New primary care clinic to target gap in gender-based violence care – the first of its kind in Canada
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St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s new Trauma and Violence Specialized Primary Care Clinic will serve all ages, with a key focus on women and children affected by sexual assault, abuse, sex trafficking and intimate partner violence.
LONDON, Ontario – Today, St. Joseph's Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) announced the creation of a specialized primary care clinic for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and other forms of trauma – the first of its kind in Canada.
The Trauma and Violence Specialized Primary Care Clinic, with a key focus on care for women and children affected by sexual assault, abuse, sex trafficking and intimate partner violence, will fill a significant gap in the community, particularly for racialized individuals, those with disabilities, immigrants and refugees, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
“The need for a specialized trauma and violence-informed clinic is urgent,” says Dr. Susan McNair, Medical Director of the Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment (SADVT) Program at St. Joseph’s. “Trauma often extends beyond a specific event or experience, profoundly disrupting a person’s sense of safety, connection and ability to function. Early-life trauma, such as sexual abuse and exposure to domestic violence, significantly increases the risk of chronic health conditions, substance use, and cycles of abuse that persist across generations.”
Yet many survivors do not have access to primary care, she adds. More than half of individuals seeking care at St. Joseph’s SADVT Program lack a primary care provider.
Primary care serves as the first access point and safety net for people seeking help for many conditions that may be rooted in or exacerbated by experiences in trauma. The Trauma and Violence Specialized Primary Care Clinic will provide care for people of all ages, promote early-intervention and foster safety and well-being to prevent recurrence of trauma.
Setting the clinic apart nationally is the integration of clinical care, teaching and research - all grounded in trauma-and-violence-informed care. This will include on-site teaching of health care students rotating through the clinic, interdisciplinary research, and robust evaluation of health outcomes, patient and provider experiences, and the potential to replicate this unique model of care.
The initial phase of the clinic, expected to open in the coming months, will serve patients referred from St. Joseph’s programs who fit the criteria.
Funding for the Trauma and Violence Specialized Primary Care Clinic has been established through a $3.82 million investment from the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.
St. Joseph’s has a long history of providing expert care for people of any age, gender or sexual identity experiencing sexual assault and/or domestic violence living in Oxford, Elgin, Huron-Perth and Middlesex counties. The SADVT Program, with a team of highly specialized nurses, doctors and socials workers, is a recognized leader in this work. With the launch of the Trauma and Violence Specialized Primary Care Clinic, St. Joseph’s is building upon that strong foundation of expertise and compassion.
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For interviews or more information, contact:
Emily Mackey,
Communications Consultant
St. Joseph’s Health Care London
C: 226-926-4890
Emily.Mackey@sjhc.london.on.ca
About St. Joseph’s Health Care London
Renowned for compassionate care, St. Joseph’s Health Care London is a leading academic health care centre in Canada dedicated to helping people live to their fullest by minimizing the effects of injury, disease and disability through excellence in care, teaching and research. Through partnership with Lawson Research Institute and our collaborative engagement with other health care and academic partners, St. Joseph’s has become an international leader in the areas of: chronic disease management; medical imaging; specialized mental health care; rehabilitation and specialized geriatrics; and surgery. St. Joseph’s operates through a wide range of hospital, clinic and long-term and community-based settings, including: St. Joseph’s Hospital; Parkwood Institute; Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care; and the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care. For more information, visit www.sjhc.london.on.ca