Ultimate Blogging Championship

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  • Bits & Pieces: member stories, virtual funding opps and more

    Bits & Pieces: member stories, virtual funding opps and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Member stories
    • Reminder- virtual funding opportunities for primary care, Sep. 16
    • Reminder- COVID-19 malnutrition – how to identify and treat in team-based primary care, Sep. 20
    • AFHTO 2021 Conference: AI panel update & poster confirmations
    • Additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine in immunocompromised individuals and more
    • Relevant news and updates: EMR data uses for performance measurement & climate change
    • Submit an abstract for Trillium Primary Health Care research day
    • Reminder- seeking pharmacists’ input on experiences and contributions to mental health care during COVID-19
    • Upcoming events regarding keeping our kids safe at school and more

    Member stories
    Humber River FHT– Humber River Hospital vaccinates 1,500 in 2 days as city says vaccine hesitancy dropping in Toronto
     

    Manitoulin Central, Municipality of Assiginack and Northeastern Manitoulin, FHTs– The rate of first shots as of Sep. 1 was 88% for Manitoulin Island vs. 74.4% across Ontario, thanks to FHTs, volunteers & the community.
     

    Powassan and Area FHT- East Ferris breaks ground on new medical centre

    Reminder- virtual funding opportunities for primary care, Sep. 16
    Co-hosted with Ontario Health, this webinar will provide information and answer questions about FY2021-22 digital and virtual care provincial funding opportunities for Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) and In Development Team, including support for online appointment booking and virtual primary care projects.
    Find out more and register here.

    Reminder- COVID-19 malnutrition – how to identify and treat in team-based primary care, Sep. 20, 2021

    Gain a greater awareness of prevalence of malnutrition in primary care and the impact of undiagnosed malnutrition on quality of life, health outcomes and health care dollars. Find out more and register here.

    AFHTO 2021 Conference: AI panel update & poster confirmations

    AFHTO 2021 small logo

    More information on Artificial Intelligence and Robots in Primary Care. The Future is Now is now available. Register here.

    And if you are part of a group that has prepared an abstract, please ensure your group contact has received an e-mail including the words AFHTO 2021 Conference in the subject on Sep. 9. (Please have them check their junk mail as well.)

    If your contact person has NOT received this notification, please contact info@afhto.ca before Thursday, September 16, 2021. We are currently awaiting confirmation for 10 posters.

    Additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine in immunocompromised individuals and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Relevant news and updates: EMR data uses for performance measurement & climate change

    Submit an abstract for Trillium Primary Health Care research day

    You are invited to submit your research for presentation at the virtual 2021 Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day on Oct. 15. Deadline to submit Oct. 1.

    Reminder- seeking pharmacists’ input on experiences and contributions to mental health care during COVID-19

    If you are a primary care pharmacist, University of Toronto researchers want to hear from you! Their study seeks to examine primary care team pharmacist contributions to patient mental health care, and understand pharmacists’ experiences with collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 15 to 20 min survey includes a mix of multiple choice and open response questions.
     
    This study from the University of Toronto is co-led by Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft, Assistant Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, and Dr. Lisa Dolovich, Professor & Dean at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.
     
    To take the survey, please click on this link: https://bit.ly/SplPharm.

    Keeping our kids safe at school, new IPAC guidance, and more, Sep. 17, 2021
    The next meeting of OCFP COVID-19 CoP. Register here.

    NPAO 2021 Virtual Annual Conference, Sep. 23-24, 2021
    This years’ Conference theme is Nurse Practitioner: Innovative Influencers of Health and Wellness. Find out more and register here.

    Expanding your differential diagnosis, Oct. 14
    Co-hosted with ECHO Ontario at UHN, this presentation provides an overarching schema of rheumatic diseases. Find out more and register here

    Tapering and Stopping Opioids, Oct. 19, 2021
    Co-hosted with ECHO Ontario Chronic Pain and Opioid Stewardship (UHN). Register here.

    AFHTO 2021 Conference, Oct. 27-28, 2021
    Post-Pandemic Primary Care: Respond, Recover, Rebuild. Members get a significant discount on the registration fee. Find out more here.

    Transforming Care: Supporting Older Adults Post-COVID in Ontario, Oct. 19-21, 2021
    Hosted by Specialized Geriatric Services East. Register here.

