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  • Bits & Pieces: details on shutdown, COVID vaccine resources and more

    Bits & Pieces: details on shutdown, COVID vaccine resources and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Details on provincial shutdown
    • COVID-19 safety and planning
    • COVID vaccine foundation webinar video and more
    • Members’ stories
    • Additional funding for mental health and addictions services
    • HPCO continues virtual activity wellness hub
    • Upcoming events including Advancing Quality Improvement in Primary Care and more

    Details on provincial shutdown

    Yesterday the Ontario government imposed a provincial shutdown to go into effect on Dec. 26. They released details here.

    We have contacted the Ministry and it has been confirmed- there has been no change to the guidance for primary care services. Please continue to deliver care to your patients virtually or in person based on clinical judgment. The OCFP has updated their guidance document on considerations for in person visits that you may find helpful.

    COVID-19 safety and planning
    Teams may receive inspections as part of a multi-ministry COVID-19 enforcement blitz coordinated with local public health and other provincial officers to promote education and compliance with the Reopening Ontario Act in efforts to tighten public health and workplace safety measures to limit the transmission of COVID-19.

    Depending on the part of the province teams are in – and more specifically the “colour zones” under the COVID-19 response framework that have been assigned based on COVID transmission in the community, teams may be required to provide a ‘safety plan’ as part of these inspections and we are  encouraging all teams to have one in place. Here are a sample template and policy that teams can use to build their own plans. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

    COVID vaccine foundation webinar video and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Members’ stories

    Rural Lambton COVID Testing Centre

    Central Lambton FHT: Central Lambton FHT and partners increase access to testing

    City of Kawartha Lakes FHT: ensuring its team has increased knowledge and skills in providing health care for questioning, transitioning and transgender patients and their families and caregivers.

    Elliott Lake and Wawa FHTs: Algoma Public Health has officially named this year’s Public Health Champions

    Additional funding for mental health and addictions services

    On Dec. 17, Ontario’s government announced increased funding for mental health and addictions services, meant to address the increasing demand for services due to COVID-19.
    Per the announcement, this includes:

    • Over $62.2 million in community-based mental health and addictions services and inter-professional primary care teams, including $30 million in targeted funding for child and youth mental health services. Services include local in-person and virtual community mental health and addictions services, housing and accommodation supports, capacity-building for front-line workers, peer supports and resources, and enhanced services through interprofessional primary care including Family Health Teams, Indigenous governed supports and Community Health Centres.

    Funding to interprofessional teams was already announced in our November 24th Leadership Triad email so this is not new money. However, according to our contacts, progress is being made on the funding packages so teams should hopefully get further details, including funding flow, within a couple of weeks.

    HPCO virtual activity wellness hub flyer

     

    HPCO continues virtual activity wellness hub

    HPCO is continuing the Virtual Activity Wellness Hub beginning Tuesday, January 12th due to high interest from participants. They’re piloting virtual activities via Zoom meetings for seniors, people isolated at home, caregivers, and hospice volunteers. Activities will be run by facilitators in a fun and interactive group setting to increase social connection. See the flyer.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Now is the Time to Choose Wisely: Advancing Quality Improvement in Primary Care, Jan. 27, 2021

    Engaging primary care providers in QI can play an important role in improving practice, enhancing patient experiences, and reducing unnecessary tests and treatments.

    This is particularly relevant now, as the pandemic has further emphasized the importance of resource stewardship given the urgent care needs and constraints related to COVID-19. Learn more and register here.

    COVID-19 Community of Practice for Ontario Family Physicians, Jan. 8, 2021
    “Update on Covid-19 vaccines”. Register here.

    Family Medicine Summit, Jan. 30- Feb. 27, 2021
    Registration is now open for the OCFP’s Family Medicine Summit (the former Annual Scientific Assembly – ASA). Find out more.

    ECHO Sessions: Supporting Parents/Caregivers During a Pandemic: Information for Primary Care, Jan. 27 & Feb. 3, 2021
    Offered at no cost to participants. Register here.

