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  • Bits & Pieces: social worker focus groups and more

    Bits & Pieces: social worker focus groups and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Social worker focus groups at #AFHTO2022
    • Resources needed for library refresh
    • Hamilton FHT Green Initiative
    • Member stories
    • Want to come to #AFHTO2022 for free?
    • COVID-19 vaccination for kids under 5 materials and more
    • Free online module- Management of Transient lschemic Attack (TIA) and Minor Stroke
    • ECHO Ontario Mental Health Fall 2022
    • Call for abstracts- Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day
    • Upcoming events including Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress and more

    Social worker focus groups at #AFHTO2022

    Content below provided by University of Toronto

    We want to hear your thoughts on how social work practice is organized and supported in primary care! Take part in a 60-minute focus groups with other social workers to discuss how social work practice has shifted during the pandemic. We’ll be hosting focus groups in-person at the AFHTO 2022 Conference and invite you to join the discussion. Please note the in-person focus groups are for conference attendees but we’ll also host online focus groups for social workers who are not attending the conference.

    To participate, please email Simon at sck.lam@utoronto.ca by Friday, September 9 and let us know if you will be attending the conference.

    This study from the University of Toronto is led by Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft, Associate Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and supported by the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

    Resources needed for library refresh

    We’re hoping you can help us update our members’ resource library! As you know, AFHTO maintains an extensive web-based library of resources for our members. This includes sample policies, agreements, and resources that have been contributed by members for members and/or developed by third-party affiliates. We’re reviewing and refining the resources to ensure the website layout is simple, intuitive, and helpful, as well as current and accurate.

    We’re asking you assist in the collection of sample documents that would be shared on our website such as:

    • Finance Policy Manuals
    • Operations Policy Manuals
    • HR Policy Manuals
    • Strategic Plans

    Please forward any sample resources to Alexander Christy at alexander.christy@afhto.ca. Members with any questions are welcome to contact Bryn Hamilton.

    Hamilton FHT Green Initiative

    Screenshot of video- Hamilton FHT logo with 'Green Initiative' underneath

    The HFHT Green Initiative is an interprofessional team developing practical solutions to improve patient health care outcomes while simultaneously reducing climate change.

    The initiative provides a free and evidence-based program which includes an action-based checklist, poster orders (1148 so far delivered), a monthly newsletter (17 sent so far), a CFPC Mainpro+ accredited webinar series (212 attendees thus far), an infographic series (31 different topics), 2 waiting room videos, 2 EMR-embedded prescription templates, patient facing group education, resource kits, and project support. For more information, please contact the HFHT Green Team at green.team@hamiltonfht.ca.

    Member stories

    Essex County NPLC – calls to open more nurse practitioner-led clinics in Windsor-Essex

    Georgina NPLC – PORTRAITS OF GIVING: Beth Cowper-Fung

    Hamilton FHT – new family doctors are opening a Hamilton Mountain clinic

    Want to come for free?
    We have several openings for program hosts. These volunteers help keep our sessions on track and get complimentary registration in return. See the role description here and email paula.myers@afhto.ca if you’re interested. Deadline Aug. 31, 2022.

    COVID-19 vaccination for kids under 5 materials and more

    Recent updates include:

    We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:

    Free online module- Management of Transient lschemic Attack (TIA) and Minor Stroke

    The West GTA Stroke Network team has developed a Free Online E-Learning Module on the Management of Transient lschemic Attack (TIA) and Minor Stroke: The Latest Best Practice! The target audience is primary care physicians. Learn more here.

    ECHO Ontario Mental Health Fall 2022
    Registration for Fall 2022 programming for ECHO Ontario Mental Health at CAMH and U of T is now open. Find out more and register here.

    Call for abstracts- Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day
    You can submit your research for presentation at the 2022 Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, Oct. 14. Deadline Sep. 30, 2022. Find out more here.

    Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress Sep. 15

    Hosted in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario, participants will have the opportunity to gain insight into change processes and their impact on workplace mental health. Learn more and register here.

    Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: A Three-Part Series, starting Sep. 15, 2022
    Hosted by ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health. Register here.

    Immunizations Across the Lifespan, Sep. 17, 2022

    Hosted by Canadian Collaborative Research Network for family physicians and pharmacists. Register here.

