Overview

We’re appointing Ontario’s first Patient Ombudsman. This new ombudsman will ensure the voices of patients and caregivers at hospitals, long-term care homes and Community Care Access Centres (CCAC) are heard.

The Ombudsman’s work will complement the efforts of organizations in Ontario that handle complaints, including the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Health Services Appeal and Review Board.

Consultation results

In July and August, through an online survey, we asked you to tell us what qualities you feel are most important in a Patient Ombudsman. We wanted to hear your thoughts on the personality traits, skills and experience the new ombudsman should possess.

Personality Traits

The 20 most frequently mentioned personality traits were:

  1. compassion
  2. empathy
  3. integrity
  4. knowledge of the health care system
  5. good listener and communicator
  6. trust
  7. understanding
  8. composure
  9. calm
  10. patient
  1. tenacious
  2. respectful
  3. patient-centred
  4. honest
  5. lived experience
  6. sensitive to the needs of diverse communities
  7. fair
  8. professional
  9. problem-solver
  10. advocate

Skills

Ontarians were asked: What is the most important skill for an Ontario Patient Ombudsman to possess?

pie chart showing the skills related results that follow
  • 76.7% said: can investigate facts and details to reveal the sources of a problem and enable its solutions
  • 9.1% said: can connect with decision makers in the health care system
  • 5.8% said: can develop clear recommendations based on large amounts of complex information
  • 4.9% said: can find peaceful solutions to disagreements
  • 3.6% said: can explain complex ideas in non-technical language

Out of a list of five key skills, the top three skills you want the Patient Ombudsman to have are:

  1. Can investigate facts and details to reveal the sources of a problem and enable its solutions
  2. Can connect with decision-makers in the health care system
  3. Can develop clear recommendations, based on large amounts of complex information

Experience

Ontarians were asked: What is the most important experience for an Ontario Patient Ombudsman to possess?

pie chart showing the experience related results that follow
  • 47% said: has handled patient or customer concerns
  • 26.6% said: has worked as a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional
  • 13.4% said: has spoken or written on behalf of a patient in a hospital
  • 6.8% said: has worked as a lawyer / in a job that requires deep understanding of the law
  • 6.2% said: has worked as a manager or administrator in a hospital

Out of a list of five key experiences, the top three you want the Patient Ombudsman to have are:

  1. Has handled patient or customer concerns
  2. Has worked as a doctor, nurse or other health care professional
  3. Has spoken or written on behalf of a patient in a hospital

Recruitment process

A formal search is now under way for Ontario’s first Patient Ombudsman. All of your responses will help us during this process.

Thank you for your interest in helping to recruit Ontario’s first Patient Ombudsman.

What you need to know

Some parts of the Patient Ombudsman role have already been set out in law and were not the focus of this consultation process. For example:

  • what the Ombudsman can investigate
  • who the Ombudsman can investigate
  • when the Ombudsman may exercise his or her powers
  • who will appoint and employ the Ombudsman
  • how long the Ombudsman will remain in office

Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. Responses provided remain anonymous and confidential. If personal information was provided to us through this website, we have handled it according to our Privacy Statement. If you have any questions about this public consultation, please feel free to contact ECFAA@ontario.ca.