  • AFHTO 2021 Conference: AI panel update

    AFHTO 2021 Conference: AI panel update

    Post-Pandemic Primary Care: Respond, Recover, Rebuild

    Artificial Intelligence and Robots in Primary Care. The Future is Now

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to become more and more relevant in clinical practice. From machine learning to robotic process automation (“bots”), it’s important that we have a basic understanding of the potentials and limitations.

    Moderator:

    • Dr. Kevin Samson – Family Physician, East Wellington FHT

    Panel:

    • Dr. Ervin Sejdić – Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence for Health Outcomes at Research & Innovation, North York General Hospital
    • Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia – Managing Director, eHealth Centre of Excellence

    Learn more about this session and our speakers.

    Register here!

    Conference Highlights:

    Details on other sessions coming soon. See the Conference Schedule for the current agenda.

    Register today!

    Poster notifications sent out

    Thank you to everyone who submitted a poster abstract for the AFHTO 2021 Conference. The working groups have now reviewed all submissions and a notification e-mail has been sent to each contact person.

    If you are part of a group that has prepared an abstract, please ensure your group contact has received an e-mail including the words AFHTO 2021 Conference in the subject on Sep. 9. (Please have them check their junk mail as well.)

    If your contact person has NOT received this notification, please contact info@afhto.ca before Thursday, September 16, 2021.

    And don’t forget, members get a deep discount on registration. Email us if you haven’t gotten your access code. Patients and students welcome! For general information, you can visit our conference page. 

     

    We look forward to seeing you at the AFHTO 2021 Conference!

  • Bits & Pieces: virtual funding opps, aggregate report update, and more

    Bits & Pieces: virtual funding opps, aggregate report update, and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Virtual funding opportunities for primary care, Sep. 16
    • Expanding your differential diagnosis, Oct. 14
    • 3rd dose referral and guidance
    • Update on COVaxON Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report
    • Reminder – Pandemic PPE Transitional Supports (PPTS)
    • Keeping our kids safe at school, new IPAC guidance, and more
    • New telementoring program for health-care providers in occupational medicine
    • PSHSA workplace violence toolkits: work refusal and emergency response to workplace violence (code white)
    • Opportunity to bring Early Words program to your team – at no cost
    • Upcoming events regarding COVID-19 malnutrition and more

    Virtual funding opportunities for primary care, Sep. 16
    Co-hosted with Ontario Health, this webinar will provide information and answer questions about FY2021-22 digital and virtual care provincial funding opportunities for Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) and In Development Team, including support for online appointment booking and virtual primary care projects.
    Find out more and register here.

    Expanding your differential diagnosis, Oct. 14
    Co-hosted with ECHO Ontario at UHN, this presentation provides an overarching schema of rheumatic diseases, with a focus on types and patterns of articular involvement, and extraarticular and serologic correlates. By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to apply this schema when approaching common rheumatic disease presentations.
    Find out more and register here.

    3rd dose referral and guidance

    Since Ontario announced third doses of COVID-19 vaccine for some populations, the Ministry has prepared a draft sample letter that physicians and nurse practitioners may wish to use to provide their patients with the necessary referral and attestation in the cases where the patient’s own primary care provider/specialist are not administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Your local public health unit may also have additional forms/information so please also check with them too.

    The updated guidance on third does for special populations can be found in this link.

    Update on COVaxON Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report

    Please find attached a memo from Ontario Health highlighting two important changes that have made to the COVaxON Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report:

    • The full list of rostered patients (everyone born in 2009 and older) will be available to PEM primary care providers not just those who received one or two doses; and
    • The refresh cycle is moving from monthly to weekly to provide data in a timelier manner.

    Reminder – Pandemic PPE Transitional Supports (PPTS)

    Just a reminder about the availability of PPE for Primary Care Providers and Interprofessional Primary Care Teams from the provincial stockpile. As part of the Pandemic PPE Transitional Support (PPTS)  for Primary Care Providers, Specialists (Community-based Physician Specialists), Community Health Service Providers, and Indigenous Communities and Health Service Providers, it is imperative to follow the steps in the ‘How-To Complete Remedy Form’ document before submitting a request. For more detailed instructions on how-to complete the Remedy Intake Form, please reference the ‘Detailed How-To’ document. For additional information related to the transitional support, please reference the ‘FAQ’ document.

