Bits & Pieces: election advocacy materials ready and more

Your Weekly News & Updates

Provincial Election 2022: advocacy material is now ready

The provincial election is just over three months away! The election period will start in early May, and election day is June 2. However, campaigns are underway now and health care is a priority for all parties.

AFHTO is arranging meetings with ministers, opposition health critics, and party leaders or central campaign leads. And now is the time for local candidates to hear from you!

To help make sure parties understand the importance of team-based primary care and how to address the crisis facing the healthcare sector, candidates need to hear about it – and solutions on how to fix it – from local stakeholders and voters.

• Resources available here
• Register here for “Your Voice is Important: Election Campaign Training with Enterprise Canada.” April 6
• Read yesterday’s launch email here.

If you have any questions or need support, please email advocacy@afhto.ca.

CIRA’s Community Investment Program grant application open March 1

AFHTO members and/or their partners may be eligible for Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) Community Investment Program grants. Grants are available up to $100,000. In addition, one grant is available up to $250,000. You can learn more about eligibility, key dates and priority funding areas for 2022 on their site. You can also register for their information webinar on March 8.

Vaccine information sheets updated and more

Recent updates include:

• COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet (5-11) – MOH, updated Feb. 22, 2022
• COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet (age 12+) – MOH, updated Feb. 22, 2022
• Updated primary care guidance document, revocation of Directive #2 and other supports– AFHTO, Feb. 16, 2022
• COVID-19 Vaccine Third Dose Recommendations– MOH, updated Feb. 17, 2022

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 Vaccination Information
• COVID-19 assessment centres in Ontario
• COVID-19 information for Patients, Caregivers and the Public
• Infection control resources and tools for primary care
• 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
• Virtual Care, Digital Health and COVID-19

Submission of Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) for 2022/23 voluntary

On Feb. 18, Ontario Health sent out a memo regarding annual priorities for the 2022/23 Quality Improvement Plans. For the past two years, QIP submissions have been on pause. This year QIP submission to Ontario Health is voluntary. Please email QIP@OntarioHealth.ca if you have any questions. You can also register for the Feb. 24 webinar QIP 2022/23 Program Launch here.

Update on tests now covered by OHIP

Per communication from LifeLabs, the following tests are now covered by OHIP:

• NT-proBNP – Measurement of NT-proBNP is a mainstay for the diagnosis of heart failure (HF)

New Canadian Dyslipidemia guidelines (2021)

• Apolipoprotein B – A risk measure for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
• Lipoprotein (a) – Essential risk assessment for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASVD)

Seeking input for social connections and living with dementia research study
Funded by the Retired Teachers of Ontario Foundation, Nipissing University researchers are seeking input for a study exploring social connectedness & loneliness in people living with dementia & their care partners. The outcomes will inform resources for staying socially connected when living with dementia. They are currently seeking participants. Find out more here.

Five Recommendations for Using Labs Wisely During Global Blood Tube and Other Resource Shortages, Feb. 24, 2022
COVID-19 has put an extraordinary strain on laboratory medicine in Canada due to critical shortages in blood tubes, devices, and lab staffing. Join Choosing Wisely Talks for a discussion on the need to conserve tubes and other critical lab resources. Register here.

MyPractice: Primary Care Report: Using Data for Improvement, Feb. 28, 2022
Hosted by Ontario Health. Register here.

The Reality of Virtual Care: Learning From the Pandemic, Mar. 1, 2022
Ontario Health is relaunching Quality and Patient Safety Rounds (formerly Quality Rounds Ontario) to connect the quality community across Ontario. Register here.

Supporting caregiver well-being within Ontario Health Teams: Building caregiver resilience and reducing the risk of caregiver burnout, Mar. 2, 2022
Hosted by Ontario Caregiver Organization. Register here

Primary Care COVID-19 Support CoP, Mar. 9, 2022
Hosted by Ontario Health, with a special focus on COVID@Home monitoring and Post COVID-19 Clinical Guidance for primary care. Register here.