York Region Public Health focused on implementing 'pandemic lessons'

Newmarkettoday.ca
Nov. 6, 2023

York Region Public Health is working to bring its programs back to speed as the pandemic declines.

The region’s public health provider detailed its efforts to do so in its newly released 2022 public health annual report. Public health outlined successful efforts over the past year including creating digital tools for mental health, a secure system to report animal bites and offering virtual care for tuberculosis patients,

“York Region remains committed to supporting the health and well-being of all residents,” region chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson said in a news release. “In 2022, York Region successfully moved into the recovery phase of the pandemic, restarting some of the paused public health programs and identifying new ways to connect with and serve the people and communities of York Region more efficiently.”

Public health has identified areas of focus through 2024, including implementing pandemic lessons across all programs, maintaining ongoing surveillance of COVID-19 and influenza and supporting harm reduction initiatives.

“York Region continues to leverage learnings from the pandemic to identify innovative and efficient ways of delivering core programs and services to meet the needs of residents and communities,” regional community and health services chair and Vaughan Councillor Gino Rosati said.

Other areas of focus include supporting staff well-being in a hybrid working environment, catching up on childhood routine vaccinations and working with providers to deliver dental emergency services.

"Working collaboratively with our partners, the community and all levels of government, York Region Public Health protects and promotes the health of York Region residents,” Rosati said.

York Region Public Health delivers 37 programs in all, guided by provincial health standards. You can find more information on its services at york.ca/health.