Seven things to know about becoming an OHT

Below are seven facts about becoming an Ontario Health Team (OHT).

Learn more at the Become an Ontario Health Team page for updated information and resources.

  • focus is on improving patient care and experience
    Groups should begin their work together by focusing on how to improve patient care and how to build trusting relationships to deliver that care.

    Although conversations about governance and leadership structures are essential, a common understanding of patients' needs should be the priority.

  • organizations will have a chance to become an OHT after May 15th
    Rest assured, this is not a one-time opportunity. May 15th is the deadline to be considered for one of the first OHTs. Applications will be reviewed and teams will be selected to move to the next stage of the application process. The first teams will be announced in the fall of 2019. Teams that are not selected in the first round will be offered support to help them progress towards becoming an OHT.

    The intake of OHTs will be continuous. Interested teams will be able to apply after May 15th. The ministry will announce the next deadline at a later date.

    No group should feel pressured to submit a self-assessment if they're not ready.
  • the number of OHTs has not been determined
    The ministry has not predetermined the number of OHTs that will be named in the first round, or how many OHTs there will be in total, at maturity.
  • OHTs will provide a full and comprehensive continuum of care at maturity
    OHTs shouldn't be too narrowly focused or only provide specialized services. At maturity, OHTs will provide a full and comprehensive continuum of care. Teams may initially focus on redesigning care pathways for a specific patient population but should be planning and building their partnerships to expand to the full continuum of care over time for their entire local population. Teams should have the ability to deliver coordinated services across at least three sectors of care, especially hospital, home and/or community care, and primary care.
  • there is no one governance model for OHTs
    Teams will self-organize in the way that makes the most sense for their communities and patients. No organization within a team should take over other providers. For some groups, a lead organization may make sense, but every group should feel supportive of the governance structure(s) they are forming.

    As early OHTs develop there will be effective governance models that emerge for others to learn from.

  • patient partnership and community engagement are key OHT components
    Patient partnership and community engagement are essential for a successful OHT that is truly organized around people's needs and improving the experience. As OHT governance structures are developed it will be important to ensure an effective patient voice is present.
  • there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to determining the size of an OHT
    The population and geography of Ontario varies across the province, and there is no one "right" size for an OHT. The ministry encourages teams to continue to think and organize at the population level based on local access and referral patterns. The ministry will support providers with data and tools to support full provincial coverage over time.

Minister visits Durham region to mark passing of The People's Health Care Act, 2019

To mark the passing of this landmark legislation, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, was joined by Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board, Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby, and Lindsey Park, MPP for Durham, at Lakeridge Health - Ajax Pickering Hospital.

Read the news release