Ultimate Blogging Championship

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  • Year-End Ministry of Health Updates

    Dear Executive Directors and Administrative Leads,

     

    We had a year-end call with ministry officials last week and would like to provide an update on multiple operational topics that were discussed.

    AOP submission

    There will be a pause on AOPs for 2021/22. They will resume for an April 2022 submission. While there will be no AOP this year, teams can still submit unsolicited funding requests as needed.

    The ministry is also analyzing quarterly reports and forecasting data to examine increases to overhead, rent, hydro, IT, professional services, etc. Through this process, they hope to get a sense of overall budgetary trends, limitations, and constraints across teams. We will share more on this work as we learn it, but we encourage teams to be timely with quarterly reports and audited financial statements to help inform this work.

    FHT contract

    The FHT contract is due to expire in 2022. However, the ministry has indicated that they will be extending the contract for one year, which they will communicate to teams directly when the decision is made. We have signalled that we would like to modernize the FHT contract to better reflect the current environment, so there will be discussion and consultation on possible contract changes and improvements. We do not yet have a timeline for these consultations, but we will begin internal discussions with members soon.

    Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs)

    Last April, OH(Q) paused QIP submissions for 2020/21 due the COVID-19 pandemic. The QIP Navigator remained open so that organizations that had the capacity to continue working on submissions were able to do so. They will be closing the 2020/21 cycle in Navigator on March 24, 2021.

    Regarding 2021/22 QIPs, OH(Q) understands that organizations continue to be under unprecedented pressure related to the pandemic and that this will likely continue for the next several months. As such, they are adjusting the 2021/22 QIP to help ensure that organizations can focus their efforts on responding to urgent needs related to COVID-19.

    While QI is of critical importance in the collective response to COVID-19, the pause on the program will continue for now. They will monitor the situation and share a revised approach in the coming months.

    The approach to 2021/22 will be designed to provide organizations with flexibility to reflect where they are with their QI efforts given the pandemic, local needs, pressures, and goals for the recovery period. They encourage organizations to continue with their local QI initiatives and will be in touch soon.    

    If your team has not submitted the 2020/21 QIP, which was due last April, it would be good to close it out. OH(Q) has created a video to help with that process. For any questions, please contact OH(Q) at qip@ontariohealth.ca.

    Mental health and addiction funding

    All teams should have received their one-time federal funding allocation to support the increase in MH&A supports needed as a result of COVID-19. Unfortunately, our request to allow these funds to be carried over due to the timing of the funding receipt and the exceptional circumstances of COVID-19 was denied. Funding must be spent by March 31, 2021. However, there is considerable flexibility in how teams can utilize this funding if it can be tied to providing MH&A relief (e.g., training, equipment, IT).

    Please note there is very specific and very limited criteria for which the government allows funds to be carried over into the next fiscal year and the MH&A funding does not meet the criteria. (For example, OHT funding meets the requirements of “project funding for implementation and start up,” so there is allowance for carry over of OHT funds.)

    Funding for vaccine clinics

    There is no direct funding from the ministry for teams that are working in or running COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Any inquiries about this funding need to be directed to your local public health unit as they are managing the budgets related to roll-out of the vaccine clinics.

    Also, a reminder that physicians on your team can review a Ministry INFOBulletin regarding newly negotiated compensation for vaccinations and vaccine outreach.

    Governance review

    The ministry recently conducted an assessment of the Governance & Attestation documents submitted by teams as part of their annual submission requirements. This assessment identified two areas that need improvement for many boards: 1) board monitoring of organizational performance; and 2) board self-performance monitoring.

    Over the next few months, we will be developing practical tools and templates to support team boards in these two areas. As a result of the review, some teams may also receive a specific action plan from the ministry identifying opportunities for further improvement in governance practices.

    Call-out to EDs to join a short-term working group!

    One of the first tools AFHTO will be developing to assist with governance, as noted in the previous section, is a toolkit for “Governance Oversight of Organizational Performance.” This will be done in collaboration with the Centre for Organizational Effectiveness. AFHTO is looking for guidance and input from EDs to inform this work.

    We’re hoping three or four EDs may be available in April and May to provide insight and feedback! We expect this would be two or three 1-hour virtual meetings over the course of the two months, and a few occasional questions via email regarding the document as it is developed. If you are able and interested, please email Bryn Hamilton.

    We hope you are all keeping well! If you have any questions, please contact us any time at info@afhto.ca.

