Target Audience & Estimated Reading Time: Member organization leaders | 3 minutes
Why it matters
Image: Barb Major-McEwan (Executive Director, Clinton Family Health Team) and Robin Spence Haffner (Executive Director, Listowel-Wingham & Area Family Health Team) accepting the AFHTO Bright Lights Award for the HPA-OHT Accreditation Collaborative.
The Huron Perth & Area Ontario Health Team (HPA-OHT) Accreditation Collaborative has been awarded the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO) Bright Lights Award for “Governing with Integrity: Navigating Conflict, Power, and Accountability.”
This award celebrates the impact of a unique partnership where eleven organizations across six sectors are working together to harmonize standards, improve quality, and embed equity throughout the healthcare system.
It marks a transformative shift of moving beyond siloed approaches toward system-wide integration that prioritizes patient care and community well-being.
Dig deeper
The HPA-OHT Accreditation Collaborative is the first initiative in Canada to approach accreditation through a multi-governed model.
Why we are celebrating:
- The Collaborative earned Accreditation Canada’s highest rating, meaning every partner met rigorous standards, including Required Organizational Practices and sector-specific standards.
- The Collaborative harmonized 20 critical policies covering governance, leadership, medication management, and infection prevention and control.
- The Collaborative has standardized evaluations for board members and meetings, reflecting a commitment to consistent governance and quality of leadership.
- Accreditation Canada commended the Collaborative for advancing a new integrated regional survey model, being a significant achievement in a province without regional health authorities.
Participating organizations:
- Alzheimer Society Huron Perth
- Clinton Family Health Team
- Community Living North Perth
- Happy Valley Family Health Team
- Huron Health System
- Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance
- Knollcrest Lodge
- Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance
- Listowel Wingham and Area Family Health Team
- ONE CARE Home and Community Support Services
- West Perth Village
- Huron Perth and Area Ontario Health Team
Award recipients were selected through a rigorous review process by AFHTO’s Awards Committee based on impact, collaboration, innovation, scalability, and leadership.
Watch the Video: AFHTO Bright Lights Award Presentation
Next steps
This achievement is more than a celebration; it’s an opportunity to recognize how our Collaborative is redefining healthcare excellence across our region.
The Collaborative remains committed to continuous quality improvement through refining governance and quality standards and expanding membership over the four-year accreditation journey.