Elgin Ontario Health Team

News

Virtual Urgent Care is here for you and your family

London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) are pleased to offer virtual urgent care to residents of Ontario. All you need is an Ontario Health Card, email address, and access to a device connected to the internet. 

Adult and paediatric appointments are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can book an appointment by visiting UrgentCareOntario.ca or by calling 1-844-227-3844. 

Virtual urgent care might be appropriate for you (or a family member) if you have a medical issue that is NOT life-threatening but requires urgent medical attention and you’re unable to access timely care through a primary care provider. 

In the event of a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or go to your local emergency department. 

 

 

New primary care clinic opens in St. Thomas; appointments now available

Elgin Community Health Hub photo of ribbon cutting

Thames Valley Family Health Team (TVFHT), along with their partners, are pleased to announce the opening of a new primary care clinic in St. Thomas. The Elgin Community Health Hub is ready to help people at the clinic at 230 First Avenue, Suite 109, in St. Thomas, starting Monday, September 23.

The Elgin Community Health Hub is part of a broader initiative to improve access to healthcare in Elgin County. Currently there are 10,000 people in Elgin County without a primary care provider, and another 20,000 who are attached to a provider outside of the county. This clinic will support those residents, providing a range of services including:

  • Diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries
  • Managing a chronic illness
  • Prenatal care
  • Finding healthcare support in the community

There is also availability to support people who have a family doctor or nurse practitioner but are unable to attend appointments with them due to distance (ex. a family doctor in Toronto).

“We are excited to open this clinic and fill a crucial gap in healthcare for residents of Elgin County,” says Jill Strong, Interim Executive Director, TVFHT. “We know so many people in our community have been going without the healthcare they need simply because they don’t have access to a regular primary care provider. This clinic will change that.”

Appointments can be booked over the phone at 519-473-0530 x 2258. Online booking will soon be available, and communicated over social media.

Partnering together to provide primary care

This clinic is the result of community collaboration towards impact. TVFHT secured $960,938 in funding from the Ministry of Health earlier this year, and began working with a team of community partners to establish this clinic. Together we have been able to identify critical healthcare needs in Elgin County, and develop solutions to best serve the growing population of residents without access to local team-based primary care.

The Elgin Ontario Health Team has been a valuable partner in this endeavour. We support their goal to providing team-based care to 100% of Elgin residents who desire it. This clinic will help achieve that goal. It will also elevate access to non-emergency care, reducing unnecessary visits to the emergency department.

“We are thrilled to partner in the launch of this new primary care clinic, as it represents a significant step forward in addressing the health needs of our community,,” says Deanna Huggett, Elgin OHT Executive Director. “By strengthening community relationships and improving service coordination, we’re working toward better health outcomes for Elgin residents.”

Recruitment continues for this clinic, with more interdisciplinary healthcare professionals being added in the future to help support the healthcare needs of Elgin County.

 

2023 - 2024 Year in Review

Front cover of 2023 - 2024 Annual Report

We're excited to share the Elgin Ontario Health Team's 2023-2024 Year in Review Report. This report highlights our key achievements and progress as we continue working together for a healthier Elgin.

We are grateful to our community members, care providers and community organizations that are the foundation of the Elgin OHT for their support and collaboration. Together, we're making a positive impact on our community.

ConnectMyHealth

Your one-stop-shop to accessing your health records in the Ontario Health West Region.

ConnectMyHealth is a secure patient portal that allows you to view your health information from many healthcare facilities in southwestern Ontario in one, consolidated view, and there is no cost to use it. To learn more and to get connected, please visit: https://info.connectmyhealth.ca

Thames Valley Health Team secures $960,938 for team-based primary health care in Elgin County

Elgin County, ON – The Thames Valley Family Health Team (TVFHT) and collaborating partners are thrilled to announce the approval of $960,938 to expand team-based primary health care in Elgin County. The Hon. Rob Flack, MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, joined TVFHT and partners this morning to make this important announcement. 

In reflecting on the transformative impact of this healthcare funding, The Hon. Rob Flack noted that: “This investment by the Province in the Thames Valley Family Health Team, under the leadership of Premier Ford and Minister Jones, will significantly grow our primary care capacity in Elgin County. This is great news for our region and will serve nearly 1200 residents in our community.” 

This investment will allow us to recruit two nurse practitioners as well as a small team of interdisciplinary health professionals who will attach residents throughout Elgin County who do not have a regular primary care provider, especially those with complex health needs, and people who are considered vulnerable and/or marginalized. 

"The funding announcement today will be well received by the constituents of Elgin County”, says Cindy Bratt, Executive Director of the East Elgin Family Health Team. “Those of us who already provide team-based care in Elgin County are aware of the benefits to patients and their health outcomes. A big thank you goes out to the Ontario Government for recognizing the need in Elgin County and enabling team-based care across Elgin County." 

Andy Kroeker, Executive Director of the West Elgin Community Health Centre, adds: “This important investment will provide hope for vulnerable populations. We are committed to ensuring that every member of our community, regardless of their circumstances, receives the care and support they deserve.” 

With this expansion, we are improving attachment rates for residents and bringing us one step closer to achieving the Elgin Ontario Health Team’s goal of providing team-based care to 100% of Elgin residents who desire it. The expansion also aims to elevate access to non-emergency care, reducing unnecessary visits to the emergency department. 

Deanna Huggett, Executive Director of the Elgin Ontario Health Team, says: “This expansion of team-based primary care in Elgin County marks a pivotal advancement in strengthening our healthcare system. Now, we are not just enhancing care for people but also contributing to the overall resilience and efficiency of our healthcare system." 

The Thames Valley Family Health Team extends heartfelt appreciation to all individuals involved for their dedicated work and collaborative efforts in making this expansion a reality.