    OMGMA Conference 2022: Together Again, Sep. 21- 23, 2022
    In-person event in Mississauga. Register here.

    OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Conference, Sep. 29-30, 2022
    Virtual conference hosted by OntarioMD. Find out more here.

    AFHTO 2022 Conference, Oct. 12, 2022

    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. Register with your verification code here.

  • AFHTO 2022 Conference: announcing fireside chat speakers

    AFHTO 2022 Conference: announcing fireside chat speakers

    Reconnect and Reimagine: moving forward together

     

    A Fireside Chat with the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health – The Role of Primary Care during the Pandemic and Beyond

    Dr. Catherine Zahn profile picture shows her smiling with a closed mouth. She has a silver haired pixie cut and is wearing a dark grey top with black polka dots, grey pearl earrings and a statement necklace Matt Anderson

    We are pleased to welcome Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Catherine Zahn, and Ontario Health CEO, Matt Anderson, to the AFHTO conference this year at our pre-conference fireside chat on Oct. 11! Together, we will have an informal conversation about the current state of health care in Ontario, including their reflection on the role of primary care during the pandemic and in the build back of the health care system in the province.

    Moderated by AFHTO’s past president, Dr. Allan Grill, this session will be an important opportunity to hear about the work the government is doing. We encourage members to join and to submit questions by Sep. 23, 2022.

    Register today!

     

    Want to come for free?
    We have several openings for program hosts. These volunteers help keep our sessions on track and get complimentary registration in return. See the role description here and email paula.myers@afhto.ca if you’re interested. Deadline Aug. 31, 2022.

    Updates and deadlines

    Conference Highlights:

    We’ll also release more information about other sessions throughout the summer so stay tuned!

    Patients and students welcome! For general information, you can visit our conference page.  

    We look forward to seeing you at the AFHTO 2022 Conference!

  • Government’s 5-point Plan to Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery

    To EDs/admin leads, board chairs and lead clinicians of AFHTO member teams

    Dear members,

    This morning the government released its 5-point Plan to Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery.

    With a plan to focus on protecting hospital capacity and supporting long-term care, we are disappointed that there was no tangible supports for primary care as a key component in health system stability and recovery. Other than noting one way to ease emergency pressures on emergency departments- “increased access to the family health organization model of primary care will improve access to primary care and reduce demand for emergency department care”– the plan does not address the considerable backlog of mental health and addiction, chronic disease, cancer screening, and vaccination that is coming through your doors. And while primary care is only notionally addressed, mental health and addiction is not addressed at all.

    AFHTO will continue to advocate with our partners to push the government and Ontario Health to add needed supports in primary care. They have acknowledged primary care is an important part of the healthcare system and know the challenges it faces, so the question remains: why is it forgotten?

    Here are the highlights:

    Preserving our Hospital Capacity

    • Continue to provide access to testing for COVID-19, Paxlovid and Evusheld therapies for treatment for those who are eligible, with plans on expanding eligibility for Evusheld for high-risk populations in the coming weeks.
    • COVID-19 shots and flu shots will continue to be provided to Ontarians.
    • Free rapid antigen tests will continue to be available at participating grocery and pharmacy retailers as well as for workplaces, schools, and congregate settings.
    • Extend temporary COVID-19 physician funding.

    Providing the Right Care in the Right Place

    • Expanding the 9-1-1 models of care to include additional ailments and giving paramedics the flexibility to provide better, more appropriate care to divert patients from ERs.
    • There will be several initiatives to help avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, improve the process for ambulance offloading, and reintroduce respite services in long-term care.
    • Ontario is introducing legislation that, if passed, will support patients whose doctors have said they no longer need hospital treatment and should instead be placed in a long-term care home, while they wait for their preferred home.
    • Continue and expand funding of community paramedicine.

    Further Reducing Surgical Waitlists

    • Invest over $300 million in 2022–23 as part of the province’s surgical recovery strategy.
    • Work with hospitals to identify innovative solutions to reduce wait times for surgeries and procedures, including considering options for further increasing surgical capacity by increasing the number of OHIP-covered surgical procedures performed at independent health facilities.
    • Increase surgeries in paediatric hospitals and existing private clinics covered by OHIP, as well as fund more than 150,000 additional operating hours for hospital-based MRI and CT machines.

