Following are a few questions we anticipated you might have. They’re by no means complete so please let us know if you have others we can add.
Email admin@mihcaboard.ca
These QAs are specific to the Mayne Island Health Centre Association. If you have questions about the Clinic at the Health Centre, please go to the Clinic Services page.
Q. Who are you? When were you established and why?
A. The Mayne Island Health Centre Association (MIHCA) was established in 1976 is a non-profit organization (with charitable status) to raise funds for the construction of the original Mayne Island Health Centre.
At that time, the MIHCA board realized that they needed to establish a turn-key operation to attract medical professionals who’d stay on Mayne. That meant that through MIHCA, the community would own most of the contents of the Health Centre (furniture, equipment, computers etc.)
As our community grew, we added to the original building in 1996, and in 2013, we built a new fully equipped and functioning Emergency Room. Both were partially funded by the community. We also added complementary health care services such as Audiology, Chiropractic care and Massage therapy.
At the same time, we purchased an electronic medical record (EMR) system and all the computer equipment and software required to support it – and continue to fund its ongoing operating and replacement costs as it reaches obsolescence. As well, we cover additional overhead costs of office equipment and supplies.
Q. Why does the cost of this fall on the community? Why doesn’t Island Health pay for this?
A. Communities like ours do have support from their respective health authorities, but it often comes down to having to ask the community to support improvements and enhancements Island Health doesn’t fund or provide.
Q. Do you do anything other than fund-raise for equipment?
A. Yes. Our role has evolved in two ways: advocacy and wellness promotion.
Advocacy: The health care delivery model in our rural communities is changing and we want a say in what that will end up looking like. That’s one of the reasons we conducted our health survey in 2021/2022.
We are working with our medical team (a physician and nurse practitioner who’ve been providing health care on Mayne for many years), Island Health, a number of collaborative groups and the other Southern Gulf Island Health Associations to look for better models of sustainable health care delivery designed for remote communities like ours.
Wellness Promotion: We also broadened our scope to include wellness promotion through regular educational events, sponsoring First Aid Training and coordinating Influenza and COVID Vaccine Clinics. Included in that is the purchase and maintenance of a number of AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) you see around the island.
Q. What’s your relationship with the Clinic at the Health Centre? Do you operate it?
A. No — we have no involvement in the day-to-day operation or management of the Health Centre.
The medical team and clinic staff are responsible for the services provided at the Health Centre Clinic.
We exist as a separate entity, primarily to raise funds for needed technology and equipment, to advocate on behalf of the community and to promote health and wellness on Mayne.
Q. In that case, who do I contact if I have questions about my personal health?
A. If you have questions or issues relating to your personal health, please contact the Health Centre directly at 250.539.2312. Please do not send personal health information to MIHCA.
Q. Back to some basics: Who runs MIHCA?
A. MIHCA is run by a volunteer board of up to nine members elected by our association’s membership. Directors serve three-year terms that are renewable for a second three-year term. Officers include a chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer.
Q. Who owns the Health Centre?
A. The Mayne Island Improvement District (MIID).
Q. As a property-owner on Mayne, I’m already paying an annual tax to the MIID to support the Health Centre. Why should I donate to MIHCA as well?
A. The annual levy you pay to the MIID funds the physical upkeep and maintenance of the Health Centre buildings, grounds and the Helipad.
That levy does not fund any of the furnishings, technology or equipment in the building.
With your support, MIHCA funds and maintains the operating costs of those acquisitions as well as health and wellness education and training in the community.
Q. I have more questions. Who should I contact?
A. If you have questions about access to health care on Mayne, call the Health Centre at 250.539.2312.
If you have questions about MIHCA and what we do, please email admin@mihcaboard.ca
Q. How can I get involved with or support MIHCA?
A. If you are interested in joining our board, email admin@mihcaboard.ca
If you want to become a member or donate, just click on the Donate/Membership page of our website — and thank you!
https://mayneislandhealth.ca/how-to-donate-or-become-a-member/
August 2022.