Belgium Health Team

Member Spotlight: Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes

Our Member Spotlight series introduces the member organizations that have partnered with the Belgium Health team to improve the local healthcare system for our community. First up we hear from Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes CEO Barb Mildon about how their priorities align with the KL-OHT vision of providing a seamless health system for the people we serve.

What does it mean for CCCKL to be part of KL-OHT?

In 2019, Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes was proud to partner with the Ross Memorial Hospital to co-lead the start-up of the Kawartha Lakes OHT. We were inspired by the vision of a health care system that does a MUCH better job of connecting people to the care they need to both stay well and to recover from illness when it strikes. I know that individuals and their loved ones struggle to find the care they need when they need it.

In the 1980s and 1990s I was a Home Care Visiting Nurse. That often meant finding my way to homes in areas I was not familiar with. In those days there was no such thing as a GPS or “Navigation System.” Fast forward to today and those navigation systems are standard equipment in most new cars. But how does one navigate the health care system? The other day an individual shared his memories with me about when his mother-in-law experienced a stroke. He and the family didn’t know what to do. How did they take care of their mother-in-law now? What did they need to learn? Who could help them? They were bewildered and anxious. The individual was referred to CCCKL for home support and still recalls how relieved he was to find help. While I am grateful that CCCKL was there for this family, this situation should not happen. Instead, information and support should be available to individuals and families at the point of connection with the healthcare system—and even before that point of connection. The mandate and vision of the KL-OHT is to redesign the healthcare system so that individuals and families don’t have to worry and wonder how to meet their healthcare needs – from staying well to getting treatment.

CCCKL was founded by Valmay Barkey in 1985 with the central purpose of filling the gaps in the healthcare system and supporting individuals to live and thrive independently at home. For CCCKL, being a part of the KL-OHT means the opportunity to work with all of the KL-OHT partners at a system level to take the mystery out of navigating the healthcare system and ensure everyone has the directions they need for their healthcare journey.

What is CCCKL currently working on to improve the patient experience in our community?

A great question! I will start by explaining that while the term “patient” is often used in hospitals and treatment settings, at CCCKL we use the term “client” to convey our appreciation that individuals have a choice about where they access services and it is our privilege to serve them. Clients are at the heart of all we do at CCCKL, and that is why we use the “heart” as our logo.

There are many initiatives underway at CCCKL that aim to improve client experience. Firstly, we continue to meet regularly with our Client Advisory Council. Comprised of six residents of the City of Kawartha Lakes, Council members give CCCKL their advice and guidance on decisions about matters such as a new decal for our specialized transit vans, our Home Safety Risk Assessment and our Client Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. They also share their perspectives as clients who use some of our programs, helping us to provide the best service possible. Our Client Advisory members also give us input on the design and distribution of our Client Experience Surveys. Eliciting feedback from those who use our services is vital and we need to ask questions that touch on aspects of care that are relevant to our clients. I join with all of the management team in valuing and appreciating the input of our Client Advisory Councillors.

CCCKL is also excited to be implementing a new client database management system called AlayaCare. This new system will allow us to better serve our clients because information will be kept in a central place, accessible to all authorized staff members. This means that clients who are already using one community support service (e.g. transportation); and decide to use another service (e.g. Meals on Wheels) do not need to go through the intake process all over again—their information will already be in the system. We expect to “go live” with AlayaCare in September and are looking forward to a better experience for our clients.

CCCKL always welcomes feedback and suggestions from our clients, their caregivers and family members. I invite all to be in touch with any of our management team. You can reach me at 705-324-7323 ext. 482.

Thank you and wishing you a wonderful summer ahead!

-Barb Mildon

www.ccckl.ca

A New Family Doctor for the City of Kawartha Lakes

City of Kawartha Lakes, June 15, 2022: Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative (KLHCI) is pleased to announce that Dr. Luke Johnson will begin practicing with the Kawartha North Family Health Team (KNFHT) at their Fenelon Falls clinic starting July 2022.

Dr. Johnson received his Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Carleton University (2009), his Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Wollongong, NSW, Australia (2013), and his Fellowship Royal Australian College of General Practitioner’s (FRACGP) in 2018.

