Developing a Technological Platform for Collection and Utilization of Patient Reported Data in Ontario Health Teams

Article type
Authors
Ghadban M1, Ankita A1
1University of Toronto
Abstract
Background:

Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) were recently introduced as an integrated healthcare delivery model that brings together different healthcare providers as one coordinated team. With 24 confirmed OHTs as of yet, this new model aims to eliminate the gaps and redundancies in our current model, and ultimately improve patient care. The OHT is designed to deliver a full and coordinated continuum of care in a defined geographical region which offers 24 hours access of care with an aim to improve performance. The aim of OHT is to provide better patient and population health outcomes, better user and provider experience and better value. It provides direction to integrate existing health care delivery models to teams.

The introduction of a new model of healthcare delivery brings with it questions on how to best evaluate this new model. Typically, this is done through patient reported data. However, we face a unique challenge: An integrated delivery model is novel in Ontario and there are no established tools to evaluate performance of such a model. While there are many barriers faced when collecting and utilizing patient reported data, the lack of adequate technology is at the root of these barriers.

Objectives:

Our aim is to develop a technological platform that will allow OHTs to collect patient reported data, and make use of it in improving care delivery and service model evaluation within an OHT and across all OHTs.

Methods:

Our approach utilizes an integrated knowledge translation process. First, gaps in existing technological platforms are identified by conducting a scoping review. These findings are then validated through a series of interviews with the stakeholders involved in collecting and utilizing patient reported data. These stakeholders include health care providers such as physicians, nurse practitioners, allied service, patients, caregivers and authorities. Finally, this data will be synthesized to propose the features that a new technological platform must have. The end product will be beta tested to ensure regulatory compliance and user friendliness.

Patient or healthcare consumer involvement:

Patients will be engaged through interviews and as design partners in developing the features required in our proposed Patient Reported Data Platform.