Health Organizations Propose Collaboration

Thursday, 16 May 2019 09:09

Woodstock General Hospital (stock photo )

Over 20 health care and community partners have collaborated on forming an Ontario Health Team for Oxford County.

OXFORD COUNTY - In a step towards forming an Ontario Health Team, more than 20 health care and community partners have submitted a readiness Self-Assessment document.

This was in response to an open call by the provincial government for readiness self-assessments for OHT's.

President and CEO for Woodstock General Hospital, Perry Lang says they have had several meetings to prepare before submitting the application.

"The Ontario government put out a call for readiness assessments for development of Ontario Health Teams, so a group of over 20 health care providers and partner organizations in our region had several meetings to prepare our readiness assessment which we had submitted to meet the deadline for the open call by the Ontario government to express interest in the formation an Ontario Health Team. We're looking at forming an Oxford Region Ontario Health Team and the partners are very excited and we're working in collaboration on submitting this readiness assessment."

Lang says this will allow residents to be a part of a seamless health care system.

"Residents living in the Oxford region, this will allow them to be part of a seamless health care system which will involve the organization working together in a collaborative approach to provide seamless patient experience, and the appropriate level of care in the appropriate setting."

The Woodstock General Hospital and Oxford County Community Health Centre are among the partners involved in the proposal. He says there are a wide range of partner organizations in different areas of health care and community care, including mental health, hospital services and paramedic services.

Lang says they're waiting on further direction from the Ontario government and they'll hear feedback on their application in early June.

If selected, they'll be able to complete a full application and expand to include other health and social service partners who want to be involved.