NationTalk: TORONTO — The Ontario government, in partnership with Ontario Health, has approved three new Ontario Health Teams in Northern Ontario that will break down barriers in people’s health care to provide connected and more convenient care.

“These three new Ontario Health Teams will improve the way people access health care by ensuring they can more easily and seamlessly access the supports and services they need,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The new Ontario Health Teams will also support more connected care between a person’s various providers, which is especially important to meet the unique needs of rural, remote, Indigenous, Francophone and other diverse communities.”

The three new Ontario Health Teams are:

• Maamwesying Ontario Health Team, serving Indigenous communities in Northeastern Ontario, including the urban Indigenous population in Sault Ste. Marie;
• City & District of Thunder Bay Ontario Health Team, serving Thunder Bay and the surrounding region; and
• Kiiwetinoong Healing Waters Ontario Health Team, serving Dryden, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout.

Working together, the new Ontario Health Teams will help patients experience easier transitions from one provider to another, with one patient record and one care plan being shared between their health care providers for a continuous patient story. They’ll have convenient access to connected providers who can better meet all of their health care needs. Ontarians can be confident that under an Ontario Health Team, they can continue to contact their health care providers as they always have to access the health care they need.

With these new teams, Ontario will have a total of 54 Ontario Health Teams. The Ministry of Health has also invited four new potential teams to complete full applications to become approved Ontario Health Teams. Once approved, these remaining teams would result in the province achieving its goal of full provincial coverage, ensuring everyone has the support of an Ontario Health Team. These four remaining teams are:

• Équipe Ontario Cochrane District Team;
• Équipe Sudbury Espanola Manitoulin Elliot Lake Team;
• Équipe des régions du Temiskaming Area Team; and
• West Parry Sound Team.

Quick Facts

• Ontario Health Teams bring together health care providers from across health and community sectors, including primary care, hospitals, home and community care, mental health and addictions services, and long-term care, as one collaborative team to better coordinate care and share resources.
• An Ontario Health Team is responsible for delivering care for their patients, understanding their health care history, easing their transition from one provider to another, directly connecting them to different types of care, and providing 24/7 help in navigating the health care system.
• As Ontario moves forward with the government’s transformative plan for Ontario’s health care system, the province recognizes the important role that Indigenous communities and organizations have in the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of programs and services for their communities. The Ministry of Health continues to work with First Nations communities through dedicated trilateral processes and relationship agreements to explore options to transform First Nations’ health.
• During 2021-2022, over $48.4 million in funding was allocated for digital health and virtual care projects, with 229 approved Ontario Health Teams projects, impacting over 792,000 patients across all projects. The Ontario government is expecting similar types of opportunities to be available again in 2022-2023.
• Ontario Health Teams integration has been a priority in design and implementation of Health Connect Ontario. Ontario Health Teams will continue to be engaged and involved in the governance and co-design of this service as it evolves.

Quotes

“Our government is adding Ontario Health Teams to serve the North, understand the unique health needs across the region and provide higher standards of care. I am confident that these investments will lead to better health outcomes for Northerners as we move forward with our transformative plan to build an integrated health care system centered on the needs of patients.”
– Greg Rickford
MPP for Kenora-Rainy River

“I am excited to see the City and District of Thunder Bay receive an Ontario Health Team. Among other health care, the team will focus on developing and implementing streamlined access to community mental health and addictions services. This is something that is much needed in my riding.”
– Kevin Holland
MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan

“Our government is committed to breaking down barriers in patients’ health care journeys to ensure they receive better and faster care that meets their unique needs. The Maamwesying Ontario Health Team is a positive step towards that goal.”
– Ross Romano
MPP for Sault Ste. Marie

“It’s imperative that our approach to healthcare is centred around Ontarians and what they really need. I am excited for these new teams in Northern Ontario and have seen first hand their commitment to meeting the unique needs of the communities they serve.”
– Betty-Lou Kristy
Chair of the Minister’s Patient and Family Advisory Council

Additional Resources

• Ontario Announces New Ontario Health Team in Windsor-Essex
• Ontario Taking Further Steps to Support Integrated Patient Care
• Ontario Introduces 24 Ontario Health Teams Across the Province to Provide Better Connected Care
• Improving health care in Ontario
• Learn more about Ontario Health Teams
• For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline at 1-800-267-8097 (Toll-free in Ontario only)

Media Contacts

Anna Miller
Communications Division
media.moh@ontario.ca
416-314-6197

Hannah Jensen
Minister Jones’ Office
Hannah.R.Jensen@ontario.ca