Thunder Bay, ON, December 5, 2012 – For the first time ever residents in Northwestern Ontario were given the opportunity to nominate their physician for a Patients’ Choice Award. The Patients’ Choice Award honours two physicians who have demonstrated exceptional care in the community.

This year’s Northwest recipients, Dr. Andrew Siren, a specialist in Thunder Bay and Dr. Adam Moir, a family physician in Dryden, were nominated by their patients for the care they have provided and their commitment to enhancing the patients’ overall experience within the health care system.

Both doctors will be recognized tonight at a ceremony hosted by the North West Local Health Integration Network, the Patients’ Association of Canada and the Ontario Medical Association.

This is the first time the Northwestern Ontario community will participate in the patient-led initiative. Other communities that have recognized their physicians include Sarnia-Lambton, Ottawa, Windsor and Peterborough.

Quotes

“Our congratulations to Dr. Siren and Dr. Moir whose person-centred care drew such warm tributes from their patients, and our thanks to their patients for bringing their exceptional care to the attention of the Northwestern Ontario community. We have many great physicians and specialists in our region, and it is very exciting to have them recognized for their great work – and especially rewarding when it is the patients who are acknowledging their care.”

Laura Kokocinski, CEO, North West LHIN

“There is too little public awareness of good instances of the care that patients receive from their physicians and we want physicians to know that we appreciate their commitment to hearing and listening to the patient voice. By nominating special doctors, patients have made their positive experiences count as they are the fundamental basis for bringing about change to our health care system.”

Sholom Glouberman, President of the Patients’ Association of Canada

“Ontario’s doctors want to congratulate Drs Siren and Moir as worthy recipients of the Patients’ Choice Award. Patients in the North West nominated more physicians this year than at any other PCA event, demonstrating the strong patient care in the community and the dedication physicians have to the medical profession.”

Dr. Doug Weir, President of the Ontario Medical Association

For more information, please contact:

Kelly Arnold
North West Local Health Integration Network
(807) 684-9425 ext. 2030

Dr. Sholom Glouberman
President of the Patients’ Association of Canada
(416) 785-2500, Ext. 2150
www.patientsassociation.ca
@PatientsAssocCa

OMA Media Relations
(416) 340-2862 or toll-free at 1-800-268-7215 Ext. 2862
media@oma.org
www.oma.org
@Ontariosdoctors