About Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health
Located in Goderich, Ontario, Canada, Gateway is Canada’s only community-based rural health research institute.
History
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Gateway was founded in 2008 as a not-for-profit corporation with
charitable status governed by a community-based volunteer Board of Directors committed to its continued success. Click here to be directed to an additional history of Gateway Click here to read the Gateway Legacy |
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Gateway Was Established to Ensure:
Through health research we can improve health care and health care delivery. Through innovation in rural health research, education and health business, we can attract health care professionals to our area and be an economic driver for a health and knowledge based economy. We can be a model for similar development in all of rural Canada.
Huron, Perth, Grey and Bruce Counties are experiencing significantly higher rates of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, some forms of cancer, chronic lung disease, depression, mild cognitive impairment (Alzheimer’s) than urban rates. The rate of diabetes in Bruce County (8.0%) is twice the rate of diabetes in London (4.0%) as well as the provincial average of (4.1%). The rate of stroke in Bruce County is 51% higher compared to the provincial average.
Huron, Perth, Grey and Bruce Counties are experiencing significantly higher rates of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, some forms of cancer, chronic lung disease, depression, mild cognitive impairment (Alzheimer’s) than urban rates. The rate of diabetes in Bruce County (8.0%) is twice the rate of diabetes in London (4.0%) as well as the provincial average of (4.1%). The rate of stroke in Bruce County is 51% higher compared to the provincial average.
Through consultation with family health teams and data collection from Gateway’s rural target area - Huron, Perth, Grey and Bruce Counties; Gateway has shared mutual concerns with health professionals.
Gateway exists in part due to the prevalent rates of chronic conditions in the Huron-Perth-Grey-Bruce Counties and was established to ensure:
- Healthier rural residents actively contributing to healthy local economies and requiring less health care over time (reduced hospital admissions and emergency room visits).
- World class research & teaching facilities that attract a wide range of health care professionals to practice in this rural area.
- Creation of a rural model for Canada that successfully links health research, education, evidence-based practice and economic development through innovation.
Mission
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Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health aims to improve the health and quality of life of rural residents through research, education and communication.
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Vision
Gateway’s vision is to build a centre of excellence dedicated to advancing rural health teaching and community-based research across the Huron-Perth-Bruce-Grey region in order to:
- Improve patient health, productivity and wellness
- Reduce rates of chronic diseases in rural communities
- Reduce strain on emergency rooms and hospital beds
- Reduce impact of disease on rural families and communities
- Improve education, recruitment and retention in rural communities
- Improve patient adherence to prescribed medication
