September 24, 2020
Wasaga Beach, Ontario – September 24, 2020 – On Friday, September 18, 2020, the South Georgian Bay Ontario Heath Team (SGB OHT) planning table submitted its full application to the Ministry of Health towards becoming an Ontario Health Team.
The SGB OHT planning table is comprised of eleven anchor organizations, inclusive of Community Connection, Georgian Bay Family Health Team, Georgian Bay Family Health Organization, Hospice Georgian Triangle, Breaking Down Barriers, Canadian Mental Health Association, South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre, Bay Haven Care Community, Entité 4, Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and Home and Community Care.
In mid-July, the SBG OHT planning table was notified that it was approved to proceed to the next phase of the development process. The process involved stakeholder engagement from patients, family members and caregivers, in addition to all organizations involved on the full application.
The SGB OHT planning table submitted a Progress Report to the Ministry of Health (MOH) in January 2020. The Progress Report followed a robust engagement session with patients, families, hospital employees and physicians, Board members, community members and health partners in December 2019. At the forum, the group was able to confirm a first-year patient population of focus for the SGB OHT.
“We have built a foundation of strong relationships across all organizations involved in the process, which has produced a trusting, highly functional, collaborative group with expertise in coordinated care, says Norah Holder, CGMH President and CEO. “By continuing with this foundation, we have positioned our community for success as we move to fully implement an Ontario Health Team in the South Georgian Bay Region.
The full application includes detailed information about the SGB OHT’s target population, team, transformation, collaboration, continuous learning, quality improvement, risk analysis, home & community care, digital health and COVID preparedness plans.
Over the past eight months, the SGB OHT planning table has continued to meet on a regular basis with a focus upon shared initiatives promoting the health and wellness of the South Georgian Bay community. A collaborative initiative focused upon enhanced mental health and social determinants of health in relation to COVID-19, continues.
“As we work to become a full Ontario Health Team, this is a unique opportunity for health care providers in South Georgian Bay to review innovative ways to design the best possible care for our region,” says Dr. Harry O’Halloran, Lead Physician, Georgian Bay Family Health Organization.
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About the South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre
The South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre is a non-profit, community-governed, charitable organization that focuses on the health and wellbeing of individuals in the community. They provide everyone in the community with access to health care services, free community programs and community development. The SGBCHC is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, through the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network. For more information please visit www.southgeorgianbaychc.ca.
Media Contact:
Louise Picot
SGBCHC Communications
705-606-1549
louise@louisepicot.com