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.
Together, we’ll build a healthier community.
BAOHT Cervical Cancer Screening Clinics success!
Pictured: Brianna Orava, Nurse Practitioner, Barrie FMTU and Evaluation and Performance Lead, BAOHT, alongside staff from Georgian Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (top left), Barrie FMTU (top right) and Barrie and Community Family Health Team (bottom).
The BAOHT, with support from primary care partners, hosted a series of free cervical cancer screening clinics in early February. Appointments filled quickly, a clear sign of how much our community values simple, accessible ways to stay on top of their health.
Across the three fully booked clinics, dozens of people received screening, with nearly ¼ of who were without a local primary care provider. The clinics also served as meaningful mentorship spaces, giving medical and nursing students the chance to learn directly from experienced clinicians.
By offering clinics in three different locations, we made screening more convenient for people no matter where they were coming from. The self‑serve online booking system also helped keep things flexible, making it easier to schedule (or reschedule) appointments when life got busy.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made these clinics possible. Our partners provided in‑kind support ranging from clinic space to day‑of staffing, and their IT teams ensured the online booking system ran smoothly so community members could access appointments with ease. This collaboration is what allows us to continue removing barriers and bring care closer to home.
👉 Check out our highlight video to see the impact of these clinics in action.
Know a patient without a family doctor or nurse practitioner? Here’s how to help them register for Health Care Connect
With new physicians and nurse practitioners accepting patients from Barrie, Innisfil, Springwater, Oro-Medonte and Essa township, and available spots filling quickly, it’s critical that unattached residents register with Health Care Connect as soon as possible.
To make the process easier, the BAOHT has created a 1-minute step-by-step video that shows exactly how to register for Health Care Connect online.
We encourage partners to share the video widely across your social media channels, newsletters, websites and waiting room screens to help ensure unattached patients know how simple it is to sign up.
The message to residents is clear: No family doctor or nurse practitioner? Register with Health Care Connect today.
👉 Download the BAOHT HCC Media Kit
👉 Watch and share the 1-minute registration video
👉 Visit: baoht.ca/hcc/
To further support residents without a family doctor or nurse practitioner, the BAOHT Operations Team will be at Georgian Mall in Barrie to provide direct, in-person support to assist residents with on-the-spot registration for Health Care Connect (HCC).
We’ll be onsite between 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026 and again on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Be sure to share this opportunity to connect with your communities.
Once again, thank you for your continued partnership in helping connect more people in Barrie and surrounding area to primary care.
BAOHT attends Annual Indigenous Health Forum
Pictured above: Ted Nolan, former NHL player, coach and author, delivers keynote speech during 16th Annual IHF
From February 24 – 25, 2026, the BAOHT attended the 16th Annual Indigenous Health Forum in Rama First Nation for two days of education and awareness opportunities for community partners working together towards strengthening Indigenous health and well-being. The opportunity was hosted by the Indigenous Health Circle (IHC) and allowed us to learn what is happening across the region, featuring emerging health issues, annual reports, celebrating community successes and to network and share with one another.
The event shifted from welcome and relationship-building into IHC updates and partner success stories. Keynote speakers on wellness and resilience included Dr. Chett Monague’s traditional teachings and Ted Nolan’s lived experience that translated directly to the work of the IHC in developing holistic approaches that combine traditional Indigenous teachings and medicine with modern health science.
In opening remarks, Interim Chief Regional Officer of Ontario Health Central Region, Christine Nuernberger emphasized that this work is built from community priorities upward. “Here we really start from our community up,” she said, “and we work together to make that happen in real life.”
Nolan reinforced a message partners can carry back into their organizations:
“You don’t have to have the best in order to be the best… you just work with what you got.”
GNPLC presents Virtual Speaker Series: Still time to register and attend!
The BAOHT is proud to partner with the Georgian Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (GNPLC) to promote a free virtual speaker series for nurses working in primary care.
Join nationally recognized speakers:
- Mary Ghazarian, MN, NP-PHC — March 5
- Amie Archibald-Varley, RN — March 26
These engaging sessions will explore nursing leadership, professional influence, mental health, health equity and the evolving future of health care.
With the first session approaching quickly, we encourage partners to share this opportunity with Primary Care Nurses (RNs, NPs, RPNs) across your networks to help ensure strong participation.
Registration links:
March 5 – Mary Ghazarian, MN, NP-PHC 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.:
Register HereMarch 26 – Amie Archibald-Varley, RN 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.:
Register Here
Sharing on behalf of the Barrie Community Health Centre
Barrie Community Health Centre’s Advance Care Planning Workshop
The Barrie Community Health Centre is hosting an Advance Care Planning Workshop to help community members begin important conversations about their future health care wishes.
Advance care planning is not limited to older adults. It’s recommended for anyone 18 years and older who wants clarity and peace of mind regarding future care decisions.
This session will guide participants through:
- What advance care planning means
- How to talk with family about their wishes
- Choosing a substitute decision-maker
- Ensuring personal values are understood and respected
We encourage partners to help amplify this opportunity, particularly with individuals managing chronic conditions or complex care needs.
- Workshop Date: March 25, 2026
- Registration: connectbchc.ca/workshops
Supporting Advance Care Planning conversations strengthens patient-centred care across our region and helps ensure individuals’ values are respected throughout the health system.
Thank you for helping raise awareness within your communities.
Sharing on behalf of Hospice Simcoe-Seasons Centre
“Ended Beginnings” Pregnancy and Infant Loss Group
Hospice Simcoe-Seasons Centre is offering “Ended Beginnings,” a Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Group for individuals who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss at any stage.
Facilitated by Registered Social Workers and trained volunteers, this monthly group provides a safe, supportive space for those impacted by miscarriage, loss of a multiple, late-term loss, termination for medical reasons, stillbirth, or the death of an infant (up to one year of age) within the past five years. Each session includes a guided topic or activity to foster connection and community.
- When: Last Thursday of each month, 4:00–6:00 PM
- Location: Community Support Office, 1-130 Bell Farm Road, Barrie
- Upcoming Dates: March 26, April 30, May 28, June 25
- Registration Required: kerri@hospicesimcoe.ca | 705-725-1140
We encourage partners to share this resource with patients and families who may benefit from specialized grief support.
Sharing on behalf of North Simcoe Muskoka Specialized Geriatric Services (NSM SGS)
See the signs, say the word: Delirium.
Delirium is a sudden change in the way a person thinks, behaves, or understands what’s going on around them. Someone with delirium may seem confused, see or hear things that aren’t there, or become unusually quiet, withdrawn, or sleepy. Others may feel anxious, restless, agitated, or even angry.
Delirium is often caused by physical problems in the body, such as dehydration, infection, or recovery after surgery. People who have had delirium are more likely to have it again. Delirium is a medical emergency, but it is sometimes mistaken for another condition, such as dementia, and can be missed.
The good news is that harm from delirium can often be prevented when it’s recognized early. Friends and family are usually the first to notice these changes, so please speak up if something doesn’t seem right – See the Signs, Say the Word: Delirium. By working together, we can make sure delirium is recognized and treated quickly.
Join North Simcoe Muskoka Specialized Geriatric Services as we take action together for World Delirium Awareness Day for a public education session:
- Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 10 a.m. (The webinar will be archived for later viewing).
- Register here!
You can learn more about delirium here: https://www.hqontario.ca/Portals/0/documents/evidence/quality-standards/qs-delirium-patient-guide-en.pdf