Pender Harbour Health Centre
The Pender Harbour Health Centre (PHHC) is located in Madeira Park, a scenic seaside community at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast. The Health Centre is located in the traditional swiya (territory) of the shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation.
Established by the local community in 1976, the PHHC is a non-profit society that provides holistic, wraparound healthcare to about 3,000 permanent residents, and 3,000 seasonal residents.
It achieves this goal by employing a multi-disciplinary team of dedicated healthcare providers, including FPs, NPs, RN’s, a dietician, and a social worker and outreach staff, who work together to deliver a full range of supportive and preventative programs.
These include ambulatory services, home care nursing visits, laboratory services, nutritional counselling, chronic disease management, and diabetes education.
Additionally, the PHHC acts a hub for a variety of supplementary health services and community wellness programs, including an adult day program, Better at Home program, wheelchair accessible van, community garden, and caregiver and community support groups.
The health centre encompasses 7,500 sq. ft. and features two waiting areas, a reception area, various treatment rooms, a medical laboratory, office space and meeting rooms. Physician spaces are fitted with state-of-the-art equipment to support family practice.
The health centre’s unique design maximizes natural light, and includes a courtyard and garden space in the centre of the building, which effectively works to bring the beauty and calming ambiance of nature indoors.
One of five unincorporated communities which collectively comprise “Pender Harbour”, Madeira Park is the area’s commercial and cultural centre, and offers grocery, banking, pharmacy, dining and retail services. Nearby lakes, forests, and beaches, as well as a community recreation centre and nine-hole golf course, offer a wealth of leisure activities.
To meet the entirety of the community’s healthcare needs, the PHHC partners with the local Division of Family Practice, Vancouver Coastal Health, and the Sechelt Hospital, which is located approximately 30 minutes away.