By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Northumberland’s Ontario Health Team has accomplished a lot during its first few years, and has plans to do even more.
An educational presentation on this initiative was on the agenda at the April meeting of the Northumberland Hills Hospital board of directors.
Established almost four years ago – and one of the first OHTs approved by the province – the organization was soon challenged to devise a co-ordinated response to COVID-19. They have also been able to begin such initiatives as the Rural Outreach Clinic in Colborne as well as the Community Paramedicine program and the Volunteer Peer Support Group.
A strategic plan is in place for 2022 to 2026, and co-chairs Taryn Rennick (Executive Director of Community Health Centres of Northumberland) and Susan Walsh recently conducted a session with the OHT-N collaboration council and representatives from key agencies and organizations called Looking in the Rear View Mirror.
Three common cross-sector areas of focus emerged – improved access to primary and specialty care, supporting older adults with complex conditions to live well at home, and improving access and services to those with mental-health and addiction needs.
Their understanding is that OHT funding should continue for a few more years, and the focus shifted to The Road Ahead.
“We called it our Listening Tour,” Walsh said.
“There’s an incredible willingness and excellent relationships within the community among our partners,” she added, though there is room for more physician and primary-care engagement.
As the pandemic wound down and there was a bit of a lull in terms of energy, she continued, it is important to maintain collaboration and momentum. There is also a need to focus on health equity for such vulnerable populations as older adults, frail seniors and those with mental-health issues.
There is good news here, however. Walsh referred to a Marginalization Index and reported that – though Northumberland does have something of a marginalized population – it is not as big a proportion as many OHTs are experiencing.
Among the areas of focus for the future are ensuring a robust annual operation plan, seeking opportunities for innovation and improvement.
Looking at challenges and gaps, Walsh mentioned that planning includes expansion of the Geriatric Assessment Team in the county to support unattached seniors (and developing an unattached-seniors strategy) and explore implementation of a county-wide Indigenous navigator.
Walsh described their approach to collaboration.
“For each of these areas, look at who is doing the work already – don’t reinvent the wheel,” she said.
“Find out what works, collaborate with them, invite them to the conversation, look at where you need advocacy.”
The board meeting was also the opportunity to be introduced to new OHT-N Executive Lead Andrea Groff, who will be a key player in co-ordinating OHT-N operations and advancing the work of their priority projects.
