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  • Bits & Pieces: important healthcare updates, GoodLife, community investment grants & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:

    • Important healthcare updates
    • Interested in knowing how to maximize your HOOPP pension and to get a retirement estimate?
    • Do you want a GoodLife Fitness discount?
    • Better care for your patients who experience chronic pain
    • Radon course
    • Virtual masterclass on the conduct and use of patient-oriented research
    • Reminder – you can join a virtual primary care network
    • Reminder – 2019 LeaderShift registration open!
    • Humber students available
    • CIRA community investment program applications open
    • Upcoming events regarding strategic planning, public complaints and more

    Important healthcare updates

    Premier’s Council interim report: The Premier’s Council on Improving Health Care and Ending Hallway Medicine just released their first report. It provides an assessment of Ontario’s health care system and lays the groundwork for future reports that will speak to recommendations for health system restructuring. Visit our site for an overview.

    AFHTO’s 2019 Pre-Budget Submission: many of the report’s findings are consistent with AFHTO priorities and aligned with our most recent Pre-Budget Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs as part of the 2019 Ontario Pre-Budget Consultations in January.

    See our key recommendations on primary care and mental health; transitioning care coordination to primary care; expansion of interprofessional team-based care; and facilitating and funding a strategy that spreads existing models of performance measurement in primary care across Ontario. Delve deeper here.

    Draft Health System Efficiency Act in the media:

    AFHTO is aware that a draft bill from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care was leaked to the press last week. The Health System Efficiency Act, 2019 appears to be in early stages, but the draft provides a high-level overview of what may be a major structural overhaul of health services in the province.

    A summary of the draft legislation, as it read on January 31 when leaked, is here. The draft itself can be seen through online media.

    Additional documents that imply major changes to the health care system were also leaked to the media on Feb. 4. When we get factual information about the direction the government is heading with health system restructuring, we will let our members know. In the meantime, we continue to encourage teams to reach out to their MPP to speak about the value of team-based care in their communities. Tools and resources are here.

    Interested in knowing how to maximize your HOOPP pension and to get a retirement estimate?

    HOOPP is offering 3 webcasts for employees who are on the pension plan.

    • HOOPP Overview
    • HOOPP Connect, your pension at a glance
    • Preparing for retirement

    You can view the webcasts and register through this link -scroll to the bottom for the link to the webcast schedule and registration link.

    HOOPP will also be hosting several regional presentations in the evening and on weekends at various cities across Ontario. These will be added to the link when they’re scheduled. If your organization has the HOOPP, please distribute this to all your employees on the pension plan.

    Do you want a GoodLife Fitness discount?

    AFHTO is looking into setting up a partnership with GoodLife Fitness to provide great savings on membership for all our members and their families. The membership includes access to all GoodLife Fitness clubs across Canada.

    We need to determine whether there is enough interest from our members first before we can proceed with a program. Please complete the survey no later than Feb. 19, if you’re interested in a possible membership. This will determine if we go ahead with the program.

    Better care for your patients who experience chronic pain
    Nearly 20% of Canadian adults experience chronic pain. This webinar will provide insights to help your patients manage their pain safely and effectively. Join us on Thurs., Feb. 28 for a free one-hour webinar, Team-Based Approaches to Chronic Pain Management: Opioid Stewardship. Register here.

    Radon course

    For non-smokers, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in Canada. Talking to your patients about the need to test their homes is an important part of preventing radon-related cancer.

    McMaster University has designed a free, certified program to provide you and your colleagues with reliable, evidence-based information on radon. Get started at radon.machealth.ca.

    Virtual masterclass on the conduct and use of patient-oriented research

    McMaster Health Forum is offering four virtual offerings of the Masterclass on the Conduct and Use of Patient-Oriented Research. Each offering will cover the same material as the original face-to-face masterclass although in a virtual setting spread over 11 weeks each. You can find all of the details here.

    The first of the four virtual masterclass offerings is scheduled to begin on Mon. Feb. 25.