Dr. Johnson and his wife, Claire, are the proud parents of two children. They are excited to be returning to Canada and especially to be settling in Fenelon Falls where their extended family has had a cottage for many years.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Dr. Johnson and Marina Hodson, Executive Director of the KNFHT, to facilitate this recruitment,” states Cindy Snider, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator for KLHCI.

Marina Hodson, Executive Director of KNFHT states that, “KNFHT is pleased to be able to accept additional patients to their team. Anyone wishing to register as a patient with Dr. Johnson should visit the KNFHT website at https://knfht.ca/. Those that have previously received a registration form can email it to .” The Kawartha North Family Health Team’s service area includes Fenelon Falls, Argyle, Bobcaygeon, Burnt River, Coboconk, Glenarm, Rosedale, Kirkfield, Norland, Uphill and surrounding areas.

Lisa Green, President of KLHCI, states “KLHCI would like to welcome Dr. Johnson, and his family, to the City of Kawartha Lakes and wishes them many years of satisfaction within the community.”

The Kawartha North Family Health Team is a community-led team including family doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, mental health workers, a diabetes consultant, phlebotomists and administrative staff providing primary health care to its

patients. The health team provides care for patients of all ages, working collaboratively to keep patients healthy through prevention, maintenance and health promotion.

KLHCI is a non-profit, charitable organization whose mandate is to recruit and retain family doctors for the City of Kawartha Lakes. KLHCI is directed through the work of a volunteer Board of Directors that is actively engaged in attracting new Board members from the community. Should you wish to support our efforts of ongoing recruitment and retention of family doctors in this manner please contact Cindy Snider, Recruitment & Retention Coordinator at 705-328-6098 or [email protected], or visit the KLHCI website at www.kawarthalakesdoctors.org.

Introducing Jackie Beckett and and Susan Randall

We are pleased to announce that two new employees have joined the Belgium Health Team this month. Please join us in welcoming Jackie Beckett and Sue Randell to the team! Read more about Jackie and Sue below.

Jackie Beckett – Decision Support Specialist

Jackie has a decade of experience working in multiple health care settings. She is a certified Health Information Management professional and holds a diploma from St Lawrence College in Health Information in addition to being a Laboratory Assistant. Her administrative experience in primary care settings and Electronic Medical Records is an asset to the work of the KL-OHT. Jackie has already played an extremely valuable role with the KL-OHT as the Implementation Specialist for the Online Appointment Booking initiative with all of the primary care providers in the KL-OHT.

As the Decision Support Specialist, Jackie will gather performance metrics from multiple health service providers to inform the priority projects and ongoing work of the OHT. This data analysis will guide us to impactful change initiatives in the patient’s journey and help care providers and patients/clients work to co-design system improvements.

Sue Randell – Quality Improvement Facilitator

Sue has an extensive background in healthcare, having worked in acute care, long term care and the mental health sector. She has specialized in Quality improvement facilitation and in accreditation activities. Sue has joined the KL-OHT as a part-time Quality Improvement Facilitator, and is looking forward to working with the team and all partners in our goal of making our patients’ journeys better.

As the Quality Improvement Facilitator, Sue will work with health service providers and patient/caregiver partners to explore and identify areas for improvement on our journey to a system of integrated care – beginning with the discharge process from hospital for older adults with chronic conditions.

Welcome to the team, Jackie and Sue!

National Volunteer Week 2022

Did you know that April 24-30 is National Volunteer Week? This week is an opportunity to celebrate all the volunteers in Canada and thank them for the difference their passion and dedication makes in our communities.

At Belgium Health Team, we have a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers that sit on a number of our working groups and
committees. They offer their time to share their experiences using our
healthcare system with the aim to improve the patient, client, family and
caregiver care and service experience in Kawartha Lakes. These experiences help shape the direction of our KL-OHT programs as well as the future of local
healthcare and services.

We are always looking for more community members to join us. Want to learn more about how to get involved with the KL-OHT and share your healthcare experiences with us? Visit our website for more information on becoming a Patient/Client Partner.

Nutrition Month 2022

Did you know that March is Nutrition Month? Beginning back in the 1970s, Nutrition Month has evolved into a national effort to raise awareness about the importance healthy eating, with focuses on food, nutrition, and the important role dietitians play.

