Community FAQs
What is an Ontario Health Team?
In 2019 the Ontario government introduced Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) as a way to create a more coordinated healthcare system. OHTs provide a new way of delivering care that’s more connected to patients in their local communities.
Within Ontario Health Team, healthcare providers (hospitals, doctors, and home and community care providers) work as one integrated team.
Currently, 57 Ontario Health Teams (OHTs), including the West Toronto Ontario Health Team (WTOHT), have been approved and are already seeing success in more efficient hospital-to-home transitions, strengthened primary care foundations, improved digital health and virtual care access, as well as more meaningful partnerships and engagement with patients, families, and caregivers.
Who is included in the West Toronto OHT?
The West Toronto Ontario Health Team currently has a membership of 35 health and community support service providers that together offer a comprehensive set of health and social services. These organizations include:
primary care (including clinics, and physicians)
acute care (active short-term treatment services such as ambulatory medical and surgical services)
home care
community support services
mental health and addictions services
health promotion and disease prevention services
rehabilitation and complex care
palliative care (hospices)
residential care and short-term transitional care (such as supportive housing, long-term care homes, or retirement homes)
emergency health services
How does an Ontario Health Team Work?
Ontario Health Teams are formed through local healthcare provider partnerships in specific regions, uniting a diverse range of organizations to appropriately address the needs of their communities. The OHT's Steering Committee, made up of member organization representatives, meets monthly to collaboratively make decisions. A dedicated staff ensures the day-to-day operations of the OHT run smoothly, making sure our work has a positive impact and is accountable to our communities.
OHTs actively engage with communities, incorporating patients, caregivers, and members for inclusive decision-making. They participate in our governance structure, contribute to our working groups, and provide a significant advisory capacity to OHTs as a whole.
OHTs prioritize overall population health, analyzing data to address public health issues efficiently. As a not-for-profit, our funding comes directly from the government and additional grants. This financial support enables us to deliver coordinated healthcare services effectively.
How is it being determined which OHT people are a part of?
Patients are assigned to an OHT based on how and where they seek healthcare services rather than where they live. For example, if you live in East Toronto, but seek services from an organization in West Toronto you are a part of this OHT.
What are the key priorities for the West Toronto OHT?
Priority populations:
High priority neighbourhoods (Weston-Mount Dennis, Rockcliffe Smythe, South Parkdale and New Toronto)
Older adults
Individuals managing mental health and addictions
Individuals living with chronic illnesses
What does patient and community participation look like in the OHT?
The patient, caregiver and community voice is an integral part of the West Toronto Ontario Health Team. Each priority area has a working group dedicated to addressing the above health challenges within West Toronto. Each of our working groups contain at least one patient or community partner involved in co-creating our health system solutions and providing feedback based on lived experience. Our Partners for Better Care Council also ensures we incorporate a health equity and patient/caregiver perspective to all the work within the OHT. Additional input from the community can also be provided through engagewtoht.ca, our online engagement website where community members can follow WTOHT initiatives and provide their feedback and ideas through surveys, polls, forms, and discussions.