    Reminder – you can join a virtual primary care network

    The Change Foundation has agreed to convene Ontario’s first virtual primary care network to discuss health system change. AFHTO and the Ontario College of Family Physicians look forward to continuing to support creating the space and opportunity for future discussions with primary care and propelling change within Ontario.

    Does joining a virtual community interest you? Click here

    Reminder – 2019 LeaderShift registration open!

    Registration is open for the spring 2019 LeaderShift LEADS learning series cohorts. Build your capacity to lead organizations, strengthen partnerships, improve the health and vitality of your community, and contribute to transformation of the health system in a 5-day, in-person learning series that will make you LEADS certified. Toronto cohort deadline is Feb. 8. Learn more and see the dates and registration links here.

    Humber students available

    Humber College invites you to participate in the Paid Work Term (Work-Integrated Learning) component of Bachelor of Commerce – Healthcare Management program. Students will be available to start near the end of April 2019. For more information:

    • Letter of introduction
    • Curriculum
    • Job opportunity form

    CIRA community investment program applications open

    Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) has requested applications to help ‘build a better online Canada’. Focus areas include infrastructure, access, digital literacy, engagement and services.

    Deadline Feb. 28, 2019. Find out more.

    Government Webcast Series: Strategic Planning and Public Complaints: Feb. 20, 2019

    Attend this webcast on strategic planning and public complaints. Register now!

    Considerations for Implementing the NP Role within your Team, Feb. 22, 2019

    Join Beth Cowper-Fung, AFHTO’s President and Board Chair and Clinical Director of Georgina NPLC & Claudia Mariano, Manager, Practice and Policy, NPAO, for this interactive session. Register here

    Building Together: How to become a high-performing team, Mar. 6 & 8, 2019

    What makes a good team great? To find out, join us on March 6 in Ottawa and March 8 in Toronto. It’s free, interactive, and interprofessional! Register now for Ottawa and Toronto.

    Opioids Clinical Primer

    MacHealth has released “Safer Opioid Prescribing Strategies, the third of six free courses on understanding and managing the ongoing opioid crisis. Learn more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: members in the media, advocacy materials, frailty webinar & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    Members in the media

    Windsor FHT: Team Care Centre opens doors to Windsor community, offers ‘upstream approach’ to patient care

    Powassan and Area FHT: Powassan and Area FHT officially opens new home

    Madawaska Valley FHT: Madawaska Valley opens family health team

    Advocating for team-based care with your MPP

    Tools and resources to help communicate the value of team-based care to your MPP are now online. As the new government undertakes health system and primary care reform, let’s show how team-based care aligns with their priorities.

    Share your stories and the great work you’re doing every single day. And don’t forget to tweet (and tag @afhto) and send a picture to info@afhto.ca so we can share the amazing advocacy work happening across the province!

    Transforming primary care for older Canadians living with frailty

    In this interactive webinar, you’ll learn about an innovative research project that is currently underway across Canada. With the support of the Canadian Frailty Network, researchers, collaborators, health care providers and older adults are working together to develop a feasible and sustainable model that includes: consistent screening and assessment of frailty, improved patient engagement and shared decision making, and the use of technology to improve care coordination. The webinar will take place on Thursday, March 21 from 12:00-1:00pm EST.

    Learn more and register for the event.

    Ontario eConsult

    The Ontario eConsult program, co-developed by Dr. Clare Liddy, The Ottawa Hospital Academic FHT, is designed to improve access to specialists. It’s being broadly rolled out across the province.

    Family physicians and nurse practitioners can now access 78 different specialty groups including addiction medicine, genetics, chronic pain, and transgender care in addition to the more frequently requested services such as GI, cardiology, rheumatology, and neurology.

    Primary care providers using the service are very enthusiastic especially as the response time is so quick-2 days on average- instead of waiting months for an appointment. Read the fact sheet to find out more.

