What is a Family Health Team?

A Family Health Team is an approach to health care that brings together a group of highly skilled health care professionals to provide you with better access to the highest possible quality of coordinated health care and services.

Designed to create a team approach to health care so that you can see the most appropriate provider for your issue, most Family Health Teams will consist of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals who work collaboratively, each utilizing their experience and skills so that you receive the very best care, when you need it, as close to home as possible.

History of the Rideau Family Health Team

The Ministry of Health approved the formation of the Rideau Family Health Team to become effective on 1 January 2007.  At that time the group included 10 family physicians, a clinic manager, four nurses and a group of medical assistants who provided administrative support to the team.  The group has now expanded to include a full time Executive Director, a Resource Manager, a Social Worker, a Pharmacist, a Diabetic Nurse Practitioner, a Diabetic Educator, a Dietitian, an Urgent Care Nurse Practitioner and additional triage nurses and administrative support. 

The Future of the Rideau Family Health Team

With the expansion of the Rideau Family Health Team to include the above-mentioned Allied Health Professionals, our Team will be focusing on Chronic Disease Management and Prevention.  The Resource Manager’s is to connect our patients to community resources, programs and services.  The Social Worker is seeing patients for counseling sessions in individual, couple and group settings.   The RN is seeing patients to discuss self-management and understanding of their chronic disease.  The Nurse Practitioner sees Diabetic patients for management of their disease.   Our pharmacist and dietitian work with the physicians, Diabetic Nurse Practitioner and RN to give further benefit to patients who are juggling multiple medications, struggling with healthy living choices, etc.  If you would like to know more about how to see our Integrated Health Providers, please call the clinic or ask you family physician at your next appointment.