A family care team now established in the Eastern Rural Zone is accepting patients. The team, located in Clarenville, is one of 14 teams increasing access to primary care in Newfoundland and Labrador.
To date, 19 family care teams have been announced and the number of people rostered with family care team has risen from approximately 28,000 people in March 2023 to more than 49,000 as of September 2023. In addition, the number of health care professionals employed with family care teams has grown from 100 in April to 196 in September.
The team is located at 105 Manitoba Drive and is operational Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., by appointment only.
Patients who do not have access to a primary care provider such as a family physician or a nurse practitioner can register to be seen at the family care team clinic through the Patient Connect NL website 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 when one becomes available in their area.
Residents will be contacted by someone from the clinic to book an appointment. There may be a waiting period from the time that patients register to the time when they receive an appointment with the clinic.
Family care teams are aligned with recommendations from Health Accord NL, and represent a new vision of team-based care to transform our primary health care system. They improve access to 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.
More information on family care teams is available by visiting the Provincial Government’s Health Care Action website.
As part of a record investment in health care, Budget 2023 included $21.2 million to fund 10 teams for 2023-24, along with an eleventh team on the Burin Peninsula. Once fully implemented, these new teams will provide access to primary care for up to 80,000 people.
Quotes
“More and more people are being connected to family care teams as we modernize our province’s health care system by delivering the highest quality of primary care. In a team-based model, health care professionals work together, strengthening patient outcomes and enhancing their overall health and well-being through personalized health care services. By investing in and prioritizing accessible primary health care, we not only improve the well-being of residents, but also bolster the overall health of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
“We are pleased to announce the implementation of the Clarenville Family Care Team, which is committed to enhancing access to community-based care and attachment to primary care providers. Our goal is to provide a team-based approach to wellness, with care provided by health clinicians including nurse practitioners, registered nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, social workers, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, to name a few. In the Eastern Rural Zone, we are continuously looking for innovative ways to deliver primary care close to home.”
Debbie Walsh
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, NL Health Services, Eastern Rural Zone.
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