Ontario Hospital Association Sees Great Promise for Health Care
Transformation in Today's Throne Speech

TORONTO, March 8 /CNW/ - Today, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) welcomed the Government of Ontario's commitment to health care in the McGuinty government's "Open Ontario Plan" as outlined in today's Speech from the Throne.

"The OHA was delighted that the Government of Ontario has clearly signaled its intention to review and reform the Public Hospitals Act (PHA)," said OHA President and CEO, Tom Closson. "This review has the potential to bring our health care system into the 21st century, making it more accountable, transparent and safer."

The OHA, hospitals and other health care providers have called for PHA reform for years.

Other promising highlights from today's Throne Speech included continued commitment to emergency wait times, driving results in diabetes and eHealth, and measures to improve and clarify health system accountability.

"Overall, the Throne Speech featured great news for Ontarians, who want better access to safer patient care, and for hospitals, which have been working hard to improve the quality of patient services while also improving efficiency," Closson explained.

In addition to the explicit commitment to review the PHA, the OHA was pleased to see initiatives related to:

    
    -   the introduction of legislation to close legislative gaps and clarify
        the roles and responsibilities of hospital trustees and executives in
        driving better quality patient care and accountability;
    -   movement toward the use of a standardized formula when allocating
        health care funding; and
    -   a commitment to creating an independent expert advisory body to
        implement and disseminate best practice guidelines.
    

The OHA is encouraged by the Open Ontario Plan, and will work with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term care to better understand the details of today's speech, and to assisting them as they design and implement these initiatives.

For further information: Public Affairs at [phone]; Media Contact: Amy Ouellette, [phone], [email protected]