Other committees

and working groups

Working together. For a better healthcare system.

The Archipel Ontario Health Team (OHT) is working to build an integrated healthcare system to better serve the people of Ottawa East and Prescott-Russell. We have established committees and advisory groups to address priority issues and populations. These committees and groups report to the Executive Committee.

Advisory committees

Members of the advisory committees are individuals representing various professions and sectors of community services, as well as users of the healthcare system. These committees address issues that affect patients and their families, as well as the organization of care and professional life. 

  • Navigation

    Mandate of the Navigation Advisory Committee


    The Navigation Advisory Group's mandate is to fully understand the obstacles that hinder navigation as well as the solutions that promote better organization, coordination and integration of related functions and activities. The ultimate goal is to improve the navigation experience through a more human, flexible and efficient approach.



    Membership of the Navigation Advisory Committee


    The 16-member provider-based navigation “champions” also include two patient representatives as well as equal representation between urban and rural regions. The multi-hierarchical membership represents the following sectors:


    • Acute and continuing care 
    • Home care and community support services 
    • Mental health and addictions 
    • Primary and community care 

    Responsibilities of the Navigation Advisory Committee


    • Review organizational processes and structures, and provider relationships to help bring change in critical aspects of the current system. 
    • Improve knowledge of individual and collective perceptions and understanding relative to what navigation is including who does it, how, when, and where.   
    • Identify and implement the most effective navigation-related improvements and strategies through a change management approach and solutions anchored in people and systems.

    Activities and Achievements of the Navigation Advisory Committee


    The Navigation Advisory Group usually meets on a monthly basis, cooperates with other committees and consults with subject-matter experts on a regular basis. 


    • Development and launch of the Archipel Navigation and Referral Network. Thanks to the portal designed by Caredove, it is now easier to find the care and services offered by more than 30 partner organizations. Read a news story on the launch of the Archipel Navigation Network.
    • Engagement and contribution of over 35 partners from all sectors representing both rural and urban providers in the co-design of a Navigation Change Management Toolbox. 
    • Holding of a variety of co-design consultations, working sessions with subject matter experts, over 40 one-on-one sessions with partner-providers, as well as multiple brainstorming sessions with East Region OHT navigation leads. 
    • Focus on “people-side” of navigation and the individual and collective roles in generating a navigation experience whereby access and transitions of care and services are more coordinated and integrated.

    If you would like to get involved in patient and family advocacy, but don’t want to be a committee member, you could participate on an occasional basis by completing surveys or joining a discussion group on a particular topic. To see other opportunities, visit For Patients and Families > Get involved.



  • Digital Health

    Mandate of the Digital Health Committee


    The mandate of the Digital Health Committee is to support the adoption of new digital practices and technologies that enhance the experience of patients and care providers. The committee also aims to expand access to virtual options to improve population health, increase value and promote health equity.



    Composition of the Digital Health Committee


    The 10 members of the committee are “champions” of Digital Health within their organizations and within Archipel. The common goal is to support the fulfillment of a modern, fully interconnected healthcare system. 



    Committee members represent these sectors and groups:

    • Hospital environment 
    • Community services 
    • Primary care 
    • Representatives from Ontario Health East 

    Responsibilities of the Digital Health Committee


    • Provide a forum for strategic direction, sharing best practices and identifying digital health needs and priorities.  
    • Discuss funding opportunities and prepare bids. 
    • Contribute to the implementation and evaluation of policies and procedures as well as data governance (information management, privacy protection). 
    • Collect, use and share information to achieve better patient care and outcomes.

    Activities and achievements of the Digital Health Committee


    • The Digital Health Committee usually meets once a month. The committee facilitates a discussion panel and implements various projects in collaboration with other committees or partners.  
    • Development of the Digital Health Journey to define major orientations and priorities, involve target populations and produce results.


Working Groups

Working groups address issues affecting priority populations through projects aimed at improving access to care and services. These working groups are mandated by the Archipel Ontario Health Team (OHT) Executive Committee.


Responsibilities of working groups

  • Plan and facilitate service transformation to improve the continuum of care for their priority populations.
  • Identify issues, gaps and resource shortages that put the achievement of transformation objectives at risk, and propose solutions.
  • Collaborate with other Archipel working groups and committees to align initiatives.
  • Ensure alignment with quality standards and best practices of organizations such as Health Quality Ontario and the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.
  • Link clinical transformation to digital health initiatives.
  • Include the elements of Ontario Health's Quintuple Aim and performance measures in the planning of initiatives.
  • Meet the needs of care providers, clients and their families, and Archipel OHT member organizations. 
  • Lead sub-groups required to operate the Workgroup.


  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

    Mandate of the COPD Working Group


    The mandate of the COPD Working Group is to develop solutions to ensure the continuum of care for the population affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. 



    Composition


    The COPD Working Group includes 10 to 12 members from sectors such as palliative care programs, screening and diagnostic programs, lung health, and family health teams.



    COPD Working Group activities and achievements

    • Development of early detection tools in collaboration with two family health teams. These tools can be used to identify COPD patients who need spirometry, as well as additional treatment and lung health services.
    • Mapping of the programs and services available for COPD treatment and education to better refer partners and patients and improve self-efficacy in disease management.

    How to become a member of the COPD Working Group


    COPD Working Group members are appointed for a two-year term. Vacancies, if any, are posted below. 



    If you would like to get involved in patient and family advocacy, but don’t want to be a committee member, you can participate on an occasional basis by completing surveys or joining a discussion group on a particular topic. To see other opportunities, visit For Patients and Families > Get involved.


  • Mental Health and Addictions (MHA)

    Mandate of the Mental Health and Addictions (MHA) Working Group


    The mandate of this working group is to coordinate and facilitate access to mental health and addiction services while recognizing and respecting community diversity. The group must take into account Aboriginal peoples, racialized communities and Francophones in the planning, diversity and quality of services offered. 



    Composition of the MHA Working Group


    The group includes managers, Team Leads and technical or subject-matter experts involved in improvement initiatives, as well as representatives of priority populations.

    • 1–2 family health team representatives  
    • 1–2 family physician representatives 
    • 1–2 client partners 
    • Member of the Planning Team or Transformation Office 
    • Other champions or content experts 
    • One or more members of the Digital Health Committee 

    The partner organizations are:

    • Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)  
    • Plantagenet Family Health Team 
    • Centre Le CAP 
    • Montfort Renaissance 
    • Ottawa Salus 
    • Hôpital Montfort  
    • Hawkesbury and District General Hospital

    Activities and achievements of the MHA Working Group


    Implementation of the memory reconsolidation therapy project in September 2023

    • This project is aimed at patients in the Montfort Hospital emergency room who are at risk of, or have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Reconsolidation Therapy is an innovative approach that combines five to six sessions of psychotherapy with the use of a drug, propranolol, to treat the disorder. 
    • The aim of the project is to match at-risk clients with mental health services before they leave the Montfort emergency department, using the AccessMHA platform. 
    • A dozen clinicians have been trained to offer this form of psychotherapy. Reconsolidation therapy influences the reconsolidation of memories associated with the traumatic event, thereby reducing distress and the negative impact on the person’s daily life. Consultations are free of charge. Read a news story on reconsolidation therapy.

    How to become a member of the MHA Working Group


    Members of the MHA Working Group are appointed for a two-year term. Vacancies, if any, are posted below. 



    If you’d like to get involved in patient and family advocacy, but don’t want to be a committee member, you could participate on an occasional basis by completing surveys or joining a discussion group on a particular topic. To see other opportunities, visit For Patients and Families > Get involved.