While FHTs await their 2013-14 funding letters (latest estimate is they’ll be out in 7-10 days), AFHTO has been working with a number of members to help FHTs prepare for implementation of the new Quality Improvement Decision Support Specialist (QIDSS) positions. A provincial lead has been recruited – Tim Burns joined the AFHTO team on July 17. In this role Tim is working closely with FHTs to support them in implementing these new positions and advancing the use of data and performance measurement to improve care. Tim’s role in the QIDS program is to foster collaboration and practice sharing among FHTs, and to help identify and coordinate execution on common priorities. He will also ensure key partners such as the Ministry, eHealth Ontario, CIHI, HQO and the EMR vendor community are effectively engaged in order to advance FHT measurement and quality improvement capacity. Click here for more information on Tim’s background; his e-mail address is tim.burns@afhto.ca . Tim has already begun working with a number of FHTs to accelerate implementation. Earlier this month FHTs recommended by the FHT Unit to host the QIDS Specialist positions were surveyed to explore their implementation needs and invited to participate in preparatory activity. (Their identities are confidential until the final funding is approved and the letters are released.) Three areas for coordinated action were identified and working groups launched in order to enable teams to move very quickly once the funding is announced:
QIDS Specialist Recruitment and Screening—to develop a job description and support as needed through the recruitment cycle.
Orientation and Training—to define immediate learning needs and plan a common curriculum for orientation and professional development.
Partnership Agreements—-to develop a model Partnership Agreement to clarify the relationship and support effective collaboration among “host” and participating FHTs.
Once the final Ministry-approved QIDSS allocations are known, AFHTO will convene a QIDSS Steering Committee to provide the collective mechanism for FHTs to advance best practice and optimize performance measurement capacity across the FHT sector. AFHTO also awaits confirmation of Ministry funding to employ additional provincial resources to foster collaboration and exchange and deliver support services to all FHTs participating in the QIDSS program. Details are described in the report of our membership consultation Recommendations on the Optimal Configuration of the Quality Improvement Decision Support Specialist (QIDSS) Role.
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