OMA subsidiaries: An overview

OntarioMD (OMD) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the OMA that delivers digital health services and solutions to Ontario’s physicians. Critical to its mandate is OMD’s role in supporting physicians’ practices in the optimization and meaningful use of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and integrated digital health tools, including change management and peer support. OMD works to support the integration of digital health tools to speed up sharing of information across the health-care system. For instance, OMD’s flagship Health Report Manager (HRM^®) service facilitates the electronic delivery of lab test notifications, medical and diagnostic reports from 500+ hospitals and specialty clinic sites. Other digital health tools OMD has integrated with EMRs include the Digital Health Drug Repository, eConsult, eForms, and the Ontario Laboratories Information System (OLIS). Ontario Health funds OMD through an annual transfer payment to support its work. OMD does not receive any funds through members’ dues.

OMD runs the provincial EMR Certification Program, which sets the standards and requirements for EMRs to integrate with provincial digital health tools and monitors EMR vendors for ongoing compliance. The EMR Certification Program is the most comprehensive and longest running program of its kind in Canada.

OMD has a client services engagement team situated across the province to support physician practices in onboarding digital health tools, training them to use the tools and helping them incorporate the tools into their workflows. This group of digital health experts is complemented by a network of about 60 clinician peer leaders who mentor physicians in their use of EMRs and other digital health tools. OMD further supplements its training and educational offerings with comprehensive privacy and security training modules and resources, as well as an annual digital health conference and webinars on topics relevant to Ontario’s physicians.

Governance and accountability

OMD is governed by a nine member, skills-based board of directors. The OMD board provides financial and operational reports to the OMA board, and OMA board approval is required for material corporate or strategic changes. OMD’s leadership team, under CEO Robert Fox, supports the board in carrying out the organization’s mandate.

OMD is currently undergoing a full governance review.

OMD Board members

• Greg Athaide, chair
• David Daien, vice-Chair
• Zainab Abdurrahman (OMA board director)
• Rachel Bevan
• Debbie Fischer
• Kevin Glasgow
• Stephen Goldsmith
• Lucie Laplante
• Cynthia Walsh (OMA board director)

Recent achievements

OMD’s value has been highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic through the introduction of new virtual care resources and guidance to help physicians provide continuity of care. OMD was asked by the Ministry of Health to lead the training on COVaxON for primary care clinicians and assisted the ministry with physician staffing for the Ontario Virtual Care Clinic. HRM was mobilized to deliver thousands of COVID-19 vaccination reports to more than 13,000 clinicians. In 2021, OMD partnered with the OMA to create a virtual care privacy and security training program; OMD also commenced an advanced pilot of its Insights4Care population health management program, which highlights diagnostic indicators, contributing to better patient outcomes and significant future cost savings. Find out more about the impact of OMD’s work.

OMD’s services are increasingly in-demand as more physicians seek digital solutions, products and services to enhance operations, decrease their administrative burden and enhance patient care.

OMA Insurance (OMAI) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the OMA. Since 1956, ​OMAI has been an advocate for doctors, using the group buying power of well over half of Ontario physicians to provide medical professionals with the right insurance coverage at every stage of their careers. It is an insurance distribution agency operating on a not-for-profit basis. This allows it to provide a wide range of insurance and retirement solutions for physician members. ​​​​In January 2017, insurance operations, including group plans, were transferred to OMAI as a standalone organization. OMAI’s vision is to be the trusted choice for members' financial wellness through its non-commissioned staff who can provide objective advice and service.

Governance and accountability

OMAI is governed by an eight-member, skills-based board of directors comprised of a mix of OMA board members, the OMA CEO, OMA physician-members and industry experts. A vice-president of insurance reports directly to the OMA CEO.  The OMAI board utilizes OMA board committees such as FAC and GNC. It presents approved audited financial statements to the OMA on an annual basis as the sole shareholder of the organization. The OMAI board also refers material corporate or strategic decisions to the OMA board for approval.

OMAI Board members

• Susan Armstrong, chair
• Gordon Graham
• Robert Ritchie
• Anthony Knight
• Dr. Sanjay Acharya (OMA board director)
• Dr. Deepa Soni
• Dr. Audrey Karlinsky (OMA board director)
• Allan O’Dette (OMA CEO)

Learn more about the board.

Offerings

OMA provides Ontario’s physicians with a wide range of solutions to meet their needs including OMAI and the Advantages Retirement Plan™.

Learn more about how OMAI can protect your lifestyle, your assets and your business.

The Advantages Retirement Plan™ is a group retirement plan established exclusively for OMA members and their spouses or common-law partners, distributed by OMA Insurance Inc. It features a first-of-its-kind retirement income plan that offers low investment management fees, flexible contribution options and a guaranteed lifetime income option. Learn more about the plan and find out how to join.

Recent achievements

OMAI launched a repricing initiative for the long-term disability program in September 2021, resulting in a 95 per cent retention rate. Five per cent of members cancelled or changed to the OMA Disability program. New senior roles and new processes and technology have been added to enhance customer service. OMAI has achieved internal targets for service and outreach. The website has been updated to be more user friendly and legal revisions are scheduled for implementation later this year. Marketing and outreach efforts on the Advantages Retirement Program will continue in order to help Ontario’s doctors plan for retirement. 

The Ontario Medical Foundation is the charitable arm of the OMA established in 1967 to engage in charitable activities in the field of medicine.

Governance transformation

Transforming the OMF into a modern organization that serves the evolving needs of Ontario’s doctors and their communities has been a key priority for both the foundation and the OMA. Following a review of the OMF and decision by its board, work was initiated in 2020 to modernize governance and strategic priorities. The transformation was grounded in organizational goals aligned to the OMA. These goals include:

• Becoming a modern, well managed and successful philanthropic organization with a new and compelling case for support
• Supporting the brand of physicians, and the OMA goal of thought leadership 
• A mandate that unifies, to bring the physician voice into areas of social impact and to engage members differently
• Maintaining student bursaries. The OMF has built a strong program with dedicated donors and seeks to maintain and grow those relationships
• Engaging members and the public on causes with social impact

A new strategic plan was approved by the OMF board in February, 2021, with a mandate to engage and mobilize Ontario’s doctors to improve the lives of Ontarians through direct service, research, and advocacy.

At a meeting of members in March, 2021, updated bylaws were approved to enable the transformation of OMF to a modern philanthropic organization and a new skills-based board composition. The board is now comprised of nine directors (five physicians, three non-physicians and one OMA board director). The new board of directors began their terms on Oct. 1, 2021.

Governance and accountability

The foundation reports to its members which consist of both the current OMA board of directors and the OMF board of directors as ex-officio members.

OMF Board of Directors

• Albert Ng, president
• Alykhan Abdulla
• Sarah Bryson
• David Collie (OMA board director)
• Janet Lambert, vice-president
• Lisa Lefebvre
• Gilles LeVasseur
• Neil Maharaj
• Jo-Anne Sobie

Recent achievements

The OMF continues its Ontario Medical Student Bursary program and is also engaged in other initiatives that align to its mandate, such as the Shoebox Project and a COVID-19 campaign in the early days of the pandemic. Learn more about these programs, including how to support.