Official grand opening of RAAM Clinic celebrated at SLMHC

Tim Brody - Editor

Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) celebrated the official grand opening of its Rapid Access Addictions Medicine (RAAM) Clinic on April 7.
SLMHC President and CEO Dean Osmond, Sioux Lookout Mayor Doug Lawrance, and SLMHC Chief of Mental Health and Addictions Dr. Justin Bell welcomed those present and remarked on the service. 
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Justin Bell, Chief of Mental Health and Addictions, Michelle Turner, Manager of MHAP (Mental Health and Addictions Program), and their team for all the work that has taken place in order for us to be here today,” shared SLMHC President and CEO Dean Osmond.
“A lot of work and dedication has gone into this program to make the Rapid Access Addictions Medicine Clinic a reality.
“I would also like to thank Ontario Health North for all their work and advocacy, along with the Ministry for funding to support this endeavor,” he added.
Osmond stated, “Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre is extremely proud of this accomplishment, as it provides a much-needed service to the people of our region.
“Mental Health and Addictions is an important service within the hospital, and we look forward to enhancing and improving these services.
“I would encourage all staff and physicians to join me in pledging a commitment to these values, by signing the banner.
“By signing this pledge, we commit to upholding the Mission, Vision and Values of SLMHC in the provision of care to persons with addictions and substance use disorder by:
•    Treating all people with addictions and substance use disorder with dignity and respect;
•    Recognizing addictions and substance use disorder as a chronic illness, not a moral failing;
•    Using language and behavior which is free from stigma, prejudice, or negative stereotypes and acting as role models for treating those with addictions and substance use disorder with kindness, compassion and inclusivity;
•    Advocating for and helping to implement best practice standards in all areas of addictions and substance use care, including the tenets of harm reduction
•    Recognizing the impacts of trauma on our patients and respect different pathways to health, wellness and recovery.”
SLMHC Chief of Mental Health and Addictions Dr. Justin Bell explained that the RAAM Clinic has been operating for two years.
The ceremony on April 7 celebrated the expansion of the program, new team members, and a new space for the clinic at the hospital’s main entrance.
Bell reflected on the evolution of the program, “June 2023 where we had a small, two day a week clinic with a nurse, social worker and physician and this expansion recently to five days a week of services as well as more team members, peer support worker, clinic coordinators and more physicians and nurses providing these services.”
Commenting on the impact of the RAAM Clinic and its ongoing work to support people dealing with addictions and substance use disorder, Dr. Bell shared, “There is never going to be a point where we have solved the challenges faced by substance use in this area or any location. We know that this is an uphill battle and the problems continue to get deeper as time goes on. We know in Sioux Lookout and our area that fentanyl is now here and is going to contributing to more complex addictions, more overdose deaths, and we want to make sure that we are able to combat that. I would love for there to be a time where I can pat myself on the back and say our job is done, I don’t think that is going to be happening anytime soon, but we know through expanding services and delivering culturally appropriate care with more comprehensive interdisciplinary approaches, that we’ll be able to help patients.”
He continued, “We have certainly seen hundreds and hundreds of clients over the last couple of years and many people coming back multiple times. We’ve seen people that have been very unwell that have received treatment and we’ve been a part of their journey. The need is still quite dramatic and it will be some time before we feel like we’ve gotten ahold of things here.”
He further shared, “I think one of the strengths of this program is our ability to help people at so many different stages of change. We’re able to help people in an outpatient setting, distribute harm reduction supplies so perhaps even when people aren’t interested in changing substance use behaviors but just wanting to use in a safer way. We also integrated within the hospital to the emergency department and the inpatient wards and so we’re able to try and help people when they’ve been presented into the emergency department or admitted with a substance use problem. Our team is able to do consults there and that’s a unique feature of being a hospital based RAAM, as opposed to just being in the community. We’re still looking at, as I said, expanding the services so that we can get more traditional programs involved, a visiting clinic that will be going to certain service providers within the community, supporting homeless and underhoused individuals in the community and trying just to be as omnipresent as possible.”
Bell said no referral is necessary to be admitted to the program.
SLMHC shared, “The Sioux Lookout RAAM Clinic offers addictions services for people interested in getting help with substance use. We believe in eliminating barriers to access for anyone seeking addictions-related support. No appointments are necessary, and anyone can drop by for help during clinic hours. The clinic focuses on short-term support for addictions, returning people to their primary care provider once stabilized.
“RAAM team includes nurses, doctors and counselors skilled in helping people with addictions and mental health issues. RAAM services include:

• Assessment of substance use disorders
  
• Addiction counseling
  
• Medication for alcohol and opioid addiction
  
• Case management including assistance with housing, finances, and ID
  
• Education on overdose prevention and use of naloxone
  
• Harm reduction supplies including clean needles and pipes
  
• Referral to community supports and treatment programs
  
• Peer support
  

“All individuals are welcome regardless of age, race, or gender. Service providers are able to make referrals to our team, but are not necessary. Anyone is welcome to drop in with no appointment or referral during any of our clinic hours.
“For more information on clinic hours, location, contact information and services, please visit: www.slmhc.on.ca/raam”
The Sioux Lookout RAAM Clinic is located at the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre beside the Main Entrance fire pit. The program is open from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Closed during lunch hour)
People are asked to please register in the Canoe/Ambulatory Hallway prior to accessing the clinic.