BAOHT Partner Bulletin

Stay informed and connected with us! Committed to supporting patients, families, caregivers, and health partners, we provide the latest insights, resources, and community highlights.

Celebrating our Doctors, Nurses and Volunteers

As we mark Doctors’ Day, Nurses Week and National Volunteer Week, the Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT) extends heartfelt gratitude to the physicians, nurses and volunteers who are at the core of our shared mission to create a more connected, compassionate health system.

To Our Physicians: Thank you for the leadership, knowledge and dedication you bring to every part of the BAOHT—whether through your work on the Executive Planning Committee, Collaboration Council or our working groups. Your participation and guidance shape better outcomes and stronger partnerships across our system. The outstanding engagement at our recent Primary Care Network event was yet another reminder of your commitment to meaningful collaboration and high-quality care.

To Our Nurses: During Nurses Week—and every week—we celebrate the transformative role nurses play in shaping our health care system. Your impact reaches far beyond the bedside: through your contributions to committees, projects and planning, you are helping to improve the delivery of care across our region. Your compassion, advocacy and professionalism inspire all of us.

To Our Lived Experience Partner Volunteers: We are especially proud to recognize our Lived Experience Partner Council members during National Volunteer Week. Your voices, stories and lived experiences are helping to guide a system that truly reflects the needs of the people it serves. From community events to leadership tables, your presence is felt everywhere—and your courage and dedication continue to drive meaningful change. To all patient, family and caregiver advisors in our community—thank you for walking alongside us every step of the way.

Interprofessional Primary Care Team Proposals

In January, the Government of Ontario announced a $1.8 billion investment to expand access to primary care and connect two million more people to care by 2029. As part of this action plan, up to 80 new and expanded interprofessional primary care teams (IPCTs) will be funded across the province in 2025-26.

Locally, the Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT) has been invited to submit proposals for the L4N and L4M postal code areas—home to over 26,000 people currently without a primary care provider.

With the submission deadline today (May 2), the Barrie and Community Family Health Team and the Barrie Community Health Centre are putting forward proposals to expand team-based care in our region. These efforts represent a coordinated response through the BAOHT and Primary Care Network to address local gaps and better support unattached patients. This is the first phase of a multi-year investment, and we will continue to share updates as funding decisions are made.

New Pathway to Support Urgent Blood Draws for Long-Term Care Residents

A new program is making it easier and faster for long-term care (LTC) homes in the Barrie area to get important blood test results.

The Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT), together with local LTC homes and Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), has launched a new pathway to support urgent blood draws. This new pathway will be used when an LTC home’s regular lab service can’t deliver results fast enough for the care team to make important health decisions. With the help of RVH’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, this new pathway will help avoid unnecessary trips to the Emergency Department by making sure bloodwork is analyzed quickly and results are given to the LTCs in a timely manner.

RVH’s Nurse-Led Outreach Team and an LTC Navigator will manage the process. They will order the tests and perform the blood draws when needed. Only certain tests will be allowed under this program, and only when fast results are truly needed.

This pilot project is starting with Victoria Village and Roberta Place LTC homes. Later, it will expand to the other seven LTC homes in the Barrie area. The number of tests is expected to be small—about one to three per month for each home. This project was made possible thanks to a strong partnership between the BAOHT, RVH and local LTC homes.

Equity, Inclusion, Diversity & Anti-Racism (EIDA-R) Working Group Spotlight

Each month, we spotlight a specific equity-deserving population and share educational resources to support them.

In April we highlight some education resources to help better serve People with Disabilities. These learning tools offer practical guidance on creating more inclusive environments, improving communication, and delivering equitable care. To view the list of resources, visit the Provider Resource page on our website. Select the drop down EIDA-R Education Spotlight – People with Disabilities.

Home First Action Planning Working Group on its way to success

The Home First Action Planning Working group is excited to share that almost all project objectives have been achieved, with two remaining initiatives currently underway and on track for completion later this year.

Highlights of Recent Progress:

• An Ontario Health atHome Care Coordinator was hired to support ED Diversion and Admission Avoidance at RVH’s Emergency Department.
• A new delirium learning module was launched at RVH to enhance early screening for at-risk older adults.
• A third RVH @Home Navigator was added to strengthen patient transition support.
• A 14-month pilot of a community Care Coordinator model at Independent Living Services began in North Simcoe, with potential expansion to Barrie and Area.
• A shared electronic medical record (EMR) was established between RVH and Hospice Simcoe for improved care continuity.
• RVH launched the Estimated Date of Discharge (EDD) project with appointed champions and leads.
• A Community Support Services Network Table was launched by the BAOHT, with an action plan to be developed over the coming months.
• A new communication process was introduced by Ontario Health atHome and RVH to better manage complex cases.

Hospice Simcoe introduced a Palliative Care Clinical Coach role, embedded at RVH, focusing on homeless and underhoused populations and enhancing safe transitions from acute care to community or home-based care.

Semi-Annual Report from Women and Children’s Health Network
Sharing on behalf of the Women and Children’s Health Network

The Women and Children’s Health Network has released its Winter 2024-25 Semi-Annual Report. The Network has made significant strides to improve pathways to perinatal mental healthcare.

To view the report, click here. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Marnie Lightfoot at MALightfoot@osmh.on.ca if you have any questions about the Women and Children’s Health Network or if we can support the work of your OHT.