The Almaguin Highlands Health Centre committee isn't giving up on one day having its own Ontario Health Team (OHT).
The OHTs are what will eventually replace the Local Health Integration Networks across the province.
The application for a standalone OHT to service the Almaguin Highlands region went in during the fall of 2019 and Rod Ward, chairman of the health centre committee, says very little has occurred since then.
“We haven't moved beyond the first stage, which is 'in discovery,'” said Ward, who also doubles as a councillor for Armour Township.
“The next step would be 'in development,' but we haven't reached that stage.”
Ward acknowledges COVID-19 has slowed the process, but the committee continues to pursue the application.
A major reason for the committee not giving up on having its own OHT is it assures the voice of about 12 municipalities is not lost in an area that's surrounded by North Bay to the north and Muskoka to the south.
And Ward wants to emphasize Almaguin Highlands does fall through the cracks at times and is poorly understood.
As an example, he says, last December when programs for the OHTs were being announced some media reported that the Almaguin Highlands region would be part of the OHT for Muskoka while other media said the region would become part of the Near North OHT, which covers the North Bay and area region.
“The truth is we're part of neither and somehow we fell through the cracks,” Ward said.
“We exist and want to make sure our voices are heard.”
Ward says the committee was formed because small communities didn't have a voice in the larger scheme of things and “that can be very frustrating when (health) cuts are made and there's no input” from the affected communities.
But if it had its own OHT, that local agency could decide the types of services the area needs if it identifies gaps in the system.
And when it comes to services, Ward says a major worry among area residents is not being able to find a family doctor.
Since first being formed in 2011, Ward says the committee has carried out three surveys asking people to identify their top concerns.
The surveys were conducted in 2012, 2014, and 2019, and Ward says topping the list each time was people not having a family doctor, with a desire to have a walk-in clinic not far behind.
Ward says 1,000 people responded to last year's survey, which represents a good percentage of the area's population and reveals the concerns are pressing.
However, Ward admits, securing an OHT is a long shot because part of the criteria is population-based and Almaguin Highlands doesn't come close to meeting the minimum threshold of 50,000 people.
At most, it has a base of about 12,500 people and Ward says that number doubles if the seasonal residents are counted.
Because it fails to meet the population threshold, Ward says the committee is prepared to accept that it might not get its own OHT.
However, he says the committee has another pathway to assure it's concerns aren't lost.
“If our own OHT is not feasible because our population isn't big enough, then give us a voice and decision-making powers with North Bay or Muskoka,” Ward says.
“It doesn't matter if we're a junior partner, we just want a voice. For us it's getting people to understand some of the challenges we have in the region.”
Ward says the committee has had some discussions with the Near North group, but so far nothing has emerged from the talks.
Ward says if Almaguin Highlands is fortunate enough to land its own OHT, a possible home base for the agency would be Burk's Falls with small satellite offices located across the area.
- Rocco Frangione, Local Journalism Initiative, North Bay Nugget. LJI is funded by the Government of Canada.
