Media Contacts

Ministry of Health

Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)

Backgrounders

What people are saying about team-based care

George Chow, MLA for Vancouver-Fraserview –

“The new RISE Community Health Centre is an exciting step forward for the community of Renfrew-Collingwood. This primary-care services and the team-based care approach will make a big difference in the lives of residents.”

Mary Ackenhusen, president and chief executive director, 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 will complement Vancouver Coastal Health’s Evergreen 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 within primary care networks to provide more timely access to health-care services, while supporting those important long-term relationships and continuity of care that result in better health 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 its 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 give 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.”

Sonja Rietkerk, clinical lead, RISE Community Health Centre –

“Collingwood Neighbourhood House provides vital services to our community. Our outreach teams connect with vulnerable clients including those who are homeless, so being able to strengthen that bond with increased access to primary health care will improve health outcomes. Our interdisciplinary team is passionate about providing client-centred, relationship-based care that includes active participation of the client and the entire primary-care team.”

RISE Community Health Centre

The new community health centre in Renfrew-Collingwood will be operated by the Collingwood Neighbourhood House Society.

  • RISE stands for Resilience, Integration, Social Justice and Equity.
  • The hours of operation will be Monday-Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The centre will gradually improve access to primary care through extended hours, six days a week.
  • Services currently available include:
    • new client intake and screening visits
    • regular and followup 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 and support, including opioid agonist therapy
      • medication prescription refills
      • screening, i.e., sexually transmitted infections, well child checks, cervical cancer/Pap smear
      • treatments/procedures, i.e., intrauterine device (IUD) insertion, cerumen (ear wax) removal
      • referrals to medical specialist and social services and help 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
  • Patients will be received via referral from existing Collingwood Neighbourhood House services and through community partners, walk-in, outreach, online or phone.  
  • With the partnership of the Vancouver Division of Family Practice, the centre will facilitate attachment for residents seeking a patient-centre primary-care provider.
  • RISE Community Health Centre will work with the Vancouver Division of Family Practice and Vancouver Coastal Health to support primary-care network planning in East Vancouver.