Ontario Hospitals Demonstrate Transparency, Accountability by Making Hospital Information Available to the Public

ONTARIO-WIDE, Jan. 3, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, hospitals across Ontario are proactively disclosing information that is of interest to the public, such as executive contracts, as a way of demonstrating transparency and their commitment to accountability among the communities they serve.

Ontario hospitals became subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) on January 1, 2012. Hospitals asked the Government of Ontario to extend FIPPA to the hospital sector in 2009. FIPPA will give Ontarians even greater access to information about their publicly-funded hospitals.

"Hospitals' decision to proactively disclose their key material signals a strong commitment to transparency, accountability, and the importance of building the trust and confidence among the people they serve," said Tom Closson, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA).

Like many other areas of hospital accountability - including Hospital Report and myhospitalcare.ca - Ontario hospitals have been a driving force behind the extension of FIPPA to their organizations and are embracing the new levels of openness that the legislation is bringing to their organizations.

Ontario hospitals also demonstrate accountability to their communities through:

• Reviews by the Auditor General of Ontario
  
• Accreditation by Accreditation Canada
  
• Publicly reporting patient safety indicators
  
• Hospital Service Accountability Agreements (HSAAs)
  
• Public reporting of wait times through Ontario's Wait Times Strategy
  

Hospitals will continue their efforts to improve transparency and accountability in the months and years ahead. PLEASE NOTE: Hospitals' executive contracts will be available on hospital websites, not at www.oha.com. The OHA is not in a position to speak to the details of any specific executive contract. Individuals with questions about a specific executive contract are encouraged to contact the relevant hospital for comment.

Amy Ouellette, OHA Public Affairs, 416-205-1433 or [email protected]