History
The Powassan & Area Family Health Team (PAAFHT) was officially launched in August 2011 in affiliation with the Maple Ridge Family Health Organization, which started with three physicians at two sites.
Our FHT and physician teams have been growing ever since!
In November of 2018, we moved into a brand new clinic at Powassan Town Square in Powassan at 507 Main Street - where we now have six physicians.
In September 2022, we moved into a brand new clinic at East Ferris Medical Centre in Astorville at 249 Astorville Road (Docs on the Lake Family Practice) where we now have three physicians.
Between Powassan and Astorville, there are nine physicians, their staff as well as FHT clinical and admin staff.
In 2023 PAAFHT received funding for an Interprofessional Primary Care Team expansion that included additional staff to provide FHT services to the patients at Bonfield Medical Centre and South River Machar Medical Centre. We are now affiliated with these two new physician groups.
This brings our total number of physicians whose patients we support to 13 across a larger area, providing FHT primary care programs and services closer to home for many communities.
Having a vibrant Family Health Team where professionals can exchange ideas and work as a group is the model that new doctors are seeking. Recruitment and retention are a vital part of the plan and we will be promoting this whole area as a wonderful part of Canada for doctors to practice under a collaborative healthcare system.
We are an active member in the Nipissing Wellness Ontario Health Team.
What is a Family Health Team (FHT)?
Family Health Teams are a key component of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care’s plan to build a health care system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to physicians and nurses. 185 Family Health Teams have been established across the Province of Ontario.
A Family Health Team is a group of healthcare providers working together to provide primary care to you- the patient. Family Health Teams include family doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, pharmacists, dieticians and social workers among others. In addition to traditional healthcare services, family health teams focus on health promotion, illness prevention and chronic disease management.
Maple Ridge FHO
The boundaries for these clinics stretch from Loring and Restoule in the west to Chisholm Township in the east, and from East Ferris in the north to Trout Creek and Laurier in the south. Within these boundaries over 12,000 people reside. It is estimated that over 5,000 do not have access to a family physician and many others are rostered with doctors outside our area due to lack of healthcare professionals. The ultimate goal is to be in a position to have primary healthcare available locally for all those without a doctor and avoid visits to the hospital ER or walk in clinics in North Bay or elsewhere.