About Ontario Health Teams

Ontario Health Teams (OHT) are a new way of delivering integrated care across the province. OHTs are groups of providers and organizations that are delivering a full and coordinated continuum of care to a specific set of patients within an established catchment area. This model of care will make it easier for patients to navigate the health system and transition between providers.

About the Eastern York Region North Durham Ontario Health Team (EYRND OHT)

The Eastern York Region North Durham (EYRND) OHT was established in December 2019 with the mandate to facilitate and coordinate connected, seamless, people-centred care 24/7 for local residents. The EYRND OHT serves the Township of Uxbridge, located within the Regional Municipality of Durham, the City of Markham, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville and the community of Thornhill, located within the Regional Municipality of York. The EYRND OHT will initially focus on the development of integrated services for mental health and addiction, and people living with dementia and their caregivers.

The Role of the EYRND OHT

Members of the EYRND OHT are working together to develop innovative digital care solutions; establish a strong primary care and referral network; create frameworks for community engagement, collaboration and coordination; and build community resilience to achieve improved patient outcomes.

The Primary Care Role in Ontario Health Teams

• Ontario Medical Association document on Benefits of OHTs for family doctors

• Ontario Primary Care Council (OPCC) Documents

  • OPCC Statement on Autonomy Self-Direction and Accountability February 2021

  • OPCC Statement on Invested Physicians February 2021

  • OPCC Statement on Supporting Family Physicians to Participate in OHT Related Work February 2021
    

Successes of the EYRND OHT

Established COVID-19 support services

To assist with the pandemic response, the EYRND OHT members established COVID-19 support services and operated a community mass vaccination clinic, the COVID-19 Community Vaccination Centre at Cornell Community Centre.

Launched the Seniors Home Support (SHS) Program

The SHS Program is an integrated primary care program that is the first and only one of its kind in Ontario. The SHS Program is delivered by an interprofessional team to home-bound seniors who for medical, social or cognitive reasons cannot access office-based primary care services.

Improved communication during patient transfers

The EYRND OHT developed a new tool titled LTCH/RH – ED Transfer Communication Form. This form was designed to help improve communication for resident/patient transferring between long-term care homes (LTCH), retirement homes (RH) and hospital emergency departments (ED).

About the EYRND OHT Primary Care Association

Our Primary Care Association represents over 115 family physicians with practices or patients in the EYRND OHT catchment area. It ensures that all primary care providers who are part of the EYRND OHT community have access to the tools and resources necessary to provide seamless care. Support and engagement of primary care providers enables the partners of EYRND OHT to develop a stronger health team.

About the Primary Care Advisory Council

The Primary Care Advisory Council (PCAC) is responsible for developing recommendations for the integration of primary care into the EYRND OHT. The function of the PCAC includes:

• Sharing knowledge, experiences and best practices pertaining to primary care

• Providing recommendations to the EYRND OHT with regards to standardization, coordination, access and quality of care

• Supporting the implementation of the EYRND OHT initiatives

• Advising the EYRND OHT Core Leadership Council on primary care strategic direction

• Engaging local primary care colleagues to gather feedback to advise PCAC, and communicate key EYRND OHT information back to the primary care community