Jonathan Fitzsimon, MBChB

Dr. Jonathan Fitzsimon graduated from Sheffield University Medical School (U.K.) in 2007. From 2009–2010 he worked as a volunteer physician in Oruro, Bolivia, before returning to the U.K. to complete the General Practice Specialty Training Program. He moved to Ontario in 2014 and started a family practice in Renfrew County.

In 2020, Dr. Fitzsimon was appointed Chief of Medicine at Arnprior Regional Health, Medical Lead of the Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre and Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa, Department of Family Medicine. He was the recipient of the OMA’s 2021 Glenn Sawyer Service Award.

Selected Publications

5151123 QG2KK73J 1 nature 50 date 436 https://healthaccessandinnovation.ca/wp-content/plugins/zotpress/
%7B%22status%22%3A%22success%22%2C%22updateneeded%22%3Afalse%2C%22instance%22%3Afalse%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22request_last%22%3A0%2C%22request_next%22%3A0%2C%22used_cache%22%3Atrue%7D%2C%22data%22%3A%5B%7B%22key%22%3A%229V7X8E2L%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A5151123%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22St-Amant%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222025-01-31%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A0%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bclear%3A%20left%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-left-margin%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bfloat%3A%20left%3B%20padding-right%3A%200.5em%3B%20text-align%3A%20right%3B%20width%3A%201em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B1.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-right-inline%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bmargin%3A%200%20.4em%200%201.5em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3BSt-Amant%2C%20A.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3Bet%20al.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%20Assessing%20patient%20experiences%20with%20a%20Virtual%20Triage%20and%20Assessment%20Centre%20%28VTAC%29%3A%20a%20mixed-methods%20study%20using%20an%20online%20survey%20and%20semi-structured%20interviews%20in%20Renfrew%20County%2C%20Ontario.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BBMC%20Primary%20Care%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%20%26lt%3Bb%26gt%3B26%26lt%3B%5C%2Fb%26gt%3B%2C%2021%20%282025%29.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Assessing%20patient%20experiences%20with%20a%20Virtual%20Triage%20and%20Assessment%20Centre%20%28VTAC%29%3A%20a%20mixed-methods%20study%20using%20an%20online%20survey%20and%20semi-structured%20interviews%20in%20Renfrew%20County%2C%20Ontario%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Antoine%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22St-Amant%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Cayden%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Peixoto%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Dez%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Bair-Patel%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Martha%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Heideman%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Kayla%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Menkhorst%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jonathan%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22In%20March%202020%2C%20the%20Renfrew%20County%20Virtual%20Triage%20and%20Assessment%20Centre%20%28VTAC%29%20was%20launched%20as%20a%20large-scale%2C%20innovative%2C%20hybrid%20healthcare%20program.%20VTAC%20aims%20to%20alleviate%20pressure%20on%20emergency%20departments%20by%20providing%20additional%20and%20more%20equitable%20access%20to%20family%20physicians%20and%20allied%20health%20professionals.%20This%20study%5Cu2019s%20objective%20was%20to%20evaluate%20patients%5Cu2019%20experiences%20with%20VTAC.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222025-01-31%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.1186%5C%2Fs12875-025-02719-y%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1186%5C%2Fs12875-025-02719-y%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%222731-4553%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%22QG2KK73J%22%2C%22C5F5BR7M%22%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222025-03-21T13%3A29%3A07Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%22BHWBGMRQ%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A5151123%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Godfrey%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222025-01-01%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A0%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bclear%3A%20left%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-left-margin%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bfloat%3A%20left%3B%20padding-right%3A%200.5em%3B%20text-align%3A%20right%3B%20width%3A%201em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B1.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-right-inline%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bmargin%3A%200%20.4em%200%201.5em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3BGodfrey%2C%20L.%2C%20St-Amant%2C%20A.%2C%20Premji%2C%20K.%20%26amp%3B%20Fitzsimon%2C%20J.