Ways to Use Your Year-End Funds in Your Efforts to Improve

Hello EDs, It’s March Madness year-end spending time again! Here are 2 ways to use your surplus to support your efforts to improve. They come to us from your fellow AFHTO members who have had good success in using them to connect with patients, standardize data and otherwise improve care. If you have suggestions about other tools that your peers could consider for year-end spending, please let us know and we’ll pass the word on. In the ‘can’t hurt, might help’ department, please see attached template for reporting on the QIDSS contribution to your teams. Teams involved in QIDSS partnerships (i.e. hosts or partners) may find it useful to include this in their annual operating plan submission to further demonstrate to MOHLTC the value and impact of the local and central investments in the QIDS program. Carol

Easier, more secure and more efficient e-connecting with patients

Are you interested in an automated tool to connect with patients (for surveys, reminders, announcements) by phone or email (your and their choice)? There are several tools that are tried and tested by AFHTO members across the province (i.e. beyond the North East!) with 3 of the most common EMRs (PSS, Accuro, OSCAR). A good example is Cliniconex, part of an AFHTO pilot 2 years ago and still used in some teams.

• Contact Lori Oswald (Manitoulin FHT) for more information about how it can help your team or Bryn Hamilton (AFHTO) for data sharing templates developed in partnership with Kate Dewhirst (lawyer) on behalf of all AFHTO members
• Approximately $500 to start plus $0.50 per patient contact (prices may fluctuate; confirm directly with Cliniconex)

Quicker patient check in, pre-screening for falls and other issues PLUS better quality EMR data

Do you want an easier way to book patients into your clinics or get good quality patient data about things like risk of falling, mental health or smoking cessation or both or even more? MANY of your AFHTO peers are having success in these areas with Ocean by CognisantMD

• Ocean provides a secure pathway allows teams to connect with patients where THEY are (e.g. at home), improving patient-centeredness and it works with 3 of the most common EMRs (PSS, Accuro and OSCAR).
• The teams of the Northeast are making this the standard for all teams in their LHIN. Contact Judy Miller to find out how they are making this happen.
• Variety of pricing schemes, depending on whether you already have tablets and one or more Ocean services already