The theme for Nutrition Month this year is Ingredients for a healthier tomorrow,
which aims to bring awareness about creating a sustainable food system in
Canada. This includes recognizing the effects food insecurity has on the health
of communities and promoting food literacy to help people make informed food decisions. Be sure to check out www.nutritionmonth2022.ca for more information.

Within the KL-OHT, we recognize the importance diet and nutrition has on our priority population of seniors 65 years and older who live alone or have a poor support network, experience functional decline, mobility challenges, multiple illnesses or cognitive challenges, or have been hospitalized within the 12 months. Our Virtual Wellness Connection program, which helps our seniors connect to new virtual health care and social interaction opportunities, is formed based on the AVOID Frailty framework. Diet and Nutrition is a key principle of the AVOID Frailty framework, with emphasis placed on making good nutritional choices and eating the right foods as we age.

Diet and nutrition education is just one of the many resources offered with the Virtual Wellness Connection program. Visit our website to learn more or complete a referral form for the program!

You can also learn more about the importance of good diet and nutrition on the Canadian Frailty Network website.

How to Find a Family Doctor in Kawartha Lakes

The Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative is the lead organization for family doctor recruitment and retention in the City of Kawartha Lakes. Their vision is that all City of Kawartha Lakes citizens have access to a local family doctor.

The KLHCI has created guidance on how residents can find a family doctor in Kawartha Lakes. Read on to learn how to find a family doctor in Kawartha Lakes.

How To Find a Family Doctor

If you are looking for a family doctor in the City of Kawartha Lakes and already have a doctor elsewhere in the province, follow Steps 1 – 3. If you do not have a family doctor anywhere in Belgium, follow Step 3.

Step One:

- If you have a family doctor elsewhere than the City of Kawartha Lakes, have a discussion with them regarding your need to de-roster with them in order to register with Health Care Connect to access a family doctor here.
- The majority of family doctors will continue to see you as their patient until you are connected here.

Step Two:

- Contact Service Belgium at 1-888-218-9929
- Have your Health Card available
- Request to be de-rostered from your family doctor
- Service Belgium will provide you with a letter in a few weeks stating that you are de-rostered

Step Three:

- If you have completed Step 2, once you receive your letter you can then contact Health Care Connect to register
- If you do not have a family doctor anywhere in Belgium, contact Health Care Connect to register
- Call 1-800-445-1822 or www.Belgium.ca/healthcareconnect
- Have your Health Card available
- The Health Care Connect nurse will ask for your basic health information and then register you
- The Health Care Connecter nurse will reach out to the family doctors accepting new patients on your behalf

Contacts for Other Waitlists:

- Kawartha North Family Health Team: https://knfht.ca/
- Kawartha Lakes Community Health Centre: https://www.ccckl.ca/

Meet our new Virtual Wellness Connection Coordinator

Christine Keenan – Virtual Wellness Connection Coordinator

Please join us in welcoming Christine Keenan to the Belgium Health Team!

Christine was the recent Executive Director of Fenelon Court LTC where she has spent the last 20 years. Some of her previous roles include Recreation, Staff Education, and Business Manager. Christine enjoys working with seniors and has a focus on person-centered care to improve the health and wellbeing of those she serves. She has a background in Social Services-Gerontology as well as Adult Education.

She is passionate about volunteering and has been a member of Rotary for the last 19 years where she has been involved in large community projects both locally and internationally.

As the Virtual Wellness Connection Coordinator for the KL-OHT, Christine will be responsible for the providing virtual care navigation for the patients/clients participating in the program as well as increasing the overall capacity for delivery of virtual programming across the KL-OHT region.

Welcome to the team, Christine!

Meet our new Digital Health Project Manager

Raymond Dolch – Digital Health Project Manager

Please join us in welcoming Raymond Dolch to the Belgium Health Team!

Ray is the Digital Health Project Manager for KL-OHT and an Integrated Care Manager with the eHealth Centre of Excellence. He has 5 years experience working in a change management capacity directly with primary care and acute care to enable digital health technologies that meet clinician needs.