%20Impact%20of%20changes%20in%20primary%20care%20attachment%3A%20a%20scoping%20review.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BFamily%20Medicine%20and%20Community%20Health%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%20%26lt%3Bb%26gt%3B13%26lt%3B%5C%2Fb%26gt%3B%2C%20e003115%20%282025%29.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Impact%20of%20changes%20in%20primary%20care%20attachment%3A%20a%20scoping%20review%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Leanda%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Godfrey%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Antoine%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22St-Amant%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Kamila%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Premji%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jonathan%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Objectives%20Primary%20care%20attachment%20represents%20an%20inclusive%2C%20equitable%20and%20cost-effective%20way%20of%20enhancing%20health%20outcomes%20globally.%20However%2C%20the%20growing%20shortage%20of%20family%20physicians%20threatens%20to%20disrupt%20patient%5Cu2013provider%20relationships.%20Understanding%20the%20consequences%20of%20these%20disruptions%20is%20essential%20for%20guiding%20future%20research%20and%20policy.%20The%20objectives%20of%20this%20study%20were%20to%20map%20the%20existing%20evidence%20on%20the%20impacts%20of%20changes%20in%20primary%20care%20attachment%2C%20identify%20research%20gaps%20and%20recommend%20areas%20for%20further%20investigation.%5CnDesign%20Scoping%20review%20following%20Joanna%20Briggs%20Institute%20%28JBI%29%20guidelines%20and%20the%20Preferred%20Reporting%20Items%20for%20Systematic%20Reviews%20and%20Meta-Analyses%20Extension%20for%20Scoping%20Reviews%20checklist.%20Two%20researchers%20conducted%20all%20stages%20of%20screening%2C%20and%20study%20quality%20was%20assessed%20using%20JBI%20critical%20appraisal%20tools.%20Key%20themes%20included%20causes%20of%20attachment%20change%2C%20direction%20of%20change%20and%20outcomes%20aligned%20with%20the%20quintuple%20aim%20framework.%20Both%20qualitative%20and%20quantitative%20findings%20were%20synthesised%20narratively.%5CnEligibility%20criteria%20Peer-reviewed%2C%20English-language%20articles%20published%20between%201999%20and%202024%20on%20primary%20care%20attachment%20changes.%5CnInformation%20sources%20PubMed%2C%20Scopus%20and%20Web%20of%20Science.%5CnResults%20Of%202045%20studies%20screened%2C%2031%20met%20inclusion%20criteria%2C%20with%2060%25%20published%20after%202020.%20Most%20studies%20originated%20from%20high-income%20countries%2C%20particularly%20the%20USA%20%2835%25%29%20and%20Canada%20%2829%25%29.%20Attachment%20losses%20and%20transfers%20were%20the%20most%20frequently%20studied%2C%20while%20attachment%20and%20unattachment%20durations%20were%20less%20explored.%20These%20changes%20in%20attachment%20were%20consistently%20shown%20to%20impact%20patients%2C%20providers%2C%20clinics%20and%20the%20healthcare%20system%2C%20influencing%20all%20aims%20of%20the%20quintuple%20aim%20framework%2C%20including%20clinical%20outcomes%2C%20healthcare%20utilisation%2C%20costs%2C%20equity%20and%20patient%20experience.%20Commonly%20assessed%20outcomes%20included%20clinical%20impact%20%2868%25%29%2C%20health%20equity%20%2848%25%29%2C%20patient%20experience%20%2832%25%29%20and%20costs%20%2823%25%29%2C%20with%20no%20study%20assessing%20provider%20experience.%5CnConclusions%20This%20scoping%20review%20maps%20the%20published%20literature%20on%20changes%20in%20primary%20care%20attachment%20and%20introduces%20clarifying%20terminology.%20Key%20research%20gaps%20include%20geographical%20diversity%20%28lack%20of%20studies%20from%20low-%20and%20middle-income%20countries%29%2C%20attachment%20gain%20%28limited%20research%20on%20strategies%20to%20reconnect%20unattached%20patients%29%2C%20attachment%20duration%20%28insufficient%20evidence%20on%20long-term%20health%20outcomes%29%2C%20economic%20implications%20%28underexplored%20costs%20of%20physician%20turnover%20and%20disruption%29%2C%20provider%20experiences%20%28lack%20of%20studies%20on%20how%20changes%20in%20primary%20care%20attachment%20impact%20provider%20burnout%2C%20job%20satisfaction%20and%20workload%29%20and%20patient%20health%20outcomes%20%28focus%20on%20healthcare%20utilisation%20rather%20than%20direct%20health%20outcomes%29.%20These%20findings%20underscore%20the%20need%20for%20further%20research%20and%20offer%20valuable%20insights%20for%20future%20studies%20and%20policy%20development.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222025%5C%2F01%5C%2F01%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22Systematic%20review%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.1136%5C%2Ffmch-2024-003115%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Ffmch.bmj.com%5C%2Fcontent%5C%2F13%5C%2F1%5C%2Fe003115%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%222305-6983%2C%202009-8774%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%22QG2KK73J%22%2C%22C5F5BR7M%22%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222025-03-21T13%3A29%3A07Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%22AYRMVVSH%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A5151123%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Peixoto%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222024%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bclear%3A%20left%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-left-margin%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bfloat%3A%20left%3B%20padding-right%3A%200.5em%3B%20text-align%3A%20right%3B%20width%3A%201em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B1.