Ontario Health Team Involvement
The Province of Ontario has set the stage for the most significant health system transformation in decades. There are several initiatives underway, including the formation and provincial designation of Ontario Health Teams (OHTs). OHTs are comprised of hospitals, various community-based healthcare providers and primary care physicians who are committed to working collaboratively together to will help create a health system that is integrated, innovative, efficient and able to respond to the immediate and long-term needs of attributed patient populations across the province.
Through their work, OHTs are to strive to deliver on the “Quadruple Aim” of:
improving the patient and caregiver experience
improving the health of populations
reducing the per capita cost of health care
improving the work life of providers
Given the distribution of Cota’s services across the city of Toronto, Cota has elected to become involved with multiple groups of healthcare providers seeking to form OHTs. As a core partner, we have actively contributed in the recently designated North Western Toronto OHT and the North York Toronto Health Partners OHT.
We are also an engaged partner in the recently designated East Toronto Health Partners OHT. “The East Toronto Health Partners are responsible for providing care and support to the 300,000 individuals who live in our local community as well as an additional 75,000 other people who choose to receive healthcare in East Toronto. Although OHTs are defined by borders, our care and services are not limited by geography - so that people can access the care they need, where and when they need it” (Jason Altenberg, CEO, SRCHC). In the first year as a new Ontario Health Team, East Toronto Health Partners OHT is focused on designing better care for three priority populations: (1) seniors who have chronic illnesses, and their caregivers; (2) youth who need support for mental health and wellness; and (3) adults with needs related to substance use and addictions.
“As we design ways to improve care to these three populations, we are pleased to have patients, clients and family members from these groups working side-by-side with us to make improvements. As we do this, we will ensure we are building a model of care that serves all populations of East Toronto.”
In addition, we have and continue to be involved with groups of health service partners that are seeking to become designated OHTs in Scarborough and the Toronto Downtown East, Toronto Mid-West and Toronto West areas of the city.