Presented by Mary Keith, Executive Director

Garden City Family Health Team

Introducing the Niagara North Family Health Team

Background

• Physicians from the Niagara region have been meeting for approximately 2 years off and on to discuss how to improve how we provide health care

• Key concepts are ▫ better integration and communication

▫ better coordination of programs and services

▫ Improved coordination with public health

▫ Improved access and equity to Family Health Team services

A Timely Idea

• The Niagara-on-the-Lake and Garden City Family Health Teams started discussions about a possible merger almost a year ago

• Points favoring a merger include ▫ Ability to pool resources (both human and financial) to provide more

programs and services including creating a new position

▫ Increased access to programs offered at each site

▫ Improved efficiency by filling existing programs

▫ Shared management would increase efficiency

▫ Improved integration with our communities

Garden City Family Health Team

• Approximately 20,000 patients

• 15 Family Doctors at 5 Locations:

145 Carlton Street (Units 6 and 7)

22 Ontario Street

245 Pelham Road

121 Oakdale

New Clinic to open on Carlisle Street 2017

Niagara on the Lake Family Health Team

• 11 Primary Care Physicians + admin at 2 locations – Old Town and Virgil

• 15,000 rostered patients

Programs and Services

• Foot Care

• Dietitian

• Mental Health

• Craving Change

• Memory Clinic

• Asthma and COPD

• Acute Care

• Diabetes Care

• Stop Smoking Program

• Hypertension Management

Wound Care

Quitters Support Group

Single Session

Insomnia

Anticoagulation Clinic

Chronic Pain Program

Live Heart Smart

Healthy Start

Program

Lifeline

Programs offered at both FHTs Offered at one FHT

What Does This Mean for the NOTL Community?

• Improved access to programs and services at more locations

• Increased frequency and variety of workshops

• Improved coordination of programs with public health

• Increased opportunities for involvement with the team

• Increased community outreach including help with transitions home from hospital or to long term care

Governance • GC FHT – Mixed Board of Directors – 6 physician + 4

community members

• NOTL – physician led board - 11 Directors

• New Niagara North Family Health Team will have a mixed board with 3 physicians from GCFHT, 3 physicians from NOTL and 5 community members

• Executive Director reports to the board and is accountable to them

• Looking for community input into programs and services offered at the FHT

Questions?

Considerations and Focus for the Niagara North Family Health Team

The two communities – similarities and differences

St. Catharines & NOTL Deprivation Profile

3.5% vs. 1.9% of all families are single

fathers

19.6% vs. 8.8% of families are single

parent families

20.0% vs. 7.9% of families are considered low income with children under 18 Y/O

11.3% vs. 8.4% of people aged 25 – 64 have no certificate, diploma or

degree

• Niagara on the Lake Population is growing (over 55’s), home builders are building homes which

target this population.

Growth in St. Davids, Virgil and Niagara on the Green.

Limited growth in the Old Town.

Community Growth

• St. Catharines ▫ 2011 census showed a decrease in population.

▫ Growth will be through infill and growing up rather then out.

▫ Builders are building smaller lot homes OR townhomes/condos.

▫ In the future – GoTrain expansion (2023) – targeting a younger demographic.

Community Growth

• Communities have some similarities but also many differences.

• These differences may increase over time.

• Different needs which will be needed to be targeted through different health and wellness programs.

Conclusions

• We have held a one day facilitation which looked at identifying the Mission, Values and focus for the next 5 years.

• Morning - Board members, doctors and key stakeholders.

• Afternoon - Staff from both NOTL and GCFHT to look for opportunities to collaborate, identify opportunities for improvement.

What have we done so far?

• The organizations Mission/Purpose

▫ ‘Optimal Health for all’

▫ ‘Optimal Community Care’

▫ ‘Optimal team based health care for our communities’

▫ ‘Providing accessible, collaborative, quality health care for our communities’.

Does anyone have a preference?

Results

• Quality

• Education

• Collaboration

• Inclusive

• Equitable

• Compassionate/Respectful

• Visionary/Leadership

Which of these speak to you? Are we missing anything?

Values

• Improve Partnerships with care partners • Maintain academic links (education) • Integration in our community • Involve our patients • Support Community Growth • Be a driver for quality • Utilize technology to advance and improve the patient experience

‘Advancing our communities through consultation, collaboration,

integration and quality’

Focus over the next 5 years

• Opportunities for improvement: ▫ Technology issues

▫ Physical buildings and parking

▫ Promotion of programs offered

▫ Internal communications to improve patient experience

▫ Collaboration with internal and external service providers

Opportunities for improvement

• What are your thoughts?

• Are we on the right track?

• Is there anything else you would look for the Niagara North Family Health Team to do?

• What should we not do?

Questions….

Thank you