    Sincerely,

    Your AFHTO Team

  • Bits & Pieces: leaving no story untold, IHPs and outcomes in diabetes care, and more

    Bits & Pieces: leaving no story untold, IHPs and outcomes in diabetes care, and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Don’t leave your team’s stories untold
    • Happy Pharmacy Appreciation Month
    • Members’ stories
    • Saegis Cybersecurity Clinic Update 2021 slides and video
    • AFHTO 2021 Conference survey deadline today
    • How IHPs affect outcomes in diabetes care- input needed
    • Patient and staff on the vaccine, guidance updates, armpit lumps and more
    • GoodLife rates increase April 1
    • Reminder- Supply Ontario input due today March 9
    • Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care resources
    • Draft recommendation on internet-delivered CBT for PTSD or acute stress disorder
    • Upcoming events including supporting older persons at home and more

     

    Don’t leave your team’s stories untold

    Don’t leave your team’s stories untold!
    We’ve heard so many amazing stories and we want you to keep them coming! Share anything, anytime on our member initiative webform.

    • Starting a new program because of a newly recognized demand?
    • Changing up how you provide care during COVID?
    • Collaborating with different partners to make a difference in the community?

    Enter your untold stories in this form and we’ll keep you in mind for our advocacy efforts. You choose how widely the information can spread: keep it in-house with AFHTO or allow us to share on our website, social media, publications and/or promotional material.

    Questions? Email us at info@afhto.ca.

    Pharmacy Appreciation Month #PAM2021

    Happy Pharmacy Appreciation Month

    March is Pharmacy Appreciation Month, so we thank all our teams’ pharmacists for stepping up, during the pandemic, before, and beyond. Happy Pharmacist appreciation month!

     

     

     

    Members’ stories

    Akausivik FHT – Vaccine rollout for Indigenous community expands

    Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, Arnprior and District, Madawaska Valley, Petawawa Centennial & West Champlain FHTs – Renfrew County FHTs & Partners providing virtual mental health and addiction walk-in counselling clinic

    saegis webinar mar 4 2021

    Saegis Cybersecurity Clinic Update 2021 slides and video

    On March 4 we cohosted a webinar with Saegis that:

    • Discussed the top 5 cybersecurity threats facing your clinic
    • Listed the 10 questions to ask before engaging an IT consultant for your clinic, and questions to ask about your clinics network security
    • Described how and where to report clinic cyberattacks and privacy breaches.

    Slides and video are now available.

    AFHTO 2021 Conference survey deadline today

    We’re going virtual again for this year’s conference and although we haven’t set a date yet, the earliest would be some time in October. Now that we’ve tried it once, we’d like to make the next better for you- more streamlined and focused on your needs.

    We need your help. What do you want to hear more about and how would you like it? Tell us in this really quick survey. Deadline today, March 9

    How IHPs affect outcomes in diabetes care- input needed

    The AFHTO QSC is looking to begin the process of exploring IHP and outcome data.  The committee chose diabetes as many teams are working daily to lower HbA1C in patients.  If you work in diabetes care, please complete this survey (about 5-8 minutes in length).    

    Patient and staff on the vaccine, guidance updates, armpit lumps and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    GoodLife rates increase April 1
    GoodLife rates for AFHTO members were due to increase in November, but because of closures due to COVID, existing – annual (paid in full) rates of $519 and biweekly rates of $24- have been extended until April 1. Those with existing GoodLife memberships should have already received emails from GoodLife. Phasing updates by region are available on their site here.

    To take advantage of discounted rates, you need a membership ID assigned by AFHTO. Automatically assigned to those on the ‘Bits & Pieces’ mailing list, these are sent to GoodLife monthly near the end of the month. To get your ID or be put on the list for one, please email info@afhto.ca.
     
    As of April 1, annual (paid in full) rates will be $619 and biweekly rates $25.

    Reminder- Supply Ontario input due today March 9

    Supply Ontario is a single integrated supply chain across the public sector that will leverage the province’s purchasing power to provide greater value and consistent access to high-quality products and services.

    They need your input to help identify opportunities to improve the value they can deliver for your organization and patients, through better supply chain processes. Deadline today, March 9.

    Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care resources

    • eLearning Hub– has a range of interactive, short eLearning courses that use LTC-specific case scenarios to illustrate care delivery-related concepts that are relevant in all care setting, like supporting people’s psycho-social and communications needs at the end-of-life, person centred language, nursing leadership. Many of them available in French too.
    • Webinars
    • Newsletter– short monthly newsletter reaching over 2000 people

    Draft recommendation on internet-delivered CBT for PTSD or acute stress disorder

    Ontario Health requests feedback on a health technology assessment and draft funding recommendation on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) delivered online to treat PTSD or acute stress disorder by March 14, 2021.

    Supporting Older Persons at Home – Learning and Collaboration During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond, Mar. 25, 2021

    Cohosted with Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario, join us for a discussion on how to better support older persons in the community using lessons learned during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Register here.

    The COVID-19 Vaccine: Newly approved vaccine, public health collaboration, and more, Mar. 12, 2021
    The OCFP’s COVID-19 CoP will be continuing the discussion on COVID-19 vaccinations- this time, focusing on the Astra Zeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Learn more here.