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-right-inline%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bmargin%3A%200%20.4em%200%201.5em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3BPeixoto%2C%20C.%2C%20Fitzsimon%2C%20J.%2C%20Hawkins%2C%20L.%20%26amp%3B%20Hill%2C%20J.%20Assessing%20new%20patient%20attachment%20to%20an%20integrated%2C%20virtual%20care%20programme%20in%20rural%20primary%20care.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BCanadian%20Journal%20of%20Rural%20Medicine%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%20%26lt%3Bb%26gt%3B29%26lt%3B%5C%2Fb%26gt%3B%2C%207%26%23x2013%3B12%20%282024%29.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Assessing%20new%20patient%20attachment%20to%20an%20integrated%2C%20virtual%20care%20programme%20in%20rural%20primary%20care%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Cayden%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Peixoto%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jonathan%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Lisa%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Hawkins%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Judy%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Hill%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Introduction%3A%20An%20estimated%2020%25%20of%20residents%20of%20Renfrew%20County%2C%20a%20rural%20and%20underserved%20community%20in%20Ontario%2C%20do%20not%20have%20a%20family%20physician%20or%20alternative%20primary%20care%20provider.%20Integrated%20virtual%20care%20%28IVC%29%20aims%20to%20address%20this%20crisis%20by%20enrolling%20individuals%20who%20are%20not%20currently%20attached%20to%20a%20primary%20care%20provider%2C%20to%20a%20named%20family%20physician%20who%20works%20predominantly%20remotely.%20The%20physician%20is%20embedded%20within%20an%20existing%2C%20local%20family%20health%20team.%20The%20aim%20of%20this%20study%20was%20to%20assess%20and%20describe%20the%20IVC%20model%5Cu2019s%20capacity%20to%20enrol%20previously%20unattached%20patients%20in%20Renfrew%20County%20and%20provide%20adequate%20primary%20care.%5CnMethods%3A%20We%20conducted%20a%20cross%5Cu2011sectional%2C%20descriptive%20study%20of%20data%20collected%20from%20patients%20enrolled%20for%20at%20least%203%20months%20to%20an%20IVC%20family%20physician%20from%2015%20November%202021%20%28earliest%20appointment%20date%20for%20first%20IVC%20patients%29%20to%2030%20June%202022%20inclusive.%5CnResults%3A%20N%20%3D%20790%20patients%20were%20successfully%20attached%20to%20a%20family%20physician%20and%20received%20at%20least%203%20months%20of%20care%20through%20IVC%20within%20the%20study%20period.%20Of%20the%20study%20population%2C%2065%25%20were%20female%20and%20over%2075%25%20were%20under%20the%20age%20of%2055.%20Among%20patients%20who%20were%20current%20smokers%20at%20the%20time%20of%20IVC%20enrolment%20%28n%20%3D%20115%29%2C%20approximately%201%20in%205%20%2818.3%25%29%20started%20a%20smoking%20cessation%20programme%20following%20referral%20by%20their%20IVC%20physician.%20In%20addition%2C%20IVC%20physicians%20and%20allied%20health%20professionals%20performed%2066%20colorectal%20cancer%20screenings%2C%20164%20cervical%20cancer%20screenings%20and%2039%20breast%20cancer%20screenings%20during%20the%20study%20period%2C%20bringing%20many%20overdue%20patients%20up%20to%20date%20for%20routine%20testing.%5CnConclusion%3A%20IVC%20has%20been%20successful%20in%20attaching%20previously%20unattached%20patients%20to%20a%20family%20physician%20and%20providing%2C%20comprehensive%2C%20team%5Cu2011based%20primary%20care%20during%20its%20initial%207%20months%20of%20operation.%20Similar%20integrated%20primary%20care%20delivery%20concepts%20can%20also%20use%20these%20results%20to%20guide%20their%20own%20development%20and%20quality%20improvement.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222024%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.4103%5C%2Fcjrm.cjrm_14_23%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fjournals.lww.com%5C%2F10.4103%5C%2Fcjrm.cjrm_14_23%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%221203-7796%2C%201488-237X%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%22QG2KK73J%22%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222025-03-21T13%3A29%3A07Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%22AB7QH65U%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A5151123%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222023-06-03%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bclear%3A%20left%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-left-margin%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bfloat%3A%20left%3B%20padding-right%3A%200.5em%3B%20text-align%3A%20right%3B%20width%3A%201em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B1.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-right-inline%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bmargin%3A%200%20.4em%200%201.5em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3BFitzsimon%2C%20J.