    Mediterranean Diet Toolkit

    Developed by the Ontario Primary Health Care Action Group, the Mediterranean Diet Toolkit: Supporting Patients to Reduce CVD Risk and Improve Mental Health is designed to help primary care practitioners successfully implement the Mediterranean diet with their patients and clients. Special thanks to Michele MacDonald Werstuck, Lee Kapuscinski and Denis Tsang for their leadership and expertise in its development.

    In the toolkit you’ll find:

    • Validated Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Screening tools
    • Patient resources such as handouts and menu plans
    • Custom EMR templates for Telus Practice Solutions
    • Key research articles
    • Powerpoint presentation

    And don’t forget, the revised Canada’s Food Guide was released last week.

    Government Webcast Series: Strategic Planning and Public Complaints: Feb. 20, 2019

    Attend this webcast on strategic planning and public complaints. Register now!

    Building Together: How to become a high-performing team, Mar. 6 & 8, 2019

    What makes a good team great? To find out, join us on March 6 in Ottawa and March 8 in Toronto. It’s free, interactive, and interprofessional! Register now for Ottawa and Toronto.

    Considerations for Implementing the NP Role within your Team, Feb. 22, 2019

    Join Beth Cowper-Fung, AFHTO’s President and Board Chair and Clinical Director of Georgina NPLC & Claudia Mariano, Manager, Practice and Policy, NPAO, for this interactive session. Register here

    Leukemia 101- Training for oncology nurses and allied healthcare professionals, Feb. 6, 2019

    Join this free webcast on Leukemia, hosted by the LLSC. Learn more here.

  • Windsor FHT’s Team Care Centre opens doors to Windsor community, offers ‘upstream approach’ to patient care

    CBC News article published on January 23, 2019

    By CBC News, Windsor

    Everyone at Team Care Centre ‘gets it’ says patient

    The Windsor Family Health Team (WFHT) officially launched its Team Care Centre (TCC) today. The initiative is what they’re calling an “upstream approach” to integrate patient care.

    “We have a significant stake in community vitality,” said WFHT executive director Mark Ferrari. He believes patient health plays a big role in that.

    The WFHT also provides health services to students at St. Clair College campuses. The TCC program was launched with a $1.5 million lot of funding in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

    “There are many things that affect health and wellbeing, not just physical illness,” said Ferrari.

    “All of that, within the centre, we can address it.”

    A team-based care centre brings the referral system internal, allowing for almost a “menu” of services that are provided in a quick timeline. The TCC focuses on mild-to-moderate mental health issues.

    “Sometimes we don’t have the resources, social work that’s affordable, psychiatry that’s readily available,” said Dr. Christel Tayag, a family medicine practitioner who helped TCC launch the program, who said her patients are thrilled with how fast the referral process is.

    Tayag said patients often have more than one mental health problem, listing stress, anxiety and depression as just a few.

    After Tayag refers her patients to Team Care Centre, she doesn’t treat them anymore for mental health problems — but she can collaborate with the patient’s other practitioners.

    “You can get their input, their advice, their recommendations,” said Tayag. “It helps the patient as a whole, to connect with everybody else.”

    The referral system is free, which Tayag says especially helps low-income patients. There is a psychiatrist, social worker, dietician, addictions counsellor, nurse practitioner, pharmacist and podiatrist on the team. Ferrari said they are “desperately” in search of a physiotherapist and kinesiologist.

    “My patients are grateful [for this team],” said Tayag. “Hopefully we continue to grow.”

    A patient’s perspective
    “In the decade I’ve been struggling with substance abuse, it’s the first time I don’t feel embarrassed to admit it,” said Brittni Jacobs at the media launch.

    “I’ve judged myself enough but I’ve been shown so many outlets to keep manage my life.”

    Jacobs said everyone at TCC “gets it.” She’s been working through the centre’s program for about four months and said it has really made a difference.

    “My experience here has been different than my past journeys in trying to become sober,” said Jacobs, adding that the relationship she’s built with her counsellor and the rest of the care team has made her feel like she was “worth saving.”

    Jacobs works with Beth Lalonde, a certified addictions counsellor. Jacobs thinks they were “destined to meet.”