    BounceBack refresher webinar, Mar. 18 & 25, 2021
    The BounceBack communications and marketing team invites you to a 30-minute refresher presentation on BounceBack, a free CBT skill-building program designed to help individuals 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate anxiety or depression, stress or worry.

    RISE OHT Webinars, Mar. 17 & 18, 2021

    • Measurement-based Care in Mental Health and Addictions Service Delivery, Mar. 17, 2021
    • Redesigning Care Models through Co-design, Mar. 18, 2021

    Learn more here.

    Fundamentals in Practical Leadership, starting Mar. 29, 2021
    Fundamentals in Practical Leadership: Skills and Tools for New and Emerging Leaders and Managers is a year-long webinar series by Centre for Organizational Effectiveness. Learn more here.

    Delirium – A New Quality Standard for an Important Health Concern, Mar. 17, 2021
    The Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario & Ontario Health will be co-hosting a webinar with clinical experts to share information and resources to support people who are at risk for delirium or who are experiencing symptoms of delirium. Register here.

  • Ontario Health Unit Vaccination Plans

    Shared by the Toronto Star

    Updated March 2021

    The Toronto Star collected data on how each Ontario Region will roll out COVID vaccines. The 21 Public Health Units responded; 8 were found online; 5 were not found at the time.

    Ontario Health Unit Vaccination Plans, by Health Unit

     

    For more information on COVID-19 Vaccinations, click here

  • March 8th Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out

    Dear Members,

    We are writing to provide you with an update from our united Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Collaborative (*PC-VAC). This past week’s key messages that we shared with vaccine decision-makers can be found here.

    Today, the primary care organizations had an opportunity to present to some public health units, members of the Ministry’s Public Health Branch and colleagues from the Solicitor General’s office about the role primary care plays in the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines. We highlighted equity as the grounding principle to the vaccine roll-out and provided four different scenarios where primary care is already playing a pivotal role: In-Office Primary Care Vaccine Clinics, Drive Through Clinics, Mobile Units, and Vaccines for the Homebound or Limited Mobility Individuals.

    These scenarios were based on already existing experiences in primary care and was part of an administrative table-top exercise with the PHUs which will help them finalize their public health – primary care collaborations and future work that will be done with clinical leaders. The slide deck can be found here. As more information becomes available, we will continually be providing an update.  

    Key Updates:

    • The Ontario government announced Phase Two of the Vaccine Distribution Plan, including eligible populations. The full technical briefing is available here.
    • The AstraZeneca vaccine will soon be distributed in a limited number of PHUs and primary care offices in a pilot program. Details are forthcoming. An online Community of Practice will be led by Ontario Health to support sharing of lessons learned.
    • OntarioMD will be providing additional training and onboarding on COVAXON (the vaccine registration system) for physicians, starting with those involved in vaccine pilots, including support for technical questions that arise throughout the process. More information to follow.
    • Physicians can review a Ministry INFOBulletin regarding newly negotiated compensation for vaccinations and vaccine outreach.
    • A joint letter was sent to Premier Ford and Minister Elliott from a consortium of health care associations requesting that the government build upon and enhance strategies towards an equitable vaccination rollout: “Ensuring Equity in Ontario’s Vaccination Campaign”
    • With Health Canada approval of Johnson & Johnson single-dose viral vector-based COVID-19 vaccine, and the expected acceleration of Pfizer vaccine deliveries, Ontario is expected to receive significant doses of various vaccines over the coming weeks.
    • A feature article on collaboration between sectors during Phase 1 entitled We’re All in This Together: Power of Partnership is the Key Ingredient to Vaccine Rollout Success is featured in the OHA Health System News and speaks to three examples of how primary care, hospitals and public health worked collaboratively to vaccine LTC/RH residents.

    New Resources:

    Webinars:

    • Public Health Ontario Learning Exchange: COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Equity Considerations, Wednesday, March 10, 2:00-3:00 pm. The webinar will focus on sharing of equity centered health unit practices to support COVID-19 vaccine uptake, followed by a learning exchange on prioritizing trustworthiness and trust, as well as highlighting experiences/challenges/opportunities.
    • COVID-19 and the Black community: Answering questions about COVID vaccines, Saturday, March 13, 12-3 pm: A national forum hosted by the Black Opportunity Fund and BlackNorth Initiative to hear from and engage with Black doctors, nurses, social workers, and other medical professions.
    • The COVID-19 Community of Practice, with UofT DFCM and the OCFP, will take place on Friday, March 12, and Drs. Kieran Moore and Daniel Warshafsky will cover the role for family physicians in the vaccine rollout, and the new vaccines.  

    In Case you Missed it: Learnings From Primary Care: Vaccine Roll-Out Across Ontario Webinar
    On Friday, February 26, we heard from four AFHTO teams who have stepped up to provide leadership for vaccine distribution in their communities. They spoke to work that is underway, offered guidance and advice, spoke to challenges faced and how they are resolving them, and answered questions.

    Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Senior Medical Consultant, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, also joined the call to provide an update on vaccine roll-out and to take questions. You can access the slide deck and webinar on our site here.

    Find resources from previous weeks here.

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

     

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association/Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine

  • Renfrew County FHTs & Partners providing virtual mental health and addiction walk-in counselling clinic

    The Recorder and Times article published March 2, 2021

    By Pembroke Observer and News

    Renfrew County residents often face a long wait time when they need to access mental health and addiction counselling. In response, the Renfrew County Collaborative E-Walk-In Counselling Clinic (WICC) has launched to provide children, youth, adults, and families with free, same-day access to single-session therapy by video or phone.

    The WICC is the expansion of a service model started in Ottawa under the leadership of Jewish Family Services and funded by the Ontario government through the Champlain Local Health Integration Network. The Renfrew County expansion has been partially funded by United Way East Ontario and is a regional collaboration bringing together multiple Renfrew County healthcare providers and agencies that are sharing mental health and addictions resources to better support the immediate needs of residents.

    “Collectively, we are helping to address the mental health and addiction service gap for Renfrew County adults, kids, teens and families by offering more immediate, convenient single- session counselling that provides many individuals with the initial support and coping strategies they need,” said Karen Simpson, WICC co-lead and executive director, Arnprior and District Family Health Team. “The timeliness of the WICC’s counselling access is a major benefit for our communities.”

    Although the WICC is focused on single-session therapy, individuals may return to access the services at any time, even while they are on a wait list for other mental health and addiction services.

    “We have found that walk-in clinics have created a simple, very accessible resource for anyone needing to connect to a mental health or addiction clinician to provide support, guidance and/or navigation to appropriate service systems,” explained Greg Lubimiv, WICC co-lead and executive director, The Phoenix Centre for Children and Families. “With COVID and the closure of most in-person walk-in clinics, the creation of a virtual walk-in is a timely and necessary solution. Not only are we now able to reopen walk-in virtually, but we are doing so within a large partnership, led by Jewish Family Services, so that we can offer not only child and youth mental health services, but adult and addiction services through the same access point.”

    As part of the gradual launch, the WICC is currently open every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Individuals who need same-day support, can call 1-844-441-0981. The receptionist will go through a series of questions to help match the person with the right counsellor and book a session time for that day by video or phone (based on the client’s preference). To ensure immediate access to mental health and addiction services outside of the WICC’s operating hours, clients can access Counselling Connect online at www.counsellingconnect.org.

    “I feel this will be seen as a valuable service that is being offered,” said Sandi Wright, supervisor of mental health, Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. “It will be a great way to reach people without a wait and get immediate service. We are looking forward to working with the entire mainstream community — it has been one of our goals to be seen as a collective within the community.”

    The WICC recognizes, welcomes and accepts the diversity of our clients and their families with respect to race, national or ethnic background, place of origin, religion, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, mental or physical disability, or language.

    “The Renfrew County Collaborative E-Walk-In Counselling Clinic is an exciting initiative for our area,” said Lise Laframboise, executive director, Pathways Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services. “Residents suffering from addiction issues and/or their family members now have an opportunity to connect with an addiction counsellor for immediate support to address their concerns in the moment.”

    Kim MacLeod, service director of Addictions Treatment Service, added the ability for people to link with this new service, for example, from the safety of their homes is key; especially for clients living with addiction who are reaching out to someone for what might be the first time to get help.

    The WICC partners include: Arnprior and District Family Health Team, Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, Deep River and District Hospital, Madawaska Valley Family Health Team, Mental Health Services of Renfrew County (Pembroke Regional Hospital), Pathways Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services, Petawawa Family Health Centre, The Phoenix Centre for Children and Families, West Champlain Family Health Team, White Water Bromley Community Health Centre, and the Renfrew Victoria Hospital.

    Residents can access the Renfrew Collaborative E-Walk-In Counselling Clinic every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. by calling 1-844-441-0981.

    Read the full article here

  • Akausivik Inuit FHT offering vaccinations for Inuit in Ottawa

    Nunavut  News article published March 1, 2021

    By Trevor Wright

    The Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team (AIFHT) is hosting ongoing clinics that started Feb. 17 to deliver Covid-19 vaccines to Inuit in Ottawa, one of Canada’s southern cities with the largest population of Inuit.

    About 200 people within the first few days of the clinic were vaccinated.

    “We’re working through the initial start-up hiccups and glitches and smoothing out our processes,” said Conne Siedule, executive director of the Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team.

    “We’re looking to step up the rollout in the upcoming days. Everyone is really happy to receive the vaccine today and to see each other. I’ve never seen people so happy to receive an immunization before.”

    The vaccination clinic has also seen some unexpected reunions between people.

    “We’ve had two patients in the other day who had not seen each other for 50 years,” said
    Siedule. “They happened to have their appointments around the same time, they were so happy to see each other and they were just catching up and doing all that stuff.”

