Dr. Morrison: FLA on track to have all residents connected to primary care by 2029

The County of Lennox and Addington Council had a regular meeting on Nov. 19. The meeting included several noteworthy discussions and an informative deputation from Dr. Kim Morrison, Executive Lead of the Frontenac Lennox and Addington Ontario Health Team (FLAOHT).

Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) are relatively new to the health care landscape in Ontario, having come into existence in late 2019.

The OHT's intent is to better connect patients with healthcare resources in their community, whether that be doctors, nurse practitioners, or other specialized healthcare providers.

In her deputation, Morrison detailed the objectives of the health teams, along with successes achieved by the FLA OHT so far, and details surrounding funding recently received from the provincial government.

“We are made of a collection of partners. We do not provide services. Instead, we bring partners together and try to help them work together to provide better outcomes for patients,” Morrison explained.

In fact, the FLA OHT is comprised of over 85 health and wellness providers, over 160 family physicians, and over 25 community council members. Together, they service upwards of 220,000 people.

“Health homes are a circle of care providers that keep people well in their homes as they transition through different life stages,” said Morrison. “They are people-centred, offering care close to home.”

The vision, according to Morrison, is that once the FLA OHT reaches maturity, everyone in the neighbourhood will have access to a home. Key features of a mature OHT include being equitable, accessible, collaborative, continuous, connected, holistic, and accountable.

“OHTs have been a gift from the Ministry to allow communities to build these models of care from the ground up,” stated Morrison.

“We will need to build teams that primary care doctors and other providers want to work in,” she added.

If all goes to plan, it is hoped everyone in the FLA OHT catchment area will have access to primary care by 2029. This is welcome news as, according to data presented by Morrison, there are 30,000 unattached residents in the FLA OHT region, with 5,600 of those being in L&A County.

As of September 2025, FLA OHT has received $1.49 million from the provincial government to help serve 3,500 people without a primary care physician. The health team had, originally, asked for $11 million. 

Morrison noted the highest concentration of those without a physician can be found in the north and west parts of Kingston.

While there is still plenty of ground to tread on the road toward primary care for all, there are several successes to be celebrated. For example, 400 palliative care patients in the FLA OHT region have become attached since 2024, along with 700 pregnant women. These are just a couple examples of the successes achieved by the local health team so far.

Councillor John Wise asked Morrison if she could “compare and contrast the patient experience of someone unattached but brought into the health home situation.”

“In a health home model, especially with unattached patients, you can come immediately, and you will be seen by somebody on the team. As part of that team, you also have social workers, navigators, other nurses, physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, etc,” explained Morrison. “Lab work can be ordered. Chronic disease nursing can be ordered. You can be seen by a multitude of people right within your primary care practice. And, when referrals need to be made outside of that, those then go from the team to that other team, mostly through digital innovation and connected records. It is more efficient. We would like to think it’s more patient-centred and way timelier.”

Morrison added that, when it comes to the Napanee Health Home, they’ve made strides in their partnerships with the Town, the Napanee Area Health Centre, and others.

“By coming together, we’ve transformed the way physicians work,” said Morrison. “Now, they can have pensions, benefits, maternity leave, and an overall quality of life that attracts them to this area.”

In other news, council received a County Properties and Facilities Bylaw report. The report, and potential bylaw, is a result of encampments on public property. Specifically, it is in response to a request from the Town of Greater Napanee that the county enact a bylaw similar to their Parks and Encampment Bylaw that would help define the use of public space.

As noted by Chris Wager, Director of Infrastructure/Property Services, the county’s bylaw mimics that of the town, with a few key differences.

“Tents and encampments of those experiencing homelessness are a province-wide challenge. Those experiencing homelessness need safe and reasonable places to live,” as stated in the staff report. “Children need safe places where they can learn, play, and visit. Families need to know that their children are safe. The county has a responsibility to balance these needs and priorities every day and to address the needs of the people we serve.”

Councillor Terry Richardson expressed he was “glad to see the bylaw is consistent with that of the town.”