Frequently Asked Questions

The Gravenhurst Health Hub project began in response to a growing healthcare crisis in the community. With more than 6,000 residents on a waitlist for a primary care clinician, many were left without access to timely specialist referrals, diagnostic imaging, and essential medical tests. As the population of Gravenhurst continued to grow and age, wait times for healthcare services stretched for weeks or even months, forcing residents—especially seniors—to travel to Bracebridge, Huntsville, or Orillia for urgent care, often facing overcrowded emergency departments.

Recognizing the urgent need for accessible, local healthcare, community leaders, healthcare providers, and local organizations came together to develop a solution. The Gravenhurst Health Hub was envisioned as a comprehensive, multi-service facility that would bring primary care, specialists, diagnostic imaging, and urgent care under one roof—ensuring residents could receive the care they need close to home. This project is the result of a shared commitment to improving healthcare access, dignity, and quality of life for the people of Gravenhurst.

A community-centered approach is essential for the development of the Gravenhurst Health Hub. Here are several ways individuals can get involved:

1. Public Consultations: Attend local public meetings to voice opinions and give feedback, contributing to shaping the services offered at the hub.

2. Surveys and Feedback: Participate in surveys designed to gather community needs, ensuring that the health hub reflects the priorities of Gravenhurst residents.

3. Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteer to assist us with community outreach initiatives, , or events hosted by the health hub.

4. Health Committees: Consider becoming a member of advisory committees focused on health and wellness, fostering collaboration among community members and health professionals .

5. Partnerships: Local businesses, organizations, and groups can establish partnerships with the health hub, promoting wellness initiatives and resources to a broader audience.

6. Advocate:  to the local governments and the province to support the development of our Health Hub through capital grants and ongoing funding for recruitment, program and services.

7. Donate:  Every donation, big or small, will help bring this vision to a reality and we will provide you with a charitable receipt that can help reduce your taxes.

Cottage Country Family Health Team is an organization with a staff of interdisciplinary health care providers offering programs and services to affiliated primary care providers. They are partners with patients in the delivery of care. Their team is responsive to the specific needs of the communities they serve in an environment conducive to Continuous Quality Improvement, Teamwork and the Highest Standards of Practice in promotion of Health and Wellness. They have locations in Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Muskoka Lakes, and Whata Mohawk Territory. There are 26,000 patients served by 22 primary care providers and an interprofessional care team providing care across these locations.

You can learn more about them here > https://ccfht.ca/

The Rotary Club of Gravenhurst is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization with charitable status that has a long history of supporting the local community through fundraising initiatives and service projects. The club has played a major role in projects such as Rotary Rocks the Barge, student bursaries, youth mental health programs, weekly bingo, and an online auction.

Recognizing the urgent need for accessible healthcare in Gravenhurst, the Rotary Club has stepped up as the lead fundraiser and aI key partner in bringing the Gravenhurst Health Hub to life. After hearing a presentation from the Cottage Country Family Health Team (CCFHT) about the vision for the Health Hub, Rotary committed to supporting this initiative, making it their primary fundraising focus.

The funds raised will help support the development of the Health Hub, including renovations, equipment, and recruitment efforts. Their involvement not only provides financial resources but also helps build community engagement and advocacy for better healthcare services in Gravenhurst.

You can learn more about them here > https://portal.clubrunner.ca/199

We have over 6000 residents (almost half of our population) without a local primary care provider in Gravenhurst. This means no access to preventive care, no chronic disease management, no episodic urgent care and delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Gravenhurst lack of primary care access is far above the provincial and national average and is a crisis that cannot be ignored as our communities health is suffering.

In 2023, the Ontario Medical Association reported that there are 2.5 million Ontarians without a family doctor and by 2026 this number would be over 4.4 million (1 in 4 people).

More than one in five Canadians - an estimated 6.5 million people - do not have a family physician or nurse practitioner they see regularly, according to a national survey conducted in 2023 by the Canadian Medical Association. That’s a dramatic increase since 2019 when Statistics Canada estimated only 4.5 million people did not have a regular health care provider.

Recruiting primary care providers to rural settings can be more challenging due to the demands of rural practice. Primary care providers in rural communities are expected to support hospital services as part of their commitment to the community. This support to inpatient care and emergency departments adds to the work of their practices. Rural providers often have limited specialist support requiring them to manage more complex patients. These demands reduce the number of people each provider can care for.

Muskoka has several providers that are reaching retirement age making recruitment an ongoing and long term process.

In addition to these challenges, South Muskoka has experienced significant population growth with new subdivisions, apartment complexes and retirement homes. We have seen an increase in seasonal residents relocating permanently to Muskoka and retirees choosing Muskoka as their home. Over 30 percent of our residents are seniors that require higher levels of care associated with ageing.

Primary health care is the foundation of Canada’s health care system, delivering essential services that address the majority of health needs throughout an individual’s lifetime. Canadians count on their primary care provider to: treat illnesses and detect or prevent health problems; offer advice on healthy living; managing ongoing illnesses or recovery from injuries; and provide end of life care.