%2C%20Patel%2C%20K.%2C%20Peixoto%2C%20C.%20%26amp%3B%20Belanger%2C%20C.%20Family%20physicians%26%23x2019%3B%20experiences%20with%20an%20innovative%2C%20community-based%2C%20hybrid%20model%20of%20in-%20person%20and%20virtual%20care%3A%20a%20mixed-methods%20study.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BBMC%20Health%20Services%20Research%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%20%26lt%3Bb%26gt%3B23%26lt%3B%5C%2Fb%26gt%3B%2C%20573%20%282023%29.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Family%20physicians%5Cu2019%20experiences%20with%20an%20innovative%2C%20community-based%2C%20hybrid%20model%20of%20in-%20person%20and%20virtual%20care%3A%20a%20mixed-methods%20study%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jonathan%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Kush%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Patel%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Cayden%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Peixoto%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Christopher%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Belanger%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Rural%2C%20remote%2C%20and%20underserved%20communities%20have%20often%20struggled%20to%20provide%20adequate%20access%20to%20family%20physicians.%20To%20bridge%20this%20gap%20in%20Renfrew%20County%2C%20a%20large%2C%20rural%20region%20in%20Ontario%2C%20Canada%2C%20a%20community-%20based%2C%20hybrid%20care%20model%20was%20implemented%2C%20combining%20virtual%20care%20from%20family%20physicians%20and%20in-person%20care%20from%20community%20paramedics.%20Studies%20have%20demonstrated%20the%20clinical%20and%20cost%20effectiveness%20of%20this%20model%20but%20its%20acceptability%20to%20physicians%20has%20not%20been%20examined.%20This%20study%20investigates%20the%20experiences%20of%20participating%20family%20physicians.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222023%5C%2F06%5C%2F03%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.1186%5C%2Fs12913-023-09599-x%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fdoi.org%5C%2F10.1186%5C%2Fs12913-023-09599-x%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%221472-6963%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%22QG2KK73J%22%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222025-03-21T13%3A29%3A07Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%227TEJHEXC%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A5151123%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222023-05-15%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A1%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bclear%3A%20left%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-left-margin%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bfloat%3A%20left%3B%20padding-right%3A%200.5em%3B%20text-align%3A%20right%3B%20width%3A%201em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B1.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-right-inline%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bmargin%3A%200%20.4em%200%201.5em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3BFitzsimon%2C%20J.%20P.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3Bet%20al.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%20Clinical%20and%20economic%20impact%20of%20a%20community-based%2C%20hybrid%20model%20of%20in-person%20and%20virtual%20care%20in%20a%20Canadian%20rural%20setting%3A%20a%20cross-sectional%20population-based%20comparative%20study.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BBMJ%20Open%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%20%26lt%3Bb%26gt%3B13%26lt%3B%5C%2Fb%26gt%3B%2C%20e069699%20%282023%29.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Clinical%20and%20economic%20impact%20of%20a%20community-based%2C%20hybrid%20model%20of%20in-person%20and%20virtual%20care%20in%20a%20Canadian%20rural%20setting%3A%20a%20cross-sectional%20population-based%20comparative%20study%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jonathan%20P%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Christopher%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Belanger%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Richard%20H%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Glazier%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Michael%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Green%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Cayden%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Peixoto%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Roshanak%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Mahdavi%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Lesley%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Plumptre%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Lise%20M%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Bjerre%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Objectives%5CnTo%20determine%20the%20clinical%20and%20economic%20impact%20of%20a%20community-based%2C%20hybrid%20model%20of%20in-person%20and%20virtual%20care%20by%20comparing%20health-system%20performance%20of%20the%20rural%20jurisdiction%20where%20this%20model%20was%20implemented%20with%20neighbouring%20jurisdictions%20without%20such%20a%20model%20and%20the%20broader%20regional%20health%20system.