    Easing Pressure on our Emergency Departments

    • Increase access to the FHO model of primary care to reduce demand for ERs.
    • Launch a new provincial emergency department peer-to-peer program to provide additional on-demand, real-time support and coaching from experienced emergency physicians to aid in the management of patients presenting to rural emergency departments.
    • Adding 400 physician residents to support the workforce in northern and rural Ontario.
    • Working with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to expedite the registration of doctors, including those from out-of-province and who may want to work in rural and northern emergency departments, so they can start working and caring for patients sooner.

    Further Expanding Ontario’s Health Workforce

    • Expand funding for the supervised practice experience partnership program which has already supported over 600 international nurses in getting licensed since January. The province anticipates that by the end of the fiscal year another 400 international nurses will gain the practice and language requirements necessary to work in Ontario.
    • Working with the College of Nurses of Ontario to reduce the financial barriers that may be stopping some retired or internationally trained nurses from receiving accreditation to resume or begin practicing by temporarily covering the cost of examination, application, and registration fees, saving them up to $1,500.
    • The province is aware that agency rates have increased significantly, creating instability for hospitals, long-term care homes and emergency departments. In response, Ontario will engage with frontline partners to better understand how to bring stability to hospitals and emergency departments, while protecting quality of care.

    The government notes these actions will “see faster access to health care, including lower wait times in emergency departments, lower wait times for surgical procedures and more care options right in their communities” and that “this will add up to 6,000 more health care workers. Combined with the initiatives included in the first phase of the plan that are adding 13,000 more staff, the two plans together are adding 19,000 more health care workers.” However, the actual number of health care workers that have left the system remains unknown.

    AFHTO will continue to work with the government and encourages local advocacy with MPPs. Many teams have new MPPs, so now is also a good time to reach out for introductions and to provide general info about the care you provide to some of their constituents. Those MPPs can then help inform government about the critical work you do in their communities, and how important it is for a stable, effective healthcare system that provides the best care and reduces demand on hospitals.

    The advocacy material from the campaign is still relevant – the advocacy is simply now to your MPP instead of multiple candidates –  and members can expect more material this fall after the Community Health Compensation Working Group has completed its Ontario Community Health Market Salary Review with our compensation consultant.

    Thank you for the work you all do every day. If you have any questions, please reach out to us any time.

    Yours in good health,
    The AFHTO Team

  • QI in Action eBulletin #120: Striving for Health Equity and Better Health Outcomes

    In this Issue:

    • Striving for Health Equity and Better Health Outcomes at McMaster FHT
    • Targeted Poverty Screening Process Improves Health Equity
    • Collecting Race-Based and Indigenous Identity Data
    • Learning Opportunities
    • Upcoming Events

     

    Striving for Health Equity and Better Health Outcomes at McMaster FHT
    Content below developed by McMaster FHT

    Through the expertise and passion of Dr. Tejal Patel, Andrea Pansoy (PA), Dr. Amanda Ramdyal and Dr Anjali Menezes, McMaster FHT (MFHT) has developed an interactive program focused on equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), anti-racism and anti-oppression (AR/AO) that has led to the hiring of a full-time EDI and AR Partner. Initially, a 4-part EDI & AR/AO educational session was created in response to a global awakening that is ongoing but came to a head in 2020.

    After the tremendous success of the initial series, the 3 creators and the EDI/AR Partner continue to support both the MFHT and our community partners formally and informally, through continued offerings including workshops, a lending library, a community of practice, weekly newsletter updates regarding internal and external events and learning opportunities, multi-cultural calendars and more. The MFHT has changed its approach to recruitment and retention and collaborates with equity deserving suppliers.

    Finally, the launch of the DFM Racialized Community of Support took place in June 2022, creating a safe space for self-identifying Black, Indigenous and/or racialized staff and faculty. Such a support group already exists for the family medicine residents learning at the MFHT, started by 2 residents in 2020/21.

    The team has created a Community of Practice and support groups, shared their reflective anti-racism and EDI prompts with 3 clinical Departments and their residency programs, as well as with the GHHN. Invitations have been extended further to other McMaster staff and faculty, as well as community partners to attend education sessions and promote the dissemination of this material.

