New spin-off benefit: Windsor medical trainees now caring for homeless population
Doctors in their final year of training, called residency, can choose to do a one-month rotation at the Shelter Health Initiative (SHI) caring for Windsor’s homeless population.
“I know not everyone is going to end up working at shelters,” Dr. Jennifer Bondy said Monday. “What I'm trying to do is open up people's minds to the possibility of other things that they might otherwise not have been exposed to in the past.
Dr. Bondy is the lead physician at SHI, which is part of H4, Windsor’s Homelessness and Housing Help Hub, located inside the former Water World building on Wyandotte Street East.
“I was expecting to see mental health and history of trauma and substance use and these kinds of things,” said Dr. Julia Petta “But what kind of surprised me is that the care that we're providing is the same as the care that I provided on my other family medicine rotation.”
The only difference being in many cases, the patients don’t have an OHIP card, according to both doctors.
“If somebody needs an x-ray and they don't have a health card, I'm usually not able to get that for them,” said Dr. Bondy who is hoping to one day to create a fund to help pay for healthcare concerns like that.
For now, she’s working to secure consistent funding for medical services so they can attract more doctors to work at SHI.
Dr. Bondy is waiting for a response from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on their application, noting, “I understand it takes time.”
The care offered by doctors like Dr. Petta is just another spin-off benefit of hosting a satellite campus of the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, which is based at Western University in London.
Windsor’s satellite campus opened in 2008.
“Bring a medical school here and it's going to spur things on,” notes Dr. Bondy.
When local leaders started lobbying for the medical school, they promised it wouldn’t only be good for the University of Windsor, but would be a boon for the entire region.
Fifteen years later, officials say that has been proven.
Schulich Dean John Yoo told CTV News in March 2023, there is a 35 per cent increase in family doctors establishing a practice here and a 31 per cent increase in specialists working in Windsor-Essex hospitals.
“Schulich (medical school) Windsor, prior to April of this year did not have training available on site at shelters or drop in centers for people experiencing homelessness,” said Dr. Bondy who is proud of the work the team has been able to do to fill that void.
Dr. Petta, who will complete her SHI rotation in a week, said it’s been a great experience.
“I've told other resident med students that I've done this rotation and that it has been a positive experience. So hopefully more people will also be interested in doing it as well,” said Dr. Petta.
SHI also has a research component.
According to Dr. Bondy, researchers from the University of Windsor and St Clair College are studying “what the status quo is here in Windsor right now and what we could do to make things better.”
Finally, Dr. Bondy will welcome their first group of University nursing students in September, who will also be training at SHI.
“It is as simple as being here to provide primary care,” said Dr. Bondy.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
New charges for Ont. woman who previously admitted to defrauding doulas
The Brantford, Ont. woman who was previously sentenced to house arrest after admitting to deceiving doulas has been charged again in connection to a new victim.