The Evolution of Ontario Health Teams (OHT) Continues
- Simmie Palter
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
In December of 2025, Ontario Health updated its guidance document “The Path Forward”¹ to describe next steps in the development of Ontario Health Teams.
Notable updates include:
Ontario Health Teams are to create a new not-for-profit corporation to manage and coordinate OHT activities to support integrated clinical care and fiscal accountability
The new incorporated entity will exist alongside the Ontario Health Team partners
Standardized partners in each OHT must include primary care providers, home care providers, community care providers, mental health and addiction providers, patients, families and caregivers, physicians and public hospitals
OHTs must identify an Operational Support Provider (OSP) to provide back-office services such as communications, project management, procurement and contract management, financial management, decision support, and analytics. It is unclear whether this OSP is the intended new NFP entity described in the first bullet.
The Ministry/Ontario Health will provide the criteria for OSP selection, including that the OSP cannot have more decision-making influence than any other OHT partner
The relationship between the OHT and the OSP will be formalized through an agreement. It is unclear whether the new NFP entity will contract with the OSP.
Standardized communications protocols are identified, such as the use of the phrase “proud OHT partner”, hashtags and required links to Ontario Health and Ministry websites
Continuing Expectations of OHTs and health system providers include:
Seeking partnerships to allow OHTs to develop and provide culturally responsive and equity focused programs
Membership in an OHT is voluntary and encouraged
OHT membership is not limited to the required partners and may include one or more of, public health units, emergency services, community paramedics, municipalities and long-term care homes
The update indicates that Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health are:
analysing models of physician and clinical representation in OHT decision-making to stimulate more participation
modernizing home and community care delivery models
developing digital standards and virtual care guidance related to integrated care and population health models
developing leading practices for health system navigation, and
will evaluate the various primary care models in OHTs and develop common expectations for primary care OHT partners.
At this point in time, no steps need to be taken regarding incorporation. Ontario Health indicated that it would provide guidance and support for incorporation of this new entity, including governance and decision-making expectations, and equity considerations. We await these details.
