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UPDATED 5 p.m.: Thunder Bay excluded from first cohort of Ontario Health Teams

The Ministry of Health continues to work with other applicants
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TORONTO — The provincial government on Monday released the list of 24 Ontario Health Teams, the first cohort in its plan to reorganize the oversight of health care services.

The list includes the Kenora/Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, but excludes the rest of northwestern Ontario.

Last week, Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford announced the All Nations Health Partners Ontario Health Team in the Kenora area.

Monday's announcement showed that the only other team designated so far across the north is in the North Bay area.

The remaining 22 are in southern Ontario.

The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care said the 24 teams approved so far underwent an extensive "readiness assessment" process, which required significant time, collaboration, and research from partners in the health care sector in each area.

It said it continues to work with applicants in other regions of the province.

The government has said health teams are a key component of ending hallway health care.

"These 24 teams will implement a new model of organizing and delivering health care that better connects patients and providers in their communities to improve patient outcomes....patients will experience easier transitions from one provider to another...with one patient story, one patient record and one care plan," the announcement reiterated.

Ministry spokesperson David Jensen told Tbnewswatch late Monday that the Northwestern Ontario Health Team, whose catchment area includes Thunder Bay, submitted a self-assessment to the ministry last May.

In July, the ministry notified the team it had been assessed as a team still in development.

Jensen said it's to deliver a progress report to the government in January.

In March 2020, teams not yet approved by the ministry will be invited to submit full application forms. 

 

 




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