The new Ontario Health program has been called a 'super agency' by some, but for local medical and health-care officials, the change is welcomed and should better suit the region.
On Tuesday, the provincial government announced it is creating the large agency Ontario Health, which will merge 20 health agencies one big umbrella which politicians say will be more easily accessible.
The Progressive Conservatives under Premier Doug Ford say the new agency will make it easier for people to access care by cutting the many different departments one must contact before receiving help.
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre president and CEO Janice Skot says she's excited at the possibilities the new agency will provide for the local facility. Skot told BarrieToday she looks forward to less wait times for patients needing a bed.
“We have 110% occupancy, which constantly leaves us with a lack of beds for patients and we know how frustrating that is for them and their families,” Skot said in an interview on Friday. “With a new system that can be seamless and easily integrated, we can get the patients to where they need to be right away and turn their long wait times into the more immediate help they need.”
Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin said in a news release that she's confident local residents will be happy with the changes that are coming.
“I have heard from many of my constituents that the current system is broken and we need to find solutions that put the patient first and foremost in the system, making it easier to navigate the complicated health care process,” she said.
“By relentlessly focusing on patient experience, and on better connected care, we will reduce wait times and end hallway health care," Khanjin added. "Ontarians in Simcoe County can be confident that there will be a sustainable health-care system for them when and where they need it.”
The idea would be to have local hospitals, health centres, home-care providers and doctors form what is being called an Ontario Health Team, which would then apply to the government to be the main contact point for the region.
One of the reasons getting help in the province is a time-consuming process is there are over 1,800 health-care service providers, which can make even the simplest task of getting your family doctor’s files from them to the hospital or a specialist a difficult one.
Skot believes the new system will allow for better communication between multiple organizations on the technology side as well.
“It is often very complex to navigate the system from the technology side of things,” Skot said. “We’re already looking at updating our system, so this should be quite seamless for us. But the truth is, health organizations across the province will need to do this and I look forward to working with all our partners to make a new Ontario health system a joint effort by everyone.”
