OMA PREZ OUTLINES PLAN TO HEAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

The province's doctors have launched a prescription in hopes of healing Ontario's health-care system.

The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) led by Oro-Medonte resident and Orillia family doctor Dr. Rose Zacharias have launched a five-point plan for health care.

"We've been very specific on what we want to see from the government," she said.

THE PLAN CALLS ON THE PROVINCE TO:

• Reduce wait times and the backlog of services for patients needing a test or treatment, waiting for any type of surgery or procedure, or living with a chronic disease.

• Expand mental health and addiction services in the community, so professional help is there for anyone who needs it.

• Improve and expand home care and other community care programs so hospital and long-term care admissions might be avoided, and stable patients can leave hospital sooner with more choices about where they receive followup care.

• Strengthen public health and pandemic preparedness so our communities are protected, especially in public health emergencies.

• Give every patient a team of health-care providers and link them digitally.

Zacharias said in many communities, the shortage of doctors is key, especially in Simcoe County.

She said Barrie is short nine doctors and Collingwood and Wasaga Beach have been identified as communities in need of family physicians.

"Every Ontarian would have a primary care provider, would have a family doctor," she said.

"We know that one-million people in Ontario do not have a family doctor."

However, she said the province needs to go further to help patients and provide rehab, nurse practitioners,

dieticians and care co-ordinators.

"We know that healthcare teams work really well," she said. "We're calling on the government to invest in health and community care."

Zacharias said delivering mental health care needs to be improved and needs significant investment.

"The teams are few and far between when it comes to this type of focused mental health care," she said. "We also need a more standardized way of assessing kids and adults with mental health issues. It is so central and key to our well being.

The medical profession, all levels of government need to really take it seriously. The pandemic really exposed gaps when it comes to delivering mental health care."

For more information, visit Betterhealthcare.ca