Vaughan health centre celebrates fifth anniversary

Vaughan Citizen
February 6, 2014

More than 11,000 Vaughan residents are getting much-needed medical care and social programs thanks to an agency that did not exist just five years ago.

Since 2009, the Vaughan Community Health Centre (VCHC) has provided medical and social services to the most vulnerable of Vaughan’s residents.

The centre’s goal is to improve the quality of life and overall health of its clients so they can live longer and feel better.

Since opening its doors at 9401 Jane St. Feb. 17, 2009, the centre has served more than 11,000 vulnerable Vaughan residents, predominantly seniors, youth and people with mental health and addiction issues who are from low to moderate incomes, have low English proficiency, complex medical needs and may not have a health card.

Over the course of five years, the centre has established about 80 service collaborations with several organizations, including York Region Community Health Services, City of Vaughan, Mackenzie Health and many other schools and community organizations.

To respond to the need, the centre has implemented an impressive array of medical and social services.

Among those are a physiotherapy program for residents who do not have extended health coverage, a regional language interpretation service for clients who are unable to communicate with their health care provider due to their low English proficiency and a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease clinic that will be launched over the next few months.