Integrated Primary Health Care
by Sandy Zimmerman
Integrated primary care is used to describe a team of two or more doctors, along with other health professionals, who will provide front-line health care. Dr. Rayes, along with over 50 other doctors regionally, signed on.
A supervisory group (including Drs. Don Harterre, Humphries and Mr. Bill Casey) met weekly for over two years to try and solve the doctor shortage in Peterborough city/county. This core group organized a committee of doctors; another representing health professionals like nurse practitioners, personal support workers, nutritionists, social workers; and a third committee of concerned citizens (of which I was one, at the request of Reeve Jim Whelan.)
The team plan was submitted to the government, and in June this year, it was approved. Two of the four teams are already up and running. The model is adaptable to different communities and circumstances.
The team approach has many benefits – for us and the doctors. We get our health care needs attended to by the most appropriate professional on the team. For example, if I have come to get my weekly allergy shot, an RN will probably attend to me. If I have diabetes and need to alter my eating patterns, a nutritionist will see me. It will be great not to have to travel over an hour (especially with current gasoline prices and in bad weather) for a 10 minute appointment! All meetings with a patient will be recorded in a confidential file, and used as needed by team members to provide the best medical care possible. Our own doctor will still be our own doctor. However, doctors will not need to be on call 24/7; the responsibility will be rotated among the team doctors.
The team including Dr. Rayes has not yet started. We, as a community can help by making sure that we have signed a form at our health centre indicating that we, indeed, are patients of Dr. Rayes. This process, called rostering, is the first step in the team approach.
A team
approach to healing mind + body
by Sandy Zimmerman
Integrated primary care is used to describe a team of two or more doctors, along with other health professionals, who will provide front-line health care. Dr. Rayes, along with over 50 other doctors regionally, signed on.
A supervisory group (including Drs. Don Harterre, Humphries and Mr. Bill Casey) met weekly for over two years to try and solve the doctor shortage in Peterborough city/county. This core group organized a committee of doctors; another representing health professionals like nurse practitioners, personal support workers, nutritionists, social workers; and a third committee of concerned citizens (of which I was one, at the request of Reeve Jim Whelan.)
The team plan was submitted to the government, and in June this year, it was approved. Two of the four teams are already up and running. The model is adaptable to different communities and circumstances.
The team approach has many benefits – for us and the doctors. We get our health care needs attended to by the most appropriate professional on the team. For example, if I have come to get my weekly allergy shot, an RN will probably attend to me. If I have diabetes and need to alter my eating patterns, a nutritionist will see me. It will be great not to have to travel over an hour (especially with current gasoline prices and in bad weather) for a 10 minute appointment! All meetings with a patient will be recorded in a confidential file, and used as needed by team members to provide the best medical care possible. Our own doctor will still be our own doctor. However, doctors will not need to be on call 24/7; the responsibility will be rotated among the team doctors.
The team including Dr. Rayes has not yet started. We, as a community can help by making sure that we have signed a form at our health centre indicating that we, indeed, are patients of Dr. Rayes. This process, called rostering, is the first step in the team approach.
Integrated Primary Health
Care ... continued ...
We need not be discouraged because we have not yet received our nurse practitioner. The nurse practitioner will be part of the team. Nor need we consider ourselves in crisis. Yes, there is a terrible shortage of family doctors. The team approach will ease this very situation. And let’s not forget - We do have our good doctor on site, unlike Havelock and Keene.
If we want to receive maximum benefit for our health care dollars we need to climb aboard with the current idea so that Dr. Rayes’ dedication to our community can continue without the overburdening he has experienced now for many years. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call 656-2745, Sandy.
The Youth Voice
by Lori White & Christine Everett
The Youth Committee has experienced great success this year, and this is due to all the support we have received from the many Community Organizations and Residents of North Kawartha. We would like to thank all of you who have helped us fulfill our mission of “Promoting Youth involvement within the Community”.
We of the North Kawartha Youth Committee are very excited about the many events and programs that we have in the planning stages for the balance of this year and in ‘06. Our commitment to the development of Youth in this Community is strong.
Keep an eye out for those pretty orange vest in October, as the Youth Committee will be holding their Fall Village Clean Up and fundraising BBQ. Also, you should get ready to be entertained when we hold our 1st Annual Christmas Variety Night on December 10th at the Apsley Community Centre. What a resource for the Community...Our Youth!! If you would like to attend any events or would simply like to get in touch with us you can email us at apsleyouth@kawarthanorth.org.
We need not be discouraged because we have not yet received our nurse practitioner. The nurse practitioner will be part of the team. Nor need we consider ourselves in crisis. Yes, there is a terrible shortage of family doctors. The team approach will ease this very situation. And let’s not forget - We do have our good doctor on site, unlike Havelock and Keene.
If we want to receive maximum benefit for our health care dollars we need to climb aboard with the current idea so that Dr. Rayes’ dedication to our community can continue without the overburdening he has experienced now for many years. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call 656-2745, Sandy.
The Youth Voice
by Lori White & Christine Everett
The Youth Committee has experienced great success this year, and this is due to all the support we have received from the many Community Organizations and Residents of North Kawartha. We would like to thank all of you who have helped us fulfill our mission of “Promoting Youth involvement within the Community”.
We of the North Kawartha Youth Committee are very excited about the many events and programs that we have in the planning stages for the balance of this year and in ‘06. Our commitment to the development of Youth in this Community is strong.
Keep an eye out for those pretty orange vest in October, as the Youth Committee will be holding their Fall Village Clean Up and fundraising BBQ. Also, you should get ready to be entertained when we hold our 1st Annual Christmas Variety Night on December 10th at the Apsley Community Centre. What a resource for the Community...Our Youth!! If you would like to attend any events or would simply like to get in touch with us you can email us at apsleyouth@kawarthanorth.org.