UniVoice – September 2026

Bringing Rheumatology Care Closer to Home

For people living in rural communities, seeing a specialist can sometimes be difficult. Patients may need to travel long distances, take time away from work or family, and find transportation to appointments outside their community.

Univi Health Centre is always looking for new ways to make health care easier to access and bring more services closer to home.

Recently, Univi welcomed Dr. Leigha Rowbottom and Dr. Mohammed Mohammed for a special rheumatology clinic at one of our locations. The clinic gave patients the chance to meet with specialists and access services in their community.

Rheumatology focuses on conditions that affect the joints, muscles, bones, and immune system. For people living in rural areas, getting this type of specialized care in a timely manner can often mean travelling to a larger community.

The clinic was a chance to try a new way of providing care. By bringing together specialists, mobile ultrasound equipment and Univi’s local health care team, patients were able to access different services during their visit.

A total of 28 patients were seen during the clinic, including 22 patients from Sudbury East, two from Greater Sudbury and four from Sturgeon Falls. At least 12 patients also received cortisone injections as part of their care.

Care does not end with the clinic. Dr. Rowbottom and Dr. Mohammed will continue to follow up with patients who need further care based on their visit.

Having these services available locally can make a big difference. It can reduce travel time and make it easier for patients to get the specialized care they need.

The clinic also gave Univi and the visiting specialists a chance to see how this type of service could work in a rural community. What we learn from opportunities like this can help us explore new ways to improve access to specialized care for our patients.

The clinic was a success, and both our patients and our team were grateful for the opportunity.

Univi would like to thank Dr. Leigha Rowbottom and Dr. Mohammed Mohammed for sharing their time and expertise with our patients. We would also like to recognize Andrew Rowe, IT Technician; Josée Bernard, Registered Nurse and Virtual Care Coordinator; Rachelle Arbour, Program Director; Nicolle Plante-Dupuis, Executive Director; and Dr. Chirstine Pun, Tri-Chair, Sudbury Espanola Manitoulin Elliot Lake Ontario Health Team, for helping make the clinic possible. 

By working with specialists and trying new ways of providing care, Univi continues to explore opportunities to improve access to health services for people living in Sudbury East and surrounding rural communities.

Technology with a Human Touch

Univi Health Centre serves a large rural area. Our locations in Alban, Noëlville, St-Charles, and Warren are spread across the region and, our health-care team members work at different locations to care for patients. Because of this, good communication is very important. 

Technology helps us connect our patients, staff, and services. Our electronic medical record system allows members of the health-care team to safely access the information they need to care for patients. It also helps our team work together and connect patients with other Univi services. When a patient needs care outside of Univi, the system can also help with referrals to specialists and other health services. 

Telemedicine is another way technology can bring care closer to home. It allows some appointments to take place by video instead of in person. For people living in rural areas, this can mean less time spent travelling. It can also make it easier to connect with specialized health services that may not be available nearby. 

Some Univi providers are also using a tool called AI Scribe. During an appointment, this tool can help prepare notes based on the conversation between the patient and the provider. The provider then checks and approves the notes before they are added to the patient’s health record. By spending less time writing notes, providers can spend more time listening and talking with their patients. 

“Technology delivers the greatest value when it improves the way we deliver care, strengthens connections, and enriches the patient experience. These tools help our teams work together across locations while giving them more time to focus on what matters most, which are the people and communities we serve”, says Rachelle Arbour, Program Director, Univi Health Centre 

Technology is also making it easier to complete some tasks from home. Patients can book laboratory appointments online, including blood work and ECGs. They can choose an available time without having to call the health centre. Univi is also working to soon offer appointment bookings online for more services. 

Secure online forms and patient surveys are other tools we use. They help us collect information, hear from our patients and communities, and find ways to improve our services. Our telephone system also helps callers find the right service and get important information. 

Technology will never replace the people who are at the heart of community health care. Instead, it is a tool that can help us provide better care. When used safely, technology can help our teams stay connected, make some services easier to access, and give our providers more time to listen and care. At Univi Health Centre, the goal is simple: use technology to support our team while keeping people at the centre of everything we do. 

Honouring Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This is a day to remember, learn, and think about our shared history. At Univi Health Centre, we honour the children who attended residential schools. We also honour Survivors, their families, and their communities.

For many years, Indigenous children were taken from their families and sent to residential schools. Many were far away from their homes and communities. They were not allowed to speak their languages or practice their cultures. Many children were harmed, and some never returned home. The effects of residential schools are still felt today.

September 30 is also Orange Shirt Day. The orange shirt and the words “Every Child Matters” remind us that every child is important. Every child deserves to feel safe, loved, and respected. Wearing orange is one way to remember the children who attended residential schools and show support for Survivors and their families.

At Univi Health Centre, we believe learning and listening are important parts of reconciliation. We want everyone who visits our health centre to feel safe, respected, and welcome. Learning about Indigenous history and culture can help us better understand the people we serve.

There are many ways we can learn. We can read about residential schools and Indigenous history. We can listen to the stories shared by Indigenous people. We can learn about First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultures and traditions. Most of all, we can listen with respect and be open to learning from one another.

Learning is also part of the work we do in our community. In November 2025, Univi Health Centre worked with Indigenous artist Alex Dokis of Dokis First Nation and local community members to create a mural at the Alban splash pad. The mural shares the Seven Grandfather Teachings and celebrates Indigenous culture. It is a place where people can stop, look, learn, and think about what these teachings mean.

Reconciliation does not happen on just one day. We can all take small steps throughout the year. We can learn about the past, listen to Indigenous voices, treat others with respect, and share what we learn.

This September 30, Univi Health Centre invites our staff, patients, families, and community members to take time to remember and learn. By listening and learning together, we can help create a community where everyone feels respected and welcome.

Literacy Builds Confidence and Independence

Every year on September 8, people around the world celebrate International Literacy Day. This day reminds us that reading, writing and learning are important at every age. 

In 2026, International Literacy Day marks its 60th anniversary. This year’s theme is “Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity.” It highlights how literacy can help people take part in their communities, find new opportunities, and build a better future. 

Literacy is about much more than reading a book. We use these skills every day, often without thinking about it. We need them to understand a medication label, fill out a form, read a letter, follow instructions, use technology, apply for a job, or understand health information. 

Strong literacy skills can help people feel more confident and independent. They can also make it easier to take care of our health, use services, and take part in our communities. Literacy is a basic human right and an important part of lifelong learning. 

Here in our region, organizations such as Alpha en Partage help make learning more accessible in our communities. 

Literacy needs can look different for everyone. Some people may want to improve their reading or writing. Others may want help with math, computers, or everyday tasks. Learning new skills as an adult can open doors and help people feel more comfortable in their daily lives. 

It is also important to remember that asking for help with literacy is nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone has different skills, experiences, and opportunities to learn. What matters is having access to support that meets people where they are. 

This International Literacy Day, Univi is proud to recognize the importance of literacy and the community organizations that support lifelong learning. 

We thank Alpha en Partage for the work they do in our region and for helping community members build skills, confidence, and independence. 

To learn more, visit these websites: 

• http://www.alphaenpartage.ca/  

• https://www.unesco.org/en/days/literacy