The Grey-Bruce Ontario Health Team (GB OHT) has been formally invited to move into the next phase of becoming an official Ontario Health Team. Early last week, the government announced their continued commitment to advance the model of Ontario Health Teams across the province. Five (5) newly approved Ontario Health Teams were announced along with seventeen (17) teams that were invited to complete applications to become an Ontario Health Team.

Dana Howes, Co-Chair of the GB OHT says, “We are so very pleased to be moving forward with this model of care. It is a model that we believe will better serve our patients and communities. This is truly a natural progression of the great working relationships that have always existed in the Grey-Bruce region”. Over the next few months, the GB OHT will be working with the Ministry and other health care partners to submit the application.

The GB OHT has been working in collaboration for over a year. The GB OHT’s planning committee submitted the initial document to the Ministry of Health in December 2019 for consideration to move forward to the application process. The GB OHT Planning Committee is comprised of a number of multi-sector health organizations of the Grey-Bruce region that includes: Family Health Teams, a Community Health Centre, Long Term Care, Home and Community Support Services, Grey Bruce Hospice, primary care physicians, Canadian Mental Health Association, Keystone Child, Youth and Family Services and all of the local Hospital corporations.

Gerry Glover, Co-Chair of the GB OHT reports, “The GB OHT is well-positioned to advance to the next phase of completing the application process. We are a collaborative stakeholder group and are committed to advance the inherent expectations of Ontario Health which will ultimately lead to an improved future state in Grey-Bruce.” The first year focus of the GB OHT is centred on care transitions of frail seniors and patients that are coping with mental health and addictions issues. Glover further adds, “The team will be hiring a Transformational Lead that will help to drive the work of the GB OHT.”

source: media release, Grey-Bruce Ontario Health Team