South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team
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South Georgian Bay OHT News
South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team Digital Health and Innovation Team Receives OntarioMD Luminary Award
South Georgian Bay – The South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team (SGB OHT), Digital Health and Innovation Team, under the leadership of Dr. James Lane, received a 2022 OntarioMD (OMD) Luminary Award. The award recognizes individuals and teams that demonstrate leadership and innovation in the use of digital and virtual health care tools.
“Digital health is a key priority for the SGB OHT because it allows patients and caregivers to access online tools enabling them to feel more connected and have improved access and quality of health and social service care,” says Dr. James Lane, family physician and SGB OHT Digital Lead. “It also allows health service providers to streamline their workflow, enables easier access to information when and where they need it, and is a more efficient way of delivering services.”
South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team Leading the Way in Integrated Care, According to Recent Leadership Survey
A recent leadership survey of Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) from across the province shows the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team (SGB OHT) as leading the way in its ability to integrate care for patients in South Georgian Bay. The Organizing for Ontario Health Teams (OOHT) survey, conducted by the Health System Performance Network (HSPN), asked for input from all OHT leadership groups ranging from CEOs of organizations to patients, families or caregivers and measured the success factors that would help OHTs achieve their goal of integrated care and population health.
“When we’re thinking about integrated care, what we’re trying to accomplish is health and social care that is more connected to patients in our local communities,” says Dr. Harry O’Halloran, SGB OHT Co-Chair. “This survey was important because it shows us that we’re doing exceptionally well in South Georgian Bay. We have built a network of strong, collaborative relationships that enable us to come together in times of need and really ensure that we can provide the best possible health and social service care in our community.”
Online Bookings for Doctor’s Appointments Available in South Georgian Bay
South Georgian Bay – Primary care doctors in South Georgian Bay are currently being supported by the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team (SGB OHT) to offer their patients online booking. This allows patients to book appointments quickly and easily access health care in the community.
“The pandemic really exposed the need to have digital health options in place. With online booking, residents in South Georgian Bay now have a really easy way to book a doctor’s appointment and receive reminders about their appointments,” says Dr. James Lane, Family Physician with Stayner Medical Centre and Digital Lead for the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team. “This is a really great way to make it even easier for our patients to book their appointments and access the care they need. As a family doctor in our community, I have received a lot of positive feedback from my patients. I encourage all residents in South Georgian Bay to try online bookings; it’s easy and convenient.”
Many doctors in South Georgian Bay are already using online booking with their patients. If your doctor is not currently offering this option, the SGB OHT encourages you to ask about it next time you are booking an appointment. More information about online booking, including online booking links for those doctors offering it, is available through this link: www.southgeorgianbayoht.ca/online-bookings
If you need support, you can dial 2-1-1 (24/7 bilingual helpline) for assistance with booking an online appointment.
South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team Shares Tips for Keeping Healthy this Season
South Georgian Bay – With the return of the colder weather and the recent rise in flu and other respiratory illnesses, the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team (SGB OHT), has put together some tips for keeping healthy now and through the upcoming holiday season. These tips will help keep you and those around you healthy and avoid further strain on our hospital resources.
“To the South Georgian Bay community, we need your help. I highly encourage you to get a new and improved Bivalent COVID-19 booster, especially those 60 and over with underlying medical problems. Getting one of the new Bivalent boosters will make a COVID infection much milder and keep you out of the ER or the hospital. I also strongly encourage you to get your influenza shot,” says Dr. Mark Quigg, Family Physician. “We need your help again to get through what is going to be a very difficult winter. It truly is “your best shot” for a healthy winter.”
Watch this video from Dr. Quigg where he shares more tips for keeping healthy this winter: https://youtu.be/ZYuoPFViO1k
Many clinics are offering both flu shots and COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses and you can often get them both at the same time. Flu shots are available through your family doctor. If you do not have a doctor, you can dial 2-1-1 or book an appointment at a pharmacy. To book your flu shot or learn more visit: www.southgeorgianbayoht.ca/flu-shot-clinics.
