Reducing wait times, with a special focus on emergency departments, and quality family health care for all have been identified as health care priorities by Ontarians.

Over the next four years, the focus will be on ensuring that people have access to health care in their community virtually around the clock, which should also help to relieve the reliance on emergency departments for non-emergency care. The implementation of 50 new Family Health Teams (FHTs) is part of the government’s strategy for achieving this goal.

The new FHTs will be comprised of a range of health care professionals who will work collaboratively to provide comprehensive, accessible and coordinated family health care services to a defined population, the majority of which do not currently have a primary health care provider. In addition to the provision of direct health care services, the FHTs will focus on chronic disease management, disease prevention and health promotion, in conjunction with other community-based health care organizations, such as public health units.

Since April 2005, 150 FHTs have been created in both urban and rural parts of the province. Together, it is expected that these 150 teams will improve access to primary health care for more than 2.5 million Ontarians in 112 communities. Fifty more are being planned, bringing the total to 200.

• Watch videos of health care providers talking in their own words about their Family Health Teams.

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