Friday, February 03, 2012
Local Family Physician Joins LHIN Team
Primary Care Lead collaborates to improve access to health care for Champlain LHIN residents
The Champlain LHIN today took another major step in strengthening and further integrating primary care into local health planning by naming Dr. Jacques Lemelin as the Primary Care Lead for the Champlain LHIN.
Dr. Jacques Lemelin, a family physician in Ottawa and Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Ottawa, will work with the Champlain LHIN to ensure primary care services are better integrated with the work of other health sectors. By working together, the LHIN and local health service providers continue to implement strategies to improve access to quality care for local residents.
Across the province, LHINs have been building great partnerships with local primary care providers. The introduction of a Primary Care Lead in each of the province’s 14 LHINs is endorsed by both the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ontario Medical Association and is in line with the government’s Action Plan commitment to bring planning for the full patient journey under the LHINs. Through collaborative work, local primary care providers can strengthen these partnerships and focus on implementing system initiatives identified locally by the LHIN through extensive community consultation to address local health care challenges.
In the Champlain LHIN these local efforts have included:
- Establishing a Primary Care Physician Leadership Table to strengthen collaboration and communication among Champlain LHIN physician leaders and primary care providers throughout the region. Primary care models include Community Health Centres, Family Health Teams, other types of family-physician groups, and Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics.
- Recently hosting a one-day primary care engagement workshop focused on caring for the elderly. This event was a collaboration of the Champlain LHIN, the Ontario Medical Association, Ottawa Public Health and University of Ottawa Continuing Medical Education.
- Ensuring physicians and primary care providers are members of various planning committees of the LHIN.
- Working with primary care physicians and other clinicians on specific eHealth projects to improve referral and consultation systems.
- Engaging with the Champlain Health Professional Advisory Committee on priorities of the LHIN.
QUOTES
“Having Primary Care Leads in each LHIN shows the government’s commitment to improving access to health care. This is good news for Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care. Patients – especially seniors - will benefit from the earlier intervention and case management that our primary care physicians and their teams provide.”
- Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“Ontario’s doctors know that progress has been made in improving and strengthening the health care system but believe there is more work to be done. By appointing Primary Care Leads in each of the LHINs, and building on existing partnerships and successes, local family physicians can work more closely with other health care providers to improve access and find innovative ways to save the system money that can be re-invested into patient care.”
- Dr. Stewart Kennedy, President, Ontario Medical Association
“High-performing health systems have strongly integrated primary care services. The Champlain LHIN welcomes Dr. Jacques Lemelin to this important role, which is perfectly aligned with Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care. We are confident that his work will result in more coordinated and accessible health services for people of all ages across our geography.”
- Chantale LeClerc, Interim CEO, Champlain LHIN
QUICK FACTS
- Dr. Jacques Lemelin has published numerous articles about family medicine in peer-reviewed journals.
- The Champlain LHIN has worked closely with Community Health Centres to develop new and innovative programs; this is an example of how the LHIN is improving primary care to better meet the needs of residents.
- The Champlain LHIN plans, coordinates, integrates and funds health services for a population of roughly 1.2 million people.
LEARN MORE
Report: Caring for our Aging Population and Addressing Alternate Level of Care – Dr. David Walker
Ontario Medical Association
Champlain Local Health Integration Network
Source: Champlain Local Health Integration Network
Email: champlain@lhins.on.ca
Website: www.champlainlhin.on.ca
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