    The mood among the Family Health Team and it’s patients has continued to be positive.

    “All of our vaccine staff have said how happy everybody is and how cheerful it is, it’s been very exciting for us to be able to provide this for all Inuit here.”

    The AIFHT has maintained its hours during Covid to help with culturally sensitive care for Inuit living in Ottawa.

    “We’ve been open throughout the pandemic, we’ve been open everyday and being able to see patients if they needed to, we were also able to provide virtual appointments if that was possible,” said Siedule.

    Inuit have also been able to get tested for Covid-19 with the AIFHT clinic being a designated Covid-19 centre.

    “Every day it (number vaccinated) goes up, we’re stepping up our vaccine doses everyday.” She adds that this is important as Inuit are generally more vulnerable to the virus.

    “Our activities throughout the pandemic have been important because the risk among Inuit for Covid-19 complications and rapid decline is extreme.”

    “Once it hits it can be very rapid.”

    Inuit in Ottawa can book an appointment to get vaccinated with Akausivik by calling 613-740-0999, the clinic hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

    All Inuit adults are able to receive it, however those aged 55 or older will be given priority for the vaccine.

    Read the full article here

  • Joint Letter on Ensuring Equity in Ontario’s Vaccination Campaign

    March 1, 2021

    To: Premier Doug Ford
    Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier, Minister of Health

    Cc: General (Ret.) Rick Hillier, COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force
    Dr. Dirk Huyer, Coordinator, Provincial Outbreak Response
    Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health
    Alison Blair, Associate Deputy Minister, Pandemic Response and Recovery
    Patrick Dicerni, Assistant Deputy Minister
    Nadia Surani, Acting Director, Primary Care Branch
    Loretta Ryan, Executive Director, Association of Local Public Health Agencies

    Re: Ensuring Equity in Ontario’s Vaccination Campaign

    Dear Premier Ford and Minister Elliott,

    We are writing today as your partners in Ontario’s vaccination rollout plan. We have appreciated the opportunity to consult with the vaccine task force regularly over the last several months, and the recent meetings with Ret. General Hillier. We are encouraged by the leadership role of Public Health Units in the vaccine rollout, and know that health equity is a key consideration in General Hillier’s communications and in regional plans to ensure an efficient, equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Our health professionals and teams stand ready to support #TeamVaccine in Ontario.

    As has been seen and talked about for some time among public health units, in media stories, and among community providers at the front lines of testing and community supports, COVID-19’s effects have not been felt equally in Ontario. We know that communities who’ve seen the highest rates of infections during the pandemic, the highest impacts on health and wellbeing, have been communities already marginalized before the pandemic hit, and for whom health and social services can be more difficult to access. We also know that it’s many of these people who will have difficulty accessing online or phone system booking, are home bound, or are otherwise hesitant or unable to visit mass vaccination clinics or pharmacies. Premier and Minister, we believe it is critical to have a plan to ensure that the people facing the most barriers and risks due to COVID-19 are given particular attention in vaccine plans.

    The good news is that throughout the pandemic, community health leaders and their partners have worked hard to build lines of trust, and to work with other community leaders, local ambassadors and others to ensure that their services, including testing and isolation supports, could reach people marginalized due to a variety of factors.

    From the experience of implementing COVID-19 testing, we know that one-size-fit-all mass vaccination clinics, even if accessibly located within priority neighbourhoods, will not be effective by themselves. Mobile testing clinics that deliver testing to the door, and smaller testing sites located in trusted community spaces, performed by trusted organizations, have been the keys to success. These lessons can be applied to ensure a successful and equitable rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

    Premier and Minister, we ask for your leadership in supporting all Public Health Units across Ontario to work with primary care to include and implement the following in the regional vaccination rollout:

    1. A comprehensive, multilingual, and culturally safe approach to addressing vaccine hesitancy and building vaccine confidence in communities where distrust and marginalization, as well as language and social barriers can play a role in vaccine uptake, by partnering with and resourcing community organizations that have existing lines with trust and have already been supporting COVID-19 response in these priority neighbourhoods. This might mean flyers in building lobbies, door-to-door visits, local language radios, leveraging faith leaders, and other high touch strategies that have already been used during testing and isolation campaigns in the hardest hit communities.
    2. A multi-pronged approach that builds access to the vaccine into existing partnerships, mobile units, community testing sites, and pop-up community campaigns with priority populations. This may include innovative solutions that were successful for testing, such as repurposing public buses to set up vaccination clinics outside of seniors’ residences, social housing, and isolated areas within the hardest hit postal codes.
    3. Collection, review, and reporting of race-based and socio-demographic data as the rollout takes place across marginalized communities to ensure that the people who are at the highest risk are being helped first by the vaccine, and to prevent future outbreaks. This type of collection and reporting will enable healthcare and community providers to know which of their clients require additional outreach immediately, and inform a more just and equitable system going forward.

