Ontario is delivering on its commitment to end hallway health care and build a connected and sustainable health care system centred around the needs of patients.
According to a press release from MPP David Piccini, the province is introducing Ontario Health Teams, a new model of care that brings together health care providers to work as one team and the community of Northumberland is one of the first teams approved.
On Friday, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, visited the Emergency Services Base in Colborne to announce the Northumberland Ontario Health Team as one of the first 24 teams in the province to implement a new model of organizing and delivering health care that better connects patients and providers in their communities to improve patient outcomes.
Through an Ontario Health Team, patients will experience easier transitions from one provider to another, including, for example, between hospitals and home care providers, with one patient story, one patient record and one care plan.
The Northumberland Ontario Health Team, known as Ontario Health Team –Northumberland, includes patient, caregiver and Alderville First Nation representatives, as well as representatives from both county hospitals, primary care providers, community health centres, family health teams, long-term care, home and community care support services, emergency medicine services, hospice palliative care, housing and mental health.
To begin, the Northumberland team will focus on enhancing the coordination of health care services for rural populations – specifically those who experience significant barriers to care.
Based on input and data gathered to date, year one projects include: volunteer peer support initiative; community paramedicine; and rural outreach clinics. A fourth project team will focus on digital health.
The population served, as well as the scope of services provided, will expand over time.
