On September 17th, 2021, Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, announced that the Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team (OHT) was one of eight newly approved Ontario Health Teams in the province.
Ontario Health Teams are part of a new approach to health care in the province that will bring together health care providers as one collaborative team. OHTs are intended to ensure that patients experience easier transitions between health organizations. With the addition of these new teams, the province now has a total of 50 Ontario Health Teams which will cover 92 per cent of the province's population at maturity.
The Grey Bruce OHT will build on the collaborative work which has been ongoing between health care organizations in Grey Bruce for many years, including hospitals, long-term care, primary care, community mental health and addictions, community support services, and public health. The Grey Bruce OHT has two early priorities which include focusing on frail seniors as they transition through the system, and on people living with mental health and addictions.
“The OHT will improve the journey for patients, clients and residents as they navigate the health care system here in Grey Bruce. Although people often express satisfaction with their experience with individual health care organizations, we also know that people experience challenges as they transition between different organizations” states Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team (OHT) Planning Committee Co- Chairs Alex Hector and Michael Barrett. “We are very pleased with the Ministry of Health announcement of the approval of the Grey Bruce OHT which will ensure that people will experience a better coordinated and integrated health care system in Grey Bruce.”
To ensure that the voices of patients, clients, residents, families and caregivers are heard, the Grey Bruce OHT has established a Community Council which is composed of 12 members of the public who have been selected to provide advice and counsel. In addition, the Grey Bruce OHT is establishing advisory councils composed of physicians and nurse practitioners, as well as health service provider board members.
“The new Ontario Health Teams have already shown that they are able to respond more effectively,” said Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson. “This new approach brings together local health care providers working together as one team to help patients as they progress through the system and back to health.”
“This is part of our government’s plan to end hallway health care and build an integrated health care system centred on the needs of patients,” said Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker. “I’m pleased to see up to $1.1 million in one-time funding for the next two years included with this announcement. This funding is critical as our local OHT continues to develop partnerships for the delivery of integrated and coordinated services.”
source: media release, Grey Bruce Ontario Health Team
