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Ontario Health Teams
- Ontario Health Teams
- Ontario Health Team Intake Process
- Ontario Health Team Central Program of Supports
- Meet the Ontario Health Teams
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Contact Us
The Ontario government is building a connected health care system centred around patients, families and caregivers. These changes will strengthen local services, making it easier for patients to navigate the system and transition between providers.
Ontario Health Teams
Ontario Health Teams are being introduced to provide a new way of organizing and delivering care that is more connected to patients in their local communities. Under Ontario Health Teams, health care providers (including hospitals, doctors and home and community care providers) work as one coordinated team - no matter where they provide care.
Providers and organizations eligible to become an Ontario Health Team include, but are not limited to, those that provide:
- primary care (including inter-professional primary care and physicians)
- secondary care (e.g., in-patient and ambulatory medical and surgical services (includes specialist services)
- home care
- community support services
- mental health and addictions services
- health promotion and disease prevention services
- rehabilitation and complex care
- palliative care (e.g., hospice)
- residential care and short-term transitional care (e.g., in supportive housing, long-term care homes, retirement homes)
- long-term care home placement
- emergency health services
- laboratory and diagnostic services
- midwifery services, and
- other social and community services and other services, as needed by the population.
Ontario Health Team Intake Process
There are 54 Ontario Health Teams across the province. The Ministry of Health (“ministry”) has invited an additional four teams of providers to submit full applications to become approved Ontario Health Teams. If approved, the province will have 58 Ontario Health Teams, which will bring Ontario to full provincial coverage.
The goal is to ensure that everyone in Ontario can benefit from better coordinated, more integrated care. The ministry is taking a targeted approach to the intake and assessment process, focusing on parts of the province that don’t already have teams in place. Teams are being invited to complete full applications to become an approved Ontario Health Team on a case-by-case basis. At the same time, the ministry is continuing to support the expansion of provider partnerships in existing Ontario Health Teams.
Ontario Health Team Central Program of Supports
Changing the way care is delivered will take time and dedication from all system partners. The Ontario Health Team Central Program of Supports is designed to coordinate the delivery of supports for teams at all stages of implementation across various ministry areas and supports partners with expertise in integrated care delivery and population health. The following resources have been developed to support teams in advancing the Ontario Health Teams model.
Ontario Health Teams - The Path Forward: New direction for Ontario Health Teams to support their progress towards maturity. This direction promotes greater standardization, informed by lessons learned through OHT implementation to date.
- Ontario Health Teams: Guidance for Health Care Providers and Organizations - This document describes the components of the Ontario Health Teams model, the expectations for Ontario Health Teams at maturity, and readiness criteria to become an Ontario Health Team.
- Ontario Health Team: Full Application - This revised full application is to be completed by teams invited to complete a full application and can be used by any teams to prepare for future submissions.
- Patient, Family and Caregiver Partnership and Engagement Strategy: Guidance Document - This document provides guidance to OHTs as they work to establish their Patient, Family and Caregiver Partnership and Engagement Strategies. The document outlines core elements including content requirements, guiding principles, relevant examples, key resources, and the process for validation and posting once complete. The ministry undertook consultation with key stakeholders to inform the development of this document, including patients, families and caregivers.
- Primary Care Communications Protocol: Enabling Success through Connecting Primary Care and Physician Partners - This document provides guidance to OHTs as they work to establish their communications protocol to connect primary care and physician partners. The ministry undertook consultation with key stakeholders to inform the development of this document, including primary care associations and representatives.
- Harmonized Information Management Plan (HIMP) Guidance Document
- This document provides guidance to OHTs as they develop their Harmonized Information Management Plans.
- Collaborative Decision-Making Arrangements (CDMAs) Guidance Document - This document provides guidance to OHTs as they establish collaborative decision-making arrangements as a team.
- Ontario Health Teams: Digital Health Playbook - This Playbook can be used by OHTs to help them understand how to build their digital health plan to support the delivery of integrated care.
- Ontario Health Teams: Data Supports Guidance Document - The Ontario Health Teams: Data Supports Guidance Document is supplementary to the attribution data package distributed to approved OHTs to support their ongoing implementation efforts. It is intended to provide an overview of the patient attribution methodology used to identify the networks of patients attributed to OHTs, an outline of new data enhancements, as well as clear guidance on how to interpret the information within the attribution data package.
- Patient, Family and Caregiver Declaration of Values for Ontario (Updated: July 2021) - The purpose of this aspirational document is to articulate patient, family and caregiver expectations of Ontario’s health care system. The Declaration is intended to serve as a compass for the individuals and organizations who are involved in health care and reflects a summary of the principles and values that patients, families and caregivers say are important to them. The Declaration is not intended to establish, alter or affect any legal rights or obligations, and must be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with applicable law. Ontario Health Teams are encouraged to adopt the Patient, Family and Caregiver Declaration of Values for Ontario.
