What does OHT mean in HEALTHCARE

Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) are a new provincial model that was launched in 2019 to provide Ontarians with better access to integrated and high-quality primary care. They focuses on providing patients with coordinated and connected care from multiple health care providers across the province.

Any healthcare provider or organization can join an OHT as long as they meet certain criteria such as having the capacity to provide a comprehensive range of services across the spectrum of primary care, mental health, social services, home and community care, and more.

OHTs are designed to make it easier for people to access the healthcare they need by removing barriers, reducing wait times and improving patient experience. They will also help reduce duplication of services by utilizing technology like virtual clinics and telemedicine so that patients can have direct access to their healthcare team from wherever they are located.

OTHs offer improved coordination between healthcare teams by establishing dedicated case managers who will oversee each individual's specific needs, help ensure continuity of care, monitor treatment outcomes, and act as a resource for patients who may be experiencing difficulty navigating our complex healthcare system. Additionally, OTHs aim to improve population and public health outcomes through integrated planning by linking clinical data with other parts of the system including public health units, local governments, etc.

As of 2021 there were 33 active OH teams operating in different regions throughout Ontario including Toronto & York Region; Waterloo Wellington; Simcoe Muskoka; Northumberland County; Halton region; North Simcoe Muskoka; Grey Bruce Owen Sound and Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant among others.