Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team Receives Approval
LAMBTON COUNTY – Today, the Honourable Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, announced that Sarnia-Lambton has received approval to move forward as an Ontario Health Team (OHT).
OHTs are groups of healthcare providers and organizations that are clinically and fiscally accountable for delivering a full and coordinated continuum of care to a defined geographic population. OHTs are charged with providing a new way of organizing and delivering care that is more connected to patients in their local communities.
“Today’s announcement on the creation of the Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team (SL-OHT) is the beginning of an exciting journey to improve healthcare in Sarnia-Lambton,” says Mike Lapaine, President and CEO, Bluewater Health and SL-OHT application steering committee chair. “This is an important step towards improved quality, access, and care for patients across our region. All of our partners are committed to working collaboratively to provide seamless, patient-centric care in our community.”
The Sarnia-Lambton community faces a number of population health priorities that must be managed by the team. For the first year, the SL-OHT will focus on transforming care for seniors and advancing transitional age youth mental health and addiction services. Early intervention and increased community-based care are integral goals for both these populations.
The SL-OHT comprises over 35 partners across the care continuum, representing primary care, home care, public health, long-term care, mental health and addictions services, palliative and acute care. The SL-OHT will work together as one team to remove barriers for patients accessing health supports in Sarnia-Lambton, creating a coordinated approach to care that makes it easier for patients to access services, providing our population with increased quality care, and creating seamless transition between providers.
For more information, read the province’s media release and backgrounder and visit the Sarnia-Lambton OHT website.
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The Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team is a collaboration of 35 partners with a shared goal of improving the healthcare journey for members of the Sarnia-Lambton community. The Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team’s purpose is: Local partners innovating together for better health. For more information, visit sarnialambtonoht.ca.
MEDIA CONTACT
Julia Oosterman
Chief, Communications & Public Affairs
Bluewater Health
519-328-3136
