Recovery Care is working with Cornwall Community Hospital’s (CCH) Community Addiction and Mental Health Services to improve access to addictions care for vulnerable or underserved areas in Cornwall by launching a new mobile clinic.
The mobile clinic will provide individuals a variety of services under one roof, including assessment, support, education and treatment for substance use and screening for Hepatitis C. Narcan kits, nicotine replacements, and general wound care will also be offered.
The clinic will be operated by registered nurses and addiction counsellors from Recovery Care within a retrofitted van provided by CCH. The van will be parked at various locations on certain days, reducing the need for people to travel to access services.
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit, Akwesasne Wellness Centre, and HELP Addiction & Mental Health Recovery Services Cornwall also collaborated on this pilot initiative aimed at reducing barriers for individuals to access important public health resources and treatments. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of Paramedic Services and Emergency Department visits for suspected opioid overdoses have significantly increased in the City of Cornwall, highlighting the need for more accessible care and support for substance use.
“Thanks to the mobile clinic provided by CCH, residents in Cornwall will have greater, easier access to high-quality addiction services, in a welcoming setting where they will be fully supported by Recovery Care staff on their journey towards recovery,” said Donna Sarrazin, Managing Partner at Recovery Care.
Beginning March 7, the mobile clinic will be parked at the Agape Centre located at 40 Fifth Street West in Cornwall on Mondays and Friday afternoons. On Friday mornings, the clinic will be parked at Centre 105 located at 105 Second Street West in Cornwall. For more information on the mobile clinic, please contact mobileclinic@recovery.care.
