On behalf of the Joint Municipal Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee (JMPRRC), Chair June Porter and Vice-Chair Yvonne Hamlin are pleased to announce that the Committee has received confirmation from the Ministry of Health that the Town of Collingwood has been declared as an Area of High Physician Need.
“The change of status was achieved by working directly with the Ministry of Health and our local Regional Advisors at Ontario Health, and as a result, the Town of Collingwood will now have the same status as other municipalities in the South Georgian Bay Region” explains Committee Chair June Porter.
In addition, Town of Collingwood Councillor and Committee Vice-Chair Yvonne Hamlin stated, “This is truly excellent news for the entire South Georgian Bay region as this change of status lifts the virtual cap preventing family physicians from setting up their own practice in Collingwood. This creates an opportunity to further support the Committee's mandate of physician recruitment and will increase access to health care for all residents throughout the region and will help to reduce walk-in and emergency department care.”
Comprised of member municipalities including the Town of The Blue Mountains, Town of Collingwood, The Township of Clearview, and the Municipality of Grey Highlands, the Committee has worked collaboratively to identify local healthcare needs and challenges throughout the South Georgian Bay Region. Led by Town of The Blue Mountains resident and Committee Chair June Porter and Town of Collingwood Councillor and Committee Vice-Chair Yvonne Hamlin, the Committee has worked closely with the Ministry of Health to address the identified primary health care needs and challenges in the South Georgian Bay Region and present solutions for consideration.
The decision to declare the Town Collingwood as an Area of High Physician Need will provide opportunities for eligible physicians that join the Family Health Organization (FHO) which is associated with the Georgian Bay Family Health Team to roster unattached patients. As explained on the Ministry of Health website, the determination of an area of need takes into several factors into consideration, including the Rurality Index for Ontario (RIO) score, family physician to population ratio, and input from Ontario Health - based on factors associated with local demographics, socioeconomic status, population health needs and access considerations.
In response to this decision from the Ministry of Health, the Committee will continue its work to improve access to local and regional health care for the South Georgian Bay Region through identifying options to locate and support new physician recruitments.
QUOTES
Town of The Blue Mountains – Mayor Alar Soever
“This is great news as South Georgian Bay is really one service delivery area, and this success shows what can be accomplished when we work with our municipal partners on something that will benefit us all,” said Town of The Blue Mountains Mayor Alar Soever. “I want to thank Chair June Porter and Vice-Chair Yvonne Hamlin for their hard work and leadership, and all of our neighbouring municipalities that have joined us and contributed to this regional committee.”
Clearview Township Quote – Mayor Doug Measures
“This is welcome news as it recognizes the efforts of our municipal leaders that have been working together to bring attention to the needs of residents beyond our municipal political borders,” said Mayor Doug Measures, Township of Clearview. “I am grateful for the diligence of our committee Chair June Porter and the level of cooperation we have seen as a regional committee.”
Municipality of Grey Highlands – Mayor Paul McQueen
“This truly is good news not only for the residents in South Georgian Bay Region but also for the residents of Grey Highlands,” said Mayor Paul McQueen. “As Council Representatives on the Joint Municipal Physician and Recruitment and Retention Committee we have seen how hard the Committee has worked to identify and address local health care needs and deficiencies within our expanding communities.”
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Tim Hendry
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Christa Carter
Manager, Public Relations & Communications
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