more than $2.1 million for renovation costs.
“We know that in Victoria it is often difficult for people to get the health care they need when they need it most,” said Rob Fleming, MPP for Victoria-Swan Lake. “To meet this challenge, the new Community Health Center is a crucial part of the government’s commitment to provide better and faster access to health care across the province.
“The people of Greater Victoria deserve high-quality, accessible health care and that’s why our government is working hard to create solutions that meet their needs,” said Murray Rankin, MPP for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. . “BC’s primary care strategy builds on the good work that community organizations like Luther Court are already doing and will help our families and seniors.
Community health centers are not-for-profit or cooperative health care organizations that provide integrated, people-centered services and programs that reflect the needs of the communities they serve.
Since 1979, the Luther Court Society has provided an innovative model of care to improve the quality of life for older adults by providing housing options, care services and community interaction. The company is known for helping seniors live and age in place, and offers a variety of programs such as long-term care and independent and assisted living services. An affordable intergenerational housing project is also planned.
The Luther Court Society has a long history of collaborating with local community groups and organizations, with post-secondary apprenticeship partners and is a member of several collectives such as the BC Association of Community Health Centres. Recognized as a local health centre, the expansion of Luther Court into a community health center will help increase access to primary care, health promotion and wellness services, further meeting the needs from the community.
The Luther Court CHC is a collaboration between the Department of Health, Island Health, the Victoria Division of Family Practice and the Luther Court Society and will provide comprehensive primary care services to the local community. It will be part of the Victoria Primary Care Network and will be governed, owned and operated by the Luther Court Society.
Fast facts:
- There are approximately 100 community health centers run by health authorities and 30 community health centers run by the community in British Columbia.
- These centers focus on the integration of services and programs in primary care, health promotion and community wellness, and the social determinants of health.
Learn more:
To learn more about the province’s primary care strategy, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0034-001010
To learn more about the Luther Court Society, visit: https://luthercourt.org/
A backgrounder follows.
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