Seniors Survey First Step in Project Connecting Seniors to Social and Community Supports
Seniors and their caregivers are encouraged to take part in a survey to help inform a project across the county that aims to connect people to resources and supports to combat social isolation and allow them to become or stay involved in their communities in meaningful ways.
Community Connection, a Collingwood-based charity, is overseeing a five-year project, aimed at connecting isolated seniors with social activities and/or volunteer opportunities in their community enabling them to become or stay involved in their community in meaningful ways. The project is guided by a cross-sector leadership table of community members and service providers, including the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team (SGB OHT).
Seniors (55+) or their caregivers can access the survey by going to www.simcoesurvey.ca or by calling 705-444-0040 extension 246 to complete it over the phone. The survey will also be distributed through community organization.
A Collaboration between Service Providers in the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team Aims to Reduce the Impact of Poverty
Thanks to a 3-year, $233,742 grant from United Way Simcoe Muskoka, the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team (SGB OHT) is beginning the work on a collaborative project to expand the community’s ability to more easily connect people who are struggling to meet their basic needs, to the services and supports they need.
“In the first year of the project, we are working on developing a shared technology platform to allow physicians, health care providers and also community service organizations to make electronic referrals to 2-1-1 for people who are impacted by the social determinants of health,” says Pamela Hillier, Executive Director of Community Connection. “Like a physician prescribing medicine, this is social prescribing, a structured way of referring people to the broad range of local, non-clinical services such as food resources, transportation services, income supports or even social activities for those who are alone. With their basic needs supported, people can be more focused on their health and wellbeing. We are so thankful to donors in our communities who support the United Way Simcoe Muskoka, for making this work possible.”
Activity Calendar Connecting Seniors to Local Social Activities and Resources
To celebrate Seniors’ Month in Ontario, the South Georgian Bay Recreation and Social Activities Calendar for Older Adults has just launched. The calendar aims to connect older adults and seniors to local recreation or social activities and resources to enhance social connections in our community. COVID-19 restrictions have taken a significant toll on many, and older adults and seniors are particularly vulnerable to isolation during these unprecedented times. This online resource connects older adults and seniors with others in the community to reduce this isolation and promote health and wellness.
Local Organizations Invited to Add to Activity Calendar for Free
Local organizations are invited to add activities to the South Georgian Bay Recreation and Social Activities Calendar for Older Adults. The calendar connects older adults to local recreation or social activities to enhance social connections in their community.
“What we’re hearing from older adults is that there are so many different organizational websites, each with their activities on them. This makes it overwhelming and difficult for them to figure out what is available in their community,” says Pam Hillier, Executive Director, 211 Community Connection. “We’re asking organizations to come together to make it really easy for older adults to find the activities they’re looking for.”
In a recent survey conducted by 211 Community Connection, to help inform projects across Simcoe County aimed at connecting seniors to resources and supports, almost 80% of survey participants indicated that they are not as socially active as they would like to be. The majority of respondents wanted to see more opportunities for social/entertainment/games (58.7%), education/learning (58.6%), and exercise/sports (52.9%), but 43% felt they didn’t know where to find out about them.
“Posting an activity or resource for older adults on the recreation and social activities calendar is a great way for organizations to get the information out into the community. It’s free, easy to use, and encourages older adults to get involved and active in their community,” says Sherry Teeter, Community Connection Project Lead, Reducing Senior Isolation. “This calendar makes it easy for older adults to find what they’re looking for because they can find a variety of activities happening in their local community both virtually and in-person all in one place.”
‘Greater connectivity for patients’: Collingwood, Wasaga Beach area pegged for Ontario Health Team.
South Georgian Bay has been selected by the province as a region for one of 13 new Ontario Health Teams announced Nov. 18.
The South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team is comprised of health and social-service organizations in Collingwood, the Blue Mountains, Wasaga Beach and Clearview Township.
Area Health Organizations Submit Application to Become Ontario Health Team.
On Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team (SGB OHT) planning table submitted its full application to the Ministry of Health towards becoming an Ontario Health Team.
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