%5Cn%5CnDesign%5CnA%20cross-sectional%20comparative%20study.%5Cn%5CnSetting%5CnOntario%2C%20Canada%2C%20with%20a%20focus%20on%20three%20largely%20rural%20public%20health%20units%20from%201%20April%202018%20until%2031%20March%202021.%5Cn%5CnParticipants%5CnAll%20residents%20of%20Ontario%2C%20Canada%20under%20the%20age%20of%20105%20eligible%20for%20the%20Ontario%20Health%20Insurance%20Plan%20during%20the%20study%20period.%5Cn%5CnInterventions%5CnAn%20innovative%2C%20community-based%2C%20hybrid%20model%20of%20in-person%20and%20virtual%20care%2C%20the%20Virtual%20Triage%20and%20Assessment%20Centre%20%28VTAC%29%2C%20was%20implemented%20in%20Renfrew%20County%2C%20Ontario%20on%2027%20March%202020.%5Cn%5CnMain%20outcome%20measures%5CnPrimary%20outcome%20was%20a%20change%20in%20emergency%20department%20%28ED%29%20visits%20anywhere%20in%20Ontario%2C%20secondary%20outcomes%20included%20changes%20in%20hospitalisations%20and%20health-system%20costs%2C%20using%20per%20cent%20changes%20in%20mean%20monthly%20values%20of%20linked%20health-system%20administrative%20data%20for%202%20years%20preimplementation%20and%201%20year%20postimplementation.%5Cn%5CnResults%5CnRenfrew%20County%20saw%20larger%20declines%20in%20ED%20visits%20%28%5Cu221234.4%25%2C%2095%25%20CI%20%5Cu221241.9%25%20to%20%5Cu221226.0%25%29%20and%20hospitalisations%20%28%5Cu221211.1%25%2C%2095%25%20CI%20%5Cu221219.7%25%20to%20%5Cu22121.5%25%29%20and%20slower%20growth%20in%20health-system%20costs%20than%20other%20rural%20regions%20studied.%20VTAC%20patients%5Cu2019%20low-acuity%20ED%20visits%20decreased%20by%20%5Cu221232.9%25%2C%20high-acuity%20visits%20increased%20by%208.2%25%2C%20and%20hospitalisations%20increased%20by%2030.0%25.%5Cn%5CnConclusion%5CnAfter%20implementing%20VTAC%2C%20Renfrew%20County%20saw%20reduced%20ED%20visits%20and%20hospitalisations%20and%20slower%20health-system%20cost%20growth%20compared%20with%20neighbouring%20rural%20jurisdictions.%20VTAC%20patients%20experienced%20reduced%20unnecessary%20ED%20visits%20and%20increased%20appropriate%20care.%20Community-based%2C%20hybrid%20models%20of%20in-person%20and%20virtual%20care%20may%20reduce%20the%20burden%20on%20emergency%20and%20hospital%20services%20in%20rural%2C%20remote%20and%20underserved%20regions.%20Further%20study%20is%20required%20to%20evaluate%20potential%20for%20scale%20and%20spread.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222023-5-15%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.1136%5C%2Fbmjopen-2022-069699%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%5C%2Fpmc%5C%2Farticles%5C%2FPMC10186435%5C%2F%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%2237188465%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22PMC10186435%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%222044-6055%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%22QG2KK73J%22%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222025-03-21T13%3A29%3A07Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%22MJ2C9L3J%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A5151123%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222023-04-04%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A0%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bclear%3A%20left%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-left-margin%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bfloat%3A%20left%3B%20padding-right%3A%200.5em%3B%20text-align%3A%20right%3B%20width%3A%201em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B1.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-right-inline%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bmargin%3A%200%20.4em%200%201.5em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3BFitzsimon%2C%20J.%2C%20Gervais%2C%20O.%2C%20Lanos%2C%20C.%20%26amp%3B%20Sullivan-Bentz%2C%20M.%20Providing%2024%5C%2F7%20healthcare%20for%20all%20during%20the%20COVID-19%20pandemic.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BCanadian%20Family%20Physician%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%20%26lt%3Ba%20class%3D%26%23039%3Bzp-ItemURL%26%23039%3B%20href%3D%26%23039%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.cfp.ca%5C%2Fnews%5C%2F2020%5C%2F06%5C%2F12%5C%2F06-10%2C%20%5C%2Fnews%5C%2F2020%5C%2F06%5C%2F12%5C%2F06-10%26%23039%3B%26gt%3Bhttps%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.cfp.ca%5C%2Fnews%5C%2F2020%5C%2F06%5C%2F12%5C%2F06-10%2C%20%5C%2Fnews%5C%2F2020%5C%2F06%5C%2F12%5C%2F06-10%26lt%3B%5C%2Fa%26gt%3B%20%282023%29.