    Please note the below attestation, which is at the bottom of the “General” section of the intake form, does not apply to the Pandemic PPE Transitional Support. Primary care providers, specialists (community-based physician specialists), community health service providers, and Indigenous communities and health service providers are asked to please select this box to continue with the intake process.

    ☐   By selecting this box, your organization confirms it still has a supply shortage of under 14 days of stock despite following Steps 1-3* and requires PPE from the pandemic stockpile to continue providing services. Additionally, I have verified or will verify and confirm that any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) I receive from Ontario Health will remain in Ontario, and will be used for direct patient care. Further, the PPE received will not be resold or redistributed without the express written consent of Ontario Health.
     
    The ministry provides guidance on the use of PPE that can be found on the Ministry of Health (MOH) COVID-19 website and in the Guidance for Primary Care Providers in a Community Setting.

    Keeping our kids safe at school, new IPAC guidance, and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Someone whose hands and torso are visible sits in front of an open laptop with stehoscopre beside it and a clipboard with pen in front of it

    New telementoring program for health-care providers in occupational medicine

    Primary health-care providers in Ontario are invited to join ECHO Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ECHO OEM). The new program will increase provider capacity to recognize occupational and environmental exposures, and support patients in recovery and return to work. Over 12 weekly, 1.5-hour sessions, an interprofessional team of specialists will guide and mentor providers as they discuss patient cases and pertinent topics in OEM. Health-care providers will also gain CME credits, confidence in providing comprehensive care for their patients, and a new community of practice.  

    The ECHO OEM sessions run on Fridays from September 17 to December 3, 2021. Learn more and register here.

    PSHSA workplace violence toolkits: work refusal and emergency response to workplace violence (code white)
    PSHSA’s Violence, Aggression and Responsive Behaviours (VARB) toolkits were developed in partnership with healthcare and labour stakeholders to support healthcare workplaces in reducing and preventing the risk of workplace violence.

    Two new toolkits are now available on Work Refusals and Emergency Response (Code White). These join their five initial toolkits on Workplace Violence Risk Assessment, Individual Client Risk Assessment, Risk Communication/Flagging, Security and Personal Safety Response System.

    Opportunity to bring Early Words program to your team – at no cost
    Early Words, the Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation’s literacy program is expanding and accepting expressions of interest from clinics and hospitals.

    The program launched in Iqaluit in 2020 and is now operating in 12 clinics in Nunavut, as well as two clinics in Winnipeg. They provide free books, training, and resources to support healthcare professionals integrate early literacy into their practice.

    They’re seeking Expressions of Interest from healthcare clinics and hospitals whose patient population includes children aged five and under experiencing barriers to literacy – such as families with low literacy, limited access to programs and resources, and low socioeconomic status. They provide access to books and resources to help professionals counsel families on early literacy.

    For more information, you can visit their site or register for the September 14 info session.

    The deadline to apply for the Expression of Interest is October 1 at midnight local time. If you have any questions, you can contact Zoe Keefer at zkeefer@childrensliteracy.ca.

    COVID-19 malnutrition – how to identify and treat in team-based primary care, Sep. 20, 2021

    Gain a greater awareness of prevalence of malnutrition in primary care and the impact of undiagnosed malnutrition on quality of life, health outcomes and health care dollars. Find out more and register here.

    NPAO 2021 Virtual Annual Conference, Sep. 23-24, 2021
    This years’ Conference theme is Nurse Practitioner: Innovative Influencers of Health and Wellness. Find out more and register here.

    OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Day, Sep. 30, 2021
    This virtual day will focus on leveraging digital health and virtual care tools to complement the in-person delivery of patient care. Register here.

    Promoting Resiliency in Children, Youth, and Families in Primary Care, Sep. 30, 2021

    ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health Special Interest ECHO Session. Register here.

    Tapering and Stopping Opioids, Oct. 19, 2021
    Co-hosted with ECHO Ontario Chronic Pain and Opioid Stewardship (UHN). Register here.

