Caregivers and Ontario Health Teams

As Ontario’s healthcare system continues to evolve, family caregivers have gained recognition as essential care partners and a priority for Ontario Health Teams (OHTs).

Ontario’s 4 million caregivers play a critical role in our healthcare system, providing an estimated 75% of care.  Actively involving caregivers as essential care partners in Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) enables:

Improved patient experiences
Improved provider experiences
Enhanced health equity
Improved healthcare outcomes
Enhanced value and efficiency of care

Caregiver Integration: A Practical Guide for OHTs

Caregiver Integration: A Practical Guide for OHTs offers resources to help support the integration of family caregivers in all aspects of OHT work.

Who Should Use This Guide

The Practical Guide is meant for OHT leadership, clinical leaders, OHT working groups, Patient, Caregiver Advisory Councils and partners, healthcare administrators, and frontline staff within OHTs who are involved in planning, change management and improvement at the system and at point of care.

Anyone who is involved in OHT work can benefit from this Practical Guide.

Caregiver Integration: A Practical Guide for Ontario Health Teams

Module 1: Including Caregivers in Access and Navigation Models

Learn how to help caregivers navigate the healthcare system and connect to caregiver support.

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Module 2: Essential Care Partner Practices for Ontario Health Teams

Learn how Essential Care Partner (ECP) practices can benefit patients, families, caregivers, providers, and the overall healthcare system.

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Module 3: Essential Role of Caregivers in Improving Transitions and Addressing Alternate Level of Care (ALC)

Discover ways to proactively include and support caregivers across care settings to facilitate smooth transitions, and mitigate or prevent ALC.

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Guidance Document: Integrating and Engaging Caregivers to Achieve OHT Deliverables.

Learn how caregiver inclusion relates to a number of key components outlined in The Ontario Health Teams: The Path Forward guidance document issued by the Ministry of Health.

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The Ontario Caregiver Organization is here to help OHTs implement the actions, tools and resources outlined in the Practical Guide.

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Essential Care Partner Programs and Practices in OHTs

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