Primary care clinics provide primary health care to people who do not have a primary family physician and who have challenges accessing traditional health care services.
Priority is given to people who are unhoused and under-housed, are living with complex psychosocial and clinical needs, and who require a higher intensity of services to achieve and maintain functional stability. Screening for access to services will be completed by clinic staff on the first visit.
What to expect
Services are provided by a team that may include:
- Doctors,
- Nurse Practitioners,
- Nurses,
- Peer Specialists,
- Counsellors,
- Social workers and more.
Primary care health services can include:
- medical exams,
- wound care,
- disease prevention,
- diagnosis,
- immunization for adults,
- dietitian services,
- and information, treatment and prevention for sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV and hepatitis.
The clinic also provides addictions services, including:
- opiate agonist therapy initiation and maintenance,
- needle exchange (unused syringes and other harm reduction equipment/supplies), plus support in seeking detox, recovery houses and treatment centres.
Counsellors provide short-term individual counselling, groups that address mental health and substance use issues and referrals to other community resources and education. Other services include a podiatrist, respiratory (lung) therapist, dietitian, and on-site pharmacy services.
Services vary by location. Find the location near you for specific service details.
Resources
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Primary care referral form
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Find this service near you
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Community health centresPrimary Care Clinic at Downtown Community Health Centre
569 Powell Street Vancouver -
Other
Primary Care Clinic at HealthConnection Clinic
148 East 15th Street North Vancouver -
Community health centresPrimary Care Clinic at Heatley Community Health Centre
330 Heatley Avenue Vancouver -
Community health centres
Primary Care Clinic at Pender Community Health Centre
59 West Pender Street Vancouver -
Community health centresPrimary Care Clinic at Raven Song Community Health Centre
2450 Ontario Street Vancouver -
Community health centres
Primary Care Clinic at Three Bridges Community Health Centre (West End)
1128 Hornby Street, 4th floor Vancouver -
Community health centres
Primary Care Clinic at West Vancouver Community Health Centre
2121 Marine Drive West Vancouver