Moving Forward with Advocacy, FHT Contracts and Leadership Support

To: The leaders of AFHTO’s member organizations

Below are relevant highlights from recent meetings of AFHTO’s Executive Director Advisory Council (EDAC) and Physician Leadership Council: – Compensation Campaign Phase 2: Getting to 2012 Rates – FHT-MOHLTC Contract Renewal – Themes Across the Province – Supporting a Strong Foundation of Primary Care Leaders – Looking Forward: Care Coordination, Annual Operating Plans, AFHTO Strategic Planning Compensation Campaign Phase 2: Getting to 2012 Rates

• AFHTO, along with AOHC and NPAO, continues to call on the Ontario government to support primary health care interprofessional teams by investing an additional $130 million annually to bring our team members to the 2012 recommended wage rates.
• To address the next steps question, AFHTO will be holding a webinar on Wednesday, January 25^th from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm to talk about some of the strategies being deployed in Phase 2 of the compensation campaign. All team members including Board members are encouraged to attend.
• You can help! We encourage members to continue writing letters to the Ministers’ office.

FHT-MOHLTC Contract Renewal

• The Ministry is currently developing a principles document outlining the potential areas of change which is reflective of the input provided by members during the Leadership Session at the October 2016 AFHTO Conference. AFHTO is anticipating the following next steps:
  • AFHTO’s ED work group will review potential changes and provide further direction and feedback to the Ministry as needed (January)
  • Ministry/AFHTO joint webinar to review changes with AFHTO membership (TBD)
  • AFHTO will seek independent legal review on the draft contract utilizing the funds members voluntarily contributed to the Legal and Consulting Fund (February/March)
  • Current FHT-MOHLTC contracts will be extended to allow sufficient time to transition to the new contracts

Themes Across the Province:

•  As primary care enters a period of transition, AFHTO has been hosting free workshops in each LHIN region for EDs, Lead Physicians and Board members to identify how we can best prepare and navigate the changes ahead. (Workshops held in 7 of 14 regions to date…remaining regions to be scheduled shortly!)
•  Key themes we’re hearing:
  • Good Governance Matters – ensuring appropriate skill mix on boards and implementing sound governance practices is critical for strong stewardship of each organization and for primary care as a whole. Contact AFHTO if support is needed!
  • Not All LHINs Are Equal – there remains great opportunity for primary care organizations to shape what the future will look like. FHTs and NPLCs can – and are – further developing their relationships with their LHINs. If we truly want to influence change we need to stay informed, ensure a strong voice at the table and encourage involvement in sub-region leadership opportunities.
  • Measurement Is What We Do –  we have an opportunity to spearhead primary care measurement provincially and to measure the work we do in a meaningful and manageable way. We need to make sure the LHINs leverage the work of Data to Decisions (D2D) so we can transform the system and create a culture of quality across all of primary care.
  • Relationships Count – optimal performance is dependent upon FHTs/NPLCs working together as full collaborators within the interprofessional TEAM. At the same time, improving relationships across FHTs/NPLCs create empowerment and brings strength to the collective primary care voice.

Supporting a Strong Foundation of Primary Care Leaders We know the current climate poses some challenges – the lack of a Physician Service Agreement, uncertainty re the implementation of Bill 41, and the continued compensation inequity faced by FHTs/NPLCs is creating instability within the sector. Many teams are feeling undervalued. Morale across the primary care sector is worrisome. And engagement has become more difficult. Yet we still see tremendous leadership across FHTs/NPLCs. As a collective we continue to work toward system improvement because we know our patients deserve the wisdom and leadership primary care has to offer. AFHTO recognizes the need to assist EDs and clinicians and equip them with the skills and leadership support they require. In partnership with OCFP, AFHTO is targeting the development of a leadership program for physicians. Additional learning opportunities are also being explored, with input from EDAC and PLC to foster a strong foundation of primary care leaders. Have an idea or training request to support leadership? Let us know! Looking Forward: –  Care Coordination Table – our members spoke – transitioning care coordination resources to primary care – and the Ministry is listening. AFHTO has been invited to sit on a provincial committee along with AOHC, NPAO, RNAO, and OCFP, to look at how we can transition care coordinators into primary care. We will keep members informed as this important work progresses! –   Annual Operating Plans – We anticipate annual operating packages will be sent out by late February with submission back to the Ministry by late April. –   AFHTO Strategic Plan – AFHTO will be undergoing a strategic planning process this quarter and we’ll be seeking feedback from our leadership councils around the strategic priorities for the Association in the next 3 to 5 years. Stay tuned! –  Case Studies: Fostering FHT-Physician Team Work (coming soon) – AFHTO is developing a series of case studies to look at how a voluntary memorandum of understanding (MOU) can be utilized in a mutually beneficial way and be a positive, supportive tool for both FHTs and physicians to facilitate clear understanding and alignment of duties, roles and responsibilities; demonstrate appropriate attention to risk management considerations; and promote team culture.