Primary Care Connection

On February 29, over 30 local CND family physicians and nurse practitioners participated in a primary care dinner meeting to learn about and deliberate on the development of a CND Primary Care Network.

A key message from the evening's panel presentation was "If you are not at the table, you are not on the menu." You are encouraged to join the conversation around the CND Primary Care Network, whether directly through the participation in the PCN working group (email cndoht@langs.org for details) or participate in a virtual conversation around PCN development at your convenience. You are encouraged to use this virtual hub to share your comments and questions about the development of the PCN locally and engage with your peers on next steps around PCN development. 

Some though-provoking questions that you may want to comment on:

• The January 2026 Globe & Mail cover features an editorial highlighting the successes of Cambridge North Dumfries primary care over the last two years. What is the headline?
• If the Primary Care Network could immediately resolve a pain point to improve the care that you provide, what would it be?

On January 24, 2024, the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health announced the release of Primary Care Network Guidance Document and Associated PCN Readiness Assessment. These are available in the Documents tab on the right side of this page.

Primary care providers are invited to share questions and reflections regarding PCNs in Ontario Health Teams. These questions and comments will inform the in-person Primary Care Meeting & Social discussion topics. 

Webinar recording (in English): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn44aZQFmkg  

Webinar deck 

• English: https://www.ontariohealth.ca/sites/ontariohealth/files/PCNinOHTsWebinar.pdf  
• French: https://www.ontariohealth.ca/sites/ontariohealth/files/PCNinOHTsWebinar-FR.pdf  

PCN guidance  

• English: https://www.ontario.ca/files/2024-01/moh-primary-care-networks-guidance-en-2024-01-23.pdf  
• French: https://www.ontario.ca/files/2024-01/moh-primary-care-networks-guidance-fr-2024-01-23.pdf  

The Cambridge North Dumfries OHT is pleased to be launching a Healthy Aging Resource Portal to support older adults in our communities, developed in consultation with primary care, public health, paramedics, City of Cambridge and other key partners. 

If you would like to receive hard copies of promotional postcards for this new resource, email cndoht@langs.org. 

In early 2024, the CND OHT will be partnering with the Southwest Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) to host an evening webinar for primary care. The goal of the webinar will be to highlight the programs and services offered by SOAHAC at their Cambridge site that opened earlier this year. The presentation will include remarks from a local Elder, the Indigenous Primary Care Physician and the Director of Client Care. We are seeking feedback from primary care to help develop the content of the webinar to ensure it meets your needs. Let us know:

• What questions do you have around First Nations, Metis and Inuit health in Cambridge and North Dumfries?
• What are you most interested in learning about SOAHAC services?

Ontario Health has released new virtual care guidance materials for primary care clinicians. The ‘Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care Guidance for Primary Care’ aims to help primary care clinicians feel supported in the decisions they make related to the planning and delivery of virtual care. While virtual care is not new, both clinicians and patients alike have questions about the uses of virtual care. The virtual care guidance for primary care materials were developed with a patient-centred care approach and informed by an expert panel of clinicians and patients.

• The guidance and tools can be accessed at Ontariohealth.ca/virtualcareguidance. A French version of the guidance is also available at Ontariohealth.ca/fr/guidesoinsvirtuels.
• Webinars hosted by the OCFP and delivered from expert panel members can be viewed by following these links; Setting the Context, Introducing the Concepts and Statements, Using the Guidance.
• CND OHT is pleased to spread awareness of these guidelines and would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Do not hesitate to post a reply here or email our Digital Health Lead, Jeremy Howcroft, at jeremyh@langs.org. 
• Additionally, Ontario Health is conducting an evaluation of this guidance.  You are invited to complete this survey to capture your awareness of, access to and adoption of the guidance and support tools.  You may access the survey at https://online2.snapsurveys.com/cndoht.