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Providing%2024%5C%2F7%20healthcare%20for%20all%20during%20the%20COVID-19%20pandemic%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jonathan%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Oliver%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Gervais%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Chelsea%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Lanos%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Maureen%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Sullivan-Bentz%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222023%5C%2F04%5C%2F04%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%22%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.cfp.ca%5C%2Fnews%5C%2F2020%5C%2F06%5C%2F12%5C%2F06-10%2C%20%5C%2Fnews%5C%2F2020%5C%2F06%5C%2F12%5C%2F06-10%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%22%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%22QG2KK73J%22%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222025-03-21T13%3A29%3A07Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%2223FCRYFQ%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A5151123%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Buchanan%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222023%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A0%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bclear%3A%20left%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-left-margin%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bfloat%3A%20left%3B%20padding-right%3A%200.5em%3B%20text-align%3A%20right%3B%20width%3A%201em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B1.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-right-inline%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bmargin%3A%200%20.4em%200%201.5em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3BBuchanan%2C%20S.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3Bet%20al.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%20Investigating%20Patient%20Experience%2C%20Satisfaction%2C%20and%20Trust%20in%20an%20Integrated%20Virtual%20Care%20%28IVC%29%20Model%3A%20A%20Cross-Sectional%20Survey.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BAnn%20Fam%20Med%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%20%26lt%3Bb%26gt%3B21%26lt%3B%5C%2Fb%26gt%3B%2C%20338%26%23x2013%3B340%20%282023%29.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Investigating%20Patient%20Experience%2C%20Satisfaction%2C%20and%20Trust%20in%20an%20Integrated%20Virtual%20Care%20%28IVC%29%20Model%3A%20A%20Cross-Sectional%20Survey%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Samantha%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Buchanan%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Cayden%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Peixoto%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Christopher%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Belanger%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Douglas%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Archibald%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Lise%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Bjerre%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jonathan%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22To%20improve%20access%20to%20primary%20care%20in%20underserved%20communities%2C%20we%20established%20a%20hybrid%20model%20of%20delivering%20team-based%2C%20comprehensive%20primary%20care%20using%20both%20in-person%20and%20virtual%20care%20options%20with%20family%20physician%20leadership.%20Using%20a%20cross-sectional%20online%20survey%20%28n%5Cu2009%3D%5Cu2009121%29%2C%20results%20showed%20high%20levels%20%2890%25%29%20of%20patient%20satisfaction.%20Our%20findings%20suggest%20that%20a%20similar%20hybrid%20model%20for%20primary%20care%20delivery%20can%20provide%20levels%20of%20patient%20satisfaction%20comparable%20to%20traditional%20in-person%20models%20of%20primary%20care.%20This%20can%20be%20achieved%20regardless%20of%20whether%20patients%20had%20previously%20been%20attached%20to%20the%20same%20family%20physician%20before%20receiving%20care%20through%20the%20hybrid%20model.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%2207%5C%2F2023%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.1370%5C%2Fafm.2978%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.annfammed.org%5C%2Flookup%5C%2Fdoi%5C%2F10.1370%5C%2Fafm.2978%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%221544-1709%2C%201544-1717%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%22QG2KK73J%22%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222025-03-21T13%3A29%3A07Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%22UM7FCCUB%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A5151123%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222022-02-08%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A2%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bclear%3A%20left%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-left-margin%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bfloat%3A%20left%3B%20padding-right%3A%200.5em%3B%20text-align%3A%20right%3B%20width%3A%201em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B1.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-right-inline%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bmargin%3A%200%20.4em%200%201.5em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3BFitzsimon%2C%20J.%2C%20Gervais%2C%20O.%20%26amp%3B%20Lanos%2C%20C.%20COVID-19%20Assessment%20and%20Testing%20in%20Rural%20Communities%20During%20the%20Pandemic%3A%20Cross-sectional%20Analysis.%20%26lt%3Bi%26gt%3BJMIR%20Public%20Health%20Surveill%26lt%3B%5C%2Fi%26gt%3B%20%26lt%3Bb%26gt%3B8%26lt%3B%5C%2Fb%26gt%3B%2C%20e30063%20%282022%29.