On Thursday June 21, 2018, leaders in Ontario’s community-based mental health and addictions sector came together for a knowledge exchange event on the use of Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN) in quality improvement to support client recovery.
The symposium included individuals from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), community partners, service providers, and people with lived experience and was supported by Excellence for Quality Improvement (E-QIP). Participants met to hear presentations on how different organizations are undertaking innovative quality improvement projects using OCAN, as well as learning from researchers who are currently analyzing OCAN data to improve systems planning and health policy.
Attendees ended the day by participating in a deliberative dialogue exercise to understand the challenges and benefits of engaging with various aspects of OCAN from the perspective of different players in the mental health and addictions system. The feedback from this dialogue helped identify key priority areas for OCAN improvement, and is expected to inform future reiterations of the tool.
As an active member of the network of partners that utilize OCAN, CMHA Ontario recognizes the importance of the tool in determining client need and tracking the recovery journey. CMHA Ontario supports its continued improvement and use in the province’s community mental health and addictions sector.
Read more about the OCAN in our latest issue of Network magazine.