This email summarizes current status and next steps in developing a response on behalf of AFHTO members to the Ministry’s Patients First proposal.
Provincial-level action:
- AFHTO President’s initial response appeared in at least 3 Ontario newspapers.
- With our colleagues in the Ontario Primary Care Council, submitted a joint initial response to the Minister.
- Completed 14 web meetings with the board chairs, lead MDs/NPs and executive directors of all AFHTO members in each LHIN region.
- Synthesized results of these web meetings reviewed by the Physician Leadership Council
- Continuing work with leaders in a number of regions to facilitate meetings with their LHIN CEOs.
- AFHTO board meets on Jan. 28 to provide further direction, aiming to finalize response at its Mar.2 meeting.
- AFHTO is chairing work by the seven associations in the Ontario Primary Care Council to develop a further joint response to the Minister, to be finalized at its Mar. 9 meeting.
Regional-level action:
AFHTO members are meeting with their LHINs and working together to strengthen the primary care voice within the LHIN. AFHTO has offered support. To date AFHTO has organized 12 meetings in 10 LHINs between FHT/NPLC leaders and their LHIN CEOs. The Ministry has also invited feedback from health care providers, patients and caregivers by February 29.
Membership input to date:
Click here to see full report on all topics arising from the 14 web meetings.
The top three topics were:
- Accountability & Contractual Relationships
- Support for Leadership Roles / Smooth Transitions
- Primary Care HHR Planning
Physician Leadership Council meeting:
Click here for the full report on Physician Leadership Council meeting.
PLC members discussed the first two topics. Dr. Sarah Newbery, OCFP President and FHT physician, joined the meeting to receive input on the OCFP’s initial work on clinical leadership. On the issue of accountability to MOHLTC vs LHIN, views were mixed, with valuable input provided as to what is most important going forward.
Overall, the Chair summarized the top three messages from this meeting as:
- The FHT structure fosters development of clinical leadership. Education and support is needed to further develop clinical leadership and extend it more broadly beyond teams.
- Make change slowly – pay attention to the “critical success factors” to ensure change achieves desired improvement. Keep accountability clear.
- Quality improvement is fundamental to all we do in primary care, and physician leadership is essential to doing this.
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