    “She wouldn’t let me quit, even when I wanted to. She extended herself and her time, even out of appointments when I really needed someone,” said Jacobs. “She treated me like a person.”

    To get into the centre, patients need to be referred by a doctor. The centre has had 500 referrals to date.

    Click here to access the CBC News article

  • Bits & Pieces: how to become a high-performing team, farewell to Catherine Macdonald & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    How to become a high-performing team

     

    What makes a good team great? To find out, join us on March 6 in Ottawa and March 8 in Toronto for Building Together: How to become a high-performing team. It’s free, interactive, and interprofessional! Register now for Ottawa and Toronto.

    Farewell to Catherine Macdonald

    It is with genuinely mixed feelings we announce that Catherine Macdonald will be leaving AFHTO to join the Alliance for Healthier Communities (formerly AOHC) in a new role of Knowledge Translation Specialist, working directly with their performance and communication teams.

    Catherine has been with AFHTO for three and a half years, starting first as our conference assistant before moving on to supporting our Governance & Leadership and Quality Improvement Decision Support Programs, so many have you had the pleasure of working with her over the last few years.

    We’re going to miss Catherine but know she will bring to the Alliance a wealth of experience and dedication that will continue to further the quality agenda in primary care. Please join us in wishing Catherine our sincerest best wishes and wish her well in the new role. Her last day with AFHTO will be Friday, February 1st – any questions related to the QIDS work can be directed to improve@afhto.ca.

    Considerations for implementing the NP role within your team

    Join Beth Cowper-Fung, AFHTO’s President and Board Chair and Clinical Director of Georgina NPLC & Claudia Mariano, Manager, Practice and Policy, NPAO, for an interactive session on the role of an NP in team-based primary care. Bring your questions and examples and hear directly from two experienced NPs.

    When:  Friday, Feb. 22nd, 2019
    Time:  12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

    Register here.

    LeaderShift Spring 2019 LEADS applications now open

    Earn your LEADS certificate this spring for free. Applications for four new LEADS cohorts are now open and travel subsidies are available. You can apply for:

    • Toronto #1: March 5- 20
    • Oshawa: May 1- 30
    • Hamilton: May 1- June 5
    • Toronto #2: May 7- June 6

    Application deadlines are on the LeaderShift website.  Spread the word to your colleagues, and if you applied for a cohort in 2018 and didn’t get an opportunity to attend, now’s your chance to re-apply. Learn more today.

    Primary Care and Health System Change video available

    In November The Change Foundation hosted Primary Care and Health System Change webinar, the recording of which is available here. Focused on how to lead change in Ontario, the conversation was facilitated by globally recognized change leader, Dr. Helen Bevan. Dr. Robert Varnam, who has led transformative primary care change in the National Health Service (NHS)- England, and an esteemed panel of primary care physicians, including Dr. Rob Annis, North Perth FHT and AFHTO’s board and Dr. Sarah Newbery, Marathon FHT, joined her.

    Building on this momentum, The Change Foundation has agreed to convene Ontario’s first virtual primary care network to discuss health system change. AFHTO and the Ontario College of Family Physicians look forward to continuing to support creating the space and opportunity for future discussions with primary care and propelling change within Ontario.

    Does joining a virtual community interest you? Click Here

    CHOGIP and online Human Resources toolkit

    CHOGIP: as AFHTO members, you’re eligible for the customized Community Health Ontario Group Insurance Program (CHOGIP). Contact Arthur J. Gallagher to request a complimentary consultation session to review your present Benefits Plan on a no-cost/no-obligation basis.

    Human Resources toolkit: AFHTO, in partnership with Humaniqa and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Gallagher), is pleased to offer a comprehensive, online Human Resources toolkit. This web‐based solution offers tools and resources aimed at streamlining and easing the administrative burden for HR professionals. The program is free to CHOGIP members and available at a discounted price for others.

    HOOPP webinars for primary care

    Eighty percent of public sector employees said that pension benefits are a critical factor in accepting a job. Find out if becoming a participating Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) employer is right for you. The presentation will include detailed steps to becoming a participating HOOPP employer including information about becoming an OHA member.

