The Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine released its second interim report yesterday. “A Healthy Ontario: Building a Sustainable Health Care System” contains ten policy recommendations from the council to the government, intended to help the government stay on track as it works to improve the health care system.
The third recommendation?
“Support patients and providers at every step of a health care journey by ensuring effective primary care is the foundation of an integrated health care system.”
Second interim report from the Premier’s Council released today
Reminder- primary care virtual community, June 26
AFHTO Board of Directors nominations deadline this Friday, June 28
Bright Lights nomination deadline this Friday, June 28
Mental health and addiction QI collaborative slides and video
A prescription for Canada: achieving pharmacare for all
Amy Coupal announced as new CEO at the Ontario Caregiver Organization
CEP tools and resources survey
Seeking input: draft quality standard for unhealthy alcohol use and alcohol use disorder
Upcoming events including ECHO Liver and more
Premier shuffles cabinet
Almost one year since the Executive Council was sworn-in, the Ford government has made the most significant shuffle of cabinet to date. This larger, 28-member cabinet includes some new faces, while promoting those who have performed well over the past year.
As a direct response to some of the challenges in the first year, the government has bolstered capacity in their key priority areas by adding associate ministers to Health, Transportation and Energy. Added to Cabinet is an Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and a new Ministry of Long-Term Care.
This report contains ten policy recommendations intended to help the government improve the health care system. AFHTO is pleased to see that one recommendation is to ensure primary care is the foundation of an integrated health care system.
Reminder- primary care virtual community, June 26
This is the second webinar held by AFHTO, OCFP and The Change Foundation. Join us for an interactive engagement with Dr. Robert Varnam, GP and Head of General Practice Development at NHS England, as he shares learnings on the 10 High Impact Actions.
This sets the stage for us, as a virtual community to discuss, reflect and share the possibilities of what our own High Impact Actions in Ontario could be. Learn more here.
AFHTO Board of Directors nominations deadline this Friday, June 28
Help guide your association by serving on the AFHTO board of directors. The Governance Committee of AFHTO’s board invites anyone who works within an AFHTO member organization to apply. To apply:
Click here to read AFHTO’s Nominations and Elections policy.
Click here for information on the role and requirements of AFHTO board members.
Bright Lights nomination deadline this Friday, June 28
<em>2018 Bright Lights winners at the awards ceremony</em>
Are you proud of what your team has accomplished?
Do you want your colleagues to be recognized for the amazing work they do?
Do you think it would be great to see your initiative spread across the province?
Send in your nominations and supporting documents before the deadline, Friday, June 28. Four categories have education grants to help you strengthen your team’s development.
Small, rural and Northern teams are encouraged to apply.
Mental health and addiction QI collaborative slides and video
On June 13 over 200 attendees joined CMHA, AMHO, and AFHTO for the first in a 4-part webinar series on community and primary care QI projects and initiatives with a focus on mental health and addiction. See the video and get the slides.
A prescription for Canada: achieving pharmacare for all
A new report released by Health Canada, the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare has recommended an expansive pharmacare regime that would replace existing public and private insurance plans with a single national framework. To learn more about their recommendations, please click here.
Amy Coupal announced as new CEO at the Ontario Caregiver Organization
Amy Coupal has been announced as Chief Executive Officer at the Ontario Caregiver Organization. The Ontario Caregiver Organization was created in the Spring of 2018 as an independent corporation that functions arms-length from government. Their goal is to ease the stress and burden that caregivers experience when caring for a loved one. Visit their site to learn more about OCO and about the new CEO, Amy Coupal.
CEP tools and resources survey
The Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) is seeking feedback from family physicians and primary care nurse practitioners about their tools and resources through a survey.
This 8-minute survey will be open until July 2, 2019. Those who complete the survey will be eligible to enter a draw for a chance to win one of five Indigo gift cards.
The feedback will help them better understand which clinical tools and resources providers are aware of, and how they may have been used in clinical practice. Responses will help inform the Knowledge Translation in Primary Care Initiative.
Seeking input: draft quality standard for unhealthy alcohol use and alcohol use disorder
Health Quality Ontario is developing a new quality standard to address unhealthy alcohol use and alcohol use disorder.
Share your thoughts on this draft quality standard and its accompanying patient guide by June 27, 2019.
