University Health Network launches mobile clinic pilot at Toronto Public Library branches
The clinic, staffed with nurses and a community health worker, can provide primary care services without requiring ID or OHIP coverage.
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A mobile clinic providing primary care services has begun operating at Toronto Public Library branches, bringing healthcare directly to the city's most underserved communities.
The pilot, a partnership between the University Health Network (UHN) and Toronto Public Library (TPL), launched last month with two vans currently in operation. Each van costs about $200,000, funded by the province and through philanthropy. The clinic is staffed with a registered nurse, nurse practitioner and community health worker, capable of providing much of the same medical care a General Practitioner or family doctor might offer.
Dr. Andrew Boozary, executive director of UHN's Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine, said the clinic is designed to remove barriers to care. "People are surprised by the scale and scope of services that are in what ostensibly looks like a regular, large van," Boozary said. Those who visit do not need to show identification or have an OHIP card. Staff are trained to interact with people who may have mistrust or safety concerns about healthcare.
Sanderson Library branch near Bathurst and Dundas Streets is the only TPL location the clinic has served so far. The van operates four days a week: one day at the library and three days at Toronto Community Housing locations. According to Boozary, hundreds of thousands of people across Ontario lack access to primary care. "This is just one vehicle. It's not a silver bullet for all of the primary care issues across the system, but I think it's a reflection that we have to deliver healthcare differently," he said. TPL is already identifying branches that would benefit from dedicated healthcare access.
The facts
How much does each mobile clinic van cost?
Each van costs about $200,000, funded by the province and through philanthropy.
Who staffs the mobile clinic?
The University Health Network mobile clinic is staffed with a registered nurse, nurse practitioner, and community health worker.
Do patients need ID or OHIP coverage to visit?
No. Patients do not need to show identification or have an OHIP card to receive care at the mobile clinic.
Where in Toronto has the mobile clinic operated?
Sanderson Library branch near Bathurst and Dundas Streets is the only Toronto Public Library location the clinic has served so far. The van operates one day per week at the library and three days at Toronto Community Housing locations.
