In June 2008, the Ontario government tasked Health Quality Ontario with measuring and reporting to the public on the quality of long-term care and resident satisfaction. In December 2008, Health Quality Ontario was tasked with measuring and reporting to the public on the quality of home care services and client satisfaction with these services.

On June 8, 2010, The Excellent Care for All Act was passed in the legislature expanding Health Quality Ontario’s role and mandate. The functions of Health Quality Ontario are:

(a) to monitor and report to the people of Ontario on,

(i) access to publicly funded health services,

(ii) health human resources in publicly funded health services,

(iii) consumer and population health status, and

(iv) health system outcomes;

(b) to support continuous quality improvement;

(c) to promote health care that is supported by the best available scientific evidence by,

(i) making recommendations to health care organizations and other entities on standards of care in the health system, based on or respecting clinical practice guidelines and protocols, and

(ii) making recommendations, based on evidence and with consideration of the recommendations in subclause (i), to the Minister concerning the Government of Ontario’s provision of funding for health care services and medical devices

 

Section 5 of the Act requires Health Quality Ontario to deliver a yearly report to the Minister on the state of the health system in Ontario, and any other reports required by the Minister.