DOCTORS LAUNCH WAIT LIST FOR SOUTH MUSKOKA RESIDENTS
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — With the too often dizzying array of health care options out there, a group of doctors is trying to sort out the mess.
And that’s not just COVID testing.
They’ve created a website to recruit new patients and doctors and help residents around the Muskoka Lakes find a physician.
The Cottage Country Family Health Team (FHT) launched its primary caregiver waitlist website today, Friday Sept. 25, at www.southmuskokawaitlist.com.
According to Dr. Adam MacLennan, a family medicine practicioner who works out of the Gravenhurst FHT and is leading the initiative, it allows for a single, unified waitlist across multiple clinics throughout South Muskoka.
“This helps greatly in streamlining the efforts of those looking to secure a primary caregiver. Secondly, the system will allow us to more accurately gauge the demand for caregivers in Muskoka as it relates to attracting doctors and caregivers to the area.”
Among other basic data requirements, the integrated system allows those looking for a caregiver to identify a preferred geographic area and define the number of family members requiring care.
Despite repeated and extensive efforts in recent years to co-ordinate health services in Muskoka, MacLennan told MuskokaTODAY.com yesterday on the eve of the launch that there doesn’t exist any sort of master list of Muskoka patients to draw on to co-ordinate services.
He said many people in Muskoka still receive their primary care outside of Muskoka.
And he hopes this is a start to change that.
The towns of Gravenhurst and Bracebridge paid to help get the website.
Contributions to the development of the online waitlist website have been made by the Town of Gravenhurst, the Town of Bracebridge, and the Cottage Country Family Health Team.
The system will be made live on September 25th, 2020 and will be located online at www.southmuskokawaitlist.com.
Email mark@muskokatoday.com
Celebrating 25 YEARS of ‘Local Online Journalism’
Follow us at Twitter @muskokatodaily
And on Facebook at mclairmont1
Leave your comments at end of story.
Letter to the Editor: news@muskokatoday.com
Subscribe for $25 at https://muskokatoday.com/subscriptions
