It just got a little easier to find health-care services closer to home.
On Thursday, the Ontario government launched two new initiatives to improve access to health care, and hopefully relieve stress on the province’s emergency rooms.
Health Care Connect aims to help people find a family health-care provider.
Dr. Mark Mensour, emergency department lead with the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), said the program aims to keep patients with less urgent needs out of emergency, by referring them to a family health-care provider in their community.
“This program looks at improving the care to the 891,000 Ontario residents who don’t have access to a family physician,” he said. “The program will refer them to other options. Those most in need will be assisted first.”
Patients call a special Telehealth Ontario number to sign up for the patient database, where they will be prioritized based on their health needs. Local nurses, called Care Connectors, will review a patient’s information and find them a place in a provider’s practice.
Care Connect is only for people without a family doctor. The program does not guarantee it will find someone a doctor, so patients are encouraged to keep looking on their own.
The government also made local health services online at a new one-stop website.
By typing in your postal code, residents can get information on the nearest after-hours and walk-in clinics, urgent care centres, family health teams and emergency rooms.
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To register for Health Care Connect, call 1-800-445-1822.