Making healthcare better. FOR EVERYONE.
The ANHP OHT Rural Generalist Council (RGC) has established partnerships with First Nation Communities, physicians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous Service Provider Organizations (SPOs), as well as Lake of the Woods Hospital (LWDH), to jointly pool physician resources.
The goal is to create a centralized, streamlined process for allocating physician resources to address the area’s healthcare challenges and inequities, and develop a physician compensation model that will support the sustainable retention and recruitment of physicians.
About the RGC — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rural Generalist Care model?
The Rural Generalist Care model is a new, locally developed healthcare model designed to meet the unique needs of the Kenora region and surrounding communities. Its goal is to ensure access to both primary and emergency care for everyone living in the All Nations Health Partners Ontario Health Team (ANHP OHT) region, through a new system of physician compensation. The goals of the RGC model are:
- Ensure access to primary and emergency care for every resident in the ANHP region;
- Address challenges of physician shortages and service gaps;
- Ensure fair distribution of physician resources to support the LWDH emergency department;
- Support physician recruitment and retention;
- Address physician burnout; and
- Reduce the administrative load for physicians, in order to create more time for patient care.
The RGC model helps ensure that people across the region can access a full range of healthcare services, close to home. It supports primary care in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across the region.
Who is involved in the RGC model?
The RGC initiative has been led by local physicians, supported by Kenora Chiefs Advisory — Ogimaawabiitong (KCA), Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH), Sunset Country Family Health Team (SCFHT) and Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig (WNHAC).
The development of the RGC model has brought together physicians, Chiefs, Elders, First Nations, Indigenous and non-Indigenous primary care providers, and the hospital. It also has the support of municipal leaders, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), and the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The implementation of the model is being driven by the RGC Management Committee, consisting of several partner executive leads and local physicians, with the support of the Physician Association Council and the Rural Generalist Council.
Why has the RGC model been developed?
Many people in our region don’t have a primary care provider — or they struggle to access timely or complete care. The RGC model was developed to help close these gaps.
It will improve access to primary care, help health professionals work together more effectively, and make it easier for people to get the care they need close to home. It’s a key step toward building a better, more responsive health system for everyone.
It also will reduce the administrative burden on physicians, through centralized systems and a new compensation model, freeing up more time for them to provide care — and encouraging physicians to stay in the region.
How is Indigenous knowledge and culture included in care?
Indigenous ways of knowing and healing are central to the RGC model. The care teams work with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Traditional Healers to ensure care reflects the culture, values, and priorities of Indigenous communities, alongside Western medicine.
How is the RGC model working to successfully achieve its goals?
The RGC model is focused on three primary areas of work:
- Simplified physician compensation;
- Recruitment and retention efforts; and
- Administrative supports and operation of clinics on behalf of physicians (call centre, scheduling, billing, building operations).
What does the Rural Generalist Care model do for me?
For area residents that don’t have a primary care provider, the RGC model maximizes the opportunity for you to get the care you need more easily.
Through the primary care providers in our communities (KCA, SCFHT and WNHAC), you can be seen by a primary care provider (even if you aren’t currently attached to one) for care, who can, when needed, refer you to healthcare providers who get to know you and your health history, working together to support your overall wellbeing.
If I don’t have a doctor, how do I get to see a primary care provider?
If you don’t have a primary care provider, you may be able to access one of the limited “unattached patient” appointments offered each week. For the Kenora urban clinics, contact the SCFHT call centre at (807) 468-6321 ext. 5.
Please note that these appointments can only be scheduled up to five days in advance, and availability is limited. If no appointments are available when you call, you may need to try again on another day.
For KCA clinic appointments, please call (807) 467-8144. For WNHAC clinic appointments, call 1-888-MYWNHAC.
Will you be my doctor?
The Ministry of Health has set a goal of ensuring every person in Ontario is connected to primary care by 2029. In the Kenora region, the RGC model is designed to help reach that goal in the future by linking residents to a team of local primary care providers.
As the model evolves, this will eventually mean that, while you may not always see the same doctor, you’ll have access to a provider who can see your medical history, coordinate care, and ensure your health needs are met.
Will I lose my doctor or nurse practitioner?
No. If you already have a primary care provider, you can continue seeing them as usual. And if your doctor were to retire or leave the community, your medical records stay with your primary care team, and you can still be seen by another provider.