    We have come this far together, building on the strength of individual, tailored community outreach and supports to help reduce the risk of further outbreaks in the hardest hit areas of Ontario’s most marginalized communities. To get Ontario back on its feet, and begin the recovery we all so desperately want to see, we have to start with those who’ve been pushed the furthest down by this pandemic. Mass vaccination sites alone, however well placed or advertised using social media and traditional advertising buys will only take us so far.

    We have to help those at the greatest risk through community approaches that have proven to be successful. We have seen in other jurisdictions, particularly in the United States, that without a coordinated plan to reach the hardest hit communities, vaccination rates in postal codes with the highest number of outbreaks are often the ones with the lowest vaccination rates. We have a chance to write a different story here in Ontario. Together, we can do it.

    Sincerely,
    Sarah Hobbs, CEO, Alliance for Healthier Communities
    Kavita Mehta, CEO, Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    Dana Cooper, Executive Director, Nurse Practitioners Association of Ontario
    Jennifer Clement, CEO, Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association
    Leanne Clark, CEO, Ontario College of Family Physicians
    Anthony Dale, CEO, Ontario Hospital Association
    Dr. Samantha Hill, President, Ontario Medical Association
    Dr. Alykhan Abdulla, Chair, Section on General and Family Practice, Ontario Medical Association

    See the pdf version here.

  • Bits & Pieces: vaccine learnings webinar, 2021 conference and more

    Bits & Pieces: vaccine learnings webinar, 2021 conference and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Supporting older persons at home webinar March 25
    • Reminder – Saegis Cybersecurity Clinic Update 2021, Mar. 4
    • Reminder – AFHTO 2021 Conference: tell us what YOU want, what you really, really want
    • Happy Social Work Week
    • Learnings from primary care: vaccine roll-out slides and video
    • Engaging and supporting caregivers slides and video
    • Video profile of Akausivik Inuit FHT COVID rollout, OECD report and more
    • Supply Ontario appoints first CEO and needs primary care voices
    • OpenNotes study seeking clinician participants- tomorrow deadline to respond
    • Study invitation – characterizing the impact of primary care pharmacists’ consultation notes on health care decisions
    • Healthy Professional Worker study
    • RISE updates
    • Upcoming events including COVID@Home Monitoring for Primary Care Providers, Practising Well CoP and more

    Supporting older persons at home webinar March 25

    Supporting Older Persons at Home – Learning and Collaboration During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
     

    COVID-19 highlighted numerous barriers and challenges to providing integrated care for older persons living in the community. Join Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario in a discussion on how to better support older persons in the community using lessons learned during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    We will discuss needs in primary care – focusing on the role of interprofessional teams – and offer some resources and tools to better support team-based care for older persons. We will also discuss how specialized geriatric service programs in your area can provide support to primary care clinicians.

    Reminder – Saegis Cybersecurity Clinic Update 2021, Mar. 4

    Cohosted with Saegis, this webinar:

    • Discusses the top 5 cybersecurity threats facing your clinic
    • Lists the 10 questions to ask before engaging an IT consultant for your clinic, and questions to ask about your clinics network security
    • Describes how and where to report clinic cyberattacks and privacy breaches.

    Learn more here.

    Reminder- AFHTO 2021 Conference: tell us what YOU want, what you really, really want

    We’re going virtual again for this year’s conference and although we haven’t set a date yet, the earliest would be some time in October. Now that we’ve tried it once, we’d like to make the next better for you- more streamlined and focused on your needs.

    We need your help. What do you want to hear more about and how would you like it?Tell us in this really quick survey. Deadline now March 9

    Recognizing social workers. Social Work Week 2021. #YouAreNotAlone. OASW

    Happy Social Work Week

    The first week of March marks the beginning of Social Work Week in Ontario (#SWW2021). The current environment we find ourselves in is truly unlike any other. Please consider this year’s Social Work Week theme, “You are Not Alone” and explore the resources being shared as part of Social Work Week, at: www.oasw.org/socialworkweek. 

    Join us as we recognize our fellow social work colleagues by celebrating Social Work Week and their many contributions to teams and their patients.

    learnings from pc vaccine webinar

    Learnings from primary care: Vaccine roll-out across Ontario

    Last Friday, February 26 we heard from teams who have stepped up to provide leadership for vaccine distribution in their communities. Ministry of Health officials, including Daniel Warshafsky (Senior Medical Consultant, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health) was also there to provide an update on vaccine roll-out and to take questions. Slides and video are now on our site.

     

    Engaging and supporting caregivers slides and video

    OCO Webinar Title Slide

    On Feb. 25, the Ontario Caregiver Organization highlighted resources and opportunities for primary care teams to support and engage caregivers. Attendees learned about:

    • The Ontario Caregiver Organization and their key programs, services, and resources
    • Three key caregiver-related strategies that can positively impact health outcomes and the patient/family/caregiver experience
    • Resources, programs, and actions that primary care teams can take to help advance these strategies

    Slides and video are now available.

