This article originally appeared in the Fall 2023 issue of the Ontario Medical Review magazine.
Three focus areas put physicians first
The OMA’s new strategic plan sets the future path for the organization to deliver member value and build confidence, while positioning the Ontario Medical Association to be a world-class medical association.
Endorsed by the board in August, we began working with Deloitte in the spring to develop the strategic plan. Member and stakeholder consultations, including focus groups, and input from the Priority and Leadership Group, networks and OMA subsidiaries, helped to identify key issues and trends. By harnessing the expertise of members, the new plan will enable us to advance solutions to some of the most pressing health-system challenges.
The strategic plan puts members at the heart of everything your association does to enhance doctors’ lives and the health of Ontario’s communities and people. The new plan finetunes the OMA’s work to drive us forward in a more integrated and strategic way. It positions the OMA as a modern organization by reinforcing the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization. It reinforces our ability to respond to disruptive health trends and emerging policies in a rapidly shifting environment.
The plan is divided into three separate but integrated areas of focus: members, the system and the organization. In each of these areas, member centricity is foundational.
The OMA will represent and advocate for the interests of members in competitive remuneration, working conditions and well-being.
The strategic plan puts members at the heart of everything your association does to enhance doctors’ lives and the health of Ontario’s communities and people.
The OMA will activate the voice and expertise of members. It will accelerate health-system changes through collaboration to enhance patient care.
The OMA will empower its people — both physician leadership and staff — to drive value and trust in every interaction with our members. It will invest in growing effective and influential system leaders.
The strategic plan will be operationalized through the annual cross-functional operating plan and budget process, which is expected to receive board approval by December 2023. The strategic direction will continue to be shaped by board and physician leader input until the end of this year.
Once approved, the strategy will be shared through broader member consultations in early 2024. It will be updated regularly to allow your association to keep pace with emerging issues and trends.
This visualization articulates the core strategic directions of the organization.
This work will be experienced in real-time when dozens of doctors from across Ontario travel to the legislature on Oct. 16 for the OMA’s Queen’s Park Day. Members will meet with ministers and MPPs to educate them on Prescription for Ontario: Doctor’s 5-Point Plan for Better Health Care.
This year’s focus will be on solutions to address issues in primary care, systemic physician burnout and expanding and integrating home and community-based care, as identified in the Prescription Progress Report 2023 released in May. We look forward to bringing the solutions, expertise and front-line experience of physicians to the legislature to improve our health-care system.
John Bozzo
OMA Chief Executive Officer