Member news: PSHSA webinar, quality standards related to opioids, mental health and more

AFHTO News

• Reasons to register for the AFHTO 2017 Conference today:

1. It’s now less than two weeks left to register at early bird price!
2. Hotel rooms more than 70% booked.
3. André Picard and Deputy Minister Bob Bell
4. So many Community of Practice meetings e.g. Physical Activity, EMR & IHP

• Have you seen our new Strategic Plan: 2017-2020 plan now released. Thank you to all our members whose support has been invaluable in furthering AFHTO’s commitment to be an advocate, champion, network and resource to support FHTs, NPLCs and other interprofessional models of care.

• Ministry of Labour (MOL) Safe at Work Ontario Initiative: The MOL has initiated their random site inspections of FHTs and CHCs to determine compliance with the OHSA and associated regulations. AFHTO has partnered with Public Services Health & Safety Association (PSHSA) to help our members get ready – our online Health & Safety Resources Webpage is now live!
• Missed the August health & safety webinar? By popular demand, we’re offering a second session on October 4^th (*you will need to enter password: AFHTO2)

•  Updated OHA rebate offer to enable HOOPP for AFHTO members: reduced membership rate for AFHTO members, PROVIDED THAT at least 60% of AFHTO members sign up by January 31, 2018 (reduced from 90%). Sign up before Oct. 31 to get two complimentary passes to HealthAchieve.

News Relevant to Primary Care

• Access to wait time information for surgeries and procedures now publicly available in one place: on the Health Quality Ontario website or  Ontario.ca/health.

• Incentives and disincentives for treating depression and anxiety in Ontario FHTs: update from the University of Toronto study in which members participated. Also a conference poster.

• OHIP+ update: The ministry is working with clinicians and other stakeholders regarding feedback and potential concerns including ensuring appropriateness of the formulary for children and youth, collaboration with private insurance to ensure seamless coverage and exceptional access program pre-approvals. To learn more, visit the  website or join the mailing list by emailing OHIPplus@ontario.ca.

Requests for Input and Resources for Patients and Teams

• Transition-Related Surgery (TRS) FAQ resource: a guide to the assessment and referral process for Ministry approval for OHIP funding, intended for persons considering transition-related surgery in Ontario and the people supporting them. Developed by the Trans Health Expansion Partnership: Sherbourne Health Centre, Rainbow Health Ontario, Women’s College Hospital, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

• ECHO Ontario Mental Health: members are invited to join a project aiming to build a virtual community of practice related to mental illness and/or addiction in primary care. Developed by CAMH and University of Toronto, the deadline to complete the first step of registration process (i.e., a registration survey) is Sep. 27, 2017. You can contact ECHO_ontariomentalhealth@camh.ca or call (416) 535 – 8501 x 30924.

• Feedback for quality standards related to opioids: Health Quality Ontario is developing three sets of quality standards related to opioids and wants to hear from you before Sep. 28, 2017.

• Ontario Health Regulators Launch New Website for Patients: one-stop gateway to the websites of all 26 health regulators in Ontario

Conferences and Events

• 12th Annual Dietitians of Canada Ontario FHT RD Conference, Sep. 28-29, 2017: last chance to register Friday, Sep. 22, 2017

• HQO Quality Improvement Plans – Sneak Peek for 2018-19, Sep. 27, 2017: register now

• Exceptional Access Program (EAP) Update – Focus Group for Nurse Practitioners, Sep. 29, 2017: register to learn about a new online service

• GLA:D (Good Life with osteoArthritis in Denmark) Canada Certification Courses: last one Sep. 23-24, 2017

• Office Gynecological Procedures in Family Medicine, Oct. 3, 2017: register now

• Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative and End-of-Life Care, Oct. 11, 2017: register now.

• Free Geriatric Mental Health (GeMH) Educational Activity, mid-October: visit our site to learn more

• Workplace Harassment Webinar Series, Oct. 12, 2017 – Jan. 19, 2018: register now.

• 2017 OCSA Conference, Oct. 18-19, 2017: register now.

• Health Quality Transformation 2017, Oct. 24, 2017: register now.

• 6th Annual Central LHIN Oncology Day for Primary Care Providers: New Frontiers, October 20, 2017: register now.