    New resource to help obtain income support for patients with mental illness related disability

    Many people receive mental health care in primary care with limited access to specialists, yet ODSP uses specialist treatment and hospitalization to determine degree of disability. This report from the Collaborative Mental Health Care Working Group, University of Toronto can help you advocate for your patients.

    Global Leadership Conference proposals due Feb. 1

    On October 24-27, 2019 the International Leadership Association (ILA) is hosting their 21st Annual Global Conference “Leadership: Courage Required” in Ottawa.

    Submission deadline is Feb. 1, 2019 and can be submitted at their site.

    Health Quality Ontario news

    2019/20 Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) priorities: priorities are now available and based on issues highlighted in Measuring Up 2018.

    The 2019/20 QIP priorities focus on issues related to reducing wait times, better transitions and hallway health care. There are also fewer indicators to make it easier for organizations to complete and implement their plans.

    New quality standard for low back pain: Health Quality Ontario has released a new quality standard: Low Back Pain. For more information about quality standards, visit their website.

    Falling Through the Cracks: Greg’s Story: Jan. 24, 2019

    Bookmark the webinar link for HQO’s virtual screening of Greg’s Story, a short film of a cancer patient’s journey through Alberta’s healthcare system. Learn more here.

    Leukemia 101- Training for oncology nurses and allied healthcare professionals: Feb. 6, 2019

    Join this free webcast on Leukemia, hosted by the LLSC. Learn more here.

    Government Webcast Series: Strategic Planning and Public Complaints: Feb. 20, 2019

    Attend this webcast on strategic planning and public complaints. Register now!

  • Asking patients about sexual orientation, gender identity: study

    Andrew D. Pinto, Tatiana Aratangy, Alex Abramovich, Kim Devotta, Rosane Nisenbaum, Ri Wang and Tara Kiran; St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Sexual orientation and gender identity are key social determinants of health, but data on these characteristics are rarely routinely collected. We examined patients’ reactions to being asked routinely about their sexual orientation and gender identity, and compared answers to the gender identity question against other data in the medical chart on gender identity.

    METHODS: We analyzed data on any patient who answered at least 1 question on a routinely administered sociodemographic survey between Dec. 1, 2013, and Mar. 31, 2016. We also conducted semistructured interviews with 27 patients after survey completion.

    RESULTS: The survey was offered to 15 221 patients and 14 247 (93.6%) responded to at least 1 of the sociodemographic survey questions. Most respondents answered the sexual orientation (90.6%) and gender identity (96.1%) questions. Many patients who had been classified as transgender or gender diverse in their medical chart did not self-identify as transgender, but rather selected female (22.9%) or male (15.4%). In the semistructured interviews, many patients expressed appreciation at the variety of options available, although some did not see their identities reflected in the options and some felt uncomfortable answering the questions.

    INTERPRETATION: We found a high response rate to questions about sexual orientation and gender identity. Fitting with other research, we suggest using a 2-part question to explore gender identity. Future research should evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of administering these questions in a variety of care settings. These data can help organizations identify health inequities related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

    Click here for access to full article

    Relevant Links:

  • Powassan and Area FHT officially opens new home

    The North Bay Nipissing article published on January 21, 2019

    By Laurel J. Campbell

    Powassan Town Square building gets thumbs up from residents, politicians, medical professionals

    POWASSAN — Over 100 people toured the new medical clinic during its grand opening on Jan. 18.

    “This is a wonderful centre,” said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli. “Its state-of-the-art technology and equipment provides the utmost in quality care and the layout and services offered here really put the patient first.”

    The new home of the Powassan and Area Family Health Team encompasses over 6,700 square feet in the Powassan Town Square building at 507 Main Street; five physicians, a nurse practitioner, two registered practical nurses, a mental health co-ordinator, and administrative and support staff work out of the space, which is also home to a foot care nurse, a certified diabetic health care educator, and a home and community care co-ordinator.