Webinars and Events
Visit the OHT Supports Events Calendar for information on learning and engagement events offered through the OHT Central Program of Supports, including registration links, upcoming events and resources from past events. Resources from ministry hosted webinars are also included below:
- April 5, 2019
- February 11, 2021
- March 25, 2021
- June 28, 2021
- July 8, 2021
- September 27, 2021
- April 8, 2022
- November 30, 2022
Other Resources
- Rapid-Improvement Support and Exchange (RISE) - an interactive website that provides access to resources, experts and assistance for potential Ontario Health Teams. RISE is supported by the McMaster Health Forum (MHF) and the Ministry of Health (MOH). The opinions, results and conclusions are those of the MHF and are independent of the MOH.
- Jurisdictional scan on select integrated care systems - an overview of other integrated health team models in Canada and around the world.
- Reading list - a list of articles on lessons learned from integrated models around the world.
Meet the Ontario Health Teams
Central Region
Barrie and Area OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Barrie and surrounding areas.
Central West OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Brampton, Bramalea, North Etobicoke, Malton and Woodbridge.
Connected Care Halton OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills.
Couchiching OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Orillia and area.
Eastern York Region and North Durham OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in East York and North Durham.
Hills of Headwaters Collaborative OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Dufferin County and the town of Caledon.
Mississauga OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Mississauga.
Muskoka and Area OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in the Muskoka area.
North Simcoe OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny and Tay Townships, and Christian Island.
North Western Toronto OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Toronto, Vaughan, Brampton and Mississauga.
North York Toronto Health Partners
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in North York, Thornhill and Markham.
South Georgian Bay OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in the South Georgian Bay Region, including Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Clearview, The Blue Mountains.
Southlake Community OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Newmarket, Georgina, Aurora, East Gwillimbury and Bradford West Gwillimbury.
Western York Region OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Vaughan, Richmond Hill and King City.
East Region
Archipel OHT
Supporting a continuum of care as a fully bilingual team with providers in Eastern Ottawa, Eastern Champlain and part of Ottawa Centre.
Durham OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers across Durham Region.
Frontenac, Lennox & Addington OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington region, including Kingston, Greater Napanee and surrounding rural communities.
Great River OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, City of Cornwall, Akwesasne, parts of Russell Township and rural Southeast Ottawa.
Hastings Prince Edward OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties.
Kawartha Lakes OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in the City of Kawartha Lakes and surrounding areas.
Lanark, Leeds and Grenville OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, and the County of Lanark area.
Northumberland OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Cobourg, Port Hope, Brighton, Campbellford and surrounding areas.
Ottawa OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in the city of Ottawa.
Ottawa Valley OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in the Township of South Algonquin (in Nipissing District) and the majority of Renfrew County.
Ottawa West Four Rivers OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in North Grenville, West Ottawa, Northern Lanark County, and Arnprior/McNab/Braeside.
Peterborough OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Peterborough and surrounding communities.
Scarborough OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Scarborough and surrounding communities.
North East Region
Algoma OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Algoma District.
Nipissing Wellness OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Nipissing and East Parry Sound.
Maamwesying OHT
Supporting a continuum of care within the communities of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, Sagamok Anishnawbek, Serpent River First Nation, Mississauga First Nation, Thessalon First Nation, Garden River First Nation, Batchewana First Nation, Michipicoten First Nation, Chapleau Cree First Nation, Brunswick House, and Chapleau Ojibway, as well as the Urban Indigenous population in Sault Ste. Marie.
North West Region
All Nations Health Partners OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Kenora and Sioux-Narrows-Nestor Falls.
City and District of Thunder Bay OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in City and District of Thunder Bay.
Kiiwetinoong Healing Waters OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Dryden, Red Lake, and Sioux Lookout.
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in the Rainy River District.
Toronto Region
Downtown East Toronto OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Downtown East Toronto.
East Toronto Health Partners OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in 21 neighbourhoods in East Toronto.
Mid-West Toronto OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in the west end of downtown Toronto.
North Toronto OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in North Toronto.
West Toronto OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in West Toronto.
West Region
Brantford Brant Norfolk OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Brantford and Brant County.
Burlington OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Burlington and surrounding areas.
Cambridge North Dumfries OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in the Cambridge and North Dumfries.
Chatham-Kent OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Chatham-Kent.
Elgin OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Elgin County.