    AFHTO 2021 Conference, Oct. 27-28, 2021
    Post-Pandemic Primary Care: Respond, Recover, Rebuild. Members get a significant discount on the registration fee. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: COVID-19 malnutrition, conference registration and more

    Bits & Pieces: COVID-19 malnutrition, conference registration and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • COVID-19 malnutrition – how to identify and treat in team-based primary care
    • AFHTO 2021 conference registration now open
    • Thank you for your 2021 Bright Lights nominations
    • Order printed cancer screening awareness materials by Sep. 3 for your team
    • Member consultation forum on election strategy postponed
    • Fall preparedness, balancing in-person vs. virtual care and more
    • World Health Organization Long COVID Core Outcome Set Study, Deadline Sep. 1
    • Upcoming events regarding tapering and stopping opioids and more

    COVID-19 malnutrition – how to identify and treat in team-based primary care

    After attending this webinar, participants will:

    1. Gain a greater awareness of prevalence of malnutrition in primary care and the impact of undiagnosed malnutrition on quality of life, health outcomes and health care dollars
    2. Learn about malnutrition screening happening in primary care settings across Canada
    3. Walk away with tips and tools to implement screening within your site
    4. Be introduced to a Malnutrition Toolkit complete with screening tools, care pathways and outcome measures for malnutrition screening in primary care

    Find out more and register here.

    Mamta Gautam

    AFHTO 2021 conference registration now open

    Primary care has risen to the challenge of COVID-19 and while we wouldn’t dare say we have become used to its sweeping impacts on our work and lives, we can say we have adjusted to provide the best care possible for patients under trying circumstances.

    We only have an inkling of what lies ahead – delayed care, ongoing effects of the pandemic and the complex interactions of these with our society- but we need to prepare for it.

    Join your peers tuning in throughout Ontario and beyond as we learn how to respond, recover, and rebuild.

    Featuring Dr. Mamta Gautam, on “MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER: The Power of Resilience”

     

    Thank you for your 2021 Bright Lights nominations
    We received over 30 nominations yesterday and a confirmation email has been sent.
     
    If you are part of a group that has prepared a nomination, please ensure your contact has received the email with the subject: “Thank you for your 2021 Bright Lights nomination!”. (Please have them check their junk mail as well.)

    If your contact person has NOT received this confirmation, please contact info@afhto.ca by Sep. 2.

    Order printed cancer screening awareness materials by Sep. 3 for your team

    As you know, Ontario’s health care system has been significantly impacted by COVID-19, including preventive care like cancer screening. To help support you and your patients get caught up on cancer screening tests, Ontario Health will be sharing a cancer screening awareness tool-kit.

    The tool-kit has digital and print options. This is to provide information to members who wish to order print materials – read more here. Please complete the form by September 3rd, 2021 at 6pm.

    Member consultation forum on election strategy postponed
    After some discussion with our government relations firm, Enterprise Canada on current circumstances with wave 4, back to school, the federal election, and other areas, we will be rescheduling this forum for mid-November.
     
    We will still have the fireside chat with Enterprise at our conference and the forum will follow in mid-November. Material will be updated and circulated by the end of November, with webinars or training will follow. You will then be ready to go – and supported along the way – for conversations and advocacy with all your local candidates! The new date for the November forum will be confirmed in the next couple of weeks.

    Fall preparedness, balancing in-person vs. virtual care and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    World Health Organization Long COVID Core Outcome Set Study, Deadline Sep. 1

    Researchers at Johns Hopkins are working with the World Health Organization on a long COVID outcome study and need North American clinician/researcher participants. Per Dale M. Needham, FCPA, MD, PhD:
    “We desperately need PASC/Long COVID researchers/clinicians (and patient/caregivers) to share their expertise for this Core Outcome Set done in collaboration with the World Health Organization, ISARIC, and COMET Initiative.”  Note: this Delphi is directed for adult, rather than pediatric Long COVID. We have about 1000 respondents but are very under-represented by clinicians and researchers (including non-clinician researchers), and especially under-represented for geographic regions outside of Europe.  
     
    This Delphi survey will take only 5 to 10 minutes since many of you have already thought deeply about these issues.
     
