AFHTO welcomes Ontario’s focus on family and community care

Primary care is fundamental to the health of patients and our health system. Family Health Teams have been working hard to innovate, to improve care, and from that, to improve health. For this reason, AFHTO is pleased to see the Ontario Government is placing “Family Health Care at the Centre of the System”. Released today, Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care calls for faster access to primary care, expanded access to house calls from health care professionals, and greater integration of primary care with all the other providers involved in the patient journey. The experience of Family Health Teams provides some guidance for moving forward. Since their first introduction in 2005, Family Health Teams have made significant strides in providing faster access to care for patients and integrating care. Some examples can be found at:

AFHTO looks forward to working with the Ministry and primary care colleagues to share what Family Health Teams have learned, to work out the best way to implement the Action Plan, and to ensure the necessary conditions are put into place that will enable the Teams (and all of primary care) to improve quality and access to primary care for the patients of Ontario.