    The team is working with resident groups to integrate this educational framework into resident education at McMaster University, and they are working on a literature review of anti-racism teaching within medical education. Find more information here or contact Jill Berridge at berridj@mcmaster.ca.

    Targeted Poverty Screening Process Improves Health Equity
    A research team at North York General Hospital and the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto created an innovative way for family physicians to use a validated tool to screen their patients for poverty.

    The project used data managed by the University of Toronto Practice-Based Research Network (UTOPIAN) to identify patients living in low-income neighbourhoods by postal code and Statistics Canada census information and create a chart alert. During patient visits, physicians could then see the alert and use the evidence-based clinical tool to assess for poverty. Then if needed, physicians could offer referrals to North York FHT case workers to provide supports to improve patients’ well-being, which includes tax-filing assistance and income optimization. The results from this study are published in this peer-reviewed article.

    This project is one of the first to incorporate neighbourhood-level data into EMRs in community primary care settings and was funded through a Patient’s Medical Home Caring and Compassion Grant from the College of Family Physicians of Canada. For more information, please contact Joyce Lo at jlo@nyfht.com.

    Collecting Race-Based and Indigenous Identity Data
    CIHI released pan-Canadian minimum standards for collecting race-based and Indigenous identity data in health systems, along with guidance on their use. You can also view a supplementary report that identifies some key concepts and considerations related to collecting and using race-based and Indigenous identity data. For questions on the guidance and standards, please contact populationhealth@cihi.ca.

    Learning Opportunities
    2SLGBTQI Identity and Dementia: An Introduction for Healthcare and Social Service Professionals
    Egale Canada has a free e-module that takes 45-60 minutes to complete and is designed for healthcare providers, social work professionals, and other support personnel specializing in the care of people living with dementia. It may also be of interest to anyone working in homecare, community care or long-term care settings. For more information and to fill out the form to access any of Egale’s e-modules, click here.

    Call It Out: Racism, Racial Discrimination and Human Rights
    A 30-minute interactive eCourse from the Ontario Human Rights Commission that offers a foundation for learning about race, racial discrimination, and human rights protections under Ontario’s Human Rights Code. The course offers a historical overview of racism and racial discrimination, explains what “race”, “racism” and “racial discrimination” mean, and provides approaches to preventing and addressing racial discrimination.

    Upcoming Events

    Health Care Innovation: New Opportunities in the Digital Era
    Monday, September 12, 2022, 12:30-4:00 pm | Globe and Mail
    This half-day event will bring leading voices and experts in health care innovation together to discuss where the greatest opportunities lie, along with strategies to overcome barriers to implementation. Register here.

    Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress Webinar
    Thursday, September 15, 2022, 12-1 pm | Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario & AFHTO
    In a webinar hosted in partnership with CMHA Ontario, participants will have the opportunity to gain insight into change processes and their impact on workplace mental health from Nancy Hood, the head trainer of the Your Health Space program. Strategies for managing hybrid working models and combating stress will also be explored. Learn more and register here.

    POPLAR Webinar Series: EDIIA in Research
    Equitably improving primary health care requires research and practice-based learning that are thoroughly grounded in the principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity, and Accessibility (EDIIA). POPLAR, Ontario’s provincial primary healthcare Practice-Based Learning and Research Network has the vision to advance equitable primary healthcare delivery and health outcomes for everyone in Ontario, and is hosting the following webinars for anyone who wants to learn more about building these principles into their work:
     
    Part 2: Building Research Projects with an EDIIA Lens
    Friday, August 26, 2022, 12-1 pm | Dr. Vivian R. Ramsden, University of Saskatchewan
    Learn more and register here.

     
    Part 3: Embedding Equity in Leadership and Teams- Measuring EDIIA
    Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 12-1 pm | Dr. Nicole Kaniki, University of Toronto
    Learn more and register here.

    Part 4: EDIIA and Data – Building Capacity
    Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 12-1 pm | Dr. Andrew Pinto, Upstream Labs
    Learn more and register here.

    OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Conference
    Thursday, September 29 to Friday, September 30, 2022
    Learn how to take advantage of innovative technologies to realize more of their benefits and integrate them with your EMR workflows. Find out more here.
     
