Beginning today, until Aug. 31, 2015, people can go online to help recruit Ontario's first patient ombudsman by identifying which qualities they think are most important for the role.
The province will use this information to guide its selection of Ontario's patient ombudsman.
The patient ombudsman will assist patients and their caregivers who have not had their concerns resolved through existing processes at hospitals, long-term care homes or community care access centres.
Key functions of the patient ombudsman will include:
- Addressing unresolved complaints from current and former hospital patients, long-term care home residents, Community Care Access Centre clients and their caregivers;
- Investigating health-sector organizations in response to unresolved complaints, as necessary;
- And making recommendations to health-sector organizations following investigations.
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.