    “Integrating family health care services, such as are provided here, with the rest of our health care system is critically important,” said Fedeli. “The advantages offered by this medical centre will attract new health care professionals and allow for even more expansion of practices and acceptance of new patients in the future. This facility goes a long way in helping to cut hospital wait times and hallway care by providing for patients in their own community.”

    “For this building to happen partnerships had to be established with the province, the municipality, the developer, the health team and board, and be the doctors. A lot of negotiation went on and a lot of trust had to be established.” — Peter McIsaacSheila Latour, chair of the family health team board, smiled at the irony of Fedeli’s comment.

    “We helped define the term ‘hallway medicine’ at our previous location on King Street,” she said. “We had nurses in the halls delivering medications because we didn’t have enough office space. We played musical rooms. If someone wasn’t in on a given day, we’d put the foot care nurse in their space. Then she’d be in a different office next time. We had patients being weighed in the corridor, and when we wanted to hold patient education sessions we had to close the reception room, because it was the only place we could meet.”

    The new clinic has 10 examination rooms “so we don’t have to shuffle patients in and out of rooms during their visit,” said family health team executive director Anna Gibson-Olagos. “The doctors also have a large bullpen, a shared collaborative space for their office needs, and all the charting and notes that are involved outside of actually seeing the patient. It’s nice and big, so they can use it for meetings as well.”

    There are also rooms dedicated to dietary consultation, counselling, board meetings and public and patient education, IT storage, administration, a procedure room that fits a family, and a large staff kitchen.

    “If we wanted to have a staff lunch meeting before, we had to do it in the reception area when there were no patients waiting,” said Gibson-Olajos. “Our fridge, like our medications, was in the hallway. Now we have a room where we can have informal meetings, and a space where staff can just get away for a few minutes of solitude on a rough or emotional day.”

    The close quarters at the former medical centre also caused concerns over patient comfort and privacy, especially in the case of an emergency.

    “On occasion, we do have to call 911 for a patient,” Gibson-Olajos said. “At the previous clinic, the ambulance came to the front door and the stretcher came in through the waiting room, and had to stop in the hallway while the patient got dragged out of the examining room. There was no dignity or privacy for anyone.

    “We now have a separate entrance at the side of the building that leads directly to the examination hallways, and is designed for emergency use of stretchers and other equipment without anyone in reception or the counselling rooms being any the wiser. We’ve already had to use it once and it worked so much better for the patient, the EMS and the doctors involved.”

    Mayor Peter McIsaac said that the Powassan Town Square building “will be the corner stone of the community for the next 100 years or more,” and credited developer Sante Tomaselli for his foresight.

    “Mr. Tomaselli has made a huge investment in Powassan,” said McIsaac. “For this building to happen partnerships had to be established with the province, the municipality, the developer, the health team and board, and the doctors. A lot of negotiation went on and a lot of trust had to be established.”

    The vision of getting the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to award a family health team to Powassan came from the former Municipality of Powassan Economic Development (MoPED) committee that did the work on the proposal and application in 2010.

    “After the health team was granted, one of the first things the ministry did was send someone to look at our medical clinic,” recalled Latour, who was a MoPED board member at the time. “He took one look around and said we would need a new building. It’s taken us eight years to get this far, and thanks to Mr. Tomaselli working with us in designing his building, we hope to make this a health care hub for Powassan and surrounding communities.”

    “Powassan is the heart of good living,” said McIsaac, “and the opening of this new medical facility today has proven it.”

    Click here to access the North Bay Nipissing article

  • Essex County NPLC expanding to Amherstburg

    The Windsor Star article published on January 15, 2019

    By Mary Caton, The Windsor Star

    Renovations will begin soon on the shuttered St. Bernard’s elementary school in Amherstburg in order to transform part of the building into a new nurse practitioner-led clinic.

    The town purchased the school from the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board last year with an eye towards making it a community hub.

    “Shovels will be flying once the construction companies are in place,” said Amherstburg Mayor Aldo DiCarlo.

