Integrated Care in Ontario: Unicorn or Black Swan?

The movement away from traditional models to organize, finance and deliver healthcare toward integrated models focusing on delivering value has been under way in many health systems and jurisdictions in the world with varying degrees of intensity and success for much of the past 20 years. I have had the opportunity to lead aspects of a multi-state health system committed to the concepts of accountable care during the first 10 years of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in the US. For the past two years, I have assumed the role as CEO of a large academic health sciences centre in Ontario as the province embarks on a shift in policies to support integrated models of care delivery similar to those associated with the PPACA. I will describe my observations comparing two countries' move toward integrated delivery models and potential lessons for Canada.