June 16, 2006

BROCKVILLE – The VON Brockville Community Family Health Team is expanding access to health care by adding two new nurse practitioners and launching a Mobile Primary Health Care Service, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

"I am particularly excited about the launch of the Mobile Primary Health Care Service which will allow people in remote, underserviced communities to access important health care services without having to travel long distances," said Smitherman.

The VON Brockville Community Family Health Team is one of 150 Family Health Teams announced by the McGuinty government since April 2005.

The two new nurse practitioners have started seeing new patients and are currently accepting more, particularly those that do not currently have access to primary health care services. They provide a wide range of services that include performing annual check-ups, diagnosing and treating patients, health education and counseling, and many others.

The Mobile Primary Health Care Service is a 29-foot recreational vehicle that has been converted into a mobile clinic with all the amenities to provide primary health care services including comprehensive care, counseling and health education. It will operate four days a week, visiting 16 sites in Brockville and the surrounding area. The mobile clinic will be staffed by a nurse practitioner and will make it possible to deliver up to 3,500 client visits per year.

"The start-up of the Mobile Primary Health Care Service means we will be able to care for a greater number of patients from more communities than ever before," said Ruth Kitson, Executive Director, VON, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Branch. "It's a very innovative, non-traditional way of providing health care and it will mean better access for our communities."

Family Health Teams are designed around the needs of each community. They include physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, physician specialists, mental health workers and other health care providers, depending on the needs of the local area.

This is just the latest example of how the McGuinty government is on the side of Ontario families who want and deserve the best health care. Other initiatives include :

• Creating 104 new first-year medical school spaces by 2009/10
• Investing $75 million over three years to create an additional 22 Community Health Centres and 17 satellites
• Expanding the number of nurse practitioner education seats from 75 in 2004 to 150 this September, one year ahead of schedule.

Today's initiative is part of the McGuinty government's plan for innovation in public health care, building a system that delivers on three priorities – keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

Members of the general public : (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

Backgrounder Family Health Teams

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