The Hamilton Family Health Team
(HFHT) located in downtown Hamilton, serves part of the Local Health
Integration Network 4 (LHIN 4 Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand and Brant)
region and is the largest Family Health Team in Ontario.
The Hamilton Family Health Team includes:
- 150 Physicians serving approximately 280,000 patients
- 135 Nurses and Nurse Practitioners
- 21 Registered Dietitians
- 73 Mental Health Counsellors
- 22 Psychiatrists
- 10 Pharmacists
These
clinicians work together in a collaborative environment using various
tools and resources to get patients the care they need and keep them
healthy.
Improving the health care system
The vision of the HFHT is simple -
to build “a healthier Hamilton”. To achieve this vision the HFHT is
focused on providing collaborative primary health care options that are
both exceptional and comprehensive, and that will significantly improve
the health and quality of life of individuals within the local
community.
How does the Hamilton family Health Team improve the health care system?
- By
helping doctors and other members of the team use their time more
effectively, so practices can provide high-quality care to more patients
- By increasing access to
care through extended hours and Telephone Health Advisory Services to
improve continuity of care and help ease the strain on emergency
services
- By providing
the supports family doctors need in order to be able to accept new
patients, so more people will have a family doctor
- By
building partnerships between different parts of the health care
system, for example, between family doctors and community organizations
such as hospitals and CCACs, so services are better co-ordinated across
the system
- By making the
system more flexible, so each community can tailor services to meet
their specific needs by using health care dollars as efficiently as
possible