New mobile health clinic ready to roll in Calgary's downtown core

A new mobile health clinic is ready to hit the streets and provide healthcare to Calgarians in-need, with better access to the downtown core.
In a partnership with The Alex and the TELUS Health for Good program, a converted van has become a healthcare facility on wheels providing primary medical care, social supports and addictions management services.
It's the fourth mobile medical clinic operated by The Alex and staff say its compact design provides even more flexibility to meet clients where they are at, on the street.
"A lot of the care that we need and a lot of the outreach that we want to provide we are just not able to meet those needs with some of our bigger fleet vehicles," said Emma Wissink, mobile health program lead with The Alex.
Wissink said a majority of clients they serve spend time in the downtown core and that's where this resource will focus.
The mobile health clinic will be staffed with one health care professional and one outreach worker.
The goal of the mobile health clinic is to provide healthcare in a comfortable way while reducing stigma, said CEO Joy Bowen-Eyre.
One staff member at the Alex who is in his third year of recovery after 15 years experiencing homelessness and addiction says he knows firsthand how the clinic will help.
"I walked around with these abscesses for quite a long time and they cause a lot of pain and they cause a lot of health problems, a lot of infections," said David Fraser, a peer support worker with mobile street outreach at The Alex.
He added, "(if there had been) something like the mobile health bus, I would have accessed that."
Fraser said there can be a barriers for vulnerable Calgarians to access primary and emergency medical care especially in the middle of a crisis.
There are an estimated 6,000 Calgarians experiencing homeless or precarious living situations, according to The Alex.
CORPORATE CHARITY
The TELUS healthcare giving program operates 22 mobile health clinics across Canada with $12 million in funds.
Officials with TELUS say the clinics have served over 100,000 vulnerable Canadians.
The van is also equipped with TELUS wifi and computer access to a medical records network.
"The mobile clinic is compact it can get to where it needs to be and we are able to equip it with the technology to keep the individuals on the clinic productive," said Nimmi Kanji, director of community investment at TELUS responsible for the Health for Good program.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prison service to review decision to transfer killer Bernardo to medium security
The federal prison service says it will have a second look at its decision to move convicted killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security facility as political leaders of all stripes react to the news with shock and outrage.

Data shows COVID-19 hospitalizations, severe outcomes continue to decline, but we must remain vigilant: experts
Wastewater testing, hospitalization and death data from COVID-19 tell us the virus's spread continue to trend downward in Canada. But we're not at the end, and public health experts say we must heed lessons learned from the pandemic and remain vigilant. Read the analysis on CTVNews.ca.
Poilievre threatens to filibuster budget bill if Liberals don't meet demands
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is threatening to use procedural tools to delay passage of the federal budget in the House of Commons if the Liberals don't meet his demands.
Poor air quality, evacuations in multiple provinces due to wildfires
Wildfire smoke prompted warnings about poor air quality for many regions across the country, stretching from northern Alberta to the Atlantic.
Apple unveils sleek 'Vision Pro' goggles. Will it be what VR has been looking for?
Apple on Monday unveiled a long-rumoured headset that will place its users between the virtual and real world, while also testing the technology trendsetter's ability to popularize new-fangled devices after others failed to capture the public's imagination
The Fugees reunite for what may be their last performance
Lauryn Hill brought Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel on stage over the weekend to surprise attendees of the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia and it may be the last time fans see them together.
Experts say Ottawa's 'right to repair' consultation should prioritize consumer rights
Those in favour of creating a federal right to repair law say the government should avoid shaping such legislation according to the wishes of special interest lobbyists as Ottawa gets set to launch consultations on the issue.
Using melatonin for sleep is on the rise, study says, despite potential health harms
More and more adults are taking over-the-counter melatonin to get to sleep, and some may be using it at dangerously high levels, a study has found.
'It was tough': World War II veterans return to Utah Beach to mark D-Day's 79th anniversary
World War II veterans shared vivid memories of D-Day and the fighting as dozens returned to Normandy beaches and key battle sites to mark the 79th anniversary of the decisive assault that led to the liberation of France and Western Europe from Nazi control.