    AFHTO 2022 Conference
    Wednesday, October 12, 2022
    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together. Members get more than 50% off registration. Register here.

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #119 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

  • Striving for Health Equity and Better Health Outcomes at McMaster FHT

    Content below developed by McMaster Family Health Team

    Through the expertise and passion of Dr. Tejal Patel, Andrea Pansoy (PA), Dr. Amanda Ramdyal and Dr Anjali Menezes, the McMaster FHT (MFHT) has developed an interactive program focused on equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), anti-racism and anti-oppression (AR/AO) that has led to the hiring of full-time EDI and AR Partner. Initially, a 4-part EDI & AR/AO educational session was created in response to a global awakening that is ongoing but came to a head in 2020. After the tremendous success of the initial series, the 3 creators and the EDI/AR Partner continue to support both the MFHT and our community partners formally and informally, through continued offerings including workshops, a lending library, a community of practice, weekly newsletter updates regarding internal and external events and learning opportunities, multi-cultural calendars and more. The MFHT has changed its approach to recruitment and retention and collaborates with equity deserving suppliers. Finally, the launch of the DFM Racialized Community of Support took place in June 2022, creating a safe space for self-identifying Black, Indigenous and/or racialized staff and faculty. Such a support group already exists for the family medicine residents learning at the MFHT, started by 2 residents in 2020/21. 

    Over the course of the offered workshops to date, attendance remains high with the average session attracting 40-100 people and overall participation for cumulative sessions is 700+. The Community of Support group had 13 participants in its inaugural session while the Resident Support Group averages approximately 20+ participants each meeting. These high attendance values reinforce the subjective comments the team receives regarding the impact, engagement and positive learning experience these sessions are providing. Further objective data obtained in a post-attendance feedback survey demonstrates 93% of survey respondents feel these sessions are a safe space in which to participate. The most common constructive feedback obtained through these same surveys is a regret regarding time limitations. 

    Through the many and varied offerings, feedback is solicited by participants to assist the team in evolving future offerings based on constructive and positive suggestions. Patients at the MFHT have the opportunity to reflect on their experiences through our bi-annual Patient Satisfaction Surveys, as well as in the upcoming Patient Advisory Committee focus on EDI & AR/AO planned for fall 2022. The team also collaborates with other anti-racism experts, external partners and organizations to ensure further quality improvements and the latest evidence is incorporated into their work. 

    The team has created a Community of Practice and support groups, shared their reflective anti-racism and EDI prompts with 3 clinical Departments and their residency programs, as well as with the GHHN. Invitations have been extended further to other McMaster staff and faculty, as well as community partners to attend education sessions and promote the dissemination of this material. The team is working with resident groups to integrate this educational framework into resident education at McMaster University, and they are working on a literature review of anti-racism teaching within medical education. For more information, please contact Jill Berridge at berridj@mcmaster.ca. 
     

  • These 3 new family doctors are opening a Hamilton Mountain clinic amid a national physician shortage

    CBC Hamilton Published an article on August 14th 2022

    By Bobby Hristova

    Hundreds of patients already signed up for the 688 Queensdale Ave. clinic that opens Monday.

    Hamilton Mountain is getting a new family medicine clinic that is poised to serve roughly 3,600 patients, an addition that comes amid a Canadian shortage of family physicians.

    The clinic, run by the Hamilton Family Health Team (HFHT), opens Monday at 688 Queensdale Ave. and will have patients registered to doctors, rather than taking walk-ins.

    Doctors Natalie Klostermann, Joyce Moore and Rebecca Voth say they’re eager to get started.

    “Really getting to know the patient and see them through a lifetime, hopefully … is a privilege,” Klostermann said.

    You walk with people for many, many years … that’s the beautiful part of family medicine.– Dr. Rebecca Voth

    Moore grew up in Hamilton and Voth grew up in Kitchener, Ont. They both studied at McMaster University and Klostermann studied at the University of Toronto. All three now live in Hamilton.

    Terry McCarthy, HFHT executive director, said the three doctors are starting with no patients, which will benefit people looking for a family doctor.

    What’s behind the doctor shortage?

    Brad van den Heuvel, a recruitment specialist with Hamilton Physicians at the David Braley Health Sciences Centre, said there are roughly 363 active, permanent family doctors in the city. There are other part-time or contract doctors, but van den Heuvel noted it’s hard to track how many.

