FAQ’s

Addressing frequently asked questions

As we work towards becoming an OHT together with our partners, we have developed some Frequently Asked Questions. We hope our communities find these helpful, and we plan to add to them as our journey progresses. We understand there may be more questions that aren’t yet listed below.

Please email [email protected] and we will do our best to capture questions that come in and provide answers if we are able.

1. What will a Downtown East Toronto OHT do and who is involved?
   The vision for an OHT in the Downtown East Toronto is to provide our community with seamless access to inclusive, inspired, and responsive care through one connected system of diverse providers who enthusiastically embody a holistic approach to improving health and health outcomes.
   
   The team is focusing its efforts on improving access and coordination of care for two distinct priority populations: 1) people experiencing homelessness and 2) adults with mental health and addiction diagnoses in the Downtown East Toronto catchment area.
   
   
2. How is the Downtown East Toronto catchment area defined?
   Ontario Health Teams will provide a full and coordinated continuum of care to a defined population of Ontario residents and will be accountable for the health outcomes and health care costs of that population. This defined population is made up of people seeking services in Downtown East Toronto. This includes people who reside in general catchment area bordered to the north by St. Clair Ave. E and to the south by Lake Ontario, as well as to the west by Bathurst St. and to the east by Pape Ave., and those seeking services from outside of the Downtown East Toronto.
   
   
3. How does a patient/client become connected with an OHT? Will they be able to sign up with a team and how will this happen?
   Accessing all healthcare and/or community care services remains “business as usual.” People can continue to access care from their existing care providers as they always have, and will still be able to choose who provides their care. They can continue to contact their healthcare providers as usual to access the health care they need.
   
   
4. Does a patient/client have to be experiencing homelessness, be an adult with a mental health/addiction diagnoses, or live in Downtown East Toronto to receive care and benefit from the proposed Downtown East Toronto OHT?
   No. Although the focus on people experiencing homelessness and adults with mental health and addiction diagnoses, the team provides inclusive care to all communities. It will also broaden its areas of focus to other populations in subsequent years. We will continue to learn and collaborate to inform how the system will work to serve all patients/clients. You do not have to live in Downtown East Toronto to be cared for by the partner organizations or to benefit from the connectivity of the system being built.