News Source: Inside Ottawa Valley | September 24, 2025
Ancient Rivers Family Health Team offers comprehensive health care with interdisciplinary providers to improve patient outcomes and access in the Renfrew area.
When Ancient Rivers Family Health Team opened its doors in October 2024, it became the first family health team in town. Now, one year in, it is looking to expand its reach.
“Initially, most of our programs started as only for rostered patients … that’s a typical way that a family health team functions,” said Kate Jones, the clinic’s executive director. “We are a little bit different in that part of our intention was never just to offer services to only the affiliated physician group’s patients.”
This fall, the clinic will be accepting self-referrals from eligible patients to access one-on-one services in addition to the available workshops, including the mental health and nutrition groups. Residents in the Renfrew, Greater Madawaska, Admaston-Bromley and surrounding areas will be allowed to access the clinic’s services.
The Ancient Rivers Family Health Team consists of 18 family doctors across five clinics to create a team of interdisciplinary health-care providers, Jones said, adding the roles were selected based on data about the needs in the area.
“It’s data-driven with countywide information,” she said, explaining the data provides information on chronic diseases, hospital admissions and emergency department visits.
“We know that there’s very high rates of difficulties with mental health, we know that there’s high rates of chronic lung conditions, a variety of chronic diseases, diabetes, heart diseases,” Jones said.
For Judy Stewart, the family health team has helped her be more in control of her health.
Stewart’s doctor referred her to the clinic’s dietitian because of high blood pressure and high sugar levels.
“I would eat correctly most of the day, but at night, I had a really hard time,” she said.
Dietitian Morag Townsend gave her helpful suggestions, including to snack with more fruits and vegetables in the evening to avoid reaching for things high in sugar and sodium.
Stewart said Townsend helped to keep her motivated.
“She said if you have a bad day, that’s OK. Just start over the next day. Don’t get discouraged,” Stewart said.
“I think I’m in a good place now,” Stewart added. “I read (food) labels now, which I never read before.”
Stewart said the family health team is great for the community.
“It’s wonderful to have any medical services at all. We’re lucky to have that service close,” she said. “We’re not having to drive to Pembroke or Ottawa, and it makes a big difference.”
In addition to a dietitian and family doctors, the clinic’s team includes nurses, a kinesiologist, mental health counsellors and respiratory therapists. They serve about 13,900 patients in Renfrew and surrounding areas, including Greater Madawaska, Admaston/Bromley and Horton.
“If you look at our baseline before the family health team was added, the roster was 12,881, and in May, before a new doctor joined, we were up at 13,584,” Jones said, explaining that having an interdisciplinary team helps increase a doctor’s capacity. “Since then, a new physician has joined, so it’s continuing to grow.”
Despite not being fully staffed, the Ancient Rivers Family Health Team has had more than 2,250 patient encounters in its first year of operating in Renfrew, Jones said. Once the remaining nurse practitioner positions are filled, the clinic can add between 1,200 and 1,600 patients.
Providing more comprehensive care is where they “really shine,” Jones said.
“We know that patients with access to team-based primary care, they get more comprehensive support, and they’re more satisfied with their care,” Jones added. “We can connect them to what they actually need.”
Having a family health team also helps reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and delays in care, she said. Jones explained the clinic’s team “helps spread the load” more effectively within the health-care system by providing patients with care beyond what a family doctor can do.
“We know that doctors are the cornerstone of primary care, and our team builds on that foundation,” she said.
The Ancient Rivers Family Health Team has an interdisciplinary team of health-care professionals to provide Renfrew residents with care designed to meet their needs. From left are: registered respiratory therapist Anita Stitt, mental health counsellor Kristie Goulet, registered dietitian Morag Townsend, registered practical nurse Alyssa Misener, receptionist Laya, mental health counsellor Casey, registered kinesiologist John Buffam and executive director Kate Jones.