    He said the city needs roughly 50 more doctors (assuming local doctors are assigned to 1,380 patients each) to ensure everyone has one. But he notes that doesn’t mean there are thousands of people without care.

  • PORTRAITS OF GIVING: Georgina nurse practitioner inspired by her patients

    Georgina Advocate Published an article on August 15th 2022

    By Sheri Andrunyk

    Beth Cowper-Fung is a nurse practitioner (NP) specializing in primary care, as well as the clinic director at the Georgina Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (GNPLC). She has worked in Georgina and as an NP since January 2009 and is continually inspired by her patients to give back in the community and beyond. The appreciation goes both ways, and the thoughtful expressions of thanks Beth regularly receives is a tremendous gift to her.

    Through Beth’s nursing she personally provides health-care services to over 400 patients, ranging in age from mere months to 93 years. She also leads an amazing team of health-care professionals and administrators in caring for over 3,600 residents of Georgina. Beth prides herself in being involved in committee work with the Southlake Community Ontario Health Team, York Region Vaccine Taskforce, Ontario Health: Quality Division for Primary Care Quality Advisory Committee, and the Provincial Primary Care Advisory Table. Through this, she provides important perspectives on primary care, health-care planning, and issues that affect people locally, regionally, and provincially.

    Before going back to university to become a registered nurse, Beth was a medic with the Canadian Armed Forces. Her training as a medic has been the foundation for her education and leadership throughout her career.

    In 2003, she was a clinical nurse educator when SARS broke out in the hospital where she worked. Beth was responsible for sharing the updates and personal protective equipment changes of the day to all the medical units in the hospital. This experience was instrumental for her during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In 2010, she partnered with her NP colleagues, Anne Hughes and Melissa Cassidy, in a successful bid to open the GNPLC to provide services to the people of Georgina who did not have primary care providers. They also provide care to the residents of Georgina Island, local group homes for special needs adults, and outreach to the two local shelters.

    Understandably, the pandemic has been very difficult and busy for Beth and her team, from COVID-testing in their parking lot, community centres and schools, to running vaccine clinics and supporting mass vaccination centres, and treating patients with COVID. This, all in addition to their ongoing primary services. That said, one of Beth’s most memorable moments was setting up the first local drive-through COVID-19 testing day in July of 2020, grateful to work with the mayor, local EMS, the fire department, York Region Public Health, and the GNPLC team and board.

    To strike a balance during these trying times, Beth relishes quality time with her lovely teenage daughter, Isabelle, and her husband, Sean, who together celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in 2022. She continues to horseback ride with friends, walks and cycles with Sean, and has developed a daily yoga practice.

    For more information, visit merkphotography.com/portraits-of-giving.

  • Bits & Pieces: Wellness Check – Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress, and more

    Bits & Pieces: Wellness Check – Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress, and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress Sep. 15
    • Farewell to Sombo Saviye
    • Ontario Health seeking Regional Clinical Leads
    • EMR queries for under 5 vaccines and more
    • Deadline to nominate a partner or healthcare inspiration for an AFHTO Board award this Friday
    • Upcoming events including COVID-19 vaccination for kids under 5 and more

     

    Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress Sep. 15

    Uncertainty and unpredictability have been constants throughout the duration of the pandemic as has the need to navigate transitions. In a webinar hosted in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario, participants will have the opportunity to gain insight into change processes and their impact on workplace mental health from Nancy Hood, the head trainer of the Your Health Space program.

    Strategies for managing hybrid working models and combating stress will also be explored. Learn more and register here.

    Sombo Saviye at #AFHTO2017

    Farewell to Sombo Saviye

    It is with deep emotion we announce that Sombo Saviye will be leaving AFHTO for a new role supporting an MPP.

    Sombo has been with AFHTO for over 9 years, most recently as Manager, Finance and Corporate Affairs. Her colleagues have been known to not so jokingly refer to her as the heart of the team, keeping everything running so smoothly.

    We’re going to miss Sombo but know she will bring so much to her new role. And it’s great to know that a person with great integrity is moving to support an elected candidate! Please join us in giving her our sincerest best wishes. Her last day with AFHTO will be Friday, August 26th – any questions related to her work can be directed to info@afhto.ca.

