The groups on a path towards becoming an Ontario Health Team (OHT) have now been announced. The Ministry of Health has identified 31 teams invited to 'full submission', with another 41 'in development'.

Those teams, along with the central contacts for each, are highlighted through this interactive map developed by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA).

Keeping you informed about health reforms and OHTs

In an OHT, healthcare providers such as doctors, hospitals, and home and community care come together and self-organize to deliver the full continuum of care to patients.

Since the OHTs were first announced back in February by Christine Elliott, Minister of Health, many of you have reached out to the OCFP with questions about how these teams will evolve and how to participate. Among family physicians, it is clear that the level of interest and readiness to participate varies in this early stage of the OHT process.

Wherever you sit on the continuum of change unfolding now in Ontario, the OCFP is committed to sharing the information and supports your need to make decisions that will work best for you, your practice and your patients. In the weeks ahead, check our website for more details about the OHTs, their primary care activity and how you can learn more. We hope to have one, central place where you can find the information and links to the resources you need.

In the meantime, we will continue to ensure we are supporting you by:

• Answering any questions you may have, such as what is happening in your region and how you can participate. You can also reach out to us via email;
• Keeping you informed of developments with health reform, and sharing information and resources to inform your decision making; and
• Advising government on the supports you need to be part of the change, including the need for protected time for family physicians taking on leadership roles.

Shaping an effective primary care foundation

We know that family physicians see by far more patients every day than any other part of the healthcare system. Therefore, it is essential that your vital role within a strong primary care foundation is appropriately supported as the backbone of any effective healthcare system - particularly as that system undergoes transformation and change.

The roll out of OHTs across Ontario will take several years; while this process unfolds, the OCFP will continue to support the need for a strong primary care foundation led by family physicians. When the Patient's Medical Home is the foundation for primary care, the experience and outcomes for patients are enhanced, as is the wellness of family physicians and the performance of our healthcare system.

We will remain focused on advocating for the needs of family physicians more broadly within primary care, and across the system. Namely, we want to ensure you have more equitable access to team-based care and support for your leadership in system co-design and governance. These are key ingredients to help strengthen primary care and will be important to the success of OHTs.

Supporting your leadership

The OCFP has resources to help you connect with and learn from other leaders. In addition to our Leadership in Primary Care Mentoring Network, the OCFP - along with Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario and The Change Foundation - has created the Primary Care Virtual Community, bringing together those in primary care who are interested in leading within their communities. We hope you will join us for our next virtual forum on September 25, 2019 that will focus on the 10 High Impact Actions that helped spark transformation it the UK, and how we might use these in Ontario.

Reach out to us

We are proud to serve the needs of family physicians and the work you do every day to keep Ontarians well. We will continue to amplify your voice and work together with partners and government - because investing in primary care, led by family physicians, both improves patient outcome results and is cost effective.

We want to hear your questions, ideas and concerns, as this fundamental shift in primary care takes shape. Reach out to us via our Contact Us page, and watch our website for more information, specific to your needs over the coming weeks and months.