The Power of Partnership: Reducing Hallway Health Care, Enhancing The Patient Experience, June 26, 2019
This webinar focuses on how partnerships helped create better health outcomes during the growing demands around hospital services. Held by HQO, SE Health and Trillium Health Partners. Learn more here.
Considerations for Primary Care Teams as a Not-for-Profit Corporation, July 17, 2019
Join AFHTO & Grant Thornton LLP for their second webinar in the Financial Webinar Series. Register here.
ECHO Liver: Liver Disease in Primary Care: Approach To Hepatitis C, July 11, 2019
Join the ECHO Liver evening series as they hold a lecture based on real team and patient cases on Hepatitis C. Learn more here.
AFHTO 2019 Conference, September 19- 20, 2019
Members get 50% off registration; plus early bird rates are in effect! Get your member access code from your administrator and come explore Health System Integration Built on The Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care. Register now!
LeaderShift Conference Detailed Program Now Available
We are now only three weeks away from the LeaderShift Conference on Thursday, July 11th, held at the BMO Institute for Learning. There are still limited spots available for this enriching one-day, learning event, where you’ll have the chance to:
Connect with leaders across our sector to ignite collaboration and build a more connected, integrated health care system.
Collaborate with your peers, discover new tools and build your confidence leading during times of change and uncertainty.
Transform the health care system by cultivating new partnerships, building effective coalitions and preparing for the future.
Click here to see the detailed conference program and to register today!
This report contains ten policy recommendations from the council to the government, intended to help the government stay on track as it works to improve the health care system.
The third recommendation is that primary care be the foundation of an integrated health care system. As examples, the report suggests ensuring OHTs facilitate clinician leadership and support strong partnerships with the primary care sector.
The report also includes support and recommendations for wrap-around care, comprehensive care plans, and “providers working in a team environment with access to a full continuum of care for their patients, as well as continued professional development support and resources.”
AFHTO is pleased to see the importance of primary care outlined in the second interim report.
The council consulted over 1,500 providers, patients and stakeholders – including AFHTO members – and says it will continue to engage the public on how to improve the health care system as it develops future reports with updates on how these initiatives are improving health care service delivery.
Reports and resources:
The first interim report from the Premier’s Council was released on January 31, 2019.
Almost one year since the Executive Council was sworn-in, the Ford government has made the most significant shuffle of cabinet to date. This larger, 28-member cabinet includes some new faces, while promoting those who have performed well over the past year. As a direct response to some of the challenges in the first year, the government has bolstered capacity in their key priority areas by adding associate ministers to Health, Transportation and Energy.
Please find the complete attached memo from Hill + Knowlton Strategies to their clients on the cabinet shuffle:
Do you want your colleagues to be recognized for the amazing work they do?
Do you think it would be great to see your initiative spread across the province?
If you’ve said yes to any of the above, submit a Bright Lights nomination!
Don’t be left out- they’ve started to pour in so send in your nominations and supporting documents before the deadline, Friday, June 28.
Four categories have education grants to help you strengthen your team’s development.
Small, rural and Northern teams are encouraged to apply.You can watch this 2016 webinar or view the slides if you’ve never submitted a nomination before. There will also be special recognition for underrepresented teams.
And don’t forget- some award recipients will receive an education grant valued at $1,250.
There will also be special recognition for underrepresented teams. You could win an award for your contributions to Ontario’s healthcare system. The winner(s) will be selected based on the strength of their nomination to one of the six categories.
Webinar series on collaborative leadership for OHTs
Renew your membership before June 30
AFHTO partners with eHealth Centre of Excellence to advance QI practices
Developing cross-sector partnerships: facilitators, strategies and barriers
Seeking Clinical Knowledge Translation and Exchange Specialist
Join a quality standards advisory committee on hypertension
Abstract deadline for Toronto International Conference on Quality in Primary Care extended
Upcoming events including Primary Care Virtual Community and more
Farewell to Laura Belsito
It’s with really mixed feelings we announce the departure of Laura Belsito, AFHTO’s Clinical KTE Specialist, as she leaves to join one of our member teams, Women’s College Academic FHT, to be their Program Coordinator, working directly on program planning and evaluation while continuing her work in quality improvement.
Laura has been with AFHTO for over two years and during that time AFHTO and its members benefitted from Laura’s enthusiasm and expertise in supporting the QI and knowledge translation activities for the QIDSS and IHPs in our teams. She was critical in developing several knowledge translation events and has been the ‘glue’ in furthering our quality agenda.
