Member News: relevant updates, resources, information and learning opportunities

Updates Relevant to Primary Care

• New memo from the Minister on the Syrian refugee crisis: action plan for healthcare providers shared.

• Report: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) comparison of FHT patients’ outcomes in relation to other major primary care models in Ontario over time, 2004/05 to 2011/12, taken from the data collected for the 5-year FHT Evaluation.

•  Joint letter to the Globe and Mail: sent by AFHTO, together with AOHC, on Nov. 24 in response to their article “Ontario plans to target home care in overhaul of health care system”.

• Changes needed to improve retention, services and access to dietitians: recently released results of Dietitians of Canada primary care workforce survey – among other findings, only 22% of dietitians plan to stay in their current position beyond the next two years.

Clinical Resources

•  Thrombosis Canada QIP program: created for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, all project elements will be supported by Thrombosis Canada.

• New provincial clinical tool on poverty and others: developed by the Centre for Effective Practice, as part of their Knowledge in Primary Care Initiative with the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) and the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO)

• Social Workers and Social Service Workers Professional Development Fund: Ontario’s pilot project to provide financial assistance for social workers’ and social service workers’ professional development activities.

• Funding opportunity: Ontario accepting applications for Seniors Community Grants until Mar. 4, 2016

Information to share with Patients

•  The Caring Experience: The Change Foundation and the Ontario Caregiver Coalition want to hear from family caregivers. Financial support for transportation, childcare, etc. is available.

• CAMH opioid fact sheets: now available from the Opioid Resource Hub (ORH) for people who are currently using opioids. Order online or print directly from their website.

Events and Learning Opportunities

• Dec. 2, 2015, D2D 3.0 Webinars: register to walk through the data submission process.
• Dec. 3-10, 2015, HQO QIP Navigator Training Webinars: series of webinars on the Navigator tool to help teams prepare for the 2016/17 Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) submission.
• Dec. 8, 2015, Webinar on Bariatric Surgery: part of a 3-part series, this webinar will review the key components of bariatric surgery.
• Dec. 9, 2015, Webinar: learn about a new care coordination tool by Orion Health

• Jan. 8, 2016: deadline to submit a workshop proposal for AOHC conference, on June 8-9, 2016
• Feb.28 – Mar. 4, 2016, RNAO Wound Care Institute: a week-long intensive conference on the topic of wound care, it will take place from February 28 to March 4, 2016 in Niagara Falls.
• CCO launches new e-learning site with free CME accredited courses for primary care providers on cancer screening and Aboriginal relationship and cultural competency.