    This URL will take you to the Delphi: https://delphimanager.liv.ac.uk/PC-COS/Delphi

    Who can take part?
    1.    People who have long COVID/PASC and their caregivers
    2.    Health professionals (including medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, physiotherapists, etc.)
    3.    Researchers of long COVID
    4.    Organizations who use the research (e.g., those approving new treatments) representatives.
    Final deadline Sep. 1.

    The Canadian/Global COVID-19 Policy Response, Sep. 1, 2021

    Lung Health Foundation & McMaster’s Global Nexus Policy Forum, moderated by Heather Bakken, Deputy Publisher and VP, Business Development, iPolitics.ca Register here.

    COVID@Home Monitoring for Primary Care Connecting Call, Sep. 8, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health, the webinar will cover some thoughts on the QI evaluation to date, review any new or emerging evidence and discuss the groups needs moving forward. Find out more here.

    Project ECHO OBN: Etiology, Assessment and Treatment of Obesity, starting Sep. 9
    They have expanded the curriculum to offer you the opportunity to update your knowledge of post-bariatric care and explore treatment options for individuals living with obesity. Find out more here.

    Tapering and Stopping Opioids, Oct. 19, 2021
    Co-hosted with ECHO Ontario Chronic Pain and Opioid Stewardship (UHN). Register here.

  • AFHTO 2021 Conference: Registration now live

    AFHTO 2021 Conference: Registration now live

    Post-Pandemic Primary Care: Respond, Recover, Rebuild

    Registration now open for the AFHTO 2021 Conference!

    Primary care has risen to the challenge of COVID-19 and while we wouldn’t dare say we have become used to its sweeping impacts on our work and lives, we can say we have adjusted to provide the best care possible for patients under trying circumstances.

    Teams have had to cross chasms to take care of our communities but now, while the end may seem to be a pinprick of light in the distance, it is at least in sight. But in many ways, there is an equally daunting future.

    We only have an inkling of what lies ahead – delayed care, ongoing effects of the pandemic and the complex interactions of these with our society- but we need to prepare for it.

    Join your peers tuning in throughout Ontario and beyond as we learn how to respond, recover, and rebuild.

    See the full Conference Schedule here. For general information, you can visit our conference page.  

    We look forward to seeing you at the AFHTO 2021 Conference!

  • Order Printed Cancer Screening Awareness Materials by Sept 3rd for your Team

    Content below developed by Ontario Health

    Dear members,

    As you know, Ontario’s health care system has been significantly impacted by COVID-19, including preventive care like cancer screening. Ontario Health runs the province’s organized cancer screening programs, the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), the Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP) and ColonCancerCheck (CCC). Since March 2020, all three programs have seen a decrease in the number of tests completed, compared to pre-pandemic.   

    Ontario’s primary care providers play an important role in cancer screening. To help support you and your patients get caught up on cancer screening tests, Ontario Health will be sharing a cancer screening awareness tool-kit.

    The tool-kit has digital and print options that include materials like key messages that can be used for emails or newsletters, social media content, slides for digital screens in offices. This email is to provide information to Association of Family Health teams of Ontario (AFHTO) members who wish to order print materials – more information will be shared in the coming weeks about how you can access the digital tool-kit.

    Printed cancer screening awareness materials
    Ontario Health develops materials to support partners and providers in raising awareness of the importance of cancer screening for all three of our organized programs. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is in October, as is Cervical Cancer Awareness Week and Colon Cancer Awareness Month is in March. Though developed for these awareness months/week, the materials can be used at any time.  

    Posters (8.5 x 11 inches) and postcards (5 x 7 inches) are being made available to print and ship to AFHTO members that would like copies. A colorectal cancer fact sheet can also be ordered. These are available at no charge to members. Materials are available in English and French, and the top 10 languages based on the most recent census data (for a list, see the URL below for the ordering form).

    If your practice would like to order materials, please use the following link to access the order form: https://forms.office.com/r/zZtQ4mhmGG . The form provides an image of each product and allows you to select a quantity in each language offered. You will need to provide contact and mailing information.

    Please complete the form by September 3rd, 2021 at 6pm. Materials are expected to be delivered by the end of September/early October.

    If you have any questions, please reach out to Ontario Health at primarycareinquiries@ontariohealth.ca.

