Family Health Teams are an important part of changing both the health care system and the way people think about health care. Family Health Teams will focus more on preventing illness and promoting health. They will look at the best ways to manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes and depression. Family Health Teams will provide care that is more accessible and comprehensive. They will give patients the opportunity to be more involved in making decisions about their own health.

Since April, 2005, the Ontario government has approved 150 Family Health Teams across the province. The Hamilton Family Health Team is the largest, serving approximately 250,000 people and was built on the “platform” of the H-W HSO Mental Health and Nutrition Programme.