VICTORIA – Seniors, people with complex needs and those living with mental-health and substance-use conditions now have access to more primary health-care services as the Luther Court Community Health Centre (CHC) has hired more health workers for a newly renovated space at 1525 Cedar Hill Cross Rd.

The CHC is designed to serve those living in Shelbourne, Gordon Head and Oak Bay.

“I want to commend the Luther Court Society for providing access to high-quality social supports and primary-care services to people who need these services the most in Victoria,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “The new CHC expands the availability of the society's excellent services, as more health-care providers join the team.”

The Luther Court CHC is part of the Victoria Primary Care Network and is governed, owned and operated by Luther Court Society.

“The Luther Court Community Health Centre has been essential in meeting the ongoing care needs of our community,” said Murray Rankin, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. “As the centre’s team of primary-care providers continues to grow, so will the impact of the work they do to provide integrated care locally.”

Seven full-time-equivalent (FTE) health-care providers have been hired to join the existing team, including family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and a community health co-ordinator who works to facilitate population health in the region. Luther Court CHC continues to recruit physicians, nurses, a mental-health and substance-use clinician, dietitians and occupational therapists. Additionally, four support staff FTEs have been hired, including a primary health-care director.

On March 16, 2022, the CHC opened in a limited capacity. A team including a family physician, nurse practitioners and registered nurses began attaching patients and offering virtual appointments, while patients requiring in-person care received services at a temporary space offsite. As of June 30, 2022, and since opening, the CHC has attached 710 patients, and has had 2,732 patient visits.

The Luther Court CHC offers comprehensive services virtually and in person to people, including seniors, the frail elderly, patients living with cancer, those needing end-of-life planning and care, and those with mental health and addiction challenges. It serves patients with complex-care needs with integrated medical care for assessments, treatment and care management. The CHC  supports attachment to patients without a primary care provider. Seniors and people with mental-health and substance-use concerns are considered priority populations.

Prospective patients must register through the Victoria Health Connect Registry to be considered for attachment to the Luther Court CHC. The Victoria registry enables patients to register themselves (or on behalf of a family member or person in their care), online or by calling 811 to become attached to a primary-care provider.

Services at the Luther Court CHC are available to their attached patients Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. When fully staffed, plans are for the Luther Court CHC to extend its hours based on the needs of its clientele to increase accessibility.

“I know there have been challenges for people in Greater Victoria to access health services closer to home, especially for those needing regular care,” said Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake. “Addressing these challenges in Victoria, and across the province, is critical to meeting our commitment to delivering a modern primary-care system that is responsive to the individual needs of people in B.C.”

The Luther Court CHC supports primary-care network planning in Greater Victoria. It is the fourth community health centre in B.C. and the third announced in Greater Victoria as part of the Province’s primary-care strategy. Additional CHCs on Vancouver Island include Island Sexual Health and the Westshore CHC.

Quick Facts:

• To receive care at the CHC, patients who are eligible need to register through the Health Connect Registry.
• There are approximately 100 health-authority-run community health centres and 30 community-governed community health centres in British Columbia.

Learn More:

To learn about the Province’s primary-care strategy, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0034-001010

To learn about Luther Court Society, visit: https://luthercourt.org/

To register to become attached to a primary-care provider at the Luther Court CHC, visit the Victoria Health Connect Registry: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-connect-registry/victoria
Or call 811 to register.

Two backgrounders follow.

Karen Johnson-Lefsrud, chief executive officer, Luther Court Society –

“Our team is so pleased to be in this beautiful new space, with the opportunity to serve the community around us, and we are delighted to participate in the Ministry of Health’s advancement of community health centres in British Columbia. This expansion allows us to provide valuable primary-care services as part of a full-service community health centre. We are truly grateful for the support and encouragement of our partners, the Ministry of Health, Island Health and the Victoria Primary Care Network in making this possible.”

Leah Hollins, board chair, Island Health –

“We are delighted that the Luther Court Community Health Centre team have officially moved into their newly expanded and renovated clinical space. This dedicated team of clinicians and support staff are providing patients within the Victoria Primary Care Network with better access to comprehensive primary care. It’s been exciting to see this project transform into what it is today.”

Alix Arndt, interim CEO, Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC –

“We look forward to the integration of the Luther Court Community Health Centre within primary-care networks to provide more timely access to health-care services while supporting those important long-term relationships and continuity of care that result in better health outcomes for patients.”

Community Health Centres are typically community-governed, not-for-profit organizations. The services provided are tailored to meet the health needs of those individuals who would otherwise face barriers to care in the communities they serve.

• Since 1979, the Luther Court Society (LCS) has offered an innovative model of care to improve the quality of life for seniors by providing housing options, care services and community interaction.
• To support the centre, the Province is providing incremental annual operating funding of approximately $2.2 million, and provided approximately $2.1 million in one-time funding for the renovation costs.
• The newly renovated space is 260 square metres (2,800 square feet) and includes a reception and waiting area, exam rooms, counselling room, team office spaces and a multipurpose room.
• An affordable intergenerational housing project is also being planned.
• Recognized as a local health hub, the expansion of the CHC within the Victoria Primary Care Network (PCN) is helping to increase access to primary care, health promotion and wellness services, further supporting the needs of the community.
• Services available include:
  • Complex care for seniors, frail elderly, people with cognitive/dementia challenges and disabilities, patients living with cancer, and those needing end-of-life planning and care. This may require geriatric assessments, additional specialist support, case management, links to home care, nursing homes, palliative care, and hospital or home visits.
  • Chronic care for patients with complicated chronic conditions needing integrated medical care for assessment, treatment, and care management of such illnesses as cardiovascular, metabolic and chronic inflammatory diseases.
  • Mental health substance use for patients with acute and chronic care needs that encompass assessment, diagnosis and treatment options, including medication management, counselling and community service supports.
  • Acute and episodic care for attached patients requiring rapid access, same day and/or periodic interventions to address or resolve health issues or concerns. This includes an intergenerational patient panel, as well as the general community.