  • Extended Bright Lights nomination deadline- now Monday, August 30, 12 noon

    Extended Bright Lights nomination deadline- now Monday, August 30, 12 noon

    Bright Lights Hall of Fame banner cropped

    Bright Lights nomination deadline now Monday, August 30, 12 noon!

    We know you’re working hard on your nominations so we’re giving you a bit more time to submit.

    Awards will be presented at the AFHTO 2021 Conference Awards ceremony, which will be held on October 27th, 2021.

    We encourage small, rural, and Northern teams to apply. You can watch this 2016 webinar or view the slides if you’ve never submitted a nomination before.

    Don’t forget we have two education grants as well. For more information regarding eligibility please visit our site.

    To complete your nomination by August 30, 2021:

    • Review the nomination categories in advance (see nomination guide pg. 3 for descriptions).
    • Review the nomination evaluation criteria (see nomination guide pg. 2 for details).
    • Complete the online nomination form and send all supporting materials before August 30, 2021.

    For more information, you can visit the Bright Lights webpage.

    If you have any questions about the nomination process or want to know if your work is a good fit, email info@afhto.ca or call 647-234-8605x 1200. We’d be happy to help.

    We look forward to seeing your nominations and recognizing ALL the excellent work being done!

  • Aug. 24 Update on COVID Vaccines and Resources

    Dear Members,

    Like many of you we share the collective disbelief that we are in Wave 4 of the pandemic, with numbers increasing daily and back to school being just around the corner. We know how tired you are but despite that exhaustion, you are and have always been there for your patients and community.

    Thank you again for all you do day in and day out, especially during these unprecedented and challenging times. Please find below some additional resources and supports you may find helpful.

    As primary care continues to ramp up in-person care, the Ministry of Health released updated primary care guidance and the CPSO provided new information on striking the right balance between providing in-person care and virtual care.  

    These individual decisions should be made by each provider and team and these resources may help in your decision-making.  The OCFP’s Considerations for In-Person and Virtual Care document has also been updated and we are waiting for additional clinical decision-making tools on striking the right balance between in-person and virtual care which we will share once it becomes available.

    As announced on August 17th, the Ministry will begin to offer third doses to the most vulnerable Ontarians including those in high-risk congregate settings and those that are immunocompromised – you can read more about that announcement here*. To help with identifying those eligible for third doses, the eHealth Centre of Excellence (eCE) is currently developing the queries for PS Suites, Oscar and Accuro – more details to follow.

    Let’s get closer to 100% – Every health care team member, every patient, every encounter
    In collaboration with all health sector partners, the OMA has supported the development of some messaging to encourage every health care visit include a discussion around vaccines. Whether the visit is in-person or virtual, health professionals and teams can be powerful influencers when it comes to vaccine acceptance. At check-in, during the encounter, or at the end – just the act of asking about vaccine status makes a difference:

    1. Ask: “Have you had a chance to get the COVID-19 vaccine yet?” Every health care team member, every patient, every encounter.
    2. Share: “I got the vaccine. I helped my friends and family to get it too”. Listen to your patients’ concerns, share your personal experiences of vaccination, your knowledge about the vaccines, and your hope for an optimistic Canada once more of us are vaccinated. If you are comfortable doing so, tell the patient why you think a vaccine is a good decision for them.
    3. Connect: “This is where you can get a vaccine.” Know where vaccines are being offered locally (e.g., your team, other primary care clinics, pharmacy, mass clinics, pop up clinics) and point your patients there.

    By making this concerted push now, we can limit the effects of the fourth wave this fall, one patient at a time. To help support those opportunistic vaccine visits, please see the attached memo from the Chief Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Kieran Moore) and the Chair of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force (Dr. Homer Tien) on managing those unused vaccine doses vials.

    As in other jurisdictions, there are early indicators of slowing vaccination rates for the 12-17 age group. There appears to be a variety of reasons for increasing hesitancy, but the main rationale is the perceived safety of vaccines, including:

    • Concerns from parents about what the long-term effects of a new vaccine will be on their children; and
    • Concerns about the evolving reports of adverse health events resulting from vaccine administration, including myocarditis.