  • Grey-Bruce OHT application submitted to province

    The Sun Times article published December 15, 2020

    By the Sun Times

    The application for the Grey-Bruce Ontario Health Team has been submitted to the Ministry of Health.

    The application, submitted by the health team planning committee, is supported by signatures from 20 health service provider boards and organizations across Grey-Bruce, according to a news release issued Friday.

    The health teams are being established across the province to bring more co-ordination among local health-care providers, including hospitals, doctors, and home and community care providers. Under the new model, health-care providers will work as one co-ordinated team to make it easier for patients and those in the community to navigate the system and transition between health-care providers, it said in the news release.

    According to the ministry website, more than 40 health teams are now operating in the province.

    In July, the Ministry of Health granted approval to the Grey-Bruce OHT to submit its full application to become an OHT. In early November the planning committee announced it had hired Jennifer Kehoe as its transformation lead.
    The partners involved with the Grey-Bruce team cover a broad scope of services, including primary and acute care, rehabilitation, complex continuing care, mental health, long-term care and support services.

    They include hospital corporations, family health teams, mental health and addiction services, Grey County’s long-term care homes, home and community support services, and home care through the South West Local Health Integration Network. Other involved in supporting and collaborating with the team include public health and local EMS services.

    The local team has identified its first-year objectives as mental health and addictions and the transition in care for frail seniors.

    Click here to view the complete The Sun Times article.
     

  • Wawa FHT & Elliot Lake FHT Physicians named Algoma Public Health’s Champions

    This year’s champions are recognized for going the extra mile to help the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Algoma Public Health has officially named this year’s Public Health Champions.

    Nominations for the awards closed on Nov. 20. 

    This year, APH wanted its award to recognize those who have gone the extra mile in helping others overcome the challenges of COVID-19. Among the recipients are Mayor Christian Provenzano, the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA, and Algoma University’s Student Success and Advancement Teams.

    A press release from the health unit detailing the awards and winners reads as follows:

    The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged individuals, businesses, and communities across Algoma. We have worked together during these times of great change and uncertainty in order to protect the health of our community and support one another.

    “The Public Health Champion nomination process has shown us that the people who call Algoma home are compassionate, kind and have demonstrated community spirit in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Spruyt, Medical Officer of Health. “Over the next few weeks, we will recognize nominees and the great work they did across our great region.”

    A committee made up of board Members, APH staff, Associate Medical Officer of Health and Medical Officer of Health reviewed all nominations. We are happy to announce our 2020 Public Health Champions.

    Amplifier Champion

    Our Amplifier Champion is someone who shared credible information in order to increase awareness, motivate people to follow public health recommendations, and combat misinformation.

    This year, our Amplifier Champion is awarded to:

    All winners and nominees should be proud of the work they have done in making a difference in our community.

    You are all public health champions.

    To view the complete SooToday article, click here.

  • COVID vaccine update: what you can do to prepare

    Dear members,

    We know that you are already receiving many questions about the COVID-19 vaccine(s) and the distribution plan from your communities. The people you care for are going to see many messages from a variety of sources. Your communities look to you for trusted advice.
     
    As a united partnership, we are advocating for what you need to support your communities. The links below from the Ontario Ministry of Health provide some of the key facts, and we are working on further resources. We also know many communities will need tailored approaches specific to geography, culture, and other nuances. Please let us know your specific needs. Together, we can leverage the trust you have earned with your patients to help implement the most important vaccination campaign of our era.

    In the meantime, we can all do our part by taking the following steps:
     
    1.    Stay informed.
    Understand the facts about the vaccines available, how they work, and what the trial results showed. Over 70,000 patients were enrolled in the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccine trials combined, with no serious adverse events. The efficacy data from the trials was reported to be approximately 95%. Read the Government of Canada’s info page about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine here.