The Ontario College of Family Physicians reports that having a regular family physician improves health outcomes, reduces mortality, decreases hospitalizations and reduces healthcare costs.

here are currently two wait lists available to sign up for a primary care provider.

#1 - The provincial wait list is called Health Care Connect and is available to individuals who do not currently have a primary care provider. This is the link to the website to access this list: https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-family-doctor-or-nurse-practitioner#section-1

Note: You can now register on this list without giving up your health care provider in another community.

#2 - South Muskoka has an active waitlist that can be accessed from the Cottage Country Family Health Team homepage or through this link: https://www.southmuskokawaitlist.com/

The Gravenhurst Health Hub is being designed to be a comprehensive healthcare facility that brings essential services under one roof, making it easier for residents to access the care they need close to home. Planned services include:

• Primary Care – Family doctors and nurse practitioners providing routine check-ups, chronic disease management, and preventive care.

• Specialist Consultations – Visiting specialists from major health networks, offering care in areas such as cardiology, endocrinology, geriatrics, and more.

• Urgent Care & After-Hours Clinic – A dedicated space for walk-in patients needing non-emergency medical attention, reducing the burden on hospital emergency rooms.

• Diagnostic Services – On-site imaging (e.g., X-rays, ultrasound) and laboratory testing to improve access to timely diagnoses.

• Mental Health & Wellness Support – Access to mental health therapists, social workers, and counseling services to support emotional well-being.

• Community & Wellness Programs – Health education, fitness programs, and resources to promote overall well-being.

The Gravenhurst Health Hub embraces and brings to life Ontario’s provincial vision for primary care by guaranteeing local access to a primary care provider (family physician or nurse practitioner) supported by integrated, team-based care. The model emphasizes better coordination across primary care, mental health, hospital services, and community-based care—principles reflected in the hub’s design. By bringing together family physicians, specialists, allied health professionals, home care and diagnostic services under one roof, the hub supports seamless, patient-centered care, reducing reliance on emergency departments and enhancing chronic disease management.

Dr. Jane Philpott, a former federal health minister and current health system leader, has advocated for scaling up team-based primary care models to address provider shortages and ensure every Ontarian has access to a local primary care provider. Her work has emphasized interdisciplinary teams and hub models, where nurse practitioners, social workers, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers collaborate to meet diverse patient needs. The Gravenhurst Health Hub reflects this vision by expanding primary care capacity and leveraging an interdisciplinary approach to reduce the burden on practitioners while increasing provider retention and recruitment.

Addressing the severe shortage of primary care providers in Gravenhurst is a central goal of the Health Hub. Currently, over 6,000 residents lack access to a family physician, a crisis that directly impacts health outcomes and emergency room congestion.

To recruit and retain primary care providers, the Health Hub is taking the following steps:

1.      Creating an Attractive Practice Environment

·       The hub offers a team-based model, allowing physicians to work alongside nurse practitioners, mental health workers, pharmacists, and specialists, reducing their workload and administrative burden.

·       On-site diagnostic imaging and lab services enhance efficiency, making it easier for providers to manage patient care in one location.

·       Integrated electronic medical records (EMRs) support seamless communication between providers.

2.      Financial and Professional Incentives

·       Compensation models that allow for blended funding, including salaried positions, capitation models, or fee-for-service with additional support.

·       Support for continuing medical education (CME) and professional development opportunities.

3.      Physician Recruitment Initiatives

·       Partnering with the Muskoka Almaguin Ontario Health Team full time professional recruiter to advertise and promote opportunities to work in our state of the art building and welcoming community.

·       Active recruitment of new graduates from Ontario medical schools and internationally trained physicians.

·       Engagement with the Rural Ontario Medical Program (ROMP) to attract medical trainees for rural placements, encouraging them to stay long-term.

·       Working with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) to secure recruitment funding and incentives.

4.      Partnerships and Community Support

·       Collaboration with the Cottage Country Family Health Team (CCFHT) to strengthen physician recruitment efforts.

·       Engagement with local businesses, municipalities, and the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst to create relocation incentives, housing support, and spousal employment opportunities for incoming providers.

5.      Enhanced Work-Life Balance & Retention Strategies

·       The hub’s interdisciplinary model allows family physicians to focus on complex cases while delegating routine care to nurse practitioners and allied health staff.

·       A strong professional support network reduces burnout, making long-term retention more likely.

6.      Exploring on-site Clinical Teaching

·       Working with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine to explore developing a Primary Care Teaching Clinic.

The Cottage Country Family Health Team (CCFHT), a registered not-for-profit and multidisciplinary primary care team, owns the Gravenhurst Health Hub project building. The building improvements supported by the Gravenhurst Health Hub project and the services it creates will be managed by the not for profit community based board and operated by the professional Executive Director.