- Telus has launched a mobile health clinic to support people living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside
- The Health for Good clinic program is a partnership with Kílala Lelum
- The Kílala Lelum Mobile Health Clinic, powered by TELUS Health, is a specially-equipped clinic that will provide several services such as trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive primary medical treatments
- According to the City of Vancouver, approximately 2,223 people experience homelessness in Vancouver on any given night
- Telus is down 0.15 per cent to C$26.33 per share
Telus (T) has launched a mobile health clinic to support people living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
The Health for Good clinic program is a partnership with Kílala Lelum, a non-profit Indigenous Health organization that has been around since 2018.
The Kílala Lelum Mobile Health Clinic, powered by TELUS Health, is a specially-equipped clinic that will provide several services such as trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive primary medical treatments, Indigenous Elder-led cultural care, mental health services and addiction support.
Kílala Lelum Board Member Dr. David Tu said many people living in this part of the city face challenges when accessing primary health care.
“These barriers stem from poverty, homelessness, and experiences of exclusion and racism. Simultaneously, these same people often have the greatest healthcare needs and typically only present to care when there is an extreme health crisis,” Tu said.
According to the City of Vancouver, approximately 2,223 people experience homelessness in Vancouver on any given night.
Telus President and CEO Darren Entwistle said by working with Kílala Lelu; the program can mitigate the many barriers facing underserved residents in the Downtown Eastside.
“At TELUS, we believe that everyone should have access to healthcare when and where they need it, regardless of their socio-economic status …. today’s expansion of our Health for Good program will enable us to care for our citizens at a time when access to high-quality, compassionate healthcare, including vital support for mental wellness, has never been more important,” Entwistle said.
Backed by a $10 million commitment from TELUS, the Health for Good program is already active across the country, with clinics operating in Victoria to Halifax. Through a combination of drop-in primary care and individually targeted follow up visits, the mobile outreach team builds rapport and enables continuity of care for people who have been underserved by the traditional clinical care model.
In 2020, several mobile health clinics supported COVID-19 response efforts, operating as assessment and testing centres and offering support to people leaving isolation and recovering from COVID-19. Since the program’s inception in 2014, TELUS Health Mobile Clinics have supported over 50,000 patient visits.
All mobile health clinics are equipped with TELUS Health electronic medical records technology and TELUS LTE Wi-Fi service, enabling skilled practitioners to collect and store health data, examine results over time, and provide better continuity of care to patients with potential undocumented medical histories.
The medical clinic is divided into two main areas: patient reception and mental health care, and a second private but more spacious area with an examination table and a physician/nursing workstation. This design improves patient privacy and allows the team to treat patients with the dignity and respect they deserve.
Telus Stock is down 0.15 per cent to C$26.33 per share at 11:12 AM EST.
