Your Weekly News & Updates
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Engaging and Supporting Caregivers, Feb. 25
There are 3.3 million family caregivers in Ontario who play a critical role in health outcomes. We are pleased to cohost a webinar with the Ontario Caregiver Organization which will highlight resources and opportunities for teams to support and engage caregivers:
- Learn about the Ontario Caregiver Organization and the key programs, services and resources they offer.
- Learn about three key caregiver-related strategies that can positively impact health outcomes and the patient/family/caregiver experience.
- Find out about resources, programs, and actions that teams can take to help advance these strategies.
Register for this webinar on Feb. 25.
Members’ stories
City of Lakes FHT – The City of Lakes Family FHT was visited by the Tim Hortons for Good campaign Feb. 1.
Georgian Bay FHT – South Georgian Bay OHT has launched a Home Monitoring Program to care for high-risk patients with suspect or confirmed COVID-19.
Anti-racism webinar series open to members
Hosted by Central Brampton FHT’s mental health team & CMHA Toronto Opening Doors Project, Anti-Racism – What is it and Where do you fit in? is a webinar workshop series which offers an opportunity to explore our own individual identities and how it relates to practicing anti-racism:
- Part 1: Reflecting on our own Identities -Feb. 17 & 24
- Part 2: Building Bridges: Anti-Racism 101- Mar. 3 & 10
Members are welcome to attend.
Mental Health and Additions Centre of Excellence supports for HCW and more
Recent updates include:
- Mental Health and Additions Centre of Excellence (Ontario Health)
- Coping with COVID – MHA supports for healthcare workers
- Who is looking after you? (English and French)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Screening and Consent Form – Ministry of Health, Jan. 23, 2021
- Lessons Learned from Israel’s Vaccine Rollout – Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, Feb. 1, 2021
- Navigating the Covid-19 Pandemic by Caring for Our Health Care Workforce as They Care for Our Patients– various authors, Stanford University School of Medicine, NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery 2021, Jan. 2021
- Learning Systems in Times of Crisis: the Covid-19 Critical Intelligence Unit in New South Wales, Australia– various authors, NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery 2020, Nov. 2020
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 Vaccination Information
- 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
- Virtual Care, Digital Health and COVID-19
Now is the Time to Choose Wisely: Advancing QI slides and video
On January 27 we cohosted a webinar with Choosing Wisely Canada on improving practice, enhancing patient experiences, and reducing unnecessary tests and treatments. Slides and video are now available.
Improving access and navigation to psychological services during COVID-19
Ontario Psychological Association has recently launched Askforhelptoday.ca, a new e-referral and matching service that improves the way Ontarians connect to psychological services. Funded by RBC Insurance, it utilizes technology from Strata Health Solutions to match patients to the most appropriate provider. OPA navigators will ensure each patient is connected quickly and confidentially to a psychologist based on their needs and personal preferences. This can be paid either through benefits or out of pocket.
The Ontario Psychological Association is also still working with AFHTO to improve access to psychological services in times of need. Last spring, they activated the Disaster Response Network to connect essential front-line workers who needed support from psychologists. Until March 31st, Ontario physicians, nurse practitioners and FHTs may still refer essential workers with no or limited health benefits directly to OPA or inform patients to call 211 to be connected to a psychologist within 48 hours. Up to 6 counselling sessions are offered at no cost.
Prenatal Screening Ontario seeking working group members
Consider using your experience to support Ontario’s prenatal screening system. Prenatal Screening Ontario depends on input from experts and advisors from relevant fields to ensure that all the elements of a robust screening program are best carried out.
They’re looking for representation from across all regions of Ontario including Northern Ontario, rural and Indigenous communities, to join the Genetics Working Group and Education Working Group. Check out their website for more details about the working groups, and how to apply. The deadline for applications is February 19, 2021.
Survey to better understand public beliefs and perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccines
To facilitate coordinated action in primary care, Women’s College Research Institute is seeking to understand beliefs relating to the COVID-19 vaccine and what supports are needed for healthcare professionals in primary care.
You are invited to complete a brief survey to help them better understand your perspectives and experience.
Note: They will be distributing this survey monthly for a total of four months to understand how experiences are changing over time.
Click here to access the survey.
COVID-19 cohort study in GTA
A COVID-19 Research Study led by Mt. Sinai Hospital and funded by Weston Foundation, Physicians’ Services Inc., and COVID-19 Immunity Task Force is looking for people working in private medical offices and clinics in the Toronto area. The COVID-19 Cohort Study (CCS) follows staff and their families throughout the pandemic to find out the rate of COVID-19 infection, antibody levels over time, and the uptake of vaccines against COVID-19.
The researchers are looking for staff who have direct patient contact as well as those that have no contact with patients.
For more information about the study visit here.
Joint letter on vaccination roll-out and community providers
AFHTO, in partnership with other primary care and home care associations, wrote to Premier Ford and Minister Elliott last week regarding the need to plan the vaccination roll-out to vulnerable and home-bound individuals.
“While we understand that currently, there is a shortage of vaccines, and that this reality is outside of the province’s control, we are concerned that there is not a transparent plan around how needles are going to get into the arms of people identified to be in Stage 2, namely those that are vulnerable and/or home-bound and the providers that care for them.”
Primary care virtual groups – transitioning a CBT program & cardio-pulmonary rehab program to virtual
This webinar is in collaboration with two FHTs transitioning in-person programs to virtual. Scarborough Academic FHT will share how they transferred their CBT skills group for depression and anxiety to online along with the benefits and challenges.
Arnprior FHT is presenting on how they modified an in-person Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab to Virtual in their rural community. In this webinar they will share their patients’ thoughts and feelings on the program adjustment, discussing wins and struggles along the way. Register here.
Mental health for adults with developmental disabilities during COVID: A virtual course for family caregivers, starting Feb. 2, 2021
This course will run for 6 weeks beginning on Tuesday February 2, 2021. Find out more here.
Changing the way we work: Update on COVID-19 Vaccines, Feb. 5, 2021
The next in OCFP/DFCM COVID-19 CoP sessions. Register here.
Recognizing and Managing Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care during COVID-19, Feb. 9, 2021
Ontario Health webinar with experts in the field and resources about how to support patients presenting in primary care with symptoms of anxiety. Register here.
What do Covid-19 vaccines mean for me? Feb. 18, 2021
Part two of The Globe and Mail and The Royal Society of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine series. Register here.
Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health, Mar. 4, 2021
The aim of this conference is to bridge this gap and provide information and resources to better equip Nurse Practitioners providing care to Gender Diverse individuals. The highlight is hearing the patient perspective. Find out more.
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