- “Nothing about me without me.” At the close of the AFHTO 2014 Conference, Dr Tia Pham, lead physician at the South East Toronto FHT, reminded the audience of these famous words on patient partnership from Don Berwick, founder of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
- “It’s the patient’s experience that counts.” Concluding comments from Dr Joshua Tepper, CEO of Health Quality Ontario and physician at the St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT, at the Bright Lights Awards dinner.
- “May I help you?” Advice from patient/caregiver advocate, Sandra Dalziel, for putting up a simple sign in clinics that communicate a critical message and core value to patients and staff.
- “Caregivers are the unpaid jewels of the healthcare system.” An important reminder from patient/caregiver advocate Sara Shearkhani, on the need to fully engage with them as key members of the patient’s team.
Close to 900 people took part in the AFHTO 2014 Conference – In Partnership with Patients: True Integration of Care.
Proceedings were opened by the Honourable Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins, who spoke to the key role FHTs and NPLCs are making in the transformation of Ontario’s health system. As he closed, he acknowledged the key challenge of recruiting and retaining staff in these organizations. “This is very much front of mind for me,” he told the audience, and AFHTO followed up with a media release to give public reinforcement to this need. Much of the Minister’s speech focused on one of the three core themes of his mandate – “Putting patients at the centre.” This theme ran throughout the conference from Dr. Sholom Glouberman’s thought provoking opening to the closing panel discussion – “In partnership with patients: How far have we come? How far must we go?” Themes of partnership shone throughout the conference with the 48 concurrent sessions; 74 poster presentations; 15 networking sessions for the various types of health professionals working in primary care teams; the leadership session attended by 200 executives, lead clinicians and board members from AFHTO member organization; and the 5 EMR User Sessions spearheaded by AFHTO’s communities of practice partnering with EMR vendors.
The AFHTO annual conference is the best learning and networking opportunity for people who work in and with family health teams, nurse practitioner-led clinics and others providing comprehensive, interprofessional primary care. Please help us to continue:
- Submit your evaluation survey: If you didn’t fill in the form at the conference, please take a moment to do so now.
- Book your calendar NOW for the next AFHTO conference on October 28-29, 2015, once again at the Westin Harbour Castle.
The value of the AFHTO 2014 Conference continues.
Click on the links below to access:
- Slide presentations from the concurrent session and poster gallery (updated 2024)
- Application for Certificate of Attendance
- Please complete and return the form to apply. This certificate may be used to apply for up to 10.25 CME Mainpro-M1 credits and maintenance of certification for Certified Canadian College of Health Leaders members for 4.75 Category II credits.
- Winners and photos from the AFHTO 2014 Bright Light Awards
- AFHTO Annual Report to the Members – October 2014
- Names and biographies of AFHTO’s newly-elected 2014-15 Board of Directors
Thanks once again to the volunteers who contributed to the success of the AFHTO 2014 Conference – speakers, working group members, program hosts, networking hosts, registration desk volunteers. Thank you as well to our sponsors and exhibitors. It’s truly an honour and pleasure to work with so many highly talented, enthusiastic and committed people across the AFHTO community. We look forward to seeing you next year – October 28-29, 2015!