As initiative connecting unattached patients to Prince Edward County Family Health Team primary care providers has received provincial praise.

PEFHT’s Community Clinic for Unattached Patients was recognized late last month with a Spotlight Award from the Association of Family Health Team’s of Ontario.

For a little over year, the PEFHT has been working to expand access to team-based primary care in the community, working in alignment with two of the team’s strategic priorities; Access to care for all residents and meeting the needs of the community.

In February, the Clinic launched at locations in Picton and Wellington and provides acute episodic care for a specified list of symptoms to and then transitioned to provide problem-specific primary care as opposed to a short list of symptoms. Over 430 patients have accessed care through the Community Clinic and 128 of those patients have also received care through one of the family health team’s specialized clinical programs such as Diabetes Education and Lung Health.

Family Health Team President and CEO Barinder Gill said the clinics have been nothing short of a team effort, being staffed by nurse practitioners, a family physician, nursing and administrative support and other allied health professionals. Mr. Gill added that the success of PEFHT’s unattached programming that includes care for unattached newborns, residents discharged from hospital without a primary care provider and preventative care are a prime example of all that can be accomplished by working together in service to the County community.

Dr. Sarah Leblanc added the need for access to primary care has never been greater in Prince Edward County. She explained that particular part of the health care system that has been underfunded and inadequately resourced for quite some time although she’s hopeful for a change in direction manifesting itself on the horizon.

“Our average age in the County is much higher than the provincial average and as our community ages and demographics change, the dependency on our local health care system increases,” Dr. Leblanc said. “The latest announcement of the appointment of Dr. Jane Philpott as the Chair of the Provincial Primary Care Action Team is encouraging news and we’re hopeful that we will finally see some of the change we’ve needed for years for patients and providers.”

Unattached patients can call 613-827-8775 on Mondays starting at 9 a.m. for appointments on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

For more information, visit www.pefht.ca/community-clinic.php .