Clinical and Quality Standards

Developed in collaboration with patients, physicians, nurses, other clinicians, caregivers, and organizations across the province, quality standards are intended to achieve four main goals. The goals are to help:

• Patients, residents, families and care partners know what to discuss about their care with their health care professionals
• Health care professionals offer the highest-quality care based on the best available evidence
• Health care organizations and professionals measure, reflect on their practice and improve the quality of their care
• Health system planners create the environment for health care professionals and organizations to deliver quality care

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Quality standards are distinct because they are:

• Concise: they are five to 15 clearly written statements versus sometimes the many dozens or even hundreds that appear in many clinical practice guidelines.
• Accessible: they are developed for health care professionals and organizations to easily know what care to provide, and for patients to know what to discuss about their care with their health care professionals.
• Measurable: each statement is accompanied by quality indicators so health care professionals and organizations can track the progress of their efforts against the standard.
• Implementable: they come with quality improvement tools and resources targeted to each standard.

Quality standards are designed to improve care in Ontario and target priority areas in need of improvement. With their associated recommendations for adoption, quality standards provide the blueprint to enable the health care system in Ontario to work better, facilitate smooth transitions, and ensure patients receive the same high-quality care, regardless of where they reside..