    Town council approved the necessary renovations Monday on the heels of receiving approval from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for $650,000 in funding for the clinic.

    The Essex County Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic (ECNPLC) will expand its services into Amherstburg under a 10-year agreement.

    The group presently has clinics in Essex and Windsor.

    Pauline Gemmell, ECNPLC’s executive director, wrote a business case for an Amherstburg location last summer.

    “We had been told there was a need in the community,” Gemmell said. “Now that we’ve got the expansion funding, we’re very excited.”

    Gemmell said the Amherstburg clinic will have three full-time nurse practitioners, one full-time registered practical nurse, one half-time social worker, one half-time registered dietitian, one half-time health promoter and physiotherapy services.

    She said each nurse practitioner takes care of approximately 800 patients, meaning the clinic could serve 2,400 patients.

    “We have all kinds of (patient) applications already,” she said. “We are anticipating we’ll probably be full pretty quickly.”

    The ECNPLC’s website explains its clinic model “is designed to improve access to care for the thousands of individuals and families who do not currently have a primary health-care provider.”

    A nurse practitioner can assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of health issues in consultation with physicians and other health-care professionals.

    “We do a lot of education in our clinics,” Gemmell said.

    Gemmell said the Amherstburg clinic will require approximately 4,000 square feet of space within the defunct school’s 30,000-square-foot imprint.

    The goal is to have the clinic up and running by spring or early summer.

    DiCarlo said discussions continue with other possible tenants, including “at least one more big client” he hopes to announce in the near future.

    He’d like the hub to offer a mix of services “that generally spreads across the generations. I don’t like the old idea of putting seniors in the corner. I like the idea of mixing young and old. We’d like to see some shared use agreements.”

    Click here to access the Windsor Star article

  • Madawaska Valley opens family health team

    The Bancroft this Week article published on January 15, 2019

    By Chris Drost, Bancroft this Week

    The waiting area of the new Madawaska Valley Family Health Team was full of smiling faces on Friday, Jan. 11 as dignitaries, physicians and community representatives gathered with staff to celebrate the official ribbon cutting for the new family health team.

    Dr. Alex Otfield, who was introduced as a driving force behind the project, highlighted the fact that it has only been about a year since the application for the new family health team was submitted.

    Local physicians have collectively enrolled over 1,000 patients in the past six months and on Dec. 10, 2018, the FHT began seeing its first patients.
    The FHT currently includes two nurse practitioners Craig O’Brien and Tierney Lunney who work in cooperation with local physicians.

    Recruitment is actively underway for one full-time social worker, a part-time dietitian and part-time physiotherapist, according to executive director Susan Farrar.

    Champlain West clinical lead, Max Buxton, said “this is the model that physicians want to work in and it provides the best arrangement that patients can benefit from. It will provide access to services that patients won’t otherwise have locally, or what physicians working on their own could not provide. It is optimal for both young and older physicians.”

    Beginning Monday, Jan. 14, the FHT will begin taking a limited number of urgent care patients for those who do not currently have a family doctor.
    Farrar explained, “we will continue to expand our services as our team grows, to provide the community of Madawaska Valley with improved access to primary health care in the future. We eventually expect to be able to help provide care to all patients in need in our local area.”

    Service covers a wide area from Whitney to Eganville, Combermere and Madawaska Valley.

    Service covers a wide area from Whitney to Eganville, Combermere and Madawaska Valley.

    Funding for the FHT has come through the Ontario Ministry of Health and the Champlain LHIN.

    Dr. Otfield expressed his hope that this new FHT in Madawaska Valley will be the start of a new wave of family health teams across the province.

    The Ministry and the LHIN identified our community as in need based on hard data, according to Otfield.

    Funding came through a new budget line called “Interprovincial Primary Care Funding.”

    Following the official ribbon cutting and official photos, attendees enjoyed refreshments and cake in celebration of this important milestone for the community.

