People in the Cobden-Beachburg community and surrounding area are actively pursuing the establishment of a Community Health Center (CHC) as a means of more adequately meeting the health care needs there, made more acute with the retirement of Dr. E. C. Pye, (since deceased) a doctor serving many members of that community.

Since the CHC concept is relatively new to this area, the steering committee for the CHC has compiled a list of questions that are being asked and provided the answers to them.

Question: What is a Community Health Center?

Answer: Community Health Centers are non-profit, community-governed organizations that provide primary health care, health promotion and community development services using multi-disciplinary teams of health providers. These teams often include physicians, nurse practitioners, dieticians, health promoters, counsellors, and others who are paid by salary rather than through a fee-for-service system.

Question: How is a CHC different from the Public Health Unit, and is it a duplication of the unit's services?

Answer: Public Health (in this area, the Renfrew County and District Health Unit) does not provide primary health services. The mandate of Public Health is legislated health protection and health promotion. CHCs and Public Health work together to provide health promotion services in the local community and extend the ability of the health unit to bring their services to rural areas. Other agencies partner to provide their services in the local community.

Question: I don't have a problem accessing medical care. Why don't people just go to the outpatients' department in Pembroke or Renfrew?

Answer: The cost is much greater when a patient is seen in the hospital. Also, there can be no follow-up with the same physician.

Question: Who funds the CHC?

Answer:  WBCHC presently operates as a satellite and is a part of Lanark Health and Community Services who receives funding from the government to operate our CHC.

Question: Who runs the CHC?

Answer: Eventually, a locally elected community board would govern our CHC.  Presently, the Executive Director and the Board of Lanark Health and Community Services, with input from the WBCHC Board of Directors, runs our CHC satellite.  An autonomous CHC has a salaried Executive Director who reports to the board, but since we have not yet been given funding, we do not have an Executive Director but have a Program Director employed by Lanark Health and Community Services. The WBCHC Board of Directors acts as an Advisory Board for the Program Director.

Question: What if the funding is withdrawn after the CHC is established?

Answer: CHCs have been funded in other areas in the province for approximately the last 30 years. There can never be a complete guarantee, but to date funding has been available.

Question: I have heard that you have to register with the CHC to use it. Does this mean I am restricted to using the doctors there?

Answer: Since continuity is an important component of quality and cost-effective health care, a CHC model encourages a long-term relationship with the same medical team.

Question: So do I have to give up my own doctor to use the CHC?

Answer: There would be no purpose served in disrupting an existing doctor-patient relationship. There are services at the CHC that are available to all members of the community. Examples of other services are: counselling, nutrition, basic laboratory services and health promotion programs. There is no charge to use the services.

Question: What if I have a medical emergency but am not a registered client of the CHC?

Answer: You can be seen at the CHC for emergencies even if you do have another doctor and are not registered there.

Question: How difficult will it be to get staff?

Answer: The existing network of CHCs assists in recruiting staff. There are a number of rural and remote CHCs in the network. Staff is more easily recruited if there is support of other professionals, as there is in a CHC.

Question: Is there support for a CHC in the Whitewater Region?

Answer: The Renfrew and Pembroke hospitals are in support, as well as Renfrew County District Health Unit, Addiction Referral Services, Bernadette McCann Women's Shelter and Support, Villages of Cobden and Beachburg, Townships of Admaston/Bromley, Ross, and Westmeath, Beachburg Medical Center, Cobden Community Center, River Run and Enchanted Gardens, John Yakabuskie MPP, Haley Industries, Renfrew County Federation of Agriculture, Country Haven Retirement Home, Ross Fellowship Club, Forester's Falls Women's Institute, Anglican Church Women, Beachburg Fair Board, and many citizens of the area.

Question: Where will the CHC be located?

Answer: Since the Ministry of Health funds the project, they will have the final decision. The proposal suggests locations in Cobden and Beachburg, with outreach services to other communities in the surrounding area.