Health team outlines goals to improve access to health care in Ramara

Members of the Couchiching Ontario Health Team updated Ramara Township council on plans to improve primary care access, including expanded allied services and an unattached clinic; the team said it is working toward attaching residents to primary care and aligns with the provincial goal for attachment by 2029.

Members of the Couchiching Ontario Health Team (COHT) updated Ramara Township council about primary care initiatives and longer-term goals. The team presented a vision of a "patient's health home" that emphasizes community-based care and allied services so hospitals are used for emergencies and complex needs. COHT representatives described existing programs and recent funding wins that expand access within their service area. Council and COHT members also discussed recruitment and how to connect residents to available services. Key points: - The COHT serves communities including Orillia, Ramara, Oro-Medonte, Severn and Rama First Nation; the article notes about 63,000 people in that service area, while a speaker referenced a broader geographical population closer to 100,000. - The COHT focuses on primary care and allied services such as family physicians, nurses, social workers, addictions and mental health supports, pharmacists, midwives, dietitians, chiropractors and diabetes educators. - Current local programs include an unattached clinic in Orillia, a medical centre at The Lighthouse shelter, an Ontario Works clinic and a student clinic; the team said recent expansion funding increased access to allied services across its geography. - The COHT has partnered with 211 Ontario to help connect residents to social support services and is working to raise awareness of available supports. - The team is pursuing recruitment and service expansion strategies, including exploring a blended salary model and practice-ready Ontario programs, and reported submitting proposals for additional resources. - After the deputation, council held a closed session related to physician recruitment that included COHT members. The COHT unattached clinic is at 119 Memorial Ave., Orillia, open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, and reachable at 705-329-3649 ext. 231. Summary: The COHT presented incremental steps to strengthen primary care access through team-based services and allied supports and reported a recent funding success that broadened access across its service area. The team said its work aligns with the provincial goal of having Ontarians attached to a primary care provider by 2029, and it is continuing recruitment and proposal efforts to expand capacity.