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Orillia Matters article published May 28, 2020

By Mehreen Shahid

The North Simcoe Family Health Team hopes to soon expand its virtual-care clinic program from two to five days a week.

A local health team has a virtual solution for orphan patients in the area.

Noticing the rising need of family physicians in the area and having five physicians retire in the last year or so, North Simcoe Family Health Team (NSFHT) thought it was time to bring technology in the mix. It wants to connect up to 3,000 local patients with family physicians virtually through a virtual care program it currently offers two days a week.

“We have relied on telemedicine in the past to connect people with specialists who are in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area),” said NSFHT executive director Andrew Shantz, adding expansion is slated to happen as soon as possible. 

The model is based on one used a few years ago by the Peterborough Family Health Team, according to Shantz.

“They partnered with the virtual family physician network, an organization that helps connect physicians through telemedicine to communities,” he said. “We became aware of their situation and contacted (the virtual family physician network) earlier this year to see if they would interested in doing a similar program in North Simcoe.”

This program doesn’t act as a walk-in clinic, he said, but it does help reduce pressure on the local hospital’s emergency room.

“We supply the space and equipment and the nursing staff,” he said, adding physicians, who are typically based in larger urban centres, connect with client via telemedicine. “The program is unique because it connects a patient with a primary care provider long-term. This allows a relationship to be developed between the client and the nurse and the client and the physician.”

Amber Kolsen, a registered nurse working with NSFHT, has been helping run the program, which is currently only offered two days a week.

“I think it’s a great program,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback from clients that have used it, just in terms of how easily accessible it is. It’s frustrating not to have a family doctor.”

Kolsen said the health team encourages people to inquire about the program and even to try it out.

“There is no obligation to stick with the program,” she said. “If they have one visit and don’t like the technological aspect, they don’t have to stick with it.”

In her role, Kolsen said, before COVID-19 restrictions for in-person visits came in place, she had been helping up to 40 people each day, out of the 255 people currently enrolled in the program.

“Anyone who reaches out will be offered a meet and greet,” she said, adding it’s all done virtually or over the phone these days. “The doctor will review their history and medications.”

Kolsen said during an in-person visit, she would be the hands and eyes for the doctor to conduct a physical examination, if needed.

The program has some limitations, she said, in that doctors are unable to see patients with narcotics prescriptions or for acute conditions, which might be best dealt at the ER.

“The good thing is that the physician is able to provide referrals for specialists,” Kolsen said.

Visit the NSFHT website for more information.

To view the full article, click here.

Guelph Today News article published May 23, 2020

By Anam Khan

Executive director Ross Kirkconnell of the Guelph Family Health Team said the health system has always been there for residents and the pandemic is no different

The Guelph Family Health Team has a message for those holding themselves back from seeking medical attention during the pandemic. Don’t.

“We want to remind people that family practice is available, has been available and always will be available. So don’t put things off that you shouldn’t be,” said Guelph Family Health Team’s executive director Ross Kirkconnell. 

He said he’s recently been hearing stories of people not visiting their doctors while enduring pain because they believe the health system is busy. 

“No. If you have symptoms you should be getting it checked like you normally would,” said Kirkconnell.

Once the pandemic was declared mid-March, the clinics across the city immediately saw a decrease in the number of visits to their clinics across the city.

“People were reluctant at first to sort of bother the health care system. Everyone was cautious about going anywhere,” said Kirkconnell.

Now that it has been almost two months, he said the clinics are beginning to see more calls from patients who do not want to wait any longer but still are not at the number of visits they used to be before the pandemic. 

“Some people can get by with their friends and family for support but at some point, you need care again and we shouldn’t feel bad about that,” said Kirkconnell.

He said things like vaccines for new babies, chronic pain and necessary checkups should not be put off.  

Kirkconnell said the system has always been open and now with the pandemic, the clinics are just operating differently.

The team’s 100 medical professionals manage roughly 80 per cent of their 3,000 daily appointments through phone and video. People who need access to urgent care are seen in-person on an appointment basis. 

Dr. Will Ruddock at the Guelph Family Health Team said switching to online methods is a two-sided effort as doctors have to make those services accessible and patients have to feel comfortable with the process. 

“Anecdotally I would say that has really been increasing gradually over the last couple of weeks as everybody gets more comfortable with this,” said Ruddock. 

He said he urges people to contact their family doctors regarding their concerns so they can be dealt with accordingly. 

“In a year or five, having gotten started with this, everybody might have more interest in some of their care being done this way,” said Ruddock.

With distancing measures, increased sanitation and use of masks already in place, Kirkconnell said many of their clinics are even allowing patients to wait in their car till they are called inside for their appointment to further enhance comfort and safety for the patient. 

“If you need to see a physician or a member of the care team, they are available for you. If you need to go to emergency at the hospital, it’s there for you. Just because its a pandemic doesn’t mean other things stop,” said Kirkconnell. 

To view the full article, click here.

CTV News article published May 14, 2020

By Ricardo Veneza

WINDSOR, ONT. — The Windsor Team Care Centre’s substance abuse services are being forced online by COVID-19 – but the move may be a blessing in disguise.

A new virtual substance abuse program, part of the One Team Recovery (OTR) initiative, will have its first session on Tuesday, through the online video call platform Go To Meeting. The service will allow up to 25 people to join the group session.

“They’re really wanting the help,” says Beth Lalonde, an addiction counsellor with the program. “No one wakes up and says, ‘Hey guess what I want to be today? I want to be having a problem with this.’”

The OTR is a five-week harm reduction program launched in October backed by a $40,880 grant from the Windsor-Essex Community Foundation and Green Shield Canada.

Lalonde says counselling services have continued during the pandemic through one-on-one video calls and phone conversations, but the options are not good substitutes for in-person and group consultations.

That led to the launch of the new virtual platform.

“To reach the masses and to provide a group setting, we just found that this program could offer those extra services and extra supports this way and connect other people, so they don’t feel as alone,” says Lalonde.

That loneliness may be creating further problems for those struggling with substance abuse.

Lalonde says while opioid and crystal meth abuse is widespread in Windsor, half of her clients are struggling with alcohol.

“Because of that isolation component with COVID, we’re seeing that clients are sometimes escalating their drinking or substance use because no one is there to support them,” says Lalonde.

Yet, at the same time, Lalonde has seen a drastic dip in the number of physician referrals.

Addiction counsellors at the centre usually have 25 clients at any one time.

The OTR program has allowed self-referrals since March as a result of the COVID-induced dip.

Derek Roberts, another addiction counsellor with the team, hopes the virtual platform will allow for more personal discussions with clients at a time when in-person visits are restricted or ill-advised.

“Ideally we would like to provide the service in-person but, with what’s going on, we’re not able to do that so we’ve got to go on to the next best thing,” says Roberts.

There are 10 people registered for the first virtual program cycle.

Roberts and Lalonde will be connecting with the group on Friday to ensure a smooth launch next week.

The program is already showing promise, according to Roberts, who sees the platform as more convenient for clients – helping to cut down on skipped meetings – and more efficient for the counsellors to potentially see more referrals.

Roberts expects the program could become a mainstay even as group programs return, as pandemic restrictions are lifted, including those that bring families impacted by addiction together.

“We know that statistics show for everyone individual’s addiction, that it directly affects five additional people,” says Roberts. “Which are their loved ones and friends.”

Roberts adds the OTR program has no current wait list. Those seeking help can call 519-250-5524.

To view the full article, click here.