Following a lengthy search, we are excited to introduce Jackie Park as our new Executive Lead at the Rainy River District Ontario Health Team (RRDOHT). Jackie joined our team on June 10th, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Jackie brings a wealth of experience from across various healthcare settings. She started her career in emergency care, working for two decades as an emergency and charge nurse, and honed her skills in high-pressure environments. She has a knack for enhancing healthcare processes and ensuring effective community engagement, developed through roles as a community liaison and process improvement coordinator. During the pandemic, she showcased her skills in leadership and navigating complex challenges as manager of pandemic community collaboration, assessment, and screening. Jackie comes to us now from her role as executive director of the Harbourview Family Health Team. She has led the team in Thunder Bay with a strong vision and dedication to improved community health and brought her voice to the Noojmawing Sookatagaing OHT Leadership Council, Governance, and Collaboration Council. On a personal level, Jackie has spent most of her life in Northwestern Ontario, growing up in the small community of Hurkett, east of Thunder Bay. Her deep roots in the region give her unique insights into the healthcare needs and challenges of our communities. She is a mother of three, with two children who have successfully launched their own careers. In her free time, Jackie enjoys the outdoors and travelling. She is a passionate advocate for healthcare equity in Northern Ontario and is excited to contribute to our vision of exceptional health care, close to home.

Working with many of its partners in the community, the RRDOHT Digital Health Committee is enabling tremendous growth in the realm of eReferrals. Several programs in Atikokan and Fort Frances are set to go online in the fall through the CMHA, with others like the Paramedicine program in the process of joining. The Atikokan General Hospital is expanding their eReferral footprint as well and while they are in different stages of progress, the goal is to be online in the fall as well with eReferral goals on track for the year. We look forward to more participants shortly. Digital Health Committee Lead: Jorge VanSlyke

Existing mental health and addictions issues have been compounded by the global pandemic and our region ranks high in risk and struggles with accessibility. In an effort to reduce ED visits while having a positive impact on outcomes, Fort Frances Family Health Team and the Canadian Mental Health Association are collaborating on a funding opportunity to implement seamless referrals to remote care management (RCM) for individuals with mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression. This would allow patients to remain in community while staying appropriately connected to primary and mental health care, engaging with patients both virtually and in-person to develop necessary coping and wellness skills to prevent an escalation of symptoms and higher care needs.  Leveraging the SeamlessMD application, the RCM program assists the patient to follow-up with primary care when needed, and will also provide support, referral, and advocacy for housing, income support, employment services, education, legal, food security, cultural and traditional care support. MH&A Committee Lead: Charlene Strain

While the Leadership Council said goodbye to Karen Lusignan, who served as Co-Chair until leaving the RRDOHT for a new role at the end of June, we have welcomed another voice to the Co-Chair role alongside Shanna Weir, Executive Director at Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre. Kayla Caul-Chartier has been a vocal and active member of the Leadership Council since its inception. We are grateful she stepped up to fill this meaningful role with the group. Kayla Caul-Chartier Chief Executive Officer Giishkaandago'lkwe Health Services kcaul-chartier@fftahs.org

Over the past couple of months, there has been a significant discussion on intake strategies for diabetic care. Next steps include presenting considerations to the RRDOHT Leadership Council, including proposal of implementation. One area of specific interest to the group is around wound care. Resources have made this element challenging to some providers and the Diabetes Committee has committed to in-depth journey mapping this fall. Diabetes Committee Lead: David Black

We’re excited to launch our first community integrated committee this fall. After a successful couple of months of recruiting, we’re bringing together a collaborative team of active and retired health care practitioners from across the district to form the Primary Care Committee (PCC).

Affecting blood vessels in the retina (the light- sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye), diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and even blindness in people with diabetes.  Annual comprehensive dilated eye exams are key to early discovery of this condition, which may not have any symptoms. Early stages of diabetic retinopathy may only result in subtle changes in vision, like trouble reading or seeing faraway objects. These changes may come and go. Early discovery can help diabetics take steps to protect vision. Sponsored by the RRDOHT, the Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre (GHAC) has commenced a Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program in our First Nation communities, bringing screening to people who may not typically have access to the services.