A family care team in the Coast of Bays region is now accepting patients, which is part of a series of new teams being added throughout the province to increase access to primary care.
To date, the number of people rostered with family care team has risen from approximately 28,000 people in March 2023 to more than 49,000 in September 2023. In addition, the number of full-time health care professionals, including clerical and managers, employed with family care teams has grown from approximately 100 in April to 196 in September.
The team is located in the Connaigre Peninsula Health Centre and Bay d’Espoir Community Health Centre, and is operational Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., by appointment only.
Residents who do not have a primary care provider now or who expect to not have one within the next three months in the Coast of Bays 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.
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.
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 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 getting their primary health care from family care teams. The team-based model is providing accessible, high-quality and patient-centred medical services to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that need it. Collaboration among health care professionals is also ensuring that each patient receives comprehensive and personalized care from the appropriate health care professional, leading to improved health outcomes and a stronger, healthier province.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Health and Community Services
“I am thrilled to see the launch of a family care team in the Coast of Bays area. With strategic guidance from Health Accord NL, we are driving transformative changes to enhance the accessibility and quality of our health care services. Family care teams are increasingly becoming the cornerstone of primary care, employing a collaborative approach to deliver tailored, patient-centric care to our community.”
Honourable Elvis Loveless
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture and MHA for Fortune Bay – Cape La Hune
“As we continue in our work to improve access to services and strengthen health-care delivery in the province, we are pleased that the services of the family care team are now available to the residents in the Coast of Bays area. We have reached this milestone in partnership with community leaders, and are thankful for their engagement and continued support.”
Joanne Pelley
Vice President-Chief Operating Officer, Central Zone, and Provincial Chief Nursing Officer, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services
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Learn more
New Family Care Teams Announced for Newfoundland and Labrador
New Family Care Team Established in Grand Falls-Windsor
New Family Care Team in Western Zone Now Accepting Patients
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