Couchiching Ontario Health Team

10/31/2025

𝗢𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.
The new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub in Simcoe County is fully operational, expanding access to recovery and treatment services for individuals and families facing mental health and substance use challenges.

𝗢𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

The new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub in Simcoe County is fully operational, expanding access to recovery and treatment services for individuals and families facing mental health and substance use challenges.

This is part of Ontario’s plan to open 28 HART Hubs across the province to improve access to recovery and treatment services for individuals and families facing mental health and substance use challenges.

The HART Hub in Simcoe County offers services across multiple locations, including Barrie, Orillia and Midland. People can walk in or ask questions at the central location on Bayfield Street in Barrie, while services are provided through existing clinics and community sites.

Learn more: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1006686/ontario-opens-homelessness-and-addiction-recovery-treatment-hub-in-simcoe-county

10/31/2025

🎃 Stay safe this Halloween — and this cold & flu season! 👻

As you head out for tricks and treats, remember to keep yourself and others healthy:
🧡 Wash or sanitize hands often
😷 Stay home if you’re feeling unwell
💉 Get your flu and COVID-19 vaccines to help protect yourself and your community

Wishing everyone a fun, safe, and healthy Halloween from the Couchiching Ontario Health Team! 🍬

10/31/2025

Have you checked your boo-bies lately? 👻 👻 A mammogram can find breast cancer early—when it’s easiest to treat.

Contact the Simcoe Muskoka Cancer Screening Hotline at 1-866-608-6910 for help getting up to date on cancer screening.

10/31/2025

No Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner?
You can still get protected this season! 💉

Unattached patients in Couchiching can book an appointment for COVID-19 and Flu vaccinations.

Tuesday, November 4
Thursday, November 6
Wednesday, November 12
8:30 am - 6 pm

Friday, November 14
8:30 am - 3 pm

📞 Call 705-329-3649 ext. 231 to book.

While you’re here, ask about joining the Couchiching Family Physician & Nurse Practitioner Waitlist to get connected with a primary care provider.

10/30/2025

⏰ It’s time to “fall back”!
This Sunday, November 2 at 2 AM, set your clocks back one hour as Daylight Saving Time ends.

Fun fact: Research shows that even one extra hour of sleep can help improve heart health, boost energy, and support mental well-being. 💤💙

Use the time change as a reminder to reset your sleep routine and prioritize rest this season.

10/29/2025

It starts with you! Take action to reduce your risk of getting or spreading a respiratory illness.

Preventing respiratory illness protects everyone, especially those at risk of serious complications. It also eases pressure on our health care system.

It starts with you! Take action to reduce your risk of getting or spreading a respiratory illness.

https://ow.ly/5bV050Xigkk

10/29/2025

𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚. 💙
If you ever need someone to talk to — day or night — our friends at Telecare Distress Line of Greater Simcoe are here for you. 🌙☀️

𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚. 💙

If you ever need someone to talk to — day or night — our friends at Telecare Distress Line of Greater Simcoe is here for you. 🌙☀️
They offer 𝟐𝟒/𝟕 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 for anyone experiencing:
💔 Emotional distress
😔 Loneliness
💐 Grief and loss
💸 Financial worries
💬 Relationship challenges

Their compassionate volunteers are always ready to listen and care. 💛
📞 If you can reach a phone, you can reach a friend!

👉 Learn more about them: https://telecaredistressline.com/

10/29/2025

The Integrated Care Action Summit is Ontario’s first forum built by Ontario Health Teams, for Ontario Health Teams and their partners.

This two-day event brings together all 58 Ontario Health Teams, Primary Care Networks, Patient and Family Advisory Councils, and their partners to learn, collaborate, and drive real change in integrated healthcare in Ontario.

November 24-25, 2025
Westin Toronto Airport

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation shaping the future of integrated care in Ontario. EARLY BIRD RATES END OCTOBER 31st! Register today to secure your spot!

For more information, visit: https://www.ontarioactionsummit.ca/

10/28/2025

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Never had a mammogram? Here's what to expect:

Check-in & prep: You’ll be greeted at the clinic, asked a few questions about your health, and given instructions on removing clothing from the waist up.

Positioning: A technologist will help position your breast on the mammography machine.

Compression: Your breast will be gently compressed to get clear images—this usually lasts just a few seconds per view.

Imaging: X-ray images are taken from different angles; the technologist may adjust your position to ensure accuracy.

Finish & follow-up: The process usually takes 15–30 minutes. Your results will be sent to you and/or your healthcare provider.

Take charge of your health—self-refer and book your mammogram appointment today!

To make a mammogram appointment, call an Ontario Breast Screening Program location or the Appointment Booking Line: 1-800-668-9304

10/28/2025

There's still time to register for the Fireside Chat – OSMH Update!

There's still time to Register for our Fireside Chat – OSMH Update!

Join us for an engaging and informative conversation with Carmine Stumpo, President & CEO of Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (OSMH) and colleagues.

This is a great opportunity to hear directly from hospital leadership about the exciting new developments and what lies ahead for our community. Come with your questions, ideas, and curiosity as we explore the vision for the future of healthcare in our region.

🗓 Date: October 29, 2025
🕔Time: 5:00-6:00pm
📍Location: OSMH Dr. Brian McGugan Room & Virtual
🔗Register: https://www.osmh.on.ca/events/fireside-chat/

10/28/2025

Respiratory illness season is here — protect yourself and those around you!

💉 Get your COVID-19 and flu vaccines to reduce your risk of serious illness and help keep our community healthy.

You can:
✔️ Book through your family doctor or nurse practitioner
✔️ Visit a participating pharmacy. SEE THE LIST HERE - https://coht.ca/find-services/cold-flu-season-find-vaccines-in-couchiching
✔️ Don’t have a provider? Pharmacies and community clinics can help too!

Stay tuned for local clinic updates and keep wellness in season.

10/27/2025

Safety is more than the absence of harm. This year’s Canadian Patient Safety Week invites us to listen more deeply, make space for every voice, and take steps together towards safer care. Whether you’re delivering care, receiving care, or supporting someone who needs care, your actions matter.

Find out how you can get involved: https://www.healthcareexcellence.ca/en/what-we-do/all-programs/canadian-patient-safety-week/