The Central West Ontario Health Team (CW OHT) is proud to announce it was successful in its application for funding to host a Clinical Coach to build palliative care capacity in the community.
CW OHT is historically under resourced and serves a rapidly growing and highly diverse population, including many seniors, newcomers, and individuals with complex health and social needs—making the demand for accessible, community-based palliative care particularly urgent within this region.
This funding is part of Ontario Health’s provincial initiative to enhance access to high-quality, compassionate palliative care in community settings. Through this opportunity, CW OHT will work with the dedicated Clinical Coach to strengthen primary-level palliative care capacity across its network of community health organizations, including Family Health Teams (FHT), Community Health Centres, and long-term care partners. The Clinical Coach will be hosted by CW OHT partner organization, Queen Square FHT.
“This initiative will help ensure that patients and families across our communities receive timely, equitable, and person-centered palliative care, as close to home as possible,” said Rishika Thakur Malhi, Executive Lead, CW OHT. “In a region with a high unattachment rate, we are grateful for Ontario Health’s support in helping us build local capacity and improve access to care for those with complex and life-limiting illnesses.”
The Clinical Coach will provide education, mentoring, and support to health care providers, helping to integrate palliative care earlier and more consistently within the community. They will guide the implementation of the Palliative Care Health Services Delivery Framework in the Community and the Ontario Palliative Care Competency Framework.
By fostering greater collaboration between community organizations and specialist providers, this initiative will also contribute to smoother transitions, more coordinated care, and improved outcomes for patients and caregivers alike.
Contact [email protected] to learn more.
Key Statistics within the CW region:
- 43% living with 5+ health conditions, compared to 35% in Ontario.
- More than 20,000 newcomers arriving each year. 54% speak languages other than English or French, compared to 26% in Ontario.
- One of the highest rates of diabetes per capita (144.7 per 1000, compared to 123 per 1000 in Ontario).
- Senior population expected to grow by 59% by 2041 (~135,000 residents), one of the fastest rates in province.
- 76%+ of residents identify as visible minorities, compared to 34% in Ontario.
- 51% live in low or very low-income neighbourhoods, impacting health in multiple ways.
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