    Summary guidance released on December 14th by the Ministry of Health includes the following:

    2.    Get vaccinated.
    Our patients and communities look to us to model healthy behaviours. When you get vaccinated, it will signal to your patients and communities that vaccination is the wise choice. At every opportunity, in virtual or in-person visits, and on social media, consider sharing with your patients your intention to get yourself and your loved ones vaccinated. The literature shows that this personal sharing will have a positive influence.

    Offer to provide the facts and to address any concerns. We will need to work together to ensure every Ontarian who wants the vaccine has a plan to receive it; be ready to share with them the when/where/how details, and a reminder about the second dose.

    3.    Keep up with the Education
    We know you are fielding questions daily about the vaccine from your patients, your staff, and your community. Further tools and supports will be available very soon to help you proactively address hesitancy and misinformation. In the meantime, here are some educational opportunities that may be of interest:

    Have more questions about the vaccine, the implementation plan in primary care, or how it will affect you and your patients? We want to hear them. Please connect with us by email. We are also attaching a template letter that you can adapt and use for your patients and community members if you wish to send them an update as well.

    We also would welcome you to join the Ontario Hospital Association’s Take the Pledge to Stop the Spread campaign and continue to do our part in protecting Ontario’s health system capacity and its vulnerable populations, especially over the coming winter months. Using the hashtag #StopTheSpread, please consider sharing your stories about how you’re doing your part – especially over the holiday season – then encourage others to do the same.

    Thank you for your tireless work in supporting and caring for your patients and your communities.  We know you are tired, but we remain hopeful that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. As we head into the holiday break, we will continue to update you on the vaccine rollout as we get more information.  More importantly, we hope you all get a well-deserved break with your loved ones.
     
    Sincerely,

                              
    Dr. Allan Grill                                             Kavita Mehta
    Chair and President, AFHTO                    Chief Executive Officer, AFHTO
     
    In unity with our dedicated partners in Ontario’s primary care:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario College of Pharmacists
    • Ontario Medical Association Section of General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine
  • Sending warm wishes and cheer

    Sending warm wishes and cheer

    Season's greetings to you and yours! HOLIDAY HOURS The AFHTO Office will be open December 21-24, 2020, but with significantly reduced staff.The office will be closed December 25, 2020 - January 1, 2021, then fully open again on January 4, 2021. There's light at the end of this particularly dark tunnel. Please stay safe until then.

  • Central Lambton FHT and North Lambton CHC increase access to testing facility in Plympton-Wyoming

    The Expositor article published December 11, 2020

    By Postmedia Staff

    Beginning Dec. 14, the Rural Lambton COVID Testing Centre will be moving from Petrolia to Plympton-Wyoming.

    Thanks to a partnership between the North Lambton Community Health Centre, the Central Lambton Family Health Team and the municipality of Plympton-Wyoming, the testing facility will now be located at the municipality’s new Health and Wellness Centre, located at 596 Broadway St. in Wyoming.

    Following provincial guidelines, COVID-19 testing will continue to be by appointment only, which can be booked at testing.getcorigan.ca.

    Family health team executive Sarah Milner said that the move will broaden access to COVID-19 testing in Lambton County.

    “Our teams have been working collaboratively for several months now out of the Petrolia testing site,” Milner said. “Shifting testing to Wyoming will further broaden access. We are thrilled to partner with the municipality to provide this important service to the entire rural community. Mayor Lonny Napper and CAO Carolyn Tripp have displayed outstanding leadership through their involvement in this important, provincial health care initiative.”
    “It is important to ensure access to COVID-19 testing in rural locations in Sarnia Lambton to benefit the residents by providing testing closer to home,” said Community Health Centre executive director Kathy Bresett. “Our team looks forward to continuing working together with the Central Lambton Family Health Team and the municipality of Plympton-Wyoming.”

    Mayor Lonny Napper said the new Wellness Centre, located in the former TD Bank building, is perfectly suited for this new function.

