Ultrasound added to mobile clinic in Vancouver

VANCOUVER – TELUS Health announced the launch of new mobile imaging services aboard the Kilala Lelum Mobile Health Clinic, making faster, more accessible care possible for underserved patients in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Individuals experiencing homelessness face multiple barriers to healthcare, including limited access to primary care physicians and extended wait times for routine services like ultrasound imaging. As a result, over 93 per cent of this population often rely on emergency room (ER) visits for non-critical conditions.

“At TELUS, we believe healthcare should be accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live or their circumstances,” said Chris Engst, vice president, consumer health. “It’s an honour to support organizations like Kilala Lelum who truly understand their communities and have built such deep trust over the years.”

Having an ultrasound machine on board the mobile clinic will address this gap by providing immediate diagnostic results, enabling faster treatment decisions without the need for additional appointments.

Powered by TELUS, the machine connects directly to a smartphone app, which serves as the ultrasound display screen. This new technology will allow the team to diagnose a wide variety of life-threatening illnesses and monitor common issues related to blood flow, wound progression and much more.

It will also help determine if the patient needs to visit the ER, preventing unnecessary visits and relieving some pressure on the healthcare system.

The Kilala Lelum Mobile Health Clinic, powered by TELUS Health, recently surpassed 50,000 patient visits.

To acknowledge this significant milestone alongside their new imaging services, an event is being held at a local shelter operated by Lu’ma Native Housing Society, one of the clinic’s weekly stops.

Kilala Lelum staff will be on site demonstrating their enhanced portable ultrasound services to clients on board the mobile clinic, while TELUS volunteers and Lu’ma staff offer nutritional support through healthy meals for the community. This achievement highlights Kilala Lelum’s expanded diagnostic capabilities, with the addition of portable ultrasound technology that will improve health outcomes for Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside community.

Providing care since 2021, the Kilala Lelum Mobile Health Clinic has become an essential healthcare resource for Vancouver’s Indigenous community, providing primary healthcare and Indigenous Cultural Care services directly to those who need it most.

“With support from TELUS Health for Good, we can now bring advanced diagnostic technology directly to our patients in their community,” said Leah Walker (pictured), Kilala Lelum’s executive director. “Surpassing 50,000 patient visits is a testament to the trust our community has placed in us. This means we can catch health issues earlier and provide the right care at the right time by bringing care directly to our community.”