The Archipel Ontario Health Team is a partner in your health. Patients, clients, families and caregivers play an important role in all our committees and working groups. Your lived experience is fundamental to the planning and implementation of a healthcare network by and for its users.

In 2021, our Ontario Health Team signed the Patient, Family and Caregiver Declaration of Value for Ontario. This underscores the importance we place on these values in our actions and decisions:

• Accountability
• Empathy and compassion
• Equity and engagement
• Respect and dignity 
• Transparency

This declaration is a commitment to provide services in a collaborative manner focused on patients, clients, their families and caregivers. Our partnerships and co-design activities with our client-partners are aimed at improving the care experience and advancing the Ontario Health Team model. For more information, visit the province’s Patient, Family and Caregiver Declaration of Value Statement for Ontario.

Lived experience refers to knowledge acquired as a result of a personal situation related to mental, physical or social health issues or problems with the healthcare system. Your experience may be lived as a patient, family member or caregiver. 

Lived experience doesn’t just focus on a patient’s clinical experiences. It also encompasses their emotions, thoughts, obstacles and challenges, and the coping mechanisms of their entire healthcare journey. These experiences can provide the information needed to help improve our policies, practices, programs and healthcare system.

Do you receive health care or use community services? Are you a caregiver? Are you passionate about improving your healthcare system? Did you know that you can play an important role in planning our healthcare system?