    If anyone is interested in joining our team in a similar role, you can find details here. Deadline August 19, 2022.

     

    Ontario Health seeking Regional Clinical Leads

    Ontario Health is seeking expressions of interest from experienced clinicians to provide clinical leadership and collaborate with regional partners to evolve the health system in Ontario. A few postings are especially relevant for the primary care community:

    • Regional Clinical Lead, MHA (RHP, excl. physician)
    • Regional Lead, Primary Care
    • Regional Lead, Palliative Care (physician)
    • Regional Lead, Palliative Care (RHP, excl. physician)
    • Regional Lead, Mental Health and Addictions (physician)

    You can find more details here.

    EMR queries for under 5 vaccines and more

    Recent updates include:

    We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:

    Deadline to nominate a partner or healthcare inspiration for an AFHTO Board award this Friday

    The AFHTO board invites all members to help them select the recipient of a Board award.

    Submit a nomination online for the Board Award category by August 19, 2022.

    Find out more about the criteria here. You can find the nomination template here.

    COVID-19 vaccination for kids under 5, Aug. 19, 2022
    Next in the series ‘Changing the way we work’ from the COVID-19 CoP by OCFP and UofT DFCM. Register here.

    ECHO Ontario Bariatric Network, starting Aug. 19, 2022
    New sessions in this learning series hosted Ontario’s Bariatric Centres of Excellence starting August 19th and various dates in September. Find out more here.

    NPAO 2022 Annual Conference, Sep. 22-23, 2022

    This years’ Conference theme is The NP Experience: Pushing Boundaries Towards Common Goals. Find out more here.

    Data To Action: Making Your Data Visible and Useful, Sep. 28, 2022
    Hosted by TechSoup Connect’s Ontario chapter. Register here.

    OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Conference, Sep. 29-30, 2022
    Virtual conference hosted by OntarioMD. Find out more here.

    AFHTO 2022 Conference, Oct. 12, 2022

    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. Register with your verification code here.

  • Bits & Pieces: Indigenous Midwifery Programs, Expanded Midwifery Care Models and more

    Bits & Pieces: Indigenous Midwifery Programs, Expanded Midwifery Care Models and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Applications open for Indigenous Midwifery Programs, Expanded Midwifery Care Models
    • Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing Collaborative
    • Updates to GoodLife member benefits
    • Guidance on testing and management of monkeypox for primary care, and more

     
    • Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network seeking speaker
    • Reminder- nominate a partner or healthcare inspiration for an AFHTO Board award
    • Upcoming events including Moving Beyond Technology: Exploring the Clinician Change Virtual Care Toolkit and more

     

     

    Applications open for Indigenous Midwifery Programs, Expanded Midwifery Care Models

    The Ministry of Health is inviting applications for two programs:

    • Indigenous Midwifery Programs (IMP). This includes an Indigenous Midwifery Program working within Interprofessional Primary Health Care Teams
    • Expanded Midwifery Care Models (EMCM). This includes full spectrum midwife in primary care team-based setting and primary care team-based prenatal and postpartum midwife

    Get more information here.

    The Primary Health Care Branch is hosting a webinar on August 23, 2022. To participate, please email midwifery@ontario.ca by Thursday, August 19, 2022, noting contact information for interested participants and the ministry will reach out to them with the
    webinar details.

    Picture of inhaler connected to a road with a car driving away. Text says 100 MDI doses are equivalent to a 290 km car journey.

    Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing Collaborative

    This fall, CASCADES (Creating a Sustainable Canadian Health System in a Climate Crisis) will be running the Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing Collaborative.

    Through three learning sessions (between September 2022 and March 2023) and regular check-ins, participating teams from primary care settings across Canada will receive access to and training on a few tools that can be used to facilitate appropriate prescribing, switching, teaching technique, and proper disposal. Read for further details (EN and FR).

    Updates to GoodLife member benefits

    As of May 30, 2022, AFHTO members have been eligible for a 25% discount on membership types. To take advantage of discounted rates, you need a membership ID assigned by AFHTO. Right now, IDs are automatically assigned to those on the ‘Bits & Pieces’ mailing list.