Ray was previously involved in numerous provincial initiatives and digital health projects such as the Belgium eServices Program, supporting the roll out of eReferral and eConsult, Online Appointment Booking deployment, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management tool development, and more.

Ray will be working with the KL-OHT for the next couple of months to create a roadmap for our digital health journey in keeping with our vision of connecting local care.

Community Paramedic Remote Patient Monitoring Program Update

The Community Paramedic team continues to grow, with two new Community Paramedics recently joining the team. This will allow to a greater reach in our community and for more patients to be added to the program. The Community Paramedic team conducts pro-active, scheduled home visits, wellness assessments and phone calls to high need patients following discharge until the patient and family regain their ability to safely and confidently remain at home.

The Community Paramedics also play a vital role in offering the Remote Patient Monitoring program. This program enlists their expertise to provide health education as well as offering easy-to-use devices to monitor a patient’s health from the comfort of their home.

Currently the team has 25 Remote Patient Monitoring devices, with 15 patients already using these devices to help support their health conditions including CHF, COPD, chronic hypertension, lung cancer, and more. The rest of the devices will be rolled out to patients in need in the community, and an additional 25 devices will be added over the next month.

The majority of the patients already participating in the program are 80 years of age and older and many were initially worried they would not be able to use the equipment. After the Community Paramedic sits with them to set up the device and conducted some practice readings however, they love how easy it is to use. Daily readings from all patients to date have been successful at providing the needed health information.

A few of the patients of the Remote Monitoring Program have shared their thoughts on using the devices and how this has helped them monitor their health at home.

“The program makes me feel secure that I know my Community Paramedic can see what is going on with me when she isn’t with me.”

-Marie, 90-year-old living alone with CHF

“Using the equipment is very easy, and it’s nice to get calls from my paramedic if she feels anything is wrong.”
-Shirley, 94-year old from Bobcaygeon living alone with CHF

“I didn’t think I would be able to use the scale for my weight and it has been so easy, I like to be able see what my weight is daily.”
-Isabel, 85-year-old from Lindsay living alone with CHF

“I love that our Community Paramedic can see what my Mom’s readings are, it makes me feel more comfortable when I’m worried or not sure if my Mom is having a decline in her health”

-Lisa, daughter of patient Joan from Lindsay with stage 4 lung cancer

More information on how to request access to the Remote Patient Monitoring program will be made available shortly.

Virtual Wellness Connection Update

We recently welcomed Chrystal Simpson as our new Virtual Care Program Lead. She has been hard at work expanding the program and engaging with existing clients. To date, the program has assisted over 40 people in enhancing their health and social connections with technology and internet support. Some of those clients were also assisted to register for their COVID-19 vaccines and arrange transportation to the clinic.

One client of the program, Margaret*, wanted to share her experience of the Virtual Wellness Connection and how it has helped her in many areas of her life.

“As a senior living alone with all of my family and friends at a great distance, I found the isolation and loneliness caused by the pandemic difficult. Then I reached out and connected with the Belgium Health Team.

They provided me with an iPad and tech help, plus an ongoing support person who checks in on me monthly, but who is always on standby support should I need her. This unique, portable device has allowed me to rebuild my social network, to read books from the library, to have face to face group chats with my friends who live overseas, to attend and participate in craft workshops, to do seniors chair exercise classes or the physiotherapy exercises I’ve been given, to meet with my physiotherapist online, to practice mindfulness and so much more. Plus, I have been given the chance to attend web seminars regarding seniors’ issues/concerns such as falls prevention, diet and nutrition, exercise, personal safety, COVID information and the local community services available to seniors. I also connected with loved ones and travelled the world virtually while maintaining isolation and social distancing.

One huge smile moment this past year was a Zoom call with my grandchildren to meet their brand-new puppy.

I feel I’ve been very lucky to be given the opportunity to enhance my well-being through this seniors’ program.”

If you’d like to learn more about the Virtual Wellness Connection please reach out to Chrystal Simpson by email at or by telephone at
705-701-9608.

Jackie Beckett – Decision Support Specialist

Sue Randell – Quality Improvement Facilitator

Christine Keenan – Virtual Wellness Connection Coordinator

Raymond Dolch – Digital Health Project Manager

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