During the summer, I had the pleasure
of working at a Family Health Team (FHT) in the heart of downtown Toronto. Based
on my experiences there, I truly believe that the level and quality of care from
a FHT cannot be paralleled to any other, more traditional healthcare model.
There are currently 184 FHTs in Ontario, which serve over
3 million people in over 200 rural and suburban communities. FHTs aim to
enhance patient access to comprehensive primary care services from various
healthcare providers (HCP). Each FHT has an interdisciplinary team, which typically
includes physicians, pharmacists, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers,
dietitians and other allied health professionals.
Within this ambulatory setting, patients are seen by
appointment. During my practice, chronic disease management (e.g. diabetes,
hypertension, COPD), warfarin dosing, treatment of short-term illnesses (e.g.
UTI) and obstetrical care were most commonly encountered on a daily basis. Certain
FHTs also provide specialized services, such as smoking cessation, telemedicine
and substance abuse clinics. However, the availability of these services is
contingent upon the population the FHT serves. 
As a pharmacy student, my role at the FHT was
multifaceted and highly collaborative. In addition to providing medication
reviews and patient counseling, I became a valuable drug information resource
for other members of the team. I also provided extensive medication management
to several complex patients, as part of the home-visit program.
Overall, my time at the FHT was
both incredibly satisfying and rewarding. The rapid turnover of patients made
each day a fresh and exciting clinical challenge. Furthermore, my communication, therapeutic and leadership skills rapidly
flourished within the academic environment. Looking ahead, I really hope that
the FHT model will be adopted by many other jurisdictions, so that essential
health care services can be readily accessible by all.
Vivian