    “Plympton-Wyoming along with its community partners being the Wyoming Lion’s Club, Plympton-Wyoming Agricultural Society and TD Canada Trust Bank, are thrilled to be a part of this collaboration,” he said. “We cannot think of a better opportunity to introduce our new Health and Wellness Centre to Lambton County. The town is looking forward to working with the Central Lambton Family Health Team and the North Lambton Community Health Centre and supporting their endeavours in the future.”

    Petrolia & North Enniskillen Fire Department chief Jay Arns said that the department’s partnership with the Rural Lambton COVID Testing Centre will continue at the new site.

    “The CLFHT has been instrumental in the fight against COVID-19 since the pandemic hit. A continued collaborative effort between PNEFD and CLFHT for a COVID-19 testing center since the pandemic started has shown how strong our community is and the great things that can be accomplished with these types of collaborative efforts,” he said. “The new partnership between CLFHT /NLCHC and Plympton-Wyoming including the relocation of the COVID-19 assessment center to the Wyoming Wellness Center is yet another example of how rural communities come together on a united front to provide increased wellness for all residents.”

    Hours of operations, testing processes and holiday hours will be made available on both primary care team and Lambton Public Health websites at www.centrallambtonfamilyhealthteam.com, www.nlchc.com and www.lambtonpublichealth.ca.

    Read the full article here

  • Bits & Pieces: new COVID vaccine information, Min. Patty Hajdu and more

    Bits & Pieces: new COVID vaccine information, Min. Patty Hajdu and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Appreciation event for health care, Dec. 16, 2020
    • MOH updates on COVID vaccine and more
    • Results of draw for Legal Issues webinar series
    • Senior friendly care learning series for clinicians now available in French
    • Call for abstracts- Choosing Wisely Canada
    • Find an OT search tool
    • Upcoming events including Q& A with CMHA and more

     

    Appreciation event for health care, Dec. 16, 2020

    On behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health for the Government of Canada, you are invited to an appreciation event on Wednesday, December 16, 2020.
    RSVP: Nada Nasri nada.nasri2@canada.ca
    Click here to learn more

    MOH updates on COVID vaccine and more

    Recent updates include:

    • Ontario Delivers First COVID-19 Vaccine in the Country– Office of the Premier, Dec. 14, 2020
    • Memo from General Rick Hillier- EN and FR
    • Ontario’s Vaccine Distribution Implementation Plan – EN and FR
    • Ministry of Health:
      • COVID-19 About Vaccines- EN and FR
      • Guidance for Vaccinated Health Care Workers- EN and FR
      • COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet – EN and FR
      • COVID-19 Vaccine Approval Process and Safety- EN and FR
      • COVID-19 Vaccine Availability and Rollout- EN and FR
      • COVID-19 Vaccine Administration- EN and FR

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

    draw for Legal Issues webinar series - wheel of names

     

    Results of draw for Legal Issues webinar series

    AFHTO members had the chance to win one (1) free registration to the 2021 Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams series, with Kate Dewhirst and Maria McDonald. The deadline to enter was Nov. 27, 2020. A winner was randomly drawn Dec. 2, 2020. See the results here.

     

    Senior friendly care learning series for clinicians now available in French

    A critical factor in improving outcomes for older adults living with complex health concerns (e.g. frailty) during the second wave of the pandemic and beyond is ensuring that all healthcare providers are knowledgeable and skilled in addressing the unique needs of older adults.

    To support the knowledge needs in Francophone communities, the RGP and the Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Office have launched the senior friendly care (sfCare) Learning Series for clinicians in French.

    The series comprises nine educational modules for clinicians, along with supporting posters and patient handouts on the following clinical topics: delirium, mobility, polypharmacy, pain, loneliness, nutrition, and urinary incontinence. Access the sfCare Learning Series – French

    Call for abstracts- Choosing Wisely Canada

    Choosing Wisely Canada’s Sixth Annual National Meeting will be offered virtually on May 12 and May 13, 2021. You can submit an abstract by February 1, 2021. Find out more.