We’ll miss Laura but know she is not too far away – her wealth of experience and her dedication will continue to further the quality agenda in primary care. Please join us in wishing Laura our sincerest best wishes and good luck in her new role. Laura’s last day with AFHTO will be Friday, July 19th – any questions related to the QIDS work can be directed to improve@afhto.ca.
<em>Closing Plenary speaker Dr. Rueben Devlin, Special Advisor and Chair of the Premier’s Council on Improving Health Care and Ending Hallway Medicine</em>
AFHTO 2019 Conference: registration now open!
Change can come fast and furious, and Ontario’s healthcare system is no exception. With the introduction of Ontario Health Teams, ‘upheaval’ could be considered an understatement. But the fundamentals remain- no matter the structure surrounding them, patients need care. And primary health care teams need to position themselves to provide this care in the best way possible.
AFHTO members receive a 50% discount on registration- check with your administrator for the code!
Webinar series on collaborative leadership for OHTs
The Community Health Organization has developed a series of webinars called “Building Collaboration Capacity for OHTs.” They’re starting today and rolling out over the summer. We’re pleased that the invitation has been extended to AFHTO members to join these webinars, and we encourage you do. Dates, times and registration are here.
We’ll be arranging a series of webinars with OCFP and other partners to support members with practical tools and resources for OHT development that factor in clinical leadership in governance. Stay tuned for dates and times!
Renew your membership before June 30
While most teams have renewed their membership, there are a few who haven’t done so yet. Renew your AFHTO membership today to continue your access to resources and supports uninterrupted. We have launched AFHTO 2019 Conference registration and only AFHTO members receive a 50% discount on registration.
AFHTO partners with eHealth Centre of Excellence to advance QI practices
AFHTO has recently formed a partnership with the eHealth Centre of Excellence (eCE) to advance QI practices in the field. This partnership aims to equip AFHTO members with electronic decision support tools and change management support during the implementation of these tools. The eCE, in collaboration with AFHTO, will work with teams to incorporate these decision support tools into clinical practice, customize them for different regions, and extract data from the tool. This partnership will allow quality specialists across the province to be better equipped to support their teams’ data collection and reporting, while simultaneously improving quality of care.
Developing cross-sector partnerships: facilitators, strategies and barriers
AFHTO is working in partnership with the Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) and several other organizations on The Keeping Kids Healthy through Collective Impact project. Developing and sustaining partnerships takes time and effort. In the first of three webinars, the OPHA will share the results of a primary study conducted to understand the facilitators, strategies and barriers when working in a cross-sector partnership. There will also be time for open discussion.
Seeking Clinical Knowledge Translation and Exchange Specialist
Reporting to the CEO, the Clinical Knowledge Translation and Exchange (KTE) Specialist will be responsible for facilitating sharing of the rapidly expanding body of knowledge about quality improvement (QI) and decision support (DS) among AFHTO members, primarily via QIDSS and QIDSS-like individuals, clinicians, and administrators. Deadline June 28, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.
Join a quality standards advisory committee on hypertension
Health Quality Ontario is seeking volunteers to help develop a new quality standard outlining what quality care looks like for hypertension.
They’re taking applications from people who have hypertension, their family members, health care professionals, community service providers and researchers from across Ontario. Deadline June 21.
Abstract deadline for Toronto International Conference on Quality in Primary Care extended
The deadline to submit a poster for this Nov. 16 conference has been extended to July 5. The theme is health equity.
Primary Care Virtual Community, June 26, 2019
Attend the second webinar held by AFHTO, OCFP and The Change Foundation. This time, the focus is on the 10 High Impact Actions created in the UK, and the possibilities in Ontario. Learn more here.
Considerations for Primary Care Teams as a Not-for-Profit Corporation, July 17, 2019
Join AFHTO & Grant Thornton LLP for their second webinar in the Financial Webinar Series. Register here.
The Power of Partnership: Reducing Hallway Health Care, Enhancing The Patient Experience, June 26, 2019
This webinar focuses on how partnerships helped create better health outcomes during the growing demands around hospital services. Held by HQO, SE Health and Trillium Health Partners. Learn more here.
ECHO Liver: Liver Disease in Primary Care: Approach To Hepatitis C, July 11, 2019
Join the ECHO Liver evening series as they hold a lecture based on real team and patient cases on Hepatitis C. Learn more here.
