Kenora’s Rural Generalist model of physician care pays dividends

It’s been a year since the Rural Generalist Care Model was introduced in Kenora.

Executive Director of the Sunset Country Family Health Team Colleen Neil says it’s going as it’s supposed to: allowing more patients to see doctors.

“We’ve done over 3,000 unattached patients that we’ve provided care to since April, which has equated to over 10,000 patient visits, that we weren’t able to do in the old model previously,” explains Neil.

Neil says under the Rural Generalist Model, they are providing administrative support for doctors, allowing them to see more patients and doing less paperwork.

“There are administrative processes to all of these things, but at the end of the day, a lot of us worry about, who am I attached to, who am I rostered with, and really what we want to do is just make sure you can you get an appointment when you need it.”

Neil adds that the Rural Generalist model can improve access to medical care and can be used as a recruitment tool for doctors and nurse practitioners and to offer a better work/life balance.

(File photo)