Since the Ministry of Health & Long Term Care (MOHLTC) granted our area a Family Health Team (FHT) in August 2010 there has been a lot of work done preparing for the official launch of the FHT in August 2011. An independent not-for-profit corporation has been formed, the Powassan & Area Family Health Team (PAAFHT). The initial Board of Directors (3) and a Project Manager had the responsibility to work with MOHLTC to bring the FHT to operational status, and now oversees the long term operations of PAAFHT with a goal of bringing improved primary healthcare access and local services to the residents within the large catchment area.
The boundaries of PAAFHT stretch from Loring and Restoule in the west to Chisholm Township in the east, and from East Ferris in the north to Trout Creek and Laurier in the south. Within these boundaries over 12,000 people reside. It is estimated that over 5,000 do not have access to a family physician and many others are rostered with doctors outside our area due to lack of healthcare professionals. The ultimate goal is to be in a position to have primary healthcare available locally for all those without a doctor and avoid visits to the hospital ER or walk in clinics in North Bay or elsewhere.
The key to long term success will be our ability to recruit more physicians to join our current group of five (Drs Saltstone, Woodward, Houghton, Quinn and Seguin). Having a vibrant Family Health Team where professionals can exchange ideas and work as a group is the model that new doctors are seeking. The existing Powassan Medical Center is the main location (with Dr. Seguin at his Astorville location). We hope to have a new facility in the future, too. Recruitment and retention are a vital part of the plan and we will be promoting this whole area as a wonderful part of Canada for doctors to practice under a collaborative healthcare system.