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22COVID-19%20Assessment%20and%20Testing%20in%20Rural%20Communities%20During%20the%20Pandemic%3A%20Cross-sectional%20Analysis%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jonathan%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Oliver%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Gervais%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Chelsea%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Lanos%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22Background%5CnThe%20COVID-19%20pandemic%20exacerbated%20the%20need%20for%20urgent%20improvements%20in%20access%20to%20health%20care%20for%20rural%2C%20remote%2C%20and%20underserviced%20communities.%20The%20Renfrew%20County%20Virtual%20Triage%20and%20Assessment%20Centre%20%28VTAC%29%20was%20designed%20to%20provide%20access%20to%20COVID-19%20testing%20and%20assessment%20with%20a%20family%20physician.%20The%20goal%20was%20to%20protect%20emergency%20departments%20and%20911%20paramedics%20while%20ensuring%20that%20nobody%20was%20left%20at%20home%2C%20suffering%20in%20silence.%20Residents%20were%20encouraged%20to%20call%20their%20own%20family%20physician%20for%20any%20urgent%20health%20needs.%20If%20they%20did%20not%20have%20a%20family%20physician%20or%20could%20not%20access%20their%20usual%20primary%20care%20provider%2C%20then%20they%20could%20call%20VTAC.%20This%20study%20reports%20on%20the%20output%20of%20a%20service%20model%20offering%20access%20to%20assessment%20and%20COVID-19%20testing%20through%20a%20blend%20of%20virtual%20and%20in-person%20care%20options%20by%20a%20multidisciplinary%20team.%5Cn%5CnObjective%5CnThe%20purpose%20of%20this%20study%20was%20to%20assess%20the%20ability%20of%20VTAC%20to%20provide%20access%20to%20COVID-19%20assessment%20and%20testing%20across%20rural%2C%20remote%2C%20and%20underserviced%20communities.%5Cn%5CnMethods%5CnWe%20conducted%20a%20cross-sectional%20analysis%20of%20the%20data%20derived%20from%20the%20cases%20handled%20by%20VTAC%20between%20March%2027%2C%202020%20%28launch%20day%29%2C%20and%20September%2030%2C%202020.%5Cn%5CnResults%5CnResidents%20from%20all%2019%20census%20subdivisions%20and%20municipalities%20of%20Renfrew%20County%20accessed%20VTAC.%20A%20total%20of%2010%2C086%20family%20physician%20assessments%20were%20completed%20%28average%2064%20per%20day%29.%20Of%20these%2C%208535%20%2884.6%25%29%20assessments%20were%20to%20unique%20patient%20users.%20Thirty%20physicians%20provided%20care.%20Using%20digital%20equipment%20setup%20in%20the%20patients%5Cu2019%20home%2C%2031%20patients%20were%20monitored%20remotely.%20VTAC%20community%20paramedics%20completed%2014%2C378%20COVID-19%20tests%20and%203875%20home%20visits.%5Cn%5CnConclusions%5CnRenfrew%20County%5Cu2019s%20experience%20suggests%20that%20there%20is%20tremendous%20synergy%20between%20family%20physicians%20and%20community%20paramedics%20in%20providing%20access%20to%20COVID-19%20assessment%20and%20COVID-19%20testing.%20The%20blended%20model%20of%20virtual%20and%20in-person%20care%20is%20well%20suited%20to%20provide%20improved%20access%20to%20other%20aspects%20of%20health%20care%20post%20pandemic%2C%20particularly%20for%20patients%20without%20a%20family%20physician.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222022%5C%2F02%5C%2F08%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%2210.2196%5C%2F30063%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%5C%2Fpmc%5C%2Farticles%5C%2FPMC8827036%5C%2F%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%2235022158%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22PMC8827036%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%222369-2960%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%22QG2KK73J%22%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222025-03-21T13%3A29%3A07Z%22%7D%7D%2C%7B%22key%22%3A%22MXR5Q5VI%22%2C%22library%22%3A%7B%22id%22%3A5151123%7D%2C%22meta%22%3A%7B%22creatorSummary%22%3A%22Belanger%20et%20al.%22%2C%22parsedDate%22%3A%222021-09-30%22%2C%22numChildren%22%3A0%7D%2C%22bib%22%3A%22%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-bib-body%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bline-height%3A%202%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-entry%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bclear%3A%20left%3B%20%26quot%3B%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%20%20%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-left-margin%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bfloat%3A%20left%3B%20padding-right%3A%200.5em%3B%20text-align%3A%20right%3B%20width%3A%201em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3B1.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%26lt%3Bdiv%20class%3D%26quot%3Bcsl-right-inline%26quot%3B%20style%3D%26quot%3Bmargin%3A%200%20.4em%200%201.5em%3B%26quot%3B%26gt%3BBelanger%2C%20C.%2C%20Fitzsimon%2C%20J.%20%26amp%3B%20Bjerre%2C%20L.%20M.%20Access%20to%20Primary%20Care%20and%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20Renfrew%20County.%20%26lt%3Ba%20class%3D%26%23039%3Bzp-ItemURL%26%23039%3B%20href%3D%26%23039%3Bhttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fhdl.handle.net%5C%2F10393%5C%2F46061%26%23039%3B%26gt%3Bhttp%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fhdl.handle.net%5C%2F10393%5C%2F46061%26lt%3B%5C%2Fa%26gt%3B%20%282021%29.