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New Family Health Teams On The Way

McGuinty Government Improving Access To Health Care

December 11, 2009

Ontario is creating 19 new Family Health Teams across the province to provide better access to family health care.

The new Family Health Teams will set up in areas of the province with high numbers of patients without family doctors. Family Health Teams provide better access to care closer to home and include physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers and dieticians. The teams also help reduce emergency department use by providing non emergency care.

The 19 new Family Health Teams are expected to be up and running by 2011/12. Ontario’s existing 150 teams have already enrolled more than 318,000 patients who did not have access to a family physician, and are providing care to more than two million people.

The province will establish 50 new Family Health Teams and 25 new Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics over the next three years.

QUOTES

“No matter where they live, all Ontario families deserve access to quality heath care. Family Health Teams are a wonderful addition to communities in need, and I’m proud that these 19 new teams will increase access to family health care for more Ontarians.”
- Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“The addition of 19 new Family Health Teams means thousands of patients across Ontario will not only have access to a doctor, but also to a team of health care professionals working collaboratively that can provide a more comprehensive level of care.”
- Dr. Suzanne Strasberg, President of OMA

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario recently announced eight additional Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics
• Over 1,260 allied health professionals have been hired to work at the existing 150 Family Health Teams
• Ontarians without a family health care provider can register with Health Care Connect, a program that helps people find a family health care provider in their community

 

LEARN MORE

Find out more about Family Health Teams.
Find out more about Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics.
Find a family health care provider near you through Health Care Connect.

Backgrounder : Family Health Teams

Members of the media :

Ivan Langrish, 416 326-3986
Minister's Office

David Jensen, 416-314-6197
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ontario.ca/health-news