    Video profile of Akausivik Inuit FHT COVID rollout, OECD report and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Supply Ontario appoints first CEO and needs primary care voices

    Supply Ontario is a single integrated supply chain across the public sector that will leverage the province’s purchasing power to provide greater value and consistent access to high-quality products and services. The agency has appointed Frank Rochon as their first CEO, effective March 1, 2021.

    They need your input to help identify opportunities to improve the value they can deliver for your organization and patients, through better supply chain processes. Deadline now March 9.

    OpenNotes study seeking clinician participants- tomorrow deadline to respond

    Researchers at CAMH are looking to recruit mental health care providers across Ontario who document patient notes within an electronic health record, to participate in the “The OpeN Study”. This study is looking to understand and explore the needs of clinicians who are providing patients and their family members access to their clinical notes.

    The study is recruiting participants to take part in a 60–90-minute interview to share their experiences. More information about the project can be found in this poster.

    If you are interested in participating in this study, please email Strudwick.research@camh.ca by Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021.

    Study invitation – characterizing the impact of primary care pharmacists’ consultation notes on health care decisions

    Dr. Nicole Domanski is a clinical pharmacist at the UBC Pharmacists Clinic. Her research project is designed to characterize the impact of pharmacists’ consultation notes on healthcare decisions made by prescribers. As a physician or nurse practitioner working in FHTs, you have likely received a consultation note written by a primary care pharmacist.

    She invites you to complete the following anonymous survey: to share your perspectives on pharmacist consultation notes. The survey consists of ranking and multiple-choice questions that should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

    Click here complete survey.

    Healthy Professional Worker study

    An interdisciplinary, multi-university research team led by Dr. Bourgeault at the University of Ottawa is exploring the mental health experiences of professional workers, and how these experiences are affected by their personal, work and family life. They are particularly interested in the role that gender has on these experiences. There will also be some questions about how COVID-19 has impacted these experiences.

    If you are interested in taking part in this study, please follow this link to the online survey in English or in French. The survey will take about 15-20 minutes to complete. If you would prefer to participate in an interview, please contact the study project coordinator, Audrey Kruisselbrink, at HPW@uottawa.ca. The interview will take 40-60 minutes, for which there will be a $20 honorarium.

    To learn more, you can see the flyer.

    RISE updates

    You can also sign up for their monthly newsletter here.

    Personal Resilience for Hospice Palliative Care, Mar. 3, 2021
    Learn how to enhance personal resilience during even the most challenging times.
    Find out more here.

    Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health, Mar. 4, 2021
    The aim of this conference is to bridge this gap and provide information and resources to better equip Nurse Practitioners providing care to Gender Diverse individuals. The highlight is hearing the patient perspective. Find out more.

    COVID@Home Monitoring for Primary Care Providers webinar, Mar. 4, 2021
    Ontario Health webinar with speakers:

    • Moderator: David Kaplan, Chief Clinical Quality, Clinical Institutes and Quality Programs, Ontario Health
    • Dr. Dee Mangin and Dr. Cathy Risdon, McMaster University Department of Family Medicine
    • Georgian Bay FHT – Gaynor Edwards, RN, Clinic Director
    • Marathon FHT – Jodi Osborne, Physician Assistant

    Register here.

    Practising Well Community of Practice, Mar. 5, 2021
    A space created by family physicians, for family physicians. Connect in real time with, and learn from, others who are working with patients to address their mental health, substance use disorders and chronic pain. The first session focuses on the challenges for family doctors in managing their own mental health/substance use during the pandemic. Join in on the discussion. Register here.

    OHT evaluation webinars, Feb. 23 recording & Mar. 23 registration
    The recording and slides for Health System Performance Network’s Population Health Management & Applying Population Segmentation from Feb. 23, and OHT Improvement Measures from Health Administrative Data: Where are OHTs Starting From? on Mar. 23 registration are available here.

    BounceBack refresher webinar, Mar. 18 & 25, 2021
    The BounceBack communications and marketing team invites you to a 30-minute refresher presentation on BounceBack, a free CBT skill-building program designed to help individuals 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate anxiety or depression, stress or worry.

  • March 1st Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out

    Dear Members,
    We are writing to provide you with an update from our united Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Collaborative (PC-VAC*).  This past week’s key messages that we shared with vaccine decision-makers can be found here.

    The Collaborative has been working closely together and is meeting regularly with representatives from the Provincial Vaccine Task Force, public health, home care, hospitals, and other stakeholders. The provincial vaccine strategy is continuously evolving, and despite the close collaboration, we are often not privy to government decisions prior to their announcement. We are committed, however, to providing you with the most up to date information that is available to us and advocating on behalf of our colleagues and the patients that we serve.

