December 10, 2014
Manitoba Government Introduces Three My Health Teams in Winnipeg
– – –Networks Designed to Enhance Services for Patients in the Community: Minister Blady
As part of the Manitoba government’s larger strategy to ensure accessible, high-quality care for all Manitobans, three communities in Winnipeg will soon be served by networks of health-care providers called My Health Teams, Health Minister Sharon Blady announced today.
“My Health Teams are about providing enhanced health services to Manitobans and are designed around community needs,” said Minister Blady. “This is an innovative idea to ensure patients and their families have access to regular, ongoing care built around their health needs, helping them to stay as well as possible throughout their lives.”
The three newest My Health Teams are located in the Seven Oaks-Inkster, River Heights-Fort Garry and St. James-Assiniboine South areas of Winnipeg. Although not necessarily located in one physical space, the teams are connected through strong partnerships between primary care practices, the regional health authority and community organizations. Each team will be a bit different as they are built around the needs of their specific patient communities. The teams may include family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, dietitians, midwives, pharmacists and mental health providers who will work together with their patients to plan and deliver primary care services.
“My Health Teams are a wonderful opportunity for us to partner with our colleagues in the community to better meet the needs of patients and clients, and also contribute to improved patient flow across the system,” said Dr. Brock Wright, senior vice-president, clinical services and chief medical officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
Minister Blady said that for patients, being part of a My Health Team means:
- being recognized as an important partner in their health-care journey,
- having a team that works with them to help manage and track their care in a co-ordinated way,
- having professional assistance in connecting with the right health service provider or community resource, and
- spending less time spent arranging appointments or repeating medical history.
The minister noted that My Health Teams will also help lower health-care costs and the need for hospital and emergency room visits by ensuring a more co-ordinated, inclusive and comprehensive approach to patient care.
“We know that when people have a home clinic that they feel comfortable going to for most of their health-care needs – ranging from prevention through regular checkups, to treating minor ailments, to helping them manage a chronic condition – they have better health outcomes. My Health Teams complement this by giving patients access to a ‘neighbourhood’ of providers that will help ensure they can access the health services they need in a more timely co-ordinated way,” said Dr. Tamara Buchel a family physician with My Health Team in Seven Oaks-Inkster.
The first My Health Team was launched in the Steinbach area last spring and has received positive feedback from the community and the providers working at part of the team, Minister Blady said.
“Being part of a My Health Team has really helped us to improve the service we provide our patients. Because all providers are connected both electronically and as part of the team, we are able to help patients see the type of provider within the team who can best meet their individual needs,” said Karla Funk, chronic disease nurse, My Health Team for the Steinbach area. “This helps us to work together with our patients to develop care plans and strategies to help them to stay as well as they can be and improve their primary care experience,”
My Health Teams are being implemented across Manitoba including three more in Winnipeg, Minister Blady said. She added each team will give people access to a broader range of primary care services than before, and help connect more Manitobans with ongoing care from someone who knows them and their health needs.
For more information about My Health Team, visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/primarycare/public/myhts/teams.html.
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