September 12, 2019
MEMORANDUM TO: Health Sector Partners
FROM: Helen Angus
Deputy Minister
Ministry of Health
RE: Ministry of Health – Organizational Realignment
As the Ministry of Health continues to modernize Ontario’s publicly-funded health care system in order to end hallway health care, build a connected mental health and addictions system, improve patient experience and strengthen local services, we are entering a significant and exciting period of implementation across several initiatives.
To ensure that the Ministry of Health is structured to best deliver on our mandate and support our health sector partners, we are making several structural changes to our organization.
As of September 16, 2019, the following divisions will be established and report to Mel Fraser, Associate Deputy Minister, Health Services:
Ontario Health Teams Division
Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) are a signature piece of this government’s mandate to integrate a broad continuum of care around patients. We are excited to build the capacity to support and scale OHTs across the province through the new Ontario Health Teams Division (OHTD). The division will be led by Executive Lead Phil Graham who will be responsible for providing leadership and oversight to facilitate the development and creation of OHTs. Phil will also continue to provide oversight over home and community care as we move forward with modernization.
Mental Health and Addictions Division
Improving the treatment of mental health and addictions is one of the government’s key priorities. The Mental Health and Addictions Division (MHAD) will be established under the leadership of Karen Glass, Assistant Deputy Minister. This division will lead the development and implementation of Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions Strategy.
Capacity Planning and Analytics Division
To integrate capacity planning, analytic functions and the health human resource strategy, the ministry will create a Capacity Planning and Analytics Division (CPAD), led by Assistant Deputy Minister Michael Hillmer. As a result, the existing Capacity Planning and Capital Division and the Information Management, Data and Analytics Division will be merged into one division.
Emergency Health Services Division
The important work of the Emergency Health Program Management and Delivery Branch and the Emergency Health Regulatory and Accountability Branch will be realigned to create a new Emergency Health Services Division (EHSD), led by Assistant Deputy Minister Alison Blair.
Public Health Modernization
Alison will also take on the Executive Lead role for Public Health modernization. Reporting jointly to me and the Associate Deputy Minister - and working in close partnership with Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health, and his team - Alison will support consultations with the sector to plan and implement the modernization of public health and emergency health services.
The following divisions will also be renamed or realigned to support the ministry’s mandate:
The Strategic Implementation Division will be renamed the Health Transformation Division (HTD). This division, led by Assistant Deputy Minister Sean Court, will continue to lead the implementation of the ministry’s key transformation initiatives, including continued support for the establishment of the new Ontario Health agency and the cross-government supply chain initiative, with a focus on ensuring minimum disruption to patients and the health care sector.
The Digital Health Secretariat, currently led by Assistant Deputy Minister Greg Hein, will be renamed the Digital Health Division (DHD) and realigned, reporting to Mel Fraser, Associate Deputy Minister, Health Services. The division will support a digital approach to all of our health service modernization, which will help ensure alignment between the ministry’s and our partners’ priorities.
Mike Heenan, who recently joined the ministry as Assistant Deputy Minister, Hospitals and Emergency Services, will add health capital to his new division, now named the Hospitals and Capital Division (HCD). Mike’s experience in the hospital sector positions him well to take on this role. With this division we will now have a full picture of the hospital sector in one place, including the operational impact of capital investments to support the government’s strategy to end hallway healthcare.
Patrick Dicerni’s Strategic Policy and Planning Division will be renamed the Strategic Policy, Planning and French Language Services Division (SPPFLSD) and will provide centralized and coordinated support for the sector’s French language services. In addition, Patrick will also provide leadership to the Drugs and Devices Division on a temporary basis pending a formal recruitment.
Given these new supports and realignments, the French Language Services Office will move to the Health Equity Branch, SPPFLSD, where it will continue to provide strategic advice on the French Language Services Act. The Health Equity Branch will be renamed the Indigenous, French Language and Priority Populations Branch. The Community, Mental Health Addictions and French Language Services Division (CMHAFLSD) will be dissolved. The division’s remaining branch, Primary Health Care, will be moved to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan Division (OHIPD). This realignment will provide the expertise to achieve better health outcomes and maximize the value of the provincial investment in the health care system.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you in advance for your partnership and collaboration. Today’s announcement will ensure we are ready to work with you on the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Helen Angus