Ontario is calling for applications for 30 new Family Health Teams (FHTs), which will help increase access to family health care for Ontarians.  

New Family Health Team applicants will be selected from health care providers and/or community groups that can:

• Improve access and quality of family health care by attaching more patients who do not have a family doctor to one in their area

• Meet local patient needs and improve local service integration

• Demonstrate their ability to be operational within a reasonable timeframe and deliver services in a cost effective manner

• Support the provision of French language health services, where applicable

FHTs provide better access to care, closer to home with physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, dietitians and other health care providers working together in teams. FHTs also help to reduce emergency department use for non-emergency care.

The call for applications closes on June 25, 2010. The FHTs will be awarded in the summer of 2010. Adding these 30 FHT’s fulfills the government’s commitment to establish 50 new FHTs and bring the province-wide total to 200.

Today’s announcement is a key part of the government’s Open Ontario Plan to provide more access to health care services while improving quality and accountability for patients.