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.

New BAOHT Co-Chairs

The Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT) is thrilled to welcome Leanne Weeks, Vice President, Clinical & Chief Nursing Executive at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH); and Dr. Chibuike Chizea, Physician at the Barrie Community Family Health Organization; as the new Co-Chairs of the BAOHT.

Both Leanne and Dr. Chizea bring extensive experience and a strong commitment to advancing Ontario Health Team initiatives, having contributed in various capacities over the past year. We look forward to their leadership as we continue to foster collaboration among partners.

We would also like to extend heartfelt gratitude to Tracey Fletcher for her exceptional leadership and dedication as Co-Chair over the past three years. Tracey has played a pivotal role in strengthening the governance and operations of the BAOHT and building meaningful partnerships within our community. While Tracey will be stepping down as Co-Chair, she will remain actively involved in BAOHT projects and initiatives through her role at RVH. Please join us in welcoming Leanne and Dr. Chizea to their new roles and in thanking Tracey for her outstanding contributions!

Frail Seniors Provider Planning Day

On October 30, 2024, the BAOHT Frail Seniors Working Group hosted an event for frontline providers. The afternoon was well-attended and allowed 40 front-line providers to come together to build relationships, showcase their services, participate in generative group discussion, and engage in case scenarios

Let’s Have Lunch! BAOHT Kicks Off New Partner Lunch and Sessions

The Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT) recently hosted two successful lunch-and-learn sessions: one with Ontario Health atHome and another with Hospice Simcoe. These sessions brought together leaders, frontline staff and volunteers to share a general overview of the BAOHT and the work of Ontario Health Teams. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions, provide input on OHT initiatives, and explore how their organization can engage in this collaborative work.

Interested in having the BAOHT visit your organization? Reach out to baoht@rvh.on.ca

Innisfil Welcomes New Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic

The Georgian Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic has officially opened its doors in Innisfil, marking an exciting milestone for the community. Located in the Rizzardo Health and Wellness Centre, the clinic is expected to serve over 3,000 patients, offering comprehensive primary care, mental health support, registered dietitian services, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy. Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and highlighted the new clinic’s role in expanding access to primary care across the province.

Helpful Reminders for the Holiday Season

Ontario Health is providing helpful tips and resources for individual providers and organizations as we head into the holiday season. To read the full memo, click here. The Barrie and Area OHT has updated its resource on where to go if you feel unwell. The one-page guide outlines convenient options for same-day and urgent care in your area. Click here to access the guide or contact Kaylee MacMillan at macmillank@rvh.on.ca if you would like to receive hard copies of a tri-panel brochure.

Hospice Expanse Project

Sharing on behalf of Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH)

The Regional Digital Health Team is excited to announce the launch of the Hospice Expanse Project, a unique collaboration between hospitals and hospices from across our region. The Hospice Expanse Project will allow four local hospices – Hospice Simcoe (Barrie), Hospice Muskoka (Port Carling), Hospice Huronia (Penetanguishene), and Hospice Georgian Triangle (Collingwood) – to be brought onto the ROV Expanse Platform.

This is a very exciting opportunity for both RVH and the surrounding hospices alike, allowing the hospice teams to:

• Transition to online charting (for those that haven’t already done so), resulting in reduced time for end users to complete current tasks (admission, discharge, chart audits, etc.)
• Provide timely and comprehensive access to patient’s health information, to speed and improve decision-making and care transitions
• Standardize documentation amongst the partner hospices

This innovative project is a significant step toward creating a seamless healthcare system that integrates care across multiple settings. On, Tuesday October 29, the Regional Digital Health Team will be bringing both Hospice Muskoka and Hospice Huronia onto the ROV Expanse Platform. Hospice Georgian Triangle and Hospice Simcoe will be joining at the end of November.

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

Each month, we will spotlight a specific equity-deserving population and share educational resources to support them. In December as temperatures drop, we want to draw attention to the increasing rates of homelessness and poverty in our community. Below are resources and learning opportunities that you can share with your team related to supporting people experiencing homelessness and poverty. To view the list of resources, visit the Provider Resource page on our website. Select the drop down EIDA-R Education Spotlight – People Experiencing Homelessness & Poverty

New Path receives 2024 Leadership in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Award!

Sharing on behalf of New Path Youth and Family Services

“We are so proud of the work our EDI Committee has done and continues to lead at New Path, as well as the work that our staff are doing to ensure that all children and youth in our community have integrated, accessible, and inclusive mental health services when and where they need them,” says Jim Harris, CEO of New Path Youth and Family Services (New Path).

Over the last year, through the New Path EDI Committee, we have done a lot to broaden our knowledge and perspectives on EDI. Read more.

Update Osteoarthritis Quality Standards

Sharing on behalf of Ontario Health’s Clinic Quality Standards Team

The updated Osteoarthritis: Care for Adults With Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Hip, Hand or Shoulder quality standard includes 10 statements that describe high-quality care for adults (18 years of age or older), including the assessment, diagnosis, and management of osteoarthritis for people across all health care settings and clinicians. It provides guidance on nonpharmacological and pharmacological care and covers referral for consideration of joint surgery. To view the new Quality Standard and associated resources, click here.

RVH’s Emergency Department recognized with 2024 Mayor’s Innovation Award
Sharing on behalf of Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH)

The Emergency Department (ED) at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) has won the 2024 Mayor’s Innovation Award in the Pivot Point category for the incredible success of its Minor Ailment Patient Pathway (MAPP).

The program, developed by RVH’s Research and Emergency teams, has served over 6,000 patients and is helping to reduce wait times and alleviate overcrowding in the ED. This award celebrates the team’s commitment to innovation and finding new ways to care for our community, even in the face of challenges.