Healthcare leaders | 3-min read
Why it matters
The Ontario government released a directive for all Ontario Health Teams to attach unattached patients to Primary Care providers. Huron Perth and Area has a very high attachment rate with 93% attachment to Primary Care, which is one of the highest in the province. However, Huron Perth and Area providers want to do more. During the Primary Care Summit in early winter the unattached patient population was the focus concurrently, Dr. Jane Philpott was being appointed as Chair of the New Primary Care Action Team launched in January of this year and HPA Primary Care launched the Unattached Care Clinic in Huron and Perth earlier this year. By prioritizing unattached patients Huron Perth & Area Ontario Health Team (HPA-OHT) aims to improve access, health outcomes, and system efficiency. HPA-OHT and its member leadership are positioned well to achieve this objective.
What’s next
Developing the Integrated Care Pathway and Transition Working Group focused on attaching all patients to primary care, which aligns with Ontario’s goal of connecting every resident to primary care within five years.
Continuing Unattached Care Clinics (UCCs) as a temporary solution while building sustainable models.
The bigger picture
Attaching all unattached patients to primary care is a crucial step toward achieving a more integrated healthcare system. By ensuring that every patient has a designated primary care provider, healthcare organizations can better coordinate care, streamline communication, and improve overall patient outcomes. This approach allows for comprehensive system planning, as primary care providers can identify and address gaps in care, manage chronic conditions more effectively, and provide preventive services. Additionally, it fosters a more holistic understanding of patient needs, enabling the healthcare system to allocate resources more efficiently and tailor services to meet the specific needs of the population. Ultimately, this integration leads to a more cohesive and patient-centered healthcare experience.
- Huron Perth’s ED visit rate for conditions best managed elsewhere is 41.4 per 1,000 people—quadruple the Ontario average.
- Only 26% of patients see a primary care provider within 7 days post-discharge, lagging behind comparable regions.
- Five UCCs have seen 1,455 patients in 1,557 visits as of late 2024, but they are not a permanent fix.
Dig deeper
Based on recommendations from the Primary Care Summit, the Decision Support Working Group analyzed the available data and proposed focusing on the Unattached Patient Population. This recommendation was then forwarded to the Planning and Priority Setting Committee for endorsement and subsequently approved by the Implementation Committee, in accordance with the Collaboration Agreement.
Ontario’s “Your Health” Plan prioritizes primary care access, reinforced by the recent appointment of Dr. Jane Philpott to lead a primary care action team. HPA-OHT’s initiative aligns with this vision, ensuring more residents receive timely, continuous care.
Learn more about primary care challenges in Ontario
Ontario’s primary care expansion plan