    Even as information is uncertain there are four things that primary care can do: educate, communicate, collaborate, and vaccinate:

    • Educate: we have built trusting therapeutic relationships with our patients and can help answer questions about vaccine hesitancy and consent
    • Communicate: we have rosters of patients and can reach out easily through EMR, secure email, websites as well as our office voicemail messaging.
    • Collaborate: we have long standing relationships with public health and can be a huge help in supporting their vaccine rollout plans. Please consult your PHU’s vaccination plan for how you can best support your 80+ and other priority clients to be vaccinated. You can also reach out to the primary care liaisons for your local PHU.
    • Vaccinate: it’s at the core of what primary care providers do. Prevention is our specialty. The rollout will be faster with us helping out as part of mass vaccination clinics, mobile teams and in our own offices.

    Learnings From Primary Care: Vaccine Roll-Out Across Ontario Webinar
    On Friday, February 26, we heard from four AFHTO teams who have stepped up to provide leadership for vaccine distribution in their communities. They spoke to work that is underway, offered guidance and advice, spoke to challenges faced and how they are resolving them, and answered questions.

    Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Senior Medical Consultant, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, also joined the call to provide an update on vaccine roll-out and to take questions. You can access the slide deck and webinar on our site here.

    Updates:

    COVAXON update
    OntarioMD is working on sending the vaccine report through HRM (source: MOH COVAX app) and the target is to have this live by the end of April. No additional information at this point as they are in the early design stage. They will have communications and an FAQ ready once they know more.

    COVID@Home  

    The Ministry of Health is working to procure oxygen saturation monitors for use by primary care professionals wishing to provide enhanced monitoring of their COVID+ patients. These devices can be requested via provincial stockpile, similar to how you request PPE, and more details on ordering will soon be available.

    Please reach out to your regional digital leads to learn more about existing remote monitoring programs in your region and how you can assist or leverage these programs for your patients. In the meantime, Ontario Health will be hosting a webinar on March 4th from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. on COVID@Home Monitoring for Primary Care: Clinical Pathways and Resources so please register for more information.

    Ontario Community Support Program
    Since the start of the pandemic, the Ontario Community Support Program (OCSP), funded by the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, has provided funds to help vulnerable clients stay home safely.

    This ongoing program helps low-income, isolated seniors and people with physical disabilities get the meals, groceries, medications, and other essentials they need to stay at home safely during COVID-19. This week, the Government extended the program to March 2022, creating more security for people in need. Please help raise awareness of these services so people can continue to isolate safely.

    Below is a short message you can share with your patients, families, and caregivers:

    COVID-19 Support Available for Isolated Seniors and People with Physical Disabilities

    Do you know an isolated, low-income senior or person living with a physical disability, without family or community support, who needs help getting essentials during the current COVID-19 pandemic?  
    The Ontario Community Support program helps those in need get meals, groceries, medicine, and other essentials delivered through Meals on Wheels so that they can safely isolate at home. Service is available through March 2022.

    To identify a local community provider and request service, visit www.ontariocommunitysupport.ca or dial 211 or 1-877-330-3213 (toll free). TTY service is also available at 1-888-340-1001.

    New Resources:

    • University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Ontario College of Family Physicians has released four e-modules for primary care professionals: why we need the vaccine, the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines, plans for vaccine rollout and how to build vaccine confidence among patients. Updated modules on the viral vector vaccines are coming soon.
    • COVID Learning Series: free 5-part self-paced learning series through CFPC Learn
    • Covid19 Vaccine Facts: Instagram account by Dr. Amanda Adams, Department of Family Medicine, Markham Stouffville Hospital, with answers by Canadian doctors to combat vaccine hesitancy.
    • ‘Onions Don’t Cure COVID-19’: University of Guelph students combatting COVID-19 misinformation through videos and infographics.

    Find resources from previous weeks here.

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

     

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association/Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine

  • How primary health care helps health systems adapt during the COVID 19 pandemic: OECD report

    OECD Policy Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    Strengthening the frontline: How primary health care helps health systems adapt during the COVID 19 pandemic

    Feb. 10, 2021

    Abstract

    Health systems continue to adapt to cope with the COVID‑19 pandemic. Much focus has been placed on the scaling-up of hospital capacities. However, the pandemic is also deeply affecting the health of many people who are not infected by the virus. People living with chronic conditions are not only highly vulnerable to complications and death from COVID‑19, but they are also suffering from disruptions to their regular care routines.

    The COVID‑19 crisis demonstrates the importance of placing primary health care at the core of health systems, both to manage an unexpected surge of demand and to maintain continuity of care for all. Strong primary health care – organised in multi-disciplinary teams and with innovative roles for health professionals, integrated with community health services, equipped with digital technology, and working with well-designed incentives – helps deliver a successful health system response.

    The innovations introduced in response to the pandemic need to be maintained to make health systems more resilient against future public health emergencies, and able to meet the challenges of ageing societies and the growing burden of chronic conditions.

    Read the full report here.