VIU celebrates opening of new student health clinic on Nanaimo campus

Vancouver Island University (VIU) students will have access to a medical health clinic on the Nanaimo campus as they begin their fall semester.

Developed in partnership with Island Health and with support from the Nanaimo Division of Family Practice, the new VIU Health and Wellness Centre offers a wide range of medical services to registered students in its mid-campus location in the Student Services Building (Building 200), as well as access to counselling, advising, disability services and financial aid.

“We do all we can to support students in their learning, and the clinic is one way we are able to support their health care needs while they are pursuing their studies,” said Dr. Ralph Nilson, President and Vice-Chancellor. “VIU’s new student health clinic is the result of several years of hard work by VIU community members on our Healthy U committee, and through a great partnership with Island Health.”

Many students who study at VIU, particularly those who come from outside the city to attend University or who are among the University’s 1,600 international students, do not have a family physician.

Since opening in late May, more than 135 students have used the clinic’s services. In exit surveys completed by 55 students, 46 per cent said they might have delayed seeking medical attention or seriously compromised their health if they did not have access to the on-campus clinic.

The clinic is staffed by Nurse Practitioner Diane Middagh and Medical Office Assistant Heather Carr, who together offer clinic services Mondays through Fridays to students who drop in or make appointments.

In British Columbia a Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a Registered Nurse with a master’s degree and advanced knowledge and skills who provides high quality health care. NPs are able to diagnose, consult, order and interpret tests, prescribe, and treat health conditions. The Health and Wellness Centre aims to provide health care, education and preventive medicine, and involve students in responsible health and wellness.

Island Health is pleased to be partnering with Vancouver Island University to make health care more accessible for students, said Don Hubbard, Chair of the Island Health Board of Directors.

“We know that a large number of VIU students use the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital emergency department regularly,” Hubbard said. “Many of these visits occur because students are not connected to other health and wellness services in the community. Now that an Island Health nurse practitioner is in place at VIU, we can reduce those emergency visits and support students with consistent access to health care.”

As a partner in developing the clinic, the Nanaimo Division of Family Practice has funded a General Practitioner to support the clinic’s integration into Nanaimo’s existing primary care community. This was made possible through the ‘A GP for Me’ initiative, funded through a partnership between the Ministry of Health and Doctors of BC.

The development of the student health clinic was also made possible through the support of donors. Nanaimo residents Sidney and Gladys Sharman, both now deceased, the Windsor Plywood Foundation, and the Harewood Community Centre Cooperative have made contributions in support of VIU health facilities.

A celebration to officially open the clinic with VIU Healthy U committee members, Island Health representatives, students, clinic staff and VIU faculty and staff was held today.

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Celebrating the grand opening of the VIU Health and Wellness Centre Sept. 4 are: Heather Carr, Medical Office Assistant; Dr. Melissa Oberholster, Physician Lead, A GP for Me, Nanaimo Division of Family Practice; Dr. Carrie Chassels, Executive Director, Student Affairs; Diane Middagh, Nurse Practitioner; Don Hubbard, Chair, Island Health Board of Directors; and Dr. Ralph Nilson, President and Vice-Chancellor.