A new family care team for the Deer Lake and White Bay area, as announced as part of Budget 2023, is now operational and open to residents. The advancement of family care teams is an important element in the Provincial Government’s plan to reimagine health care, and to help meet the health care needs of residents closer to home.
The team is located at 4 Clinic Drive in Deer Lake. Residents who do not have a primary care provider now or who expect to not have one within the next three months in the Deer Lake and White Bay area, as well as province-wide, can register with Patient Connect NL online at: https://patientconnect.nlchi.nl.ca/ or via phone at 1-833-913-4679. Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services will work to assign those who register to a family care team or primary health care provider when one becomes available in their area.
Aligned with recommendations from Health Accord NL, family care teams represent a new vision of team-based care to transform our primary health care system. They improve access and continuity of primary health care for individuals and families and offer access to multiple health care professionals, including:
- Family doctors;
- Nurse practitioners;
- Nurses;
- Social workers;
- Pharmacists; and
- Other allied health professionals.
Family Care Teams also have clear pathways to connect and affiliate with other health and social services in the communities they serve, and focus on meeting both the health and social needs of individuals and families.
As part of the record investment in health care, Budget 2023 included $21.2 million to fund 10 teams for 2023-24, along with an 11th team on the Burin Peninsula. Once fully implemented, these new teams will provide access to primary care for up to 80,000 people.
Quotes
“Our government is proud to announce that the Deer Lake and White Bay area family care team is accepting patients. These teams offer comprehensive care so that residents get the right care from the right provider at the right time. I encourage everyone who is without a primary care provider to register with Patient Connect NL so that they can be connected with a provider or family care team when one becomes available in their area.”
Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“We are happy to announce that this Family Care Team is up and running and ready to serve residents. Our government is committed to improving access to quality primary care and has proudly funded the implementation of over half of the 35 Family Care Teams that are planned for this five-year period.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
“Family Care Teams are an important complement to advance the health-care needs of residents in the Western Zone. As we implement this family care team, we remain focused on innovative approaches to health care delivery, strengthening collaboration and client engagement, increasing access to primary health care services, and reducing service inequity. In addition to providing after hours and same day access, Family Care Teams deliver collaborative team-based care to meet the needs of clients and their families, reduce wait times for appointments, support chronic disease prevention and management.”
Teara Freake, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Western Zone, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services
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Patient Connect NL
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