    Find an OT search tool

    Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ Find an OT search tool can aid Ontarians attempting to access private OT services. It allows the public, heath care professionals, referral agents and others to access a directory of licensed occupational therapists who provide private OT services. Searches can be made based on location, practice area, services, and age group.

    Q& A with CMHA, Dec. 18, 2020

    At the end of the COVID-19 wellness series: building your team’s psychological PPE, there will be a Q&A session on Dec. 18. This will be a wrap up of the previous sessions and an opportunity for a live Q&A with CMHA staff around resources, supports and questions for staff mental health. Register here.

    Other sessions:

    Isolation and Loneliness, Dec 15, 2020 02:00 PM EDT

    Register: Click here

    Mindfulness at Work, Dec 17, 2020 1:00 PM EDT

    Register: Click here  

    Learn more here.

    Family Medicine Summit, Jan. 30- Feb. 27, 2021
    Registration is now open for the OCFP’s Family Medicine Summit (the former Annual Scientific Assembly – ASA). Find out more.

    Morning Rounds and Lunch & Learns with ECHO Child Youth Mental Health, Jan. 12 – Jan. 14, 2021
    From depression, anxiety and parent-child relationships in toddlers, children or adolescents- join the CHEO as they cover it all in these sessions.
    Learn more here.

    ECHO Ontario Conference, Jan. 29, 2021
    Registration is open for Improving Access and Equity in Healthcare through the ECHO Model. See agenda and details here.

  • Team-based Primary Care Pharmacists – Position Statement

    The Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP)  has released a position statement on team-based primary care pharmacists.

     “Greater involvement of pharmacists in primary care will improve the health of populations, enhance the patient experience of care, reduce the per capita cost of healthcare, and improve the experience and satisfaction of those working in the healthcare system. Team-based primary care pharmacists working collaboratively with other healthcare professionals in this setting also contribute to optimal prevention and management of disease, rational medication use, and cost-effective care.”

    The statement speaks to roles, resolving drug therapy problems, target populations, cost effectiveness, satisfaction or providers/patients, and guidelines for integration into teams.

    The statement can be read here.

     

  • Potential Transfers to Ontario Health

    Sent on Behalf of Matthew Anderson, President & CEO, Ontario Health

    To: All Team Members

    From: Matthew Anderson, President and CEO, Ontario Health

    Date: December 10, 2020

    Re: Potential Transfers to Ontario Health

    As part of our ongoing commitment to keep you informed of organizational transformation efforts, provided here is an update on the discussions underway with the Ministry of Health regarding the intent to transfer Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) non-patient care functions and Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) into Ontario Health.

    As you may remember, the Ministry of Health previously announced the intention to transfer LHIN non-patient care functions into Ontario Health for April 1, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the transfer was paused to maintain health system stability and to ensure our resources were focused on addressing the pandemic and on protecting the health and well-being of Ontarians. We are now resuming this work and while we do not yet have firm dates, we will be doing some preliminary planning for this to potentially move forward April 1, 2021.

    Read the full letter here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #102: Choosing Wisely during the Pandemic and Beyond, Health Equity and Provider Experience

    In collaboration with the Alliance for Healthier Communities

    In this Issue:

    • Toolkits – Choosing Wisely Canada
    • AFHTO Resources as You Plan Ahead
    • Provider Experience during COVID-19 – Dr. Catherine Donnelly
    • Health Equity – Public Health Ontario
    • Upcoming Events

    These are unprecedented times. COVID-19 is an era of resource scarcity and deciding which method of care delivery is best can be challenging. In response, and per Ministry directive, we have seen many teams transition to virtual care (mostly telephone) while being available and accessible when in-person care is required. Health care systems and providers are rapidly learning and changing in response to ongoing COVID-19 developments. As we wrap up this year and think of 2021, we have collaborated with Choosing Wisely Canada to provide you with a set of resources that can help shape your new year.

