At each Caritas facility, community–based specialized health services are reaching into the community to offer help and support to people whose complex health issues are affecting their quality of life.  Here, healing is a process of exploration, learning, co-operation and on-going support.

Recognizing that some health issues require a range of expertise and a variety of approaches, these programs bring together the resources of several specialists from different disciplines.  Working as a team, health care professionals are able to address the full dimensions of the health challenges experienced by children with learning disabilities, women in menopause, people with chronic lung problems and many others from all walks of life.

These programs – which include clinics, educational programs and support services – play an important role in health promotion, prevention and treatment.  They are powerful community resource, reaching out to work with schools, social service agencies, public health and other health providers and community associations to address important health issues.

The specialized clinics associated with these initiatives offer extensive testing services and support patients and their family physicians with treatment plans, current research education and ongoing consultation.  Clinic leaders conduct research, offer on-site hospital, teach medical students and maintain databanks of specialized health information for individuals and health care professionals.

These innovative centers are helping to build a continuum of care, a seamless system of care that brings together the resources of hospitals and the community to help those in need.