Interprofessional Care: A Blueprint for Action - HealthForceOntario

The health care system is gradually being
transformed to ensure that the patient is at the
centre, delivery is timely, care is safe, continuity is
maintained and access is guaranteed. For example,
the creation of Family Health Teams is making it
easier for patients to gain access to primary care
services. Team-based models to reduce wait times
for surgeries is another innovative approach to
care. Organizations and care delivery agencies
and settings are being held accountable for service
delivery and performance and are working with
Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) to
integrate and manage care within communities.
Figure 1.1 shows how interprofessional care can
be incorporated into current health care system
renewal initiatives to help enhance patient care.
Page 12 Interprofessional Care: A Blueprint for Action
In Ontario, numerous initiatives grounded in the
concept of interprofessional care have already been
undertaken. Primary care reform had its genesis
in the need to create team-based approaches to
enhance the patient care experience, and a series of
guides supporting interprofessional collaborative
team practice have been developed for Family
Health Teams. These guides include descriptions
of how the different roles and responsibilities of
health professionals can be integrated to enhance
assessment, treatment, management, education,
referrals and resources for patients. 6 In addition, a
key focus of the LHINs is to enhance the seamless
care delivery processes for patients as they move
between sectors (e.g., patients moving from a
hospital to a rehabilitation centre and then home).
Figure 1.1 Enablers for Ontario Health Care and Education Systems
Note: CCAC denotes Community Care Access Centre; FHT, Family Health Team; IPC, Interprofessional Care; LHIN, Local Health
Integration Network.