The Government of Ontario is inviting people across the province to share the skills, experience and personality traits they would like to see demonstrated in the province’s first Patient Ombudsman. Starting July 7 until August 31, 2015, Ontarians are invited to help in the recruitment of Ontario’s first Patient Ombudsman by identifying which qualities they think are most important for the role in an online survey. This information will be used to guide the selection of Ontario’s Patient Ombudsman.
The Patient Ombudsman will help patients and their caregivers whose concerns have not been resolved through existing processes at hospitals, long-term care homes or community care access centres. Key roles of the Patient Ombudsman will include:
- Addressing complaints that are unresolved from current and previous hospital patients, long-term care home residents, community care access centre clients and their caregivers
- As needed, investigating health-sector organizations in response to unresolved complaints,
- Making recommendations to health-sector organizations after investigations.
“By hearing from patients directly about the qualities they want to see in their Patient Ombudsman, we can help ensure that the new Patient Ombudsman is the strongest possible representative for patients and their needs,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
To enhance the voice of patients in Ontario’s health care system, the province is also improving the patient relations process in hospitals. Although many public hospitals already have patient relations departments and processes, as of Sept. 1, 2015, all public hospitals will be required to have a staff member responsible for overseeing the patient relations process as well as other measures to improve patient relations.
For more information, visit the Government of Ontario website.