From left: Allison Kenning, Registered Nurse, MICs; Karlee Cloutier, Ward Clerk, MICs; (on monitor) Olivia Sullivan, Mental Health Nurse Educator, Timmins and District Hospital

​By: Kaileigh Russell, Communications Specialist, Timmins and District Hospital

The Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) and MICs Group of Health Services (MICs) are proud to announce a new pilot program that would see crisis assessment services expanded through the use of Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) technology. Launching in August 2024, crisis workers at TADH will begin providing crisis assessments for patients accessing services at the MICs sites in Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Cochrane, using Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) technology.

Through this partnership, patients who attend a MICs facility requiring a crisis assessment will be connected with a crisis worker at TADH. This process allows for expanded access to crisis assessments and helps better triage admissions to the Inpatient Mental Health Unit at TADH, creating a smoother transition across the care continuum. 

“Through this partnership, our patients will have better access to timely crisis assessments and services through OTN," shares Isabelle Boucher Chief Nursing Officer at MICs. “This partnership helps fill an important gap, ensuring that patients are able to be assessed, supported and prioritized as quickly as possible. We're proud to continue working closely with our district partners to provide personal, quality care for the communities we serve."

“As a Schedule 1 facility, TADH routinely supports patients across our catchment area who require a higher level of mental health care," explains Kate Fyfe, President and CEO at TADH. “Through innovative partnerships like this, we're able to ensure that patients across the district have quick, equitable access to important services like crisis assessments, as close to home as possible. We're proud to create this partnership, and look forward to working to expand this service across the Cochrane District in the future."

​As a pilot program, the crisis assessment partnership will be available Monday through Friday, between 8 AM and 4 PM. During the duration of the pilot, TADH is reviewing the opportunity to expand this service across the Cochrane District.  

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