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On November 15, during the Renfrew County Health Committee Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre and Integrated Virtual Care, which is a part of RC VTAC, were recognized for IVC’s achievement of winning a provincial award. On hand for the photo (from left) were Dr. Jonathan Fitzsimon, Family Physician and Medical Lead for Renfrew County IVC/RC VTAC; Deputy Chief Mathieu Grenier, County of Renfrew Paramedic Service; Judy Hill, Executive Director of the Petawawa Centennial Family Health Team; Councillor Michael Donohue, Health Committee Chair; Craig Kelley, Renfrew County Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk and Chief Michael Nolan, County of Renfrew Paramedic Service.
RELEASE DATE:
November 24, 2023
Petawawa Centennial Family Health Team wins Bright Lights Award after adopting IVC model
The Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (RC VTAC), which is changing how medical care is received in Renfrew County and across the province, is being recognized for its success.
On October 23, the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario presented its annual Bright Lights Awards and Integrated Virtual Care (IVC), which is a part of RC VTAC, was honoured under the population-based approach for providing care to the community.
IVC is an integral part of RC VTAC and they work together to provide comprehensive care to patients who do not have access to a family physician or a Family Health Team. IVC family physicians are embedded into the Petawawa Centennial Family Health Team and connected to existing local interdisciplinary health-care providers (Dietician, Social Worker, Pharmacist, Respiratory Therapist, Midwife, Registered Practical Nurse, Nurse Practitioner). IVC patients access in-person care at home, and virtually depending on their individual needs and preferences.
Following a presentation on RC VTAC and IVC at the Renfrew County Health Committee meeting on November 15, Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon called the award good news.
“The Bright Lights Award is an incredible achievement awarded by the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario, which means other parts of primary health care and Family Health Teams across the province are not only acknowledging but celebrating the work of RC VTAC and IVC,” the Warden noted. “This award really shows the advancement of not only RC VTAC but also a greater understanding of the importance of both of these programs to the citizens of Renfrew County.”
IVC has also recently expanded to North Renfrew Family Health Team in Deep River and West Champlain Family Health Team.
“IVC continues to demonstrate evidence that it will be impactful in the advancement of new models of primary care,” said Dr. Jonathan Fitzsimon, Family Physician and Medical Lead for Renfrew County IVC/RC VTAC. “IVC has already resulted in significant impacts for increasing attachment to primary care locally.”
Renfrew County has approximately 30,000 patients who are unattached (without a family physician) and since 2020, with IVC 3,249 patients have been successfully attached to physicians and have had 10,436 appointments with a family physician.
“We have a very strong foundation, to the point where other municipalities, other provinces, the federal government and beyond are looking at RC VTAC and IVC very closely, not only as a virtual solution but as a layered care option,” said Councillor Michael Donohue, Renfrew County Health Committee Chair. “That allows our physicians to work locally with our paramedics, work locally with Family Health Teams and not just be a one and done encounter. It’s a far more complex and sophisticated system than the services that popped up and went away during the pandemic.”
RC VTAC is a collaboration between family doctors, the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service, primary care teams, Renfrew County Hospitals and the Renfrew County and District Health Unit. Permanent funding for RC VTAC/IVC was announced in March 2023 with a $3.2 million investment by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health. Learn more at www.rcvtac.ca or call 1-844-727-6404, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Nolan Director, Emergency Services 613-735-7288
Tina Peplinskie Media Relations Coordinator 613-735-7288
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