The newly formed Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHTN) is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with an interactive virtual event to help answer questions around the unprecedented changes the health emergency has brought to life in Northumberland County.
The partnership of local patients, caregivers, and health and social agencies that won accreditation several months back as an official OHTN is hosting a 60-minute virtual forum May 13 at 7 p.m. to address questions that have arisen over these weeks of isolation – what is the status of cases in Northumberland? How do I access assessment and testing? Can I book an appointment with my family doctor? What practices are in place in long-term-care homes to keep residents safe? What mental-health supports are available?
Five panelists from the team will open with a high-level overview of local health and social-care providers' response to the pandemic to date, and the partnerships that have proven valuable in minimizing the impact of COVID-19.
Participants will then be able to ask questions directly, of panelists and of other OHTN representatives – including public-health agencies, both county hospitals, primary care providers, paramedics, community care agencies, Alderville First Nation health and social services, long-term-care providers and more.
“The OHTN was one of 24 such partnerships formed across Ontario prior to COVID-19,” spokesman (and president and chief executive officer of Northumberland Hills Hospital) Linda Davis said in the press release.
“Here in Northumberland, it has proven to be an invaluable network to support a co-ordinated response and positive health outcomes.
“It will take all of us to successfully beat COVID-19, and we have been extremely grateful to have the relationships in place around the OHTN table to support the work required. We look forward to sharing information, answering questions and hearing from area residents about what more we can be doing collectively to help as we move forward together.”
One of the five panelists at the event, Davis will be joined by Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, Northumberland County chief administrative officer Jennifer Moore (representing municipal services, including paramedics and long-term care), Lakeview Family Health Team executive director Wendy Parker, and Community Care Northumberland executive director Trish Baird.