Perth-Wellington MPP John Wilkinson believes other parts of the province should be taking a closer look at the success of Mount Forest’s Family Health Team.
Wilkinson was in town recently to announce the Ontario government has helped one million more people find a family doctor since 2003 – and that the Mount Forest Family Health Team in Wellington North is part of that success.
“Our government has pledged to help one million more Ontarians find a doctor and I’m proud to say we have met our goal,” Wilkinson said. “Since 2003, Family Health Teams, like the Mount Forest Family Health Team, have helped connect the equivalent of 16 people every hour for over seven years to a family doctor.”
Wilkinson added, “Having access to family health care helps relieve the pressure on hospital emergency rooms by shortening wait times and, most importantly, delivers both peace of mind and better care to Ontario families.”
He noted Perth-Wellington is home to six Family Health Teams that care for 85,089 patients, including 12,485 who previously did not have a family doctor. The Mount Forest team began accepting patients in 2006 and now has 7,985 patients, including 477 who did not previously have a family doctor.
Wilkinson added the province is also helping to train more doctors through the addition of 160 more first-year spaces in medical schools, with another 100 on the way.
He suggested that by 2013, the number of medical school spaces will have been doubled compared to 2003. “As well, there are now 21 per cent more internationally-trained doctors seeing Ontario patients.”
Dr. Ken Babey, of the Mount Forest Family Health Team, spoke to Wilkinson about the catchment area and services provided at the Claire Stewart Medical Clinic and the Mount Forest Family Health Team.
Babey added this has been a good opportunity to work with others in various medical fields.
As a result of talking with other physicians, Wilkinson said he has found there is increased job satisfaction working in family health teams, “because they are referring patients to people who actually like to do that particular [speciality].”
“I don’t know how many doctors who have seen patients come in who’ve been told they are overweight, they smoke … ‘you gotta change.’ Some people do … a lot of people don’t.”
But with nurse practitioners, their job is to listen, to understand, to help them from where they are – to where they need to be, Wilkinson said. “They have the time, the training, and they love to do that work.”
At the same time, Wilkinson said it frees the doctors who know the medical need is being addressed by the family health team. It allows doctors to continue dealing with the issues only they can deal with.
“We have a great team here,” Babey added. “They are excellent and we work together well.”
Wellington North Mayor Mike Broomhead added he believes community satisfaction is probably higher than it has ever been.
“I think the accessibility is certainly better,” he said.
And often, Babey said, some patients would rather see a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse who specializes in chronic conditions.
Nurse clinician Vivian Henderson used an example of one of the clinic’s patients.
“She could almost be described as the poster child for the clinic.”
Henderson said last November, after attending classes that noted the importance of activity, the clinic launched a walking program.
She said people taking part set their own goals and have those goals reevaluated on a regular basis.
At the onset of the program, one individual was able to walk twice around the running track at the Mount Forest Community Sportsplex over the course of an hour.
She did that probably three times per week. At a one month evaluation, she was already starting to show progress.
Every three months thereafter, we’ve seen a 15% increase – in fitness, wellness and health status,” Henderson said.
Now, at almost the one-year mark, Henderson said that person is very proud of her accomplishment “and we’re very proud of the progress she has made.”
“Not only has she done a weight reduction with us, her blood pressure is down, she feels great about what she is doing, and encouraging others. It’s just awesome, we’re very, very proud.”
Wilkinson said, “It’s all about going from illness to wellness.”
He said there are many baby boomers and many people due to retire – and there are limited resources, no matter how many more people are put into the system.
“She’s happier, and all of us are happier because the cost is a lot less. We had a system that was designed to treat people who were sick … as opposed to looking at what do we need to do to keep people well.”
He said it not only show positive results, but it costs less. That way doctors can deal with the people who are sickest that much sooner.
Henderson said it also reinforces that the programs are working.
“We know that our clients are accessing them and that their health and wellness is improving.” She considered it a huge shift from them controlling their health care to the patients taking some responsibility.
Wilkinson noted the local health clinic also has the advantage of being across the street from the Louise Marshal Hospital.
He said because of Family Health Teams there are now one million more people who have access to a doctor, and thus do not have to go to the emergency department.
“It means there are also one million people who are getting better care. That is a big shift.
“The reality is there’s going to be more people, and we are getting older.”
Theresa Ghent is one of three nurse practitioners with the Mount Forest Family Health Team. She said Babey was a big part of getting her involved in that program.
As one of three, Ghent said access is a big thing for people.
“There’s three of us, and we serve about 1,200 patients for primary health care – in conjunction with the physicians and other members of the family health team.
“I think the community has well accepted us and are happy with us,” Ghent said.
She added physicians are accepting and have supported them also.
“It’s a great opportunity for the community and for us as well.”
Wilkinson said, “We have to look at doing things differently. The old model is not going to look after everybody. There’s going to be a lot more people who need a lot more care.”
He said there is a lot more job satisfaction when people can be directed to those who love that type of work.
“All of them are responding to whatever need there is in the community.”
Henderson said the identification of the client base is paramount.
It allows them to identify a need and then, as a team, address that need, she said.
“For the record, the trick is to get the rest of the world to catch up with Mount Forest,” Wilkinson said.
Ninety-four per cent of Ontarians aged 16 or over now have a family doctor. People without a family doctor can log on to Health Care Connect at http://www.health.gov.on/ca/en/ms/healthcareconnect/public/default.aspx.
