After years of long wait times, access to primary care in Barrie and surrounding communities is improving. With new physicians now accepting patients, the Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team (BAOHT) is urging residents without a family doctor or nurse practitioner to register with Health Care Connect (HCC).
Over the past year, primary care partners of the BAOHT have made significant progress in reducing wait times and connecting residents to primary care. Thousands of people have already been matched with a family doctor or nurse practitioner. However, many residents remain unaware that registering with Health Care Connect is the first step in being matched with a provider.
“For years, people have waited on the Health Care Connect waitlist and struggled to find a physician or nurse practitioner, but that is no longer the case,” says Dr. Chibuike Chizea, Co-Chair, BAOHT. “With several physicians recently joining practices in Barrie, many are actively accepting patients through Health Care Connect. In fact, we’ve already cleared thousands of people from the waitlist this year.”
This progress reflects the strong collaboration of the BAOHT’s Primary Care Network, Ontario Health atHome, and local primary care organizations, whose collective efforts have fast-tracked patient attachment and expanded access to family doctors and nurse practitioners.
“Many residents in Barrie and surrounding communities may not realize that Health Care Connect is currently the fastest and simplest way to get attached to care,” adds Dr. Chizea. “With new providers accepting patients and spots filling quickly, we’re encouraging anyone without a primary care provider to register now.”
Registration is free and takes only a few minutes. It is the first step toward being matched with a family doctor or nurse practitioner in Barrie, Innisfil, Springwater, Oro-Medonte and Essa Township.
For more information and to register today, visit baoht.ca/hcc.