the association of ontario health centres: the provincial association for community governed primary...

The Association of Ontario Health Centres:

The Provincial Association for Community Governed Primary Health Care

An Introduction

September 2014

Association of Ontario Health Centres 2

Who is AOHC

• AOHC is the voice of community governed primary care

• We are your voice at provincial tables ensuring you have the policies and resources to improve the health of the people and communities you serve

• AOHC incorporated in 1982 - 32 years ago.• We hold an annual conference to bring our

members together to work on common issues.


All our members are community governed

– 75 or 100% of Community Health Centres (CHCs)

– 10 or 100% of Aboriginal Health Access Centres (AHACs)

– 15 Community Family Health Teams (CFHTs)– 13 Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics (NPLCs)

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AOHC Vision4


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AOHC Mission

As the voice of community governed primary health care, AOHC works:1. To promote healthy public policy.2. To advocate for the elimination of systemic

barriers to health.3. To promote system-wide innovations in primary

health care.4. To support our members.5. To advocate for the protection and improvement

of Medicare.

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Values and Principles that unite us:

• Highest Quality Health and Wellbeing• People and Community Centred• Health Equity and Social Justice• Community Vitality and Belonging


Model of Health & Wellbeing8

Attributes:• Accessible• Anti-oppressive and

culturally safe• Interprofessional,

integrated and Coordinated

• Based on the Determinants of Health

• Community-Governed• Ground in a Community

Development Approach• Accountable and Efficient.


Health Equity Charter

“We will be bold, strategic and relentless.”

• A commitment to action by the AOHC and its members to recognize and confront barriers to equitable health.


AOHC Strategic Plan: 2012-201510


Strategic Direction #1: Healthy Public Policy• Advancing health equity, healthy public policy and the

elimination of systemic barriers to health• Examples:

– Advocating for affordable, accessible oral health– Poverty as a determinant of health: advocating for improvements

to minimum wage, social assistant rates, assisted housing– Shifting the conversation to health and wellbeing using the

Canadian Index of Wellbeing– Advocating for policies for Refugee health– Advocating for a program and funds for Healthcare for Migrant

Farmworkers– In partnership, developing a rural health strategy


Strategic Direction #2: Quality Primary Healthcare

• Champion equitable people and community-centred quality primary health care that fulfills its mandate as the foundation of the health system.

• Examples:– Influencing the need for Population needs based planning– Influencing and participating in Healthy Kids Strategy– Supporting our members in Quality Improvement Plans– Reporting and monitoring the Six Commitments– Working with members to increase panel size (number of

people seen by NPs and MDs)


Strategic Direction #3:Integrated and Coordinated

• Promote comprehensive, integrated, coordinated health and social services

• Examples:– Support members in Health Links– Ensure policies and funding is in place for system

navigation with social services and care for people who need it.

– Ensure members data is connected to health system so they can track clients (i.e. connecting to labs and hospitals)


Enabling Direction #1: Supporting Member Centres

• Support members to build capacity to continuously improve the quality and efficiency of their services.

• Examples: – Advocating for:

• Retention and Recruitment Strategies (compensation)• Capital funds and policies• Operational funds (base increases, funds for IM)• Appropriate M-SAA and funding agreements

– Deploying a common EMR to CHCs, AHACs and some NPLCs– Providing NPLC governance training– Providing education and professional learning groups for staff


Enabling Direction #2: Research and Evaluation

• Lead and participate in data-driven, evidence informed research and evaluation initiatives to assess the impact of the model of health and well being on client and community outcomes.

• Examples of studies underway:– Complexity of Care studies– Practice profile data– Cost modelling– Team Study


Enabling Direction #3: Strengthening AOHC• AOHC will ensure it is sufficiently resourced, aligned

with partners and positioned in the larger health and political environment to be an effective leader in community-governed primary health care.

• Examples– Strong committed staff

• Talent Map• Review Performance Appraisals

– Ensure proper Risk management– Refresh AOHC IT strategy– Robust financial strategy


AOHC’s Board: Total 16 Directors

• 10 elected by regions• 1 elected by Aboriginal constituency• 1 elected by Francophone constituency• 1 elected by CFHT constituency• 3 members at large elected by AGM.– NOTE: 1 member at large brings the voice of the

NPLCs to the Board.


The role of the AOHC Board

1. Be accountable to and represent our members and AOHC’s priority populations by proactively communicating and acting on your behalf and reporting back

2. Lead the organization: determine the strategic directions.3. Evaluate and monitor the organization4. Use a sound governance system

AOHC’s priority populations: Aboriginal peoples, Francophones, people living in poverty, racialized, new immigrants, rural, LGBT and people living with disabilities.


Engaging with our Members

1. Through your board members2. Through constituency meetings held 2 times per

year in your LHIN area3. Through Board to Board report issued 2 times

per year4. Through webinars (currently on an ad hoc basis)5. Through the Annual General Membership

meeting.


For more informationwww.aohc.org

http://www.aohc.org/

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