The Madawaska Communities Circle of Health (MCCH) was formed in 2010 when the Champlain LHIN supported integration of funded health service providers operating in the St. Francis Memorial Hospital (SFMH) catchment area. As the Circle was integrated, each member learned and understood the others’ Mission, Vision and funding mandates. Early on they agreed on the importance of the social determinants of health, and MCCH members understood that with so much in common they could accomplish more by sharing knowledge, resources and actions. More than ten years later, Joanne King, Executive Director of Barry’s Bay and Area Home Support, serves as MCCH Chair. She explained how the Circle provides a framework so that our local health and social services work together as a health team to support residents.
She pointed out that the “Communities” in MCCH reflects the many small, sparsely-populated communities throughout the entire Madawaska River watershed, not just one village or municipality. (see map above) She said the health team aims to get every resident the services they need, without duplication and without anyone missing out. This can be a real challenge in rural areas, but King proudly cited the example of Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) nurses. An Emergency Department in a city will have at least one nurse trained in GEM for geriatric patients. But the region’s low population did not qualify it for GEM nurses, despite the aged demographic. Through collaboration, the MCCH members were able to obtain funding to train the existing RNs in GEM techniques.
Membership soon expanded to non-health funded groups; i.e. Madawaska Valley Association for Community Living, Water Tower Lodge (now Champlain Gardens), and the Community Resource Centre. Today, MCCH includes 27 agencies and programs: community support services (health, social services), primary care, acute care, Municipal elected, Addictions and Mental Health, Retirement, LTC, Assisted Living for High Risk Seniors, Hospice Palliative Care, St. Francis Valley Healthcare Foundation and more.
The ongoing collaboration and integration means that these separate agencies have developed a high degree of trust in each other. An identified strategy to achieve greater understanding by encouraging volunteerism on different governing boards (cross-board representation) is ongoing. And early on in the pandemic, SFMH convened a Covid Partners group for weekly (now bi-weekly) calls. This collaboration table enabled MCCH partners to maximize resources, knowledge and support for one another.
This is how the Circle uses a more holistic approach to health and works together to support residents. King said, “The MCCH partners are your local health and social services working together to support you. We are care providers trying to make the local system work better through our collaboration.”