About Rideau Community Health Services
RCHS is a non-profit, community-governed health and social service agency governed by a 10 member Board of Directors. Incorporated in 1974, as the Merrickville Medical Centre, RCHS has grown steadily in regards to the diversity of programs and services offered as well as the geography served. The Corporate office is located in Merrickville. Other sites include, Smiths Falls, Perth and Brockville. Michele Bellows is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RCHS.
We currently support several partner locations across Lanark, Leeds and Grenville and deliver a wide variety of programs and services including primary care, diabetes education, chiropody, social work, nutrition counselling, telemedicine, lung health, and numerous community health promotion and disease prevention programs in support of the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Our interdisciplinary team, supported by our administrative team, provides primary health care services for our registered clients. We work with our many community partners to provide seamless health and wellness services for the community.
RCHS identifies with a vibrant network of Community Health Centres across the province which has adopted an evidence-informed Model of Health and Wellbeing (MHWB) to guide the delivery of primary health care. The model, which defines health in the same way as the World Health Organization, “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, aims to achieve better health for all. In working towards this goal the model advocates and supports transformative change for people and communities facing barriers to health.
RCHS is primarily funded by the Ministry of Health through the Ontario Health –East Region. Secondary funding comes from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), Lanark County, occasional funding grants (e.g., Trillium Foundation), and from public donations.