Group Health Centre Advances in Connecting Patients to Care Providers

The Group Health Centre (GHC) is making significant strides in connecting patients from the Access Care Clinic (ACC) with primary care providers. According to Ashlee Gerard, GHC’s manager of communications, planning and risk, the organization is on track to meet its targets for patient enrollment announced last fall. “The rostering process is going well, and we are well on our way to meeting the targets,” she stated.

In October 2024, GHC revealed that through focused recruitment of physicians and nurse practitioners, approximately 14,000 ACC patients are expected to be linked with a primary care provider in the near future. As of late last week, about 5,800 ACC patients have already been assigned a provider, with an additional 2,200 patients in the rostering process. Dr. Jodie Stewart, a GHC family physician and CEO of the Algoma District Medical Group, emphasized the goal: “Our end goal is that every person in Algoma who wants a primary care provider is attached to one.”

Efforts to Address Primary Care Shortage

GHC serves approximately 55,000 primary care and ACC patients and has welcomed five new family physicians and three primary care nurse practitioners since June 2024. This expansion has strengthened the organization’s capacity to provide care. Gerard noted that the Grow Your Own Nurse Practitioner Program, initiated last summer, is essential for expanding the future primary care workforce and facilitating the transition of ACC patients back to primary care providers.

The progress comes after a challenging period for GHC, which experienced one of the most severe disruptions in its history due to a wave of physician retirements in 2024. At that time, GHC announced that approximately 10,000 patients—one-sixth of its total roster—would lose access to primary care services. In response, the provincial government intervened, allocating more than $2.8 million over two years to establish the ACC, which aims to serve 11,200 patients.

Despite the funding, critics, including the Ontario Health Coalition, have labeled this measure a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution. GHC president and CEO Lil Silvano acknowledged the challenges, stating, “The ACC was not meant to be a long-term solution; however, it is a bridge to rebuild capacity within our organization.” He expressed the need for continued advocacy for ACC funding beyond March of this year.

Future Prospects for Patient Care

The Ontario Medical Association has reported that currently, about one in five people in Ontario do not have a family doctor—a figure that could rise to one in four if no action is taken. In the Algoma region alone, it is estimated that around 30,000 individuals lack a primary care provider.

Hope emerged last week when the Ontario government announced plans to build and expand 16 teaching clinics, aimed at connecting an additional 300,000 people to primary care. The $8 million initiative includes funding for Sault Ste. Marie, which will receive up to $500,000 to support planning efforts in collaboration with NOSM University. These clinics are expected to open between 2027 and 2028, although the specific locations will depend on the designated lead agency.

As GHC works to connect patients with primary care providers, the organization employs a random selection process from the ACC patient roster. Gerard reassured patients of their commitment, stating, “We are fully committed to ensuring that all Access Care Clinic patients are connected to primary care. We appreciate their patience as we continue to work diligently to connect everyone with a primary care provider.”

The ongoing efforts highlight a crucial aim: ensuring that all community members have access to the healthcare services they need.