Greater Hamilton Health Network
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Hamilton.
Grey-Bruce OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Grey and Bruce Counties.
Guelph Wellington OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Guelph, Puslinch, Rockwood and Erin.
Huron Perth and Area OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Huron Perth.
Kitchener, Waterloo, Wilmot, Woolwich, and Wellesley (KW4) OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Kitchener, Waterloo, Wilmot, Woolwich and Wellesley.
Middlesex London OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in London-Middlesex.
Niagara OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in the Niagara region.
Oxford and Area OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Oxford County and the surrounding area.
Sarnia Lambton OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in the Sarnia-Lambton region.
Windsor Essex OHT
Supporting a continuum of care with providers in Windsor Essex.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Ontario Health Teams?
Ontario Health Teams are groups of providers and organizations that, at maturity, will be clinically and fiscally accountable for delivering a full and coordinated continuum of care to a defined population.
Who can I contact if I have questions?
If you have questions about Ontario Health Teams or the Intake and Assessment process, please email ontariohealthteams@ontario.ca.
When will Ontario Health Teams be announced?
The first cohort of 24 approved Ontario Health Teams was announced in the fall of 2019.
On July 23, 2020 five new teams were announced and on November 18, 2020 13 new teams were announced.
On September 17, 2021, an additional eight teams were announced. On February 10, 2022, one additional team was announced. On October 14, 2022 three new teams were announced, bringing the total number of Ontario Health Teams across the province to fifty-four (54). An additional four teams of providers have been invited to submit full applications to become approved Ontario Health Teams.
Who can become an Ontario Health Team?
Health care providers and organizations eligible to become an Ontario Health Team include, but are not limited to those that provide:
- primary care (including inter-professional primary care and physicians)
- secondary care (e.g., in-patient and ambulatory medical and surgical services (includes specialist services)
- home care
- community support services
- mental health and addictions services
- health promotion and disease prevention services
- rehabilitation and complex care
- palliative care (e.g., hospice)
- residential care and short-term transitional care (e.g., in supportive housing, long-term care homes, retirement homes)
- long-term care home placement
- emergency health services
- laboratory and diagnostic services
- midwifery services
- other social and community services and other services, as needed by the population
Will patients continue to have a choice in their care provider?
Yes. As Ontario Health Teams are established, people’s choice of providers would continue.
Patients who are supported by providers who become part of an Ontario Health Team will not need to sign up or undertake any administrative processes. They will experience greater access to care and support from a broader network of other physicians and inter-professional providers, working together as a team to improve their care.
How does a patient become connected with an Ontario Health Team? Will a patient be able to sign up with a team and how will this happen?
Ontarians will continue to access care from their existing care providers. As Ontario Health Teams are created, Ontarians will be provided with information about the benefits of this model. Ontarians will still be able to choose who provides their care. As the province begins this work, Ontarians can be confident that they can continue to contact their health care providers as they always have to access the health care they need.
What will be different for patients?
Improvements in integrated care through Ontario Health Teams will fundamentally change how patients, families, and caregivers experience the health care system. As Ontario Health Teams are formed - which will be an ongoing process over several years until provincial coverage is achieved - patients will be able to more easily access and navigate the system and be better supported as they transition from one health care provider or setting to another.
For each component of the model, Ontario Health Teams are expected to meet certain commitments and service delivery expectations for their population after their first year of operations through to maturity.
What will Ontario Health Teams Candidates do differently for patient care/experience and providers’ experience when they start operating?
Patients of early Ontario Health Teams will begin to experience better coordinated, integrated health care that is easier to navigate. For providers, Ontario Health Teams foster local collaboration and enables greater communication and coordination. Providers will be supported to work as one coordinated team - focusing on patients and specific local needs, so people can more easily navigate the system and experience easy and coordinated transitions from one health care provider to another. These teams will have flexibility to redesign how they deliver care to meet the needs of their patients in the most effective way.
Will there be 24/7 support for navigation within early Ontario Health Teams?
Teams selected to move forward as Ontario Health Team Candidates are required to have a confirmed commitment to put in place 24/7 coordination of care and system navigation services for targeted patients and providing navigation supports in place for some segments of the patients they are serving.
What are the key digital components of an Ontario Health Team?
At maturity, Ontario Health Teams will have:
- The ability to provide patients with digital choices such as virtual care (e.g., telephone, email, virtual visits) and timely digital access to patient health records;
- The ability to communicate and share information across the network; and
- The ability to drive performance improvements within and across the network through clinical and data standardization, and advanced analytics and strong information management practices to enable population health management, quality improvement, and outcomes measurement.
Health Care Professionals
