A program that connects Niagara Health physicians with community primary care providers diverted an average of 90 per cent of calls each month away from emergency departments (ED) in its first year.
Since its launch in May 2022, SCOPE Niagara – Seamless Care Optimizing the Patient Experience – has registered more than 135 family physicians and nurse practitioners.
“The program provides an easy, quick connection between community primary care providers and the hospital,” says Sarah Furnival, SCOPE Nurse Navigator and recipient of this year’s Nursing Excellence Award – Excellence in a Non-Traditional Nursing Role. “By creating pathways, we are able to help identify and improve gaps in care all while reducing unnecessary visits to the ED.”
SCOPE Niagara connects family physicians and nurse practitioners to a dedicated team of specialists from Niagara Health and from Home and Community Care. The primary care providers connect with SCOPE Niagara’s nurse navigator, who directs them to the most appropriate service, providing support for complex and urgent patients in real-time.
The program originated in 2012 to support family physicians in Toronto. The program has since grown and has been effective in streamlining care and averting both ED visits and hospitalizations.
“We are fortunate to be a part of this extension to create a local solution for seamless patient care in Niagara,” says Dr. Darija Vujosevic, Clinical Lead, Niagara Ontario Health Team – Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara and SCOPE Niagara Steering Committee Member. “As SCOPE Niagara continues to grow, it will attract more family physicians and primary care providers to the program.”
“I was very impressed with the service that SCOPE offered for my family doctor in coordinating my care with the General Internal Medicine Rapid Assessment Clinic and diagnostic imaging,” says Niagara resident Lukas Gotfryd, who is grateful for the timely care the program provided. “I was not required to have long wait times in the ED for appointments, scans and blood work. All of my appointments have scheduled times, which helps with time management, work and family.”
As of May 2023, there were nearly 500 calls to SCOPE Niagara, which varied in nature, such as requests for support with general internal medicine, diagnostic imaging and kidney care. Opportunities to expand the program are currently being explored, including orthopedic services, mental health and addictions.
“I cannot say enough about how grateful I am for this service, especially being a new doctor to this area and still finding my bearings,” says Dr. Victor Ogala from Grantham Medical Clinic in St. Catharines. “SCOPE Niagara has given me confidence with my work, knowing I have somewhere and someone to turn to when help is needed to navigate the system and get the best care for my patients.”
SCOPE Niagara is a partnership between Niagara Health, Niagara Practitioners’ Healthcare Alliance and Home and Community Care as part of the Niagara Ontario Health Team – Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara.
Connected Care Newsletter – Winter 2024
/in News, UpdatesStay current with Connected Care, the Niagara Ontario Health Team’s quarterly newsletter.
In this edition:
Click here to download your copy.
Connecting More People to Primary Care in Niagara
/in News, UpdatesConnecting patients’ health records in Niagara
/in News, UpdatesCollaboration leading to more accessible healthcare for those experiencing intimate partner violence in Niagara
/in News, UpdatesSeptember 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day
/in News, UpdatesVolunteers needed for mental health and addictions pilot project in Fort Erie
/in News, UpdatesSCOPE Niagara celebrates one year of supporting health professionals and reducing emergency department visits for patients
/in News, UpdatesA program that connects Niagara Health physicians with community primary care providers diverted an average of 90 per cent of calls each month away from emergency departments (ED) in its first year.
Since its launch in May 2022, SCOPE Niagara – Seamless Care Optimizing the Patient Experience – has registered more than 135 family physicians and nurse practitioners.
“The program provides an easy, quick connection between community primary care providers and the hospital,” says Sarah Furnival, SCOPE Nurse Navigator and recipient of this year’s Nursing Excellence Award – Excellence in a Non-Traditional Nursing Role. “By creating pathways, we are able to help identify and improve gaps in care all while reducing unnecessary visits to the ED.”
SCOPE Niagara connects family physicians and nurse practitioners to a dedicated team of specialists from Niagara Health and from Home and Community Care. The primary care providers connect with SCOPE Niagara’s nurse navigator, who directs them to the most appropriate service, providing support for complex and urgent patients in real-time.
The program originated in 2012 to support family physicians in Toronto. The program has since grown and has been effective in streamlining care and averting both ED visits and hospitalizations.