    As of Sep. 1, 2022, member IDs will only be generated upon request. These will still be sent to GoodLife monthly near the end of the month. To get your ID or be put on the list for one, staff need to email info@afhto.ca.

    Guidance on testing and management of monkeypox for primary care, and more

    Recent updates include:

    We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:

    Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network seeking speaker
    The Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN) is seeking a primary care clinician for a panel session at their virtual Early Age Onset Colorectal Cancer (EAOCRC) Symposium, October 27 & 28, 2022. The session will address barriers and opportunities for improving patient care pathways and outcomes for people with colorectal cancer (CRC).

    Given CRC is preventable and treatable if detected early on, an understanding of facilitators and enablers of timely diagnosis from a collaborative primary care perspective is integral to the optimization of the CRC service and care trajectory. Please contact info@afhto.ca if interested.

    Reminder- nominate a partner or healthcare inspiration for an AFHTO Board award

    The AFHTO board invites all members to help them select the recipient of a Board award.

    Submit a nomination online for the Board Award category by August 19, 2022.

    Find out more about the criteria here. You can find the nomination template here.

    Moving Beyond Technology: Exploring the Clinician Change Virtual Care Toolkit, Aug. 16, 2022
    Developed by a collaborative of 25 primary care teams and dedicated coaches, the Clinician Change Virtual Care Toolkit can help organizations choose and implement approaches to virtual care that lead to good outcomes and experiences for both clients and providers. Hosted by Healthcare Excellence Canada, this webinar features Dr. Kevin Samson, AFHTO board director. Register for free here.

    ECHO Ontario Bariatric Network, starting Aug. 19, 2022
    New sessions in this learning series hosted Ontario’s Bariatric Centres of Excellence starting August 19th and various dates in September. Find out more here.

    NPAO 2022 Annual Conference, Sep. 22-23, 2022

    This years’ Conference theme is The NP Experience: Pushing Boundaries Towards Common Goals. Find out more here.

    Data To Action: Making Your Data Visible and Useful, Sep. 28, 2022
    Hosted by TechSoup Connect’s Ontario chapter. Register here.

    OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Conference, Sep. 29-30, 2022
    Virtual conference hosted by OntarioMD. Find out more here.

    AFHTO 2022 Conference, Oct. 12, 2022

    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. Register with your verification code here.

  • AFHTO 2022 Conference: announcing our opening speaker

    AFHTO 2022 Conference: announcing our opening speaker

    Reconnect and Reimagine: moving forward together

     

    Dr. Thomas Bodenheimer has white hair and beard with grey mustache. He's wearing a black shirt and smiling. The background is blurred bushes with purple flowers.

     

    Featuring Dr. Thomas Bodenheimer

    Thomas Bodenheimer MD, MPH is a general internist who received his medical degree at Harvard and completed his residency at UCSF. He spent 32 years in full-time primary care practice in San Francisco’s Mission District – 10 years in community health centers and 22 years in private practice.

    He is currently Professor Emeritus of Family and Community Medicine at University of California, San Francisco, and Founding Director of the Center for Excellence in Primary Care (CEPC). He is co-author of Understanding Health Policy, 8th Edition, 2020, and Improving Primary Care, 2006 (both McGraw-Hill).

    His work includes both foundational pieces for team-based care and new relevant information. We’re finalising the content for the opening plenary. What would you like him to use as the foundation? Vote below! (Deadline Tuesday, Aug. 9, 9:00 am)

    I want him to discuss:

    • The 10 Building Blocks of High-Performing Primary Care
    • From Triple to Quadruple Aim: Care of the Patient Requires Care of the Provider
    • Primary care is no longer doable without a team
    • Anatomy and Physiology of Primary Care Teams
    • Combination of some of the above

    Register today!

    Hotel deadline Sep. 19
    A block of rooms at the Sheraton has been set aside at a discounted rate. Book by September 19th to take advantage of the $285 group rate (plus tax, single/double occupancy); after this date, availability and prices cannot be guaranteed. Click here to book online.

    Conference Highlights:

    We’ll also release more information about other sessions throughout the summer so stay tuned!

    Patients and students welcome! For general information, you can visit our conference page.  

    We look forward to seeing you at the AFHTO 2022 Conference!