Your Weekly News & Updates
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New PPE survey deadline and other novel coronavirus (COVID-19) updates
For EDs, Lead Clinicians and Board Chairs: The Ministry of Health and Ontario Health (Shared Services) have extended the deadline to complete this short survey to end of day Thursday, February 27, to assist in tracking provider preparedness. Only 34% have responded and they have emphasized the importance of filling this out.
While we have few cases in Canada, it may be declared a worldwide pandemic soon and this will help them identify where support is needed. They will work with suppliers to distribute resources accordingly.
We continue to update the relevant page on the Novel Coronavirus. “Health care providers facing immediate challenges with their personal protective equipment supply levels can email the ministry at EOCLogistics.MOH@ontario.ca.”
If you have any questions, you can also email EOCOperations.moh@ontario.ca.
Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance Queen’s Park Day
On Feb. 24, the Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance held an Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park to call on the province to prevent hospitalizations and reduce health care costs through initiatives to prevent chronic conditions. Priorities include:
- Setting measurable goals for prevention to increase Ontario’s access to data on this health care issue
- Introducing prevention into primary care such as access to professional services, screening and tools for healthy lifestyles
- Incorporate prevention into Mental Health Strategy
- Take measure to restrict youth access to vaping products.
Minister announces changes to home and community care
Today the Minister announced changes to the delivery of home and community care. AFHTO will be working with our partners to better understand how this affects our members.
Members’ stories
North Simcoe FHT – North Simcoe FHT to anchor new medical centre in Midland – “We are expanding the family health team programming, which is why we needed more space,” said executive director Andrew Shantz. “There are quite a few health-care partners coming along with us. We are creating a medical centre that will provide a variety of different services.”
Improving cancer screening rates slides and video
On Feb. 20 Drs. Aisha Lofters and Tara Kiran shared practical, evidence-based ways to improve cancer screening rates and reduce income-related disparities. Slides, video and a link to the toolkit referenced are now available.
For another way to learn, you can also view Dr. Kiran’s tweet thread here.
Psychology Month
It’s Psychology Month. Thank you to all the psychologists who work with primary care teams to offer innovative programs like:
- Dr. Judith Davidson, who won a Bright Lights Award for her work in cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia
- Bridges to Housing –a Powerful Example of Comprehensive Team Based Care
Public Health Infection Prevention and Control resources
Public Health Ontario has provided links to several Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) resources to help build capacity in primary care:
- PHO IPAC department
- Resources for clinical office practice
- Resources related to prevention of IPAC lapses
- Online education
Hypertension focus groups invitation
Participate in a virtual focus group about system-level challenges and enablers to adopting the care outlined the Hypertension Quality Standard being developed by the Quality business unit at Ontario Health, formerly Health Quality Ontario. Your feedback will inform the recommendations for adoption to support the uptake of this quality standard.
The Hypertension Quality Standard focus groups will be held on the following dates:
- Tuesday March 3, 2020 (4:00 – 5:00PM EST)- Follow this link to register via Eventbrite.
- Thursday March 5, 2020 (12:00 – 1:00PM EST) – Follow this link to register via Eventbrite.
If you have any questions, please contact Tanveer Singh at tanveer.singh@hqontario.ca.
Optimizing Your EMR For Safer Opioid Prescribing and Pain Management (Part 1), March 5, 2020
This webinar is targeted towards family physicians and nurse practitioners in northern Ontario. Hosted by Ontario Health Quality and Ontario Pain Management Resource Partners. Learn more here.
The Art of Doing More with Less, March 18, 2020
This is the final webinar in AFHTO and Grant Thorton’s Financial webinar series! Join Danzel Pinto as we explore how non-profits can improve performance with financial sensibility.
Register today!
Rainbow Health Ontario Conference, April 21-23, 2020
Register for Canada’s forum for LGBT2SQ health, being held in Niagara Falls this year. For more information, click here.
ECHO Liver, March 12, 2020
For 2020, ECHO Liver will be offering a quarterly evening series. The first is Liver Disease in Primary Care: Approach to Liver Enzymes. Find out more here.
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