Plans are underway to form an Ontario Health Team of Northumberland.
A plan was submitted to the province today (Wednesday), one of 31 groups invited to do so.
The proposal is to give patients and caregivers voices within the healthcare system and better align them with providers, improving the coordination of care and services.
The province introduced the concept in March as a new model of health care delivery.
The first one selected will be expected to test the integrated Health Team system.
In Year One, the proposed Northumberland plan would focus on access to comprehensive health care services for rural populations within Northumberland County – specifically those who experience significant barriers to health care.
The planning team indicates:
Based on input and data gathered to date, efforts will be focused on the following proposed projects:
- Volunteer Peer Support: This initiative will match key volunteers with people in our community who require informal support, broadening their social network and assisting them to navigate and access the health care services they need.
- Community Paramedicine: Leveraging the skills and training of Northumberland Paramedics, this initiative will provide proactive services for patients who use 911 services due to system gaps/challenges/ access to community care. This will include remote monitoring for appropriate patients.
- Rural Outreach Clinics: Multiple partners will bring services and clinicians together to rural community locations to reduce barriers to care experienced by patients in small, rural areas, such as access, transportation and outreach challenges.
Recognizing the critical importance of partnerships with patients and caregivers in the planning, design and governance of OHTs to ensure meaningful change to current systems, the Northumberland proposal also emphasizes the team’s commitment to patient/caregiver partnership and community engagement.
Officials have confirmed that the first OHTs will be announced this fall.
