Community Health Centres (CHCs) provide primary health care, social programs, and health promotion services with an emphasis on priority populations who face barriers accessing health care. Problems accessing health care may be a result of socio-economic status, geographic isolation, cultural, linguistic barriers, etc.
Ontario CHCs: Most Effective Model of Keeping People Out of Emergency Rooms:
The study conducted by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) shows that Ontario’s Community Health Centres (CHCs) are the most effective model in keeping people out of the emergency department. To read in more detail on the facts of this study, please see VCHC’s press release by clicking on the following link: CHCs: Most Effective Model (PDF)
Read the full ICES report by clicking on the following link: ICES Primary Care Models (PDF)
Community Health Centres help:
- Promote equity in accessing health care services
- Strengthen the role of the individual and the community in health and health care delivery
- Encourage partnerships among health care services and social care and other community agencies
- Develop coordinated primary health care services which make the most efficient use of health care providers and health resources
- Promote health and prevent illness to enhance the health status of the communities served.
View the Model of Health and Wellbeing (PDF).
Strategic Directions
The VCHC’s new 2023-2028 strategic plan was developed through a six-month process of listening, learning, and engaging deeply with our clients, staff, board, and community partners. The process began with an environmental scan to provide context for a board retreat and planning process. The engagement activities included consultation with key internal and external stakeholders such as a series of surveys with staff, clients and partners. Focus groups and meetings were conducted with clients and staff, along with workshops for the VCHC Board of Directors. The development of the new strategic plan was created through the shared vision of the VCHC community and provides a foundation for future action and decision making.
