By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The newly formed Ontario Health Team of Northumberland is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with an interactive virtual event to help answer questions around the unprecedented changes the health emergency has brought to life in Northumberland County.
The partnership of local patients, caregivers, and health and social agencies that won accreditation several months back as an official OHT is hosting a 60-minute virtual forum May 13 at 7 p.m. to address questions that have arisen over these weeks of isolation – what is the status of cases in Northumberland? How do I access assessment and testing? Can I book an appointment with my family doctor? What practices are in place in long-term-care homes to keep residents safe? What mental-health supports are available?
Five panelists from the team will open with a high-level overview of local health and social-care providers’ response to the pandemic to date, and the partnerships that have proven valuable in minimizing the impact of COVID-19.
Participants will then be able to ask questions directly, of panelists sand of other OHT-N representatives – including public-health agencies, both county hospitals, primary care providers, paramedics, community care agencies, Alderville First Nation health and social services, long-term-care providers and more.
“The OHT-N was one of 24 such partnerships formed across Ontario prior to COVID-19,” spokesman (and president and chief executive officer of Northumberland Hills Hospital) Linda Davis said in the press release.
“Here in Northumberland, it has proven to be an invaluable network to support a co-ordinated response and positive health outcomes.
“It will take all of us to successfully beat COVID-19, and we have been extremely grateful to have the relationship sin place around the OHT-N table to support the work reequired. We look forward to sharing information, answering questions and hearing from area residents about what more we can bve doing collectively to help as we move forward together.”
One of the five panelists at the event, Davis will be joined by Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, Northumberland County chief administrative officer Jennifer Moore (representing municipal services, including paramedics and long-term care), Lakeview Family Health Team executive director Wendy Parker, and Community Care Northumberland executive director Trish Baird.
Preregistration is required – visit //Northumberland.ca/ohtnVirtualForum of call 1-800-354-7050 ext. 2499.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
