April 4th, 2011 – Health Quality Ontario (HQO), formerly the Ontario Health Quality Council (OHQC), is proud to join in the creation of the province’s preeminent organization responsible for promoting and advancing quality within Ontario’s healthcare system. HQO’s mandate was expanded by the government’s Excellent Care for All Act.
As a result, HQO will team up with provincial health quality champions the Centre for Healthcare Quality Improvement (CHQI), the Quality Improvement and Innovation Partnership (QIIP) and also bring the Ministry of Health and Long‐Term Care’s Medical Advisory Secretariat (MAS), Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee (OHTAC), and Ontario Health Technology Evaluation Fund under one single umbrella organization as HQO.
“HQO will now leverage some of the best and most talented healthcare experts in the province. Our mandate will drive the healthcare system to improve and create best practices and value for everyone in Ontario,” said Ben Chan, CEO of HQO. This new organization will coordinate, consolidate and strengthen the use of evidence based practice initiatives and technologies, support continuous quality improvement and continue to monitor and publicly report on health system outcomes.
Moving forward HQO’s mandate will include the recommendation of evidence‐informed care, continuous support for the adoption of standards of care among health care providers, and monitor and report on health system performance. The consolidation of this health quality infrastructure will increase accountability and build synergies amongst existing programs and allow the agency to focus on the patient’s entire care journey across all sectors.
As of April 1st HQO joined together these progressive organizations with the goal to support more efficient, patient‐centred care. For updates, visit www.hqontario.ca. For more information, please contact info@hqontario.ca or call 416‐323‐6868, ext. 221.