Increasing Access and Coordination of Addiction Treatment for People in Espanola
June 11, 2019 – People in the Espanola area are now receiving more timely medical treatment for substance use disorders closer to home.
The Espanola Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic, based in the Espanola and Area Family Health Team, had its grand opening on Tuesday to introduce patients and partners to its location on the Espanola Regional Hospital and Health Centre campus as well as to share information about the service. The clinic provides expedited, barrier-free treatment for patients who have a substance use disorders, particularly with alcohol or opioid use.
The RAAM clinic is part of the North East Local Health Integration Network’s (North East LHIN) Regional Opioid Strategy, designed to meet the rising rates of opioid use disorder, accidental overdoses, hospitalizations, and hospital emergency room visits across Northeastern Ontario. The strategy was developed by the Regional Mental Health and Addiction Advisory Council which continues to work with local mental health and addiction planning tables across the region to support implementation, ensuring Northerners have timely and equitable access to care.
How the Espanola RAAM Clinic Works
The RAAM clinic is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, weekdays; it welcomes walk-ins or calls to find out more about its services (705-862-7991 ext. 4245). No referral is necessary, although referrals from doctors, nurses, social workers, addiction counselors, and community providers are certainly accepted. Patients will be seen by an Addiction Worker within 24-48 hours after calling the clinic or after referral. They will then be seen by the Addiction Specialist to create and implement a treatment and medication plan. Through the RAAM clinic, patients can also access addiction counselling, case management and receive assistance in securing residential treatment services.
The RAAM model is designed to initiate therapy for Substance Use Disorders, primarily opioid or alcohol use, and then transition clients to the most appropriate ongoing care provider. It is not intended to replace or duplicate the care provided by a primary care provider.
Espanola’s RAAM clinic is unique in that it is based on a strong collaboration between the Family Health Team and the hospital, as well as the Espanola & Area Mental Health / Addictions Community of Care Planning Network made up of more than 20 agencies.
The North East LHIN’s Strategy uses a “hub and spoke” model, in which larger RAAM Clinics are located within each sub-region’s urban centre (the hub) with links (spokes) to outlying areas. The Espanola RAAM Clinic is a “spoke” site connected to a hub in Sudbury, operated by Health Sciences North.
Nominate your team, partnership or colleague for a Bright Lights Award
and gain your biggest audience ever.
The AFHTO 2019 Conference Awards ceremony, which will be held at lunchtime on September 19, 2019. Open to all attendees at the AFHTO 2019 Conference, this is an audience about three times larger than past awards dinners.
Past winners have also:
Gotten media coverage
Been presented as shining examples with local and provincial political leaders
It’s also an opportunity to raise your profile even if you don’t win. Nominations are some of the best resources we use to publicise your work with external stakeholders and the public at large.
You can:
Nominate your own team –you should be proud of your own work.
Apply even if you didn’t send in an #AFHTO2019 abstract.
Nominate your initiative if you’re not an AFHTO member but work in partnership with one.
Not sure if your team’s achievements merit recognition? Never submitted a nomination before?You can watch this 2016 webinar or view the slides for an overview of what reviewers are looking for and tips for writing a nomination.
And don’t forget- some award recipients will receive an education grant valued at $1,250.
There will also be special recognition for underrepresented teams. You could win an award for your contributions to Ontario’s healthcare system. The winner(s) will be selected based on the strength of their nomination to one of the six categories.
Shine a light on your team – Make a nomination today:
Review the nomination categories in advance (see nomination guide pg. 3 for descriptions).
Review the nomination evaluation criteria (see nomination guide pg. 2 for details).
Complete the online nomination form and send all supporting materials before June 28, 2019.
Environmental scan of social determinants of health and equity in primary care
Upcoming events including Primary Care Virtual Community and more
Ontario primary health care nurse practitioner program funding update
We have received notice from the Ontario Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Program that it has received confirmation from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that the program will be funded for a period of two years.
This will allow the nine universities participating in the program to continue to provide high quality education for students in a fully distributed model across Ontario (in both English and French), accepting an additional 200 students into the schools.
Ontario Health Teams: a primary care perspective
Last week’s webinar with Karima Kanani from Miller Thomson LLP reviewed primary care as a key component for Ontario Health Teams, and how this health system reform will impact AFHTO members. Key features of the Connecting Care Act were discussed, as well as OHT requirements, the role of primary care in OHTs, and tips for proactive planning. The presentation and recording are now on our website.