    Click here to access the Bancroft this Week article

  • Bits & Pieces: reminder to learn how to advocate for team-based care, free CAMH course & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    Reminder: This Friday, learn how to advocate for team-based care

    Join Hill+Knowlton Strategies, our government relations firm, this Friday, January 18, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. to hear about the new government’s priorities, to discuss how to work with your MPP, and to review the prepared key messages that will resonate.

    It’s important that MPPs are champions for team-based care as the government reviews primary care in the province and how it’s delivered. Learn how to effectively communicate with yours! Register for the webinar here.

    Leading transformation: building adaptive capacity

    This Advanced Learning Program offered by the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) has two modules, starting Feb. 28, 2019. Learners are presented with a leadership framework that focuses on building the capacity within themselves, their teams and their organizations to respond adaptively to the depth, pace and scope of change. You can learn more here and apply here. Early bird deadline is Jan. 17, 2019.

    Buprenorphine-Naloxone treatment for opioid use disorder: Free course from CAMH

    The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is offering a free course on buprenorphine-naloxone treatment for frontline providers who provide treatment for opioid use disorder. The course fee ($350) is waived and covered by the Opioid De-Implementation Project if you use the link below to register.

    OISE Psychology Clinic welcomes child/youth and family therapy referrals

    Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) Psychology Clinic, a University of Toronto training site, has expanded services and is currently welcoming child/youth and family therapy referrals. Sliding scale fees are available. The clinic also offers opportunities for onsite visits to talk about the services being offered. To learn more, visit their site and see their poster.

    What are your clinical needs as a primary care provider?

    The Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) needs your help to select topics to inform their tool development process. What areas of patient care do you believe need clinical tools (e.g. decision aid, medication algorithm or evidence summary)? What topics interest you and would serve your needs as a primary care provider?

    Make your voice heard by participating in a short survey. It only takes five minutes and your answers will directly inform the clinical tools developed this year. All individual responses will remain anonymous.

    The CEP develops new clinical tools each year based on feedback from primary care providers such as yourself. All of the clinical tools and resources can be freely accessed on cep.health.

    Click here to take the survey.

    Prescription to get active

    Prescription To Get Active uses the power of a doctor or NP’s prescription to help encourage deconditioned, sedentary at risk patients to get more active. There are no costs associated with becoming a prescribing member and prescribers are asked only to commit to the program and reporting total Rx’s written on a quarterly basis.

    The only standardized provincial program to offer this level to all Ontarians, it’s now running in Markham, Stouffville, London, Toronto and Bancroft. You can find out more below:

    Volunteers needed for post-stroke rehabilitation research study

    Research has shown that music engages the brain bilaterally throughout extended networks.  Volunteers between the ages of 30 and 79 who have had a stroke more than 6 months ago and have difficulty with arm and/or hand movements are needed for a clinical research study using music and rhythm in post-stroke rehabilitation.

    For further information:

    ,or contact the investigator, Catherine Haire, at 647-521-5381; catherine.haire@mail.utoronto.ca.

    Predicting the Future: Charitable sector careers for the workforce of 2020: Jan. 22, 2019

    Learn what’s driving the Future of Work and the value of incorporating new tools and approaches into how you address staffing challenges. Register now!

    Changing CARE: Made-in-Ontario approaches to improving the caregiver experience: Jan. 28, 2019, Toronto

    Registration is required for this free event by the Change Foundation. Learn more here.

    Government Webcast Series: Strategic Planning and Public Complaints: Feb. 20, 2019

    Attend this webcast on strategic planning and public complaints. Register now!

  • AFHTO’s 2018 Pre-Budget Submission

    AFHTO submitted its recommendations to the Ministry of Finance in February 2018, calling on the government to strengthen primary care so that it can deliver on its commitments outlined in the Patients First Act and ensure all Ontarians receive access to high quality, comprehensive, interprofessional team-based primary care.

    Key recommendations include:

    • Increase access to Interprofessional team-based care primary care
    • Invest in meaningful measurement in primary care that allows movement for improvement
    • Ensure seamless transition of care coordinators into primary care

     

    The full submission can be read here: