What is a Community Health Centre?
Community Health Centres began as early as the 1920’s, to meet the health care delivery needs of small and more remote communities. Now numbering over 300 in Canada, CHC’s follow a slightly different approach to healthcare, due primarily to their design, and the needs of smaller communities.
A key difference is that a Community Health Centre must recognize the myriad influences and drivers of overall health and wellbeing in a community, and respond with diverse opportunities and strategies to build better health outcomes. Restricted by limited funding, CHC’s rely on alternative fundraising strategies, the generosity of individuals and families in the area, and the support of organizations such as the Auxiliary. A key benefit is that this model allows families, neighbours and friends to gain familiarity and camaraderie with their health care providers to improve physical, emotional and mental well-being for all. It’s part of the social safety net in every small community.
CHCs are community-governed. Volunteer boards of directors are made up of community members with experience about what is affecting health in their community. They offer on-going guidance on how we can maximize our positive impact.
CHCs are much more than just a doctor or dentist’s office. Advocates of this model argue that CHCs are the solution to primary health care reform.
Finally, it must be noted that the Pender Harbour Health Centre and our previous administrator Rick MacDonald were instrumental in forming the organization known as the British Columbia Association of Community Health Centre’s (BCACHC). Without the leadership of Rick and a small group of other healthcare leaders, we would not have BCACHC and the avenue to advocate and access funding with the Ministry of Health. Being part of a province-wide organization like BCACHC gives us strength and credibility when it comes to accessing funding and advancing the Community Health Centre (CHC) model.
Today, Pender Harbour Health Centre leadership, notably our Executive Director, represents our Health Centre as a Board member on the BCACHC Board of Directors. Having a seat on the BCACHC Board allows us to advocate for the needs of the PHHC and other CHCs, gives us access to Ministry of Health staff and allows the PHHC to have influence over the strategic vision of BCACHC.
Our Executive Director will continue to advocate for the needs of the Pender Harbour Health Centre and other CHC’s through their work on the BCACHC Board.
For more information about CHCs, visit the links below.
