Your Weekly News & Updates
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How Lakelands FHT handled a positive COVID-19 result at their clinic
“In late March, Lakelands FHT discovered that there was a positive case at our Northbrook site. That resulted in the immediate closure of our building.
We all had to go home and finish 14-day periods of self-isolation. To our surprise, this meant having to distance ourselves from our own families, which was very difficult.”– Dr. Matt Dumas, Lead Physician, Lakelands FHT
COVID-19 provincial testing guidance update and more
The Ministry released a COVID-19 provincial testing guidance update as of Apr. 8. Also last week, we created a page Providing Comprehensive Care During COVID-19 which includes resources related to COVID-19 for providing comprehensive primary care.
We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:
- Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates– the original page, with news and Ministry situation reports (please note that the Ministry Situation Reports on COVID-19 are posted daily so review them to better understand the provincial response)
- COVID-19 assessment centres across Ontario (updated daily; members only per Ministry request)
- COVID-19 information for Patients, Caregivers and the Public
- Infection control resources and tools for primary care
- H+K Memos and Insight Notes on Government Press Releases
- Management and operations, human resources and COVID-19– updated English and French case definitions and a new directive as of Mar. 30
- Mental health and wellness during COVID-19
- Virtual Care, Digital Health and COVID-19
We’ll update these on a regular basis as we receive relevant resources, while trying to reduce duplication with other sources. We will continue to update the news page daily.
Business continuity toolkit for COVID-19 now available
On Thursday, April 9 we launched our business continuity toolkit, developed to help our teams plan for and adapt to the disruption of COVID-19. It can potentially be used for future pandemic disruptions as well.
Within the toolkit you will find tools and resources to help develop a plan for your own organization. A reminder to check the AFHTO website for templates your colleagues have developed if you are looking for tools you can adapt. Please also send us any materials you are developing so we can share with your colleagues as well.
Advance Care Planning Day (April 16): Approach to Goals of Care Conversations
Health can change without warning. That is more evident than ever in the COVID-19 reality.
We all need to help patients, their families and our health care providers have conversations that will lead to the care people need and want, reflecting their values and wishes.
HPCO, in collaboration with Speak Up Ontario, has been hosting a series of Physician Forums around goals of care and advance care planning for healthy and high-risk patients. Last week they hosted a Physician Forum entitled, “Conversations with your Patients during COVID Pandemic”. You can access all recordings (both past and present) using this link.
On National Advance Care Planning Day (April 16th) they will be co-hosting a Palliative Care and COVID-19 Forum on Approach to Goals of Care Conversations with the Ontario Medical Association from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Your feedback on the forum and recommendations for future webinar topics that you would like to see covered are welcome here.
- They have also created various Conversation Guides that you can use for specific clinical situations, found on Speak Up Ontario’s home page.
- You can also go to https://www.hpco.ca/ for more COVID-19 resources.
- Promotional materials for ACP Day are here.
Member renewal payments- accepting payments via Interac and EFT
As we mentioned several weeks ago, we understand members are focused on COVID-19 right now. Last week Ontario extended the state of emergency until April 23 and our building remains closed. If you plan to pay by cheque, please continue to hold.
However, we can still accept payments via Interac and EFT. We’ll provide another update as soon as we’re able to do so. Please contact info@afhto.ca for further information.
Update on the 2020/21 QIP submission deadline
Ontario Health (Quality) has decided to pause the 2020/21 QIP submission for now to allow organizations to focus their efforts on supporting their staff, their health care providers, and their communities to manage the treatment and containment of COVID-19.
If your QIP is near completion and you would like to submit, please proceed, as the QIP Navigator will remain open. They will continue to monitor this situation closely and will provide an update by the end of June. Please contact QIP@hqontario.ca if you have any questions or concerns.
CMHA Ontario and Mental Health Works Webinars – In response to COVID-19 pandemic, April 15-21, 2020
For health care professionals and workers: with topics relevant to both hospitals and clinics, as well as telehealth professionals and those who work to support patient outcomes, such as custodial staff, security professionals, and administrators.
1. Mental Health for Telehealth –April 15, 6-7 pm
2. Mental Health for Support Staff: Taking Care of Yourself – April 17, 6-7 pm
General Workplace Supports:
3. Being Mindful at Work (office and from home) –April 17, 10 – 11 AM; (FR) April 22, 1 pm
4. Isolation and Loneliness – April 21, 12 – 1 pm
ECHO Coping with COVID, April 15 & 17, 2020
These weekly webinars are for healthcare providers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic to share and learn about ways to build resilience and overall wellness. Learn more here.
Understanding Bronchiectasis Webinar, April 21, 2020
Learn more about this neglected pulmonary disease. By the end of this webinar, you will be able to help patients self-manage the disease and avoid the acquisition of nontuberculosis mycobacteria. Find out more here
The COVID-19 Pivots: April 15 & 16, 2020
Jon the upcoming CFPC COVID-19 Pivot webinars: Le virage COVID-19 : Adapter la pratique de médecine de famille aux soins virtuels on April 15, and Examining public health campaigns in the pandemic battle on April 16. Find the webinar links here.
Person-Centered Decision-Making Conversations Webinar, April 16, 2020
Gain awareness for Person-Centred Decision Making (PCDM) components and more with the Palliative Care CoP. Find out more here
When Video Isn’t an Option: Counselling via E-mail Chat and Phone, April 20, 2020
Learn how to maximize your text and phone-based counselling methods in this online training, hosted by the OASW. Learn more here.
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