Ministry updates and related news Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019: On June 5th, the government introduced legislation that would allow them to manage public sector compensation growth – the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019. The legislation is undergoing public consultations over the summer with the opportunity to provide feedback to the government on the Act.
At first glance this appears to be focusing on managing environments with collective agreements, but we know that there are some concerns about the potential impact on our teams, especially in relation to the rollout of next year’s R&R funding. We hope to have a briefing over the summer to get more details and will pass them along when we have more answers.
Ontario Health Teams Timelines Extended: due to the large volume of self assessment submissions, the timelines for the Ontario Health Teams has been extended
Assessment process
Dates
Open call for self-assessments
April 3, 2019
Deadline to submit self-assessments
May 15, 2019
Selected groups will be invited to submit a full application
Early July 2019
Deadline to submit full applications
September 2019
Announce Ontario Health Team candidates
Fall 2019
Deadline for Second Round of self-assessments
Fall 2019
OMA information webinar on Ontario Health Teams
The OMA is hosting an information webinar on OHTs tonight – the webinar will be led by Dr. Jim Wright, Chief, Economics, Policy & Research, who will be joined by Dara Laxer, Executive Director, Economics, Policy and Research, Jennifer Gold, Director, Legal & Governance and Sarah Hutchinson, OntarioMD, Chief Executive Officer. There will be a presentation providing updates on OHTs followed by questions.
The LeaderShift Conference is fast approaching and will welcome the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the Honourable Christine Elliott. See the schedule at a glance and register here.
Seeking physiotherapists’ input
Do you practice as a physiotherapist in a primary health care organization in Ontario (e.g. family health team, community health centre, etc.)? Consider completing this brief survey being led by researchers at Queen’s University. It seeks to describe the current state of physiotherapy integration in primary health care organizations in Ontario. You’ll have a chance to enter a random draw to win a $100 gift-card after completing the survey.
NP Patient Choice Award
Nominations for NPAO’s NP Patient Choice Award are submitted by patients, based on
their description of their nurse practitioner’s professional qualities, approach to patient care and specific stories of dedication and how the nurse practitioner has made a difference in their lives or the lives
of others. You can post this flyer to encourage patients to submit a nomination. Deadline June 21, 2019.
ECHO complex patient management needs assessment survey
Project ECHO Complex Patient Management focuses on helping family physicians and nurse practitioners manage complexity in primary care, particularly where there is a need to integrate physical and mental health guidelines to prioritize care issues, or mental health concerns that are complicated by physical health concerns. Sessions take place via videoconference.
Help define the educational supports and curriculum that matter to you. Your responses to this short survey will help create the curriculum for the weekly ECHO-CPM sessions here.
Environmental scan of social determinants of health and equity in primary care
Dr. Gary Bloch, St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT and Inner City FHT, is carrying out an environmental scan of primary care-based interventions into health inequities and the social determinants of health in Canada.
For Patients: A Skill-Building Webinar on The Habits of Highly Effective Patient Partners, June 12, 2019
In this webinar, HQO will cover how patients can effectively contribute as patient partners in Ontario’s healthcare system. Learn more here.
Mental health and addiction QI collaborative webinar, June 13, 2019
Join CMHA, AMHO, and AFHTO for a 4-part webinar series on community and primary care QI projects and initiatives with a focus on mental health and addictions. Register here for the first webinar.
Primary Care Virtual Community, June 26, 2019
Attend the second webinar held by AFHTO, OCFP and The Change Foundation. This time, the focus is on the 10 High Impact Actions created in the UK, and the possibilities in Ontario. Learn more here.
Considerations for Primary Care Teams as a Not-for-Profit Corporation, July 17, 2019
Join AFHTO & Grant Thornton LLP for their second webinar in the Financial Webinar Series. Register here.
Change can come fast and furious, and Ontario’s healthcare system is no exception. With the introduction of Ontario Health Teams, ‘upheaval’ could be considered an understatement. But the fundamentals remain- no matter the structure surrounding them, patients need care. And primary health care teams need to position themselves to provide this care in the best way possible.
‘Integration’ may be the word of the day, but primary care teams already embody it. At AFHTO’s 2019 Conference over 800 primary care providers, interprofessional health care providers, patients and community partners will explore how comprehensive care creates the patient medical home.
Evidence shows this home is the best foundation for a high-performing health system, so together we’ll tackle how teams can provide truly patient-centred care and value for all Ontarians.
