Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA)

Background – the Ontario HEIA

History

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has developed a Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) tool to advance quality and equity in health care service design and delivery. The Ontario HEIA was developed based on a breadth of evidence including; research literature; inter-jurisdictional scanning; and key informant interviews.

HEIA has already been successfully integrated into a number of international health systems including England, Wales, New Zealand and Australia. HEIA is also used and promoted by the World Health Organization.

Collaborative

Between 2009 and 2010 MOHLTC partnered with the North East, Toronto Central and Waterloo Wellington LHINs to conduct regional pilots and gather further input on the tool. The response to HEIA was overwhelmingly positive and participants provided constructive feedback that was used to further refine HEIA, ensuring a simple and user-friendly design. Here are some examples of how this input that was incorporated :

• Increased user-friendliness
• Creation of a companion workbook
• More seamless integration of social determinants of health (SDoH)
• Improved HEIA implementation plan

Feedback from participants also helped us to better understand the type of support and ongoing collaboration that is necessary to ensure effective integration of HEIA. Moving forward MOHLTC continues to work collaboratively with all LHINs to advance regional implementation and support provincial and local HEIA communities of practice.

Alignment

HEIA supports and is aligned with key priorities, decision-making frameworks and legislation including the Excellent Care for All Act, 2010 (ECFA). Equity is a critical component of quality care, and HEIA is a clear and consistent way to support the delivery of quality care at the right place, at the right time.  Learn More