Partner Spotlight: Queen’s Family Health Team
October 17, 2024.
The Queen’s Family Health Team (QFHT) plays a key role in delivering high-quality, team-based, people-centered care to the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington community. As a large academic Family Health Team, QFHT integrates clinical services with education and research, helping train family physicians while providing comprehensive care to patients. Julia Fournier, Clinic Manager of Queen's Family Health Team explains, “Being part of Queen’s allows us to deliver care in a special way—our academic focus helps shape the next generation of family physicians while fostering a patient-centered environment.”
Team-based, people-centered care
QFHT offers a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, bringing together physicians, nurses, a nurse practitioner, pharmacists and community service workers to meet various health needs, ensuring their patients receive holistic care. Julia explains, “A patient coming into [our] clinic could have multiple issues, and depending on the complexity, they might be referred to a nurse, a dietitian, or even a pharmacist. For example, an elderly patient with foot care needs and a new diabetes diagnosis can be referred to the foot care nurse, the Diabetes Program and our dietitian and nurse practitioner. This provides an extra layer of support and education.” This team-based approach ensures patients can access the right care at the right time, helping manage their immediate and long-term health concerns.
Programs and services
QFHT offers a wide range of programs, such as diabetes education, foot care, maternal care, mental health support and more. Julia highlights the System Navigation program, where patients are connected with QFHT’s Community Services Worker, who helps them access essential social support services. Julia explains, “This program helps vulnerable patients access the services. It can help ensure people don't get evicted, or help someone who's struggling access a food bank or fill out paperwork.” Julia highlights that this program meets patients where they are, helping them navigate complex systems and stay connected to care.
For parents and infants, QFHT offers the Well Baby, Well Child and Breastfeeding & Infant Nutrition programs, which support breastfeeding by providing evidence-based information to pregnant women, enabling them to make informed decisions about feeding their babies. In addition, parents can attend the Connecting Moms Circle of Support drop-ins for further support and connection with other parents. These programs provide crucial resources to ensure the health and well-being of mothers and babies and are open to the public, not just patients of QFHT.
See a complete list of QFHT’s programs and services here.
Collaborating to improve care
QFHT values collaboration with other health-care providers and community partners in our region. Julia references a partnership with Frontenac Paramedics to provide in-home care for homebound patients. “We partner with the Community Paramedicine Program, where paramedics visit some of our homebound patients for check-ups and blood work. This program is helpful for our patients in rural areas who may not be able to come into the clinic,” she explains. These partnerships enhance QFHT’s care and contribute to a more integrated health-care system.
Accessing care at QFHT
QFHT is actively working to attach more patients within our community to primary care providers at their clinic. “We’re always trying to ensure each physician is at their expected roster size, and also creating room and making sure we're attaching as many unattached patients as we possibly can,” adds Julia.
Enhancing access to primary care in the region
As a partner within the FLA OHT, QFHT continues to look for ways to enhance primary care access across the region. “We’re always seeking to improve the care model and ensure that resources align with community needs,” Julia shares. With ongoing research and collaboration, the QFHT is committed to expanding its services to meet the growing demand for primary care in the region.