Enrolment

There are changes occurring within the health care system in Ontario. Why is the change necessary? A number of people who access the health care system are seeing more than one doctor (visiting walk-in clinics and emergency rooms for non-urgent illnesses). This is increasing the cost of providing health care to people in our province and town.

The provincial government is introducing several new changes. Dr. Glenn Bartlett, Executive Director at Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre is pleased that GBACHC is doing its part to help manage health care so that it will continue to be available when people need it. One of the changes that we have just begun to implement is “Enrolment”. All patients who are registered to a doctor at Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre are invited to consider enrolment. All CHCs within the province of Ontario will be striving to enroll their patients. The patients of Hensall Health Centre will also be invited to enroll in the near future.

What are the benefits of enrolling with the Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre?:

• Better communication among your practitioners;
• Access to telephone health advisory service (THAS) which can be provided in over 100 languages; (upcoming)
• With your permission, your doctor or nurse practitioner will be kept up to date about your health care needs even if you see a doctor in an emergency room;
• The health care system will increase its focus on helping you stay healthier longer.

Patients who are already registered with one of the doctors at GBA CHC will be given the opportunity to enroll by filling and signing an application at one of your upcoming appointments. We will encourage you to read the “Patient Enrolment and Consent to Release Personal Health Information” and seriously consider enrolling with the Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre.

Please note that enrolment is voluntary and at no cost. If you don’t enroll, you will still be registered with your doctor. Adults can enroll themselves as well as their children under the age of 16 and any dependant adults.

Your Ontario Health Card must be valid, if it is expired, you may phone 1-888-376-5197 for an appointment to have it renewed. We will also need to know if your address changes at any time so a new enrolment form can be filled out and sent to the Ministry of Health. If you move and wish to enroll with a doctor outside of GBA CHC, this will result in termination of your enrolment with us. Patients with Family Physicians at other locations will not be enrolling with GBA CHC.

Mary Hoskin has been hired as Enrolment Clerk to carry out this project. We will be asking you to see her so that she can assist you in this process. If you have questions, she can be reached at 519-238-1556 ext 242 or Heather Klopp, Health Services Coordinator, ext 228.

GBA CHC is eagerly implementing this Enrolment Process. It is another way by which we can develop and deliver the best services for our patients.