At the start of 2019, the Ministry of Health introduced the concept of the Ontario Health Team (OHT) as the future of health care delivery in the province. Under Ontario Health Teams, healthcare providers and organizations are asked to partner to create a network of coordinated care and become jointly accountable for the outcomes and the coordinated continuum of care of a defined population.  

OHTs are meant to improve care in several ways: by having a more local focus; by providing 24/7 centralized navigation of all partner services; by having increased coordination and accountability between partners; and by improving access to virtual care. 

Since 2019, Kensington Health has taken a leadership role in bringing together community partners, including major hospitals and primary care providers in the Mid-West Toronto region. This includes leading and being responsible for coordination, planning, timelines and the thinking behind strategy for the developing Mid-West Toronto Ontario Health Team (MWT-OHT). On July 23rd, 2020, the MWT-OHT was invited by the Ministry of Health to submit a full application to become an OHT candidate. 

The MWT-OHT has identified a unique opportunity to address the gaps in care for the vulnerable populations in downtown Toronto. The three populations that will be prioritized in the first year as on OHT are: frail seniors; homeless and underhoused; and those with mental health and addiction challenges. 

For Kensington, this means that we will collaborate with partners like Women’s College Hospital (link to partnership story) and others to provide cross-sector care that seeks to keep our residents well and maintain the health of our patients. The growth of these initiatives will be a priority for the first year of the Mid-West Toronto OHT.