Your Weekly News & Updates
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Apply for Indigenous Midwifery Programs and Expanded Midwifery Care Models- webinar July 16
The Ministry of Health (ministry) and the Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM) are inviting applications for two programs – Indigenous Midwifery Programs and Expanded Midwifery Care Models. Both include team-based care options. See the memo here.
The Primary Health Care Branch is hosting a webinar on July 16, 2020. To participate, please send an email to midwifery@ontario.ca by 4pm tomorrow, July 15, 2020 noting contact information for interested participants and the ministry will reach out to those individuals with the webinar details.
Join our ED Mentorship Program!
Are you a leader with 3+ years of experience in a team-based primary care model? Are you interested in supporting new EDs in settling into their job? We are looking for EDs from different regions and working/funding models to join our ED Mentorship Program as mentors!
Mentoring is about supporting people to develop more effectively. It’s a relationship based on trust that is designed to help a mentee take on increasing initiative, build confidence, and excel as leaders. New EDs can learn from others who have experience and who are willing to help them in developing their skills and expanding their knowledge.
If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please complete this survey and we will be in touch. More information is here.

AFHTO 2020 Conference: call for submissions, including Bright Lights
It’s time to highlight primary care. Present your ideas and initiatives at the AFHTO 2020 Conference
This year’s conference will be a streamlined but with even more variety in presentation format.
Podcasts. Webcasts. Rapid Fire sessions. We want your insight, from system and policy-level discussions to patient-focused inquiries into the ways teams can better serve their communities in a pandemic and beyond. Find out more here. Deadline July 29.
You can also:
- Shine a light on your team’s achievements. Nominate an outstanding team or individual for a “Bright Lights” Award by July 29. Awards will be presented at the AFHTO 2020 Conference Awards ceremony, on October 8, 2020. Read more here.
- And Join a working group by July 15 for a $20 discount on the registration fee (now available)
Guidance on resuming cancer screening and other updates
Resources and updates released recently include:
- Ontario Health COVID-19 health system response – Update #6– Memo from Matt Anderson, CEO, Ontario Health
- Managing type 2 diabetes during COVID-19: a guide for primary care providers – Centre for Effective Practice, July 2020
- Guidance for primary care providers resuming breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening– Ontario Health
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 in Ontario
- 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
- Mental health and wellness during COVID-19
- Providing Comprehensive Care During COVID-19
- Resources for Re-opening – NEW
- Virtual Care, Digital Health and COVID-19
Possible discounts for Microsoft 365 and UpToDate
As mentioned in last week’s email to the leadership triad, AFHTO is looking at possible discounts for two platforms for teams:
- Microsoft Teams is becoming a preferred platform for virtual meetings, including with the ministry and Ontario Health. Microsoft Teams comes with the purchase of Microsoft 365. If there is enough interest in licenses, we will ask about a reduced rate for bulk purchasing of Microsoft 365.
- UpToDate is a computer and mobile device-based clinical reference tool. AFHTO has been speaking with UpToDate and there is potential for a discounted rate for teams; however, it depends on uptake. Please let us know if you are interested. If there is enough interest, we will arrange a contract with UpToDate.
- If you are interested in Microsoft 365 and/or UpToDate, please complete this survey by Friday, July 17.
Prenatal screening and COVID-19
Temporary prenatal screening changes have been in effect since April 6, 2020. These changes have now been extended and will continue through to December 31, 2020.
Visit Prenatal Screening Ontario’s website for more information.
thehealthline.ca, CEP and primary care
Thehealthline.ca has partnered with the Centre for Effective Practice to support primary care professionals with rapidly updated information that reflects current on-the-ground status for more than 15,000 priority health and social services.
You can find updated service records integrated into the comprehensive provincial system navigation directory here.
Nominate an outstanding physician for the CPSO Council Award
The College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSO) is now accepting nominations for the 2021 Council Award. The Council Award honours outstanding Ontario physicians who have demonstrated excellence and embody society’s vision of an “ideal physician”. Details about the selection criteria are outlined on their website. Deadline Sep. 28, 2020.
Ramping Up In-Person Office Visits in Primary Care in the Aftermath of COVID-19, July 15, 2020
Join the Choosing Wisely Canada community with Dr. Tara Kiran, Family Physician at St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team and Fidani Chair of Improvement and Innovation, University of Toronto. Dr. Kiran will share insights from her recent CMAJ article on how to weigh the benefits and risks of virtual and in-person care for patients and providers as we ramp up in-office primary care services. Find out more here.
Having Difficult Conversations: webinar series, July 23 – August 13, 2020
Hospice Palliative Care Ontario and Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association are hosting a new 4-part webinar series, entitled Having Difficult Conversations: Tips & Strategies in the Context of COVID-19.
Find out more here.
Integrated Mental and Physical Health, June 5- August 28, 2020
Hosted by CAMH, University of Toronto and Project ECHO. Find out more here.
NPAO Annual Conference, September 24 – 25, 2020
This year, the NPAO annual conference will be held digitally to connect NPs so they can hear updates in clinical practice to improve the delivery of healthcare in Ontario.
Learn more here.
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