%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%20%20%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%5Cn%26lt%3B%5C%2Fdiv%26gt%3B%22%2C%22data%22%3A%7B%22itemType%22%3A%22journalArticle%22%2C%22title%22%3A%22Access%20to%20Primary%20Care%20and%20Mental%20Health%20Care%20in%20Renfrew%20County%22%2C%22creators%22%3A%5B%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Christopher%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Belanger%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Jonathan%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Fitzsimon%22%7D%2C%7B%22creatorType%22%3A%22author%22%2C%22firstName%22%3A%22Lise%20M.%22%2C%22lastName%22%3A%22Bjerre%22%7D%5D%2C%22abstractNote%22%3A%22This%20report%20presents%20a%20geostatistical%20analysis%20of%20access%20to%20primary%20care%2C%20adult%20and%20child%5C%2Fyouth%20mental%20health%20care%2C%20and%20broadband%20internet%20services%20in%20Renfrew%20County%2C%20Ontario.%20We%20located%20and%20mapped%20primary-care%20and%20mental-health%20providers%20within%20and%20near%20Renfrew%20County%2C%20and%20calculated%20the%20average%20travel%20burden%20to%20access%20these%20providers%20within%20each%20of%20Renfrew%20County%5Cu2019s%2019%20census%20subdivisions.%20The%20analysis%20found%20strong%20evidence%20that%20Renfrew%20County%5Cu2019s%20residents%20face%20urban%5C%2Frural%20disparities%20in%20access%20to%20both%20primary%20care%20and%20mental%20health%20care.%20We%20found%20that%20care%20providers%20are%20largely%20located%20in%20urban%20areas%2C%20and%20that%2C%20on%20average%20urban%20residents%20have%20much%20shorter%20travel%20times%20to%20access%20care%20than%20rural%20residents.%20In%20some%20cases%2C%20rural%20residents%20of%20Renfrew%20County%20can%20need%20to%20travel%20over%20twenty%20times%20longer%20than%20urban%20residents%20to%20access%20care.%20The%20situation%20was%20similar%20for%20mental%20health%20services%2C%20both%20for%20adults%20and%20for%20children%20and%20youth.%20We%20also%20found%20that%20much%20of%20Renfrew%20County%20has%20good%20access%20to%20wired%20broadband%20networks.%20Coverage%20tended%20to%20be%20better%20in%20regions%20with%20better%20health%20care%20access%2C%20including%20urban%20centres%20along%20the%20Highway%2017%20corridor%2C%20but%20there%20was%20also%20coverage%20in%20some%20rural%20areas.%20Taken%20together%2C%20this%20suggests%20that%20telemedicine%20services%20could%20play%20an%20important%20role%20in%20increasing%20access%20to%20health%20care%20in%20Renfrew%20County.%20Since%20telemedicine%20services%20are%20provided%20over%20the%20internet%2C%20travel%20times%20and%20physical%20distance%20are%20irrelevant.%20Residents%20in%20parts%20of%20Renfrew%20County%20with%20long%20average%20travel%20times%20and%20few%20local%20providers%20could%20therefore%20benefit%20greatly%20from%20telemedicine%2C%20and%20this%20analysis%20suggests%20that%20many%20residents%20in%20these%20regions%20have%20at%20least%20some%20broadband%20access.%22%2C%22date%22%3A%222021-09-30%22%2C%22section%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partNumber%22%3A%22%22%2C%22partTitle%22%3A%22%22%2C%22DOI%22%3A%22%22%2C%22citationKey%22%3A%22%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22http%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fhdl.handle.net%5C%2F10393%5C%2F46061%22%2C%22PMID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22PMCID%22%3A%22%22%2C%22ISSN%22%3A%22%22%2C%22language%22%3A%22en%22%2C%22collections%22%3A%5B%22QG2KK73J%22%5D%2C%22dateModified%22%3A%222025-03-21T13%3A29%3A07Z%22%7D%7D%5D%7D
1.
St-Amant, A. et al. Assessing patient experiences with a Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (VTAC): a mixed-methods study using an online survey and semi-structured interviews in Renfrew County, Ontario. BMC Primary Care 26, 21 (2025).
1.
Godfrey, L., St-Amant, A., Premji, K. & Fitzsimon, J. Impact of changes in primary care attachment: a scoping review. Family Medicine and Community Health 13, e003115 (2025).
1.
Peixoto, C., Fitzsimon, J., Hawkins, L. & Hill, J. Assessing new patient attachment to an integrated, virtual care programme in rural primary care. Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine 29, 7–12 (2024).
1.
Fitzsimon, J., Patel, K., Peixoto, C. & Belanger, C. Family physicians’ experiences with an innovative, community-based, hybrid model of in- person and virtual care: a mixed-methods study. BMC Health Services Research 23, 573 (2023).
1.
Fitzsimon, J. P. et al. Clinical and economic impact of a community-based, hybrid model of in-person and virtual care in a Canadian rural setting: a cross-sectional population-based comparative study. BMJ Open 13, e069699 (2023).
1.
Fitzsimon, J., Gervais, O., Lanos, C. & Sullivan-Bentz, M. Providing 24/7 healthcare for all during the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian Family Physician https://www.cfp.ca/news/2020/06/12/06-10, /news/2020/06/12/06-10 (2023).
1.
Buchanan, S. et al. Investigating Patient Experience, Satisfaction, and Trust in an Integrated Virtual Care (IVC) Model: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Ann Fam Med 21, 338–340 (2023).
1.
Fitzsimon, J., Gervais, O. & Lanos, C. COVID-19 Assessment and Testing in Rural Communities During the Pandemic: Cross-sectional Analysis. JMIR Public Health Surveill 8, e30063 (2022).
1.
Belanger, C., Fitzsimon, J. & Bjerre, L. M. Access to Primary Care and Mental Health Care in Renfrew County. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/46061 (2021).
Scroll to Top