    Toolkits:

    • The Cold Standard:
      • A revised toolkit for Using Antibiotics Wisely in the Era of COVID-19 and Virtual Care
      • A webinar recording to learn more about this can be found here
      • A recent article on Using Antibiotics Wisely and The Cold Standard toolkit written by Drs. Jerome Leis and Allan Grill was published in The BMJ. The article can be found here
    • Drowsy without Feeling Lousy:
      • A toolkit for reducing inappropriate use of benzodiazepines and sedative-hypnotics among older adults in primary care
    • BYE-BYE, PPI:
      • A toolkit for deprescribing proton pump inhibitors in EMR-enabled primary care settings
    • Understand the Gland:
      • A toolkit for appropriate ordering practices of free thyroid hormone testing

    Now is the Time to Choose Wisely: Advancing Quality Improvement in Primary Care  

    January 27, 2020 (12-1 pm EDT)

    Engaging primary care providers in quality improvement can play an important role in improving practice, enhancing patient experiences, and reducing unnecessary tests and treatments. This is particularly relevant now, as the pandemic has further emphasized the importance of resource stewardship given the urgent care needs and constraints related to COVID-19.  

    In this webinar, Dr. Kimberly Wintemute, Primary Co-Lead for Choosing Wisely Canada, and Dr. Peter Kuling, Family Physician at The Ottawa Hospital Academic FHT, provide insights on how to advance resource stewardship and implementation efforts in primary care using Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations and resources.   

    The webinar will:

    • Describe Choosing Wisely Canada as it relates to primary care
    • Identify ways to implement Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations in primary care  
    • Review tools and resources to support implementation of Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations in primary care

    Click here to register.

    AFHTO Resources as You Plan Ahead

    A survey of interprofessional health care providers in Family Health Teams during the COVID-19 pandemic

    We are now nine months since the initial restrictions of COVID-19 and we are interested in hearing about your experiences working in Family Health Teams during this time. IHPs are invited to participate in a brief web-based survey to understand the evolving experiences of interprofessional health care providers in Family Health Teams in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Click on the link here to complete the web-based survey!

    This research is being led by Drs. Catherine Donnelly (Associate Professor, Queen’s University) and Jordan Miller (Assistant Professor, Queen’s University). If you have any questions, please contact Dr.  Donnelly by email at catherine.donnelly@queensu.ca.

    COVID-19 and Health Equity
    Health Equity and COVID-19 Website:

    • Social determinants of health (SDOH), such as gender, socioeconomic position, race/ethnicity, occupation, Indigeneity, homelessness, and incarceration, are factors that potentially increase risk and severity of COVID-19 infection.
    • Incorporating SDOH into risk considerations and assessments is crucial for supporting an equitable COVID-19 response.

    Take the health equity impact assessment course to understand how to measure the impact of SDOH in your community and learn how to use the tool.

    Learn more from the webinar: Introduction to race, income, and language data collection, hosted by PHO.

    Upcoming Events:
    Virtual Learning Exchange in Virtual Primary Care
    The virtual learning exchange will be delivered in three 90-minute webinars and will focus on the following identified priority topics within the overarching theme of virtual primary care:

    • Enhancing Equity and Access (January 29, 2021, 1:30-3:00pm ET)
    • Patient and Family Centred Care (March 5, 2021, 1:30-3:00pm ET)

    To find out more information please click here.

    Choosing Wisely Canada’s 2021 National Meeting (May 12-13, 2021)

    • Choosing Wisely Canada in collaboration with the Canadian Medical Association will be hosting a two-day virtual event on May 12 & 13, 2021. Please save the dates! More details about the meeting can be found here
    • Choosing Wisely Canada is now accepting abstract submissions for the National Meeting. Please click here for more details and to submit your abstract

    Interested in sharing your teams’ initiatives in a future webinar? Email Sandeep Gill – Sandeep.gill@afhto.ca to learn more about the AFHTO KTE Webinar Schedule!

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #101 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.