LAURIE WEIR

A ground-breaking family health team is set to increase access to health care for the residents of Perth and surrounding areas.

The Perth Family Health Team (PFHT) aims to enhance community care by providing improved access to mental health professionals, addiction specialists, and primary care for those without a current provider. The team will offer support services for older adults, occupational therapy, and Indigenous care navigation.

In February 2024, the Ontario government announced a $110 million investment to add over 400 new primary care providers and 78 new and expanded interprofessional primary care teams across the province. There are currently 185 health teams in the province.

In Perth, this funding means a $3.1 million investment in health care.

“It’s an exciting development,” said Dr. Peter Cunniffe, chair of the newly formed board of directors. “There are steps to be taken … it’s a process. It would be nice to have this up and running immediately, but it will take some time.”

He said the opportunity to provide “more comprehensive care” is key. “It’s going to be a team that we will surround a patient with, rather than a single provider or two.”

Over time, Cunniffe said that in other areas across Ontario “team-based care system leads to better outcomes.”

Spearheaded by a coalition of local healthcare professionals, the PFHT will help bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility.

The team’s goal is to ensure every resident receives the necessary support by collaborating closely with existing agencies to avoid duplication of care and fill critical service gaps, Cunniffe said.

With expanded services and additional healthcare professionals, the team aims to connect 3,500 patients to a primary care provider.

“This significant investment will connect more people to primary care,” said MPP John Jordan, Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston. “This is a critical step toward improving health care access for patients who are unattached and most vulnerable in our communities.”

Focusing on patient-centred care and community engagement, the PFHT envisions a future where individuals can access quality health care tailored to their unique needs.

“By leveraging a multidisciplinary approach and fostering community partnerships, the team aims to improve health care access and delivery in Perth and beyond. We are very excited to be able to expand services to our community,” said Suzanne Rintoul, Interim Executive Director of the PFHT. “We are in the early stages of establishing the family health team and I encourage the public to follow along as we start rolling out services in the coming months.”

Rintoul said expanding allied health services will improve patient outcomes.

For example, if a primary care provider sees a patient recovering from a stroke, they will be able to offer access to occupational therapy to regain function and learn new ways to perform activities of daily living.

“That’s just one of many allied health provider options,” she said.

The PFHT professionals will also partner with the already well-established Perth Enrichment Program (PEP) Seniors Therapeutic Centre to develop a program that supports their mandate to help keep seniors in their own homes as long as possible.

“To assist in decreasing the number of patients without a primary care provider, we are recruiting Nurse Practitioners,” Rintoul said.

They have hired one Nurse Practitioner and are recruiting four more.

“Our first patient was seen on June 3 and our goal is to have more services available by September,” Rintoul said. “We are currently developing processes to address the community health care needs.”

It will be a new way of organizing and delivering care that is more connected to patients in their local communities, she added.

Another exciting service officer, Rintoul said, is Indigenous Care Navigation, which will be located at Perth Family Medicine on Drummond Street.

“Indigenous care navigation services will focus on the health and well-being of Indigenous people in spirit, mind, emotion and body. The PFHT will work toward reducing barriers to accessing care by providing navigational support. The Indigenous Care Navigator role will facilitate discussions and provide advocacy for how traditional medicine and healing can be integrated as part of care and provide leadership toward improving knowledge and understanding of Indigenous tradition to PFHT staff and the wider community. If an Indigenous person is admitted to a hospital, the navigator could, with permission, be a liaison between the staff and that person to help them become aware of those traditions that are important to them and assist in facilitating the traditional ceremonies if the patient chooses,” Rintoul explained.

The health team has also received funding for an addiction specialist.

“The addiction specialist will have access to the occupational therapist or refer to a social worker – it’s not only about treating an addiction, it’s about supporting sustainable change in an established lifestyle while connecting to other great programs in the area like those offered at The Table Community Food Centre and evening peer support groups currently located at the Elliot Street Clinic.”

Rintoul said the support of non-profit agencies in Perth and the area is important.

Family Health Teams were first established in Ontario in 2005 to bring together family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, dietitians, and other health professionals. These teams expanded access to comprehensive primary health care services across Ontario, with a particular focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and chronic disease management.

Emily Dotzert, Registered Nurse and program manager for the team, said she’s “excited for this opportunity to contribute to the development of health and community programming to meet the identified needs of the community. It is a privilege to both live and work in Perth and I am excited to collaborate with the community of Perth and surrounding area.”

Cunniffe added that The Perth Family Health Team is thrilled to be part of this record investment and is committed to keeping the community informed as implementation progresses.

“It’s a funding model that works – it’s been in the province since 2005 so we’re looking forward to getting programs implemented and looking after the patients in Perth and the surrounding catchment area.”

This health team model may help alleviate some of the pressure on emergency room visits – especially those unattached patients who are seeking prescription refills or preventative care.

For people with underlying health issues who don’t have a primary care provider, having access to the healthcare team will be beneficial in getting diagnosed, and having ongoing support.

There are more than 10,000 patients who will be supported by this new family health team.

The five nurse practitioners will service three clinic sites: Elliot Street Clinic at 12 Elliot St., the Perth Medical Clinic at 14 Isabella St., and Perth Family Medicine at 39 Drummond St. who will care for approximately 700 patients. 

“There is a hope with the model of care we’re trying to build it will open some additional slots for physicians who could take on some additional patients as well,” Cunniffe said. 

Please visit Health Care Connect to get the process of finding a healthcare provider started. Call 1-800-445-1822, or register online.