    Here are some key messages to use in your conversations about the vaccines with children/youth:  

    • All vaccines provided in Ontario provide strong protection against COVID-19 and its variants.
    • Health Canada approved vaccines are conveniently available at hospitals, doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and mass vaccination sites.
    • Vaccinating as many people as possible is the most important thing we can do to protect against COVID-19 and help us all get back to normal life as soon as possible.
    • Every dose brings us closer to what we’ve missed.
    • Vaccines are the best way to protect your child and your family from COVID-19, including highly contagious variants.
    • The faster everyone gets vaccinated, the sooner we can all safely resume doing the things we’ve missed.
    • When you and your kids 12 and over get vaccinated, it helps protect other family members too, such as those under 12 who can’t get vaccinated yet, or older individuals who may have a lower immune response to the vaccines.
    • Ensuring youth 12-17 are vaccinated means getting them back to class, to sports, to band practice, and to being kids again.

    Resources for patients:

    Resources for health care providers:

    COVID@Home
    Ontario Health will be hosting its next COVID@Home CoP on September 8th at 8:00 a.m. They will share their thoughts on the QI evaluation to date, review any new or emerging evidence and discuss the group needs moving forward. Please click here to register or see attached flyer for more details.

    If you are a clinician or staff who participated in the implementation of, or patient care for, the COVID@Home initiative OH would be grateful to hear about your or your patients’ experiences. Please fill in this survey link or contact Julie Datta (dattaj1@mcmaster.ca) to participate.

    Additional Resources you may find helpful:  

    We look forward to continually updating you on the provincial vaccination strategy and hope you continue to stay safe. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas.

    Yours in good health,
    The AFHTO Team

    *Please note that the news release also speaks to mandatory vaccination policies for high-risk health care settings. At the moment this is limited to hospitals, home and community care and paramedic services. To help support our teams with their policies, we have invited EDs, Admin Leads, lead MDs/NPs and board chairs to a webinar with an HR lawyer to address your questions. If this is relevant to your role, please discuss your participation with your leadership. If you are part of the triad mentioned above and have not received the registration email, please contact us and we will send the information to you.

     

  • JUST ONE WEEK LEFT to submit your Bright Lights nomination

    JUST ONE WEEK LEFT to submit your Bright Lights nomination

    Bright Lights Hall of Fame banner cropped

     

    •    Are you proud of what your team has accomplished, especially during this pandemic?
    •    Do you want your colleagues to be recognized for the amazing work they do?
    •    Do you think it would be great to see your initiative spread across the province?

    If you’ve said yes to any of the above, submit a Bright Lights nomination!
    Don’t be left out- send in your nominations and supporting documents
    before the deadline, Friday, August 27.

    Awards will be presented at the AFHTO 2021 Conference Awards ceremony, which will be held on October 27th, 2021.

    We encourage small, rural, and Northern teams to apply. You can watch this 2016 webinar or view the slides if you’ve never submitted a nomination before.

    For more information regarding eligibility please visit our site.

    To complete your nomination by August 27, 2021:

    • Review the nomination categories in advance (see nomination guide pg. 3 for descriptions).
    • Review the nomination evaluation criteria (see nomination guide pg. 2 for details).
    • Complete the online nomination form and send all supporting materials before August 27, 2021.

    FINAL DAY TO NOMINATE FOR BOARD AWARD

    For the first time ever, 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 end of day today, August 20, 2021.

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

    If you have any questions about the nomination process or want to know if your work is a good fit, email info@afhto.ca or call 647-234-8605x 1200. We’d be happy to help.

    We look forward to seeing your nominations and recognizing ALL the excellent work being done!

  • Register now! Vaccinations in the Workplace: Top Questions Employers Are Asking

    Hello triad members,

    We invite members of the triad to join Maria McDonald from McDonald HR Law for guidance on questions we all have about vaccination in the workplace. Can vaccines be mandatory? Can a policy be written? What do you do if a frontline staff does not want to be vaccinated?

    Join Maria on September 8 from 12 PM to 1:30 PM to learn more!

    Please submit your questions when you register, so she can address what is most top of mind. We will ensure any question that does not get addressed in the webinar receives a follow-up response.

    This webinar is intended for executive directors, admin leads, HR staff, and other management. We leave it at your discretion to share this invitation with staff as deemed appropriate.

    This is being done in collaboration with the Alliance for Healthier Communities, the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, and the Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association.

    Register here!