Health Centre Programs

Specialized Women's Health Programs

Aboriginal Health Program
Women's provincial program provides health services to improve the health of aboriginal women. Outreach services include Pap smear clinics, assistance with and participation in the planning of regional aboriginal women's conferences, health promotion activities, culturally-sensitive resource materials, and facilitation of women's groups to develop health programs in their communities.

Our on-site patient advocates work with women, children, and families to ensure they receive the information and support they need. Our nurse clinician organizes an annual training session on well women's issues for community workers and nurses who work with aboriginal women.

Access Clinic
Women's provides education, diagnostic screening, treatment, and advocacy for women with disabilities. Few doctors' offices contain the equipment necessary to provide these services. Testing is conducted in a safe and respectful manner.

Asian Women's Health Clinic
In partnership with Providence Health Care, The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, and SUCCESS (United Chinese Community Enrichment Society), Women's provides cervical and breast cancer screening services for women of Asian origin and women's wellness education for the Asian population. This program is currently housed at Mount St. Joseph's Hospital.

Aurora Centre
Women's provides residential and day treatment for women with addiction problems. Aurora is the only intensive residential treatment centre in the province especially for women.

The Centre also conducts research projects on women and addictions, and works with others locally, provincially, and nationally to improve drug and alcohol services for women and their families.

Breast Health Program
Developed in partnership with the BC Cancer Agency, Women's Breast Assessment and Diagnostic Partnership Program provides rapid, expert assessment and diagnostic services for women with abnormal mammograms or breast symptoms.

In partnership with the Screening Mammography Program of British Columbia, Women's offers quick, precise screening for the presence of breast abnormalities. Women are provided with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their breast health.

Breast Health initiatives include the Chinese language breast health education project and a breast health fellowship for family physicians to aid in the early screening and diagnosis of breast disease.

CARE Program
Women's Comprehensive Abortion and Reproductive Education Program provides services for women experiencing an unwanted pregnancy, including decision-making counselling, contraceptive education, pre- and post-abortion counselling, appropriate reproductive health screening, and abortion procedures. CARE also coordinates health services for families in which a diagnosis of fetal abnormality has led to a decision to terminate a pregnancy.

Our Pregnancy Options Referral Service is a toll-free, province-wide telephone service for counselling, information, and referrals.

Centre of Excellence for Women's Health
Women's houses one of only five Canadian centres of excellence for women's health. The mandate of the BC Centre of Excellence is to: generate knowledge of the determinants of health and to disseminate this knowledge by defining the health status of women, publicizing research, building and strengthening local and national health networks, and analyzing and advising on health policy. Research informs the policies, treatments, and programs at Women's.

Continence Clinic
Our physiotherapists treat women with urinary and/or fecal incontinence with non-surgical techniques such as exercise and biofeedback. We offer bimonthly educational workshops and an outreach program to educate and support other BC health care professionals in the treatment of women with incontinence.

For more information, click here.

Oak Tree Clinic
Women's provides a full continuum of HIV/AIDS care for women and families in an ambulatory setting. Referrals and access to tertiary care inpatient beds is arranged when medically indicated. The multidisciplinary team at Oak Tree includes: specialists in adult and pediatric infectious diseases, gynecology, and family practice; pharmacists; dietitians; nurses; and social workers. Training opportunities are available for physicians, medical residents, and health professionals.

In partnership with other community agencies, Women's provides outreach workers to connect with HIV-infected women and their families and to assist these families in accessing medical and support services in their own communities and at Oak Tree Clinic.

Osteoporosis Program
Women's helps women and men across BC to identify their risk of developing osteoporosis and determine lifestyle changes and appropriate medical therapies.

Community services include educational materials in Chinese; Osteo Fair, an annual event with information, aids, and fashions for people with osteoporosis; and an internationally acclaimed community-based exercise program called Osteofit.

Reproductive Medicine Program
Women's treats complex reproductive problems such as infertility (in our Infertility and Special Needs Gynecology Program), early menopause, and menstrual irregularities. Our Pregnancy Loss Clinic helps many women carry and deliver healthy babies after multiple miscarriages. Services include diagnostic hysteroscopy, pelvic ultrasound services, and emotional support services.

Reproductive Mental Health Program
Women's provides inpatient and ambulatory services for women who are experiencing mental health problems during pregnancy, the postpartum period, or other key times during their reproductive years, including perimenopause. We offer diagnosis, treatment, family education, group education and therapy, and services for women with severe premenstrual mood disorders.

Outreach programs at Women's establish links with communities throughout BC through teleconferencing, travel, and our website. This networking promotes educational services for health care professionals and the public, provides professional consultations, and assists with the development of community resources.

Sexual Assault Service
Women's delivers comprehensive care to survivors of sexual assault, including sensitive medical care, forensic evidence collection, and emotional support. This program operates in partnership with the emergency department at Vancouver General Hospital and is the major provincial resource for policy and program development in the area of sexual assault services.

Woman Abuse Response Program
Women's promotes and supports the health care and safety needs of women experiencing abuse through program development, staff training and education, and research and resource materials related to health care practices involving the abuse of women.

Women's Health Research Initiative
Overall strategic plans for research at Women's, as well as specific plans for each program are in development. An inventory of research activities, an online evaluation system for clinical programs, and the creation of a network of investigators, research areas, and research activities are part of this initiative. Find out more...

Youth Health Program
Women's supports programs for young people (ages 12 - 19) throughout Children's and Women's which include clinical services, research, health promotion, education, training, and advocacy. Many programs provide tertiary care for youth with developmental, physical, mental, and reproductive health concerns.