Mobile health clinics coming to Peel through TELUS Health for Good program

Written By ALYSSA PARKHILL

Primary medical and mental health care, and addiction supports are now available for in-need residents from Peel Region as part of the Health for Good program through TELUS Health.

TELUS Health for Good was inspired by an organization that provided direct healthcare services in the streets of Montreal for over 10 years. In 2014, TELUS Health brought their own accessible and portable service through the TELUS Mobile Health Clinics with the help of partnerships, volunteers and technology.

TELUS Health has partnered with Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Peel Dufferin Branch to provide the CMHA Peel Dufferin Mobile Health Clinic for local residents in need of care. 

“At TELUS, the core of our passionate social purpose is our commitment to enabling better outcomes for our fellow Canadians,” says Jill Schnarr, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship at TELUS. “We believe that everyone should have access to healthcare when and where they need it regardless of their socio-economic status, which is why we have committed $10 million to expand our TELUS Health for Good program to communities across Canada over the next five years. We are proud and excited to provide these much-needed services to Peel Region alongside our dedicated partner, CMHA Peel Dufferin Branch.”

TELUS Health for Good program allows these mobile health clinics to operate. According to the TELUS website, “235,000 Canadians experience homelessness each year, often while facing complex mental health and addiction issues. Many cannot easily access traditional medical care, yet urgently need help, especially with the unprecedented opioid crisis fueling an exponential rise in emergency room visits.”

The mobile clinics assists with cases that are, typically, more demanding of our health care sector. With several other locations already using the mobile clinics such as Montreal, Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Waterloo Region and Halifax, Peel Region is excited to be able to provide the same for peel communities.

“According to a recent study, on any given night in Peel Region, 922 people are homeless and many also have addictions or mental health needs.  In fact, 55 per cent of those who are homeless in this study also identify as having mental health issues and 31 per cent as having addictions,” said David Smith, CEO of Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin.  “Bringing the Mobile Health Clinic, powered by TELUS Health to Peel Region is great news not only for those unable to receive primary care or addictions care due to access barriers, but also for those hesitant to seek out mainstream services due to stigma.  Now these ‘at-risk' members of the community will have access to the healthcare they need via the Mobile Health Clinic at one of the daily clinic sites throughout Peel.”

TELUS is global-leading communications company with a strong commitment to their customers by providing excellent technology connections with wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video and security. With their strong and skilled technology, the mobile clinics are all equipped with medical record technology and Wi-Fi network connections to be able to collect and store data to help with privacy and more advanced service. 

To learn more about the TELUS Health for Good program, please visit telus.com/allconnectedforgood.