“We are fortunate to be a part of this extension to create a local solution for seamless patient care in Niagara,” says Dr. Darija Vujosevic, Clinical Lead, Niagara Ontario Health Team – Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara and SCOPE Niagara Steering Committee Member. “As SCOPE Niagara continues to grow, it will attract more family physicians and primary care providers to the program.”
“I was very impressed with the service that SCOPE offered for my family doctor in coordinating my care with the General Internal Medicine Rapid Assessment Clinic and diagnostic imaging,” says Niagara resident Lukas Gotfryd, who is grateful for the timely care the program provided. “I was not required to have long wait times in the ED for appointments, scans and blood work. All of my appointments have scheduled times, which helps with time management, work and family.”
As of May 2023, there were nearly 500 calls to SCOPE Niagara, which varied in nature, such as requests for support with general internal medicine, diagnostic imaging and kidney care. Opportunities to expand the program are currently being explored, including orthopedic services, mental health and addictions.
“I cannot say enough about how grateful I am for this service, especially being a new doctor to this area and still finding my bearings,” says Dr. Victor Ogala from Grantham Medical Clinic in St. Catharines. “SCOPE Niagara has given me confidence with my work, knowing I have somewhere and someone to turn to when help is needed to navigate the system and get the best care for my patients.”
SCOPE Niagara is a partnership between Niagara Health, Niagara Practitioners’ Healthcare Alliance and Home and Community Care as part of the Niagara Ontario Health Team – Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara.
Connected Care Newsletter – Summer 2023
/in News, UpdatesStay current with Connected Care, the Niagara Ontario Health Team’s quarterly newsletter.
In this edition:
Click here to download your copy.
Engagement Opportunity: Emergency department as the first point of contact for mental health and addiction-related care
/in News, UpdatesAs part of our commitment to meaningful partnerships with our various communities, we are seeking engagement from community partners to participate in the project below. Community partners can be patients, clients, family members, caregivers, people with lived experience, and other citizens who interact with health and social services. Please note that this opportunity is voluntary.
Project description: Emergency department (ED) as the first point of contact for mental health and addiction-related care
The project aims to understand the current gaps in accessing community services and to develop a system solution to address the ED being the first point of contact for MHA-related care. Our preliminary data shows a high percentage of 18 to 25-year-olds who have visited the ED or an Urgent Care Centre (UCC) as the first point of contact for MHA-related care in the last year or two. This pilot project focuses on the Fort Erie area to understand possible gaps in the system. You may be asked to sit on a project team, attend bi-weekly meetings, participate in a focus group, or share your journey navigating the health system to help develop system solutions.
Who and what are we looking for:
Roles and responsibilities may include:
Our commitment. We will:
Application process
If you are interested in this engagement opportunity, please email the NOHT-ÉSON’s Engagement Specialist, Josie Faccini, at engagement@noht-eson.ca or call 905-933-4149 by June 30, 2023.
To reflect the cultural and social diversity of the people who access health care and social services in Fort Erie, we encourage patients/clients and families/caregivers 18 to 25 years of age and all backgrounds to consider this engagement opportunity.
The NOHT-ÉSON is committed to providing accessible and barrier-free engagement opportunities. Please forward accommodation requests, questions, or concerns to engagement@noht-eson.ca.
NOHT-ÉSON seeking Niagara residents to join Planning Table
/in News, UpdatesThe NOHT-ÉSON is seeking Niagara residents with lived experience accessing health care or social services to join the organization at the Planning Table and provide their perspectives and input on the standard of care have they received.
A recruitment campaign is under to identify people who may wish to become Patient/Client and Family/Caregiver (PCFC) representatives. The aim is to grow the number PCFC representatives at the Planning Table to seven.
PCFC representatives offer direct input into policies, programs, and practices affecting care and service delivery in Niagara, as well as play a vital role in transforming health care and social services in Niagara. In turn, PCFC representatives receive honorariums as part of their contributions.
Click here for the role description in English and here for the French version.
To reflect the cultural and social diversity of the people who access health care and social services in Niagara, people of all backgrounds and ages are encouraged to consider becoming a PCFC representative.
Applications will be accepted until May 31. For further information please contact Josie Faccini, Engagement Specialist, at engagement@noht-eson.ca or by phone at 905-933-414.