Your Weekly News & Updates
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The COVID Alert app is now available!
This new made-in-Ontario, privacy-first app lets you know if you may have been exposed to COVID-19. To do so, it relies on people voluntarily installing it and telling it if they test positive. The app can then send a message to other app users who have been in close contact with that person over the previous two weeks.
Everyone is encouraged to download and use the app to help protect themselves and those in their community. We encourage you share this information with your colleagues, family, friends, neighbours, and patients. More information and resources to help you do so are here.
Reminder: COVID-19 ED interviews end soon
AFHTO, in partnership with the University of Toronto and Queen’s University, wants to understand the initiatives your team has taken on to continue to provide comprehensive primary care during this pandemic. Interviews end August 14.
Visit our site to fill out the Doodle poll to schedule your participation.
“Governing through COVID-19 and Beyond” – Register now for the next governance webinar!
Join us on Tuesday, August 25, from 12- 2 p.m. for a webinar on governance at this time of uncertainty and change. We will be joined by several speakers who will provide guidance and advice to board members on resumption of services; what governors should know about Ontario Health Teams; and where we can go from here to continue to strengthen organizational governance practices and prioritize board efforts. There will be time for questions.
While this webinar is targeted for boards, EDs and staff are welcome to join. Register today!
AFHTO Letter to the OMA Negotiations Committee
Last week AFHTO provided feedback to the OMA Negotiations Committee on the upcoming Physician Services Agreement based on dialogue with some of our physician leaders. Recommendations include:
- Increased access to capitated models of PEMs while also increasing access to team-based care
- Permanent billing codes for virtual care and investments in electronic medical record integration
- Investment and recognition of clinical leadership while also supporting the organization of primary care
To learn more, read the full letter.
AFHTO 2020 Conference: did you get your confirmation?
If you are part of a group that has prepared a submission, please ensure your group contact has received the email with the subject: “Thank you for your AFHTO 2020 Conference Submission!” (Please have them check their junk mail as well.)
If your contact person has NOT received this confirmation, please contact info@afhto.ca by tomorrow, August 5.
211 Ontario – connecting patients to community programs and services, August 20
Co-hosted by AFHTO, this webinar shows how 211 can assist primary care teams. This webinar will provide some baseline information about 211’s Accredited enquiry service and Standards driven resource database of benefit to patients when trying to access services in the community – particularly services during COVID-19, such as mental health services, food and other basic needs. Register here.
Electronic Asthma Management System (eAMS) – tool demonstration, Sep. 15
The Electronic Asthma Management System (eAMS) is an evidence-based clinical decision support system developed to improve your ability to deliver best care for patients with asthma.
The system can be used by any provider and is fully integrated with OSCAR EMR and Telus PS EMR. Find out more here.
Join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council – Deadline extended to this Friday, August 7!
Are you interested in advising AFHTO on the top issues facing IHPs in team-based care? Would you like to be a leader in working with IHPs in primary care to advocate for and speak to the critical role of teams? Would you like to share and spread knowledge and learnings?
If yes, AFHTO invites you to apply to join the IHP Advisory Council! We have extended the deadline to apply to this Friday, August 7.
We are eagerly looking to collaborate with the next IHP leaders to further interprofessional team-based primary care in Ontario. Please consider applying to join us.
More information on the council is here. If you have any questions, please contact Beth MacKinnon at beth.mackinnon@afhto.ca.
New quality standards- chronic pain and early pregnancy complications and loss
Ontario Health (Quality) has released two new quality standards:
For more information please contact OH-HQO_QualityStandards@ontariohealth.ca.
Resumption of services guidance, FAQ and more
Resources released within the past week include:
- Reintroducing Deferred Primary Care Services: FAQ– OMA, SGFP, AFHTO and OCFP
- Resumption of services in primary care– Baawaating FHT
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 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 – NEW
- Virtual Care, Digital Health and COVID-19
Social work student practicums in FHTs
The role of social work in Family Health Teams (FHT) in Ontario is critical for the success of patient outcomes. FHTs provide a rich environment for social work students to prepare for their professional careers. University of Toronto is reaching out to ask if you would consider including a social work practicum at your FHT.
In addition to the regular benefits, there is increased flexibility this year:
- Practicums can be virtual or in-person
- Virtual practicums have the benefit of taking place anywhere in Ontario.
- Time requirements for the 2020-21 academic year can range between 337.5 hours (48.2 days) and 518 hours (74 days).
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday remain practicum days. Flexibility is possible, depending on the individual start dates (see note below). Student orientation may dictate a confirmed start date.
- Other benefits to field instructors can be found here
They completely understand that any commitment made will be contingent on capacity to provide supervision in these unusual times. If you wish to learn more about social work practicums, please email Eileen McKee at e.mckee@utoronto.ca or Rachelle Ashcroft at rachelle.ashcroft@utoronto.ca or please see their website for more information.
If you are able to contribute to the education of an MSW student between now and April 2021, please contact practicum.fsw@utoronto.ca.
Ontario Health Implementation Restart, August 6, 2020
On August 6, Miller Thomson LLP is holding a complimentary webinar that will cover the recap status of OHTs, update on the new application process, requirements for collaborative decision making and action items for OHTs for each stage of development. Learn more and register here.
Addressing Caregiver Burnout: Finding and Accessing Supports, August 5 – 19, 2020
Join the HPCO in this 3-part series while they address burnout by healthcare providers and caregivers. Learn more here.
Child And Youth Mental Health Morning Rounds And Lunch & Learns, August 11-27, 2020
The CHEO is holding 4 sessions covering depression in adolescents, anxiety in toddlers and younger children, parent-child relationships and anxiety in adolescents. Find out more here.
ECHO Concussion Series, September 9 – December 16, 2020
Don’t miss this free 15-part series this fall on diagnosing and managing your concussion patients. Find out more here.
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