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.

Primary Care Network Event – Building Stronger Connections for Better Care

The Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team’s Primary Care Network recently came together for an evening of learning, networking and collaboration—all aimed at improving patient care in our community. The event focused on strengthening relationships across teams, sharing knowledge and providing primary care providers with valuable tools and education. A key highlight was an Indigenous Cultural Safetyeducation session provided by Myiingan-Jeff Monague, reinforcing the importance of understanding Indigenous history to provide more culturally respectful care. Thank you to all who participated—your engagement helps build a healthier community!

Recognizing a Health Care Hero: Kelly Hubbard, Hospice Simcoe

The Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT) is proud to celebrate Kelly Hubbard, Executive Director of Hospice Simcoe-Seasons Centre, for her unwavering dedication to compassionate, high-quality palliative and bereavement care, which earned her a well-deserved nomination for the Barrie Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Award in the Health Care Hero category.

Kelly has been a driving force in strengthening partnerships within the BAOHT network. These collaborations have improved care transitions, streamlined admissions processes, and expanded services for our community’s most vulnerable populations. At BAOHT, we are privileged to work alongside Kelly and Hospice Simcoe-Seasons Centre in building a more integrated and equitable health care system. Her nomination is a testament to the incredible impact she has had on our community. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and deep gratitude for her ongoing commitment to the well-being of those in need.

Welcoming New Partners to the BAOHT

The Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT) has welcomed several new partners who are joining our collaborative efforts to enhance health care coordination and delivery in our region.

Welcome to the following new partner organizations:

• Barrie Women and Children’s Shelter
• Community Network of Specialized Care – Central East
• Home Instead
• North Simcoe Muskoka Acquired Brain Injury Collaborative
• PureHealth Pharmacy
• Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board
• Sr Care Barrie

Representatives from each organization took part in new partner orientation sessions, where they had the opportunity to meet members of the BAOHT Operations Team, share insights about their organizations and learn more about BAOHT projects and working groups.

These new partners bring valuable expertise and perspectives and will contribute to various working groups within the BAOHT. Their involvement will help strengthen our collaborative initiatives and improve care for the communities we serve. We look forward to working together and are grateful for their commitment to the health and well-being of our community members.

Building Connections: BAOHT visits Barrie Community Health Centre

The Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT) Operations Team recently had the opportunity to connect with staff at the Barrie Community Health Centre (BCHC) for an engaging discussion about the OHT’s work and the future of health care collaboration in our region.

During the visit, we met with frontline staff to provide an overview of BAOHT, highlight key initiatives and answer questions about primary care and the evolving role of OHTs across the province. We were thrilled to see great attendance and an engaged audience, reflecting the strong commitment to integrated and patient-centred care.

Christine Colcy, CEO, BCHC, also participated in the discussion, offering valuable context on how the work of the OHT aligns with the mission and services of the community health centre. We welcome the opportunity to visit other partner organizations to share more about the BAOHT and explore ways we can work together. If your organization is interested in hosting a similar session, please reach out to Kaylee at macmillank@baoht.ca —we’d love to continue these important conversations!

Welcome Tammy! New Palliative Care Clinical Coach
Sharing on behalf of Hospice Simcoe – Seasons Centre

In June 2024, the Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team’s Palliative Care and Bereavement Support Working Group secured two years of funding to establish a Palliative Care Clinical Coach (PCCC). This initiative aims to improve palliative care support for individuals who are homeless or vulnerably housed while also enhancing safe transitions from acute care to community or home-based care.

Hospice Simcoe is pleased to welcome Tammy Pollard to a 0.5 FTE role as the Palliative Care Clinical Coach. Tammy will work Monday to Thursday at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), supporting the early identification of palliative care needs, providing education and ensuring smooth, safe transitions and discharges. In this role, she will collaborate closely with Discharge Planners, palliative care physicians and the Ontario Health atHome team within RVH.

With extensive experience in palliative care symptom management, leadership and education, Tammy is well-positioned to strengthen the local network of care and improve access to compassionate palliative support. Her established relationships with care partners and familiarity with RVH’s systems, including Meditech, will further enhance care coordination and service integration. This initiative represents a significant step toward addressing gaps in palliative care for some of our community’s most vulnerable individuals and ensuring they receive the dignity and support they deserve.

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

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

Canada celebrated Francophonie Month in March with the International Day of La Francophonie on March 20. Recognizing Francophone culture in Ontario, that goes back more than 400 years, preserves cultural diversity, supports linguistic rights, fosters social cohesion, and preserves community identity, and reinforces legal commitments to bilingualism. It also acknowledges the growing diversity of French-speaking Ontarians from various newcomer groups who contribute to the cultural richness of the French language.

To view the list of resources, visit the Provider Resource page on our website. Select the drop down EIDA-R Education Spotlight – Francophone populations.