On June 25, the Ontario Premier's Council released its Second Report on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine, A Healthy Ontario: Building a Sustainable Health Care System, with recommendations for improving Ontario's health care system.
The Ontario College of Family Physicians is pleased that the Council has recommended that effective primary care be the foundation of an integrated health care system, through a patient's medical "home," with strong clinical leadership, regardless of the practice model. The Council outlined other recommendations that support the role of the family physician, including better information sharing with family doctors, stronger connections with mental health and addictions, and support for the social determinants of health.
Strong Primary Care, led by FPs, through a PMH
The evidence is clear: health systems worldwide that are anchored in strong primary care, with family physician leadership, through a Patient's Medical Home, lead to better patient outcomes, improved quality of care, opportunities to reduce costs, and improved provider satisfaction. This has been OCFP's main advocacy focus for some time - including through our Bill 74 Submission in April, input to Premier's Council report in May, and ongoing discussions with government officials. We are pleased to see that the Council has reiterated our messages and laid out action items to realize them.
Supporting Family Physician Leadership
The OCFP consistently calls for supporting protected time for family physician leadership throughout a rapidly evolving health system. Council also recognizes the importance of ensuring clinical leadership and of strong partnerships with primary care in Ontario Health Teams, regardless of payment or care model. The Council has also recommended supports and resources for collaborative leadership development. The OCFP supports family physician leadership in co-design and implementation of system transformation through its Leadership in Primary Care Mentoring Network and Primary Care Virtual Community. We will continue to work with government to help leverage and sustain these programs that are integral in meeting our members' needs and the Council's call for supporting continued professional development.
The Road Ahead: Access to team-based resources for all family doctors
In Ontario, family doctors see more patients by far every day than any other part of the health system - individuals with a mental health need, for example, are more likely to consult a family doctor than any other health practitioner. For this reason, our members continue to stress the need for equitable access to team-based care, especially for their patients with complex needs. The OCFP will continue to advocate that all family physicians have access to team-based resources that provide wrap-around care and maintain continuity for patients with complex needs including mental health and addictions; system navigation and care coordination; and the social determinants of health.
More details about implementation are still needed. As the government continues to lay out its vision for Ontario health care reform, the OCFP will continue to support family physicians in healthcare transformation, regardless of practice model, so that no family doctor or patient is left behind.