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  • Bits & Pieces: OHT current state survey, mental health & addiction QI & more

    Bits & Pieces: OHT current state survey, mental health & addiction QI & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • OHT current state survey
    • Mental health and addiction QI collaborative webinar series
    • Health TAPESTRY evaluation results in CMAJ
    • Reminder – Harvard ManageMentor available
    • Addressing mental health and addictions needs in primary care
    • Toronto Central LHIN rapid access clinics for low back pain
    • OntarioMD call for abstracts
    • Upcoming events regarding CHOGIP benefits and more

    OHT current state survey
    We’re requesting EDs complete the following short survey to identify your teams’ current state within the Ontario Health Team development process. This information is key for us to track progress across the province.

    We’re working closely with the OMA and OCFP to map out primary care involvement and to ensure teams have access to supports that will help improve OHT participation readiness and eventual implementation.

    Please complete the survey by Friday, May 10, 2019.
     
    If you have any questions or follow-up inquiries please contact bryn.hamilton@afhto.ca.

    Mental health and addiction QI collaborative webinar series

    Mental health and addiction QI collaborative webinar series
    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 addiction.

    Register here.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Health Tapestry

    Health TAPESTRY evaluation results in CMAJ

    “Combining volunteers and primary care teamwork to support health goals and needs of older adults: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial” showed more primary care visits and fewer hospitalizations, which means it may shift focus from reactive to preventive care. Learn more at healthtapestry.ca.

     

    Harvard Lunch and Learn
    <em><a href="/node/4007">Video from the lunch and learn session available</a></em>

    Reminder – Harvard ManageMentor available

    Harvard ManageMentor is a self-directed online-learning program affiliated with the Harvard School of Business. It covers over 40 topics of vital relevance to today’s healthcare managers. Each module helps strengthen specific leadership skills that drive performance and results.

    For demo access:

    If you have any questions about Harvard ManageMentor and/or Spark, please contact Candace Dames at cdames@edls.com or (647) 838 2555. If you’re interested in participating, please contact Bryn Hamilton.

    Addressing mental health and addictions needs in primary care
    At last year’s leadership triad session, we partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario, and co-designed a session to focus on mental health and primary care integration. We addressed the question “How do we ensure that we provide seamless care for our patients and create a well integrated system of care.”

    Read the full report here.

    Toronto Central LHIN rapid access clinics for low back pain
    Rapid Access Clinics (RAC) for Low Back Pain are being rolled out across the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network to help improve the quality, access and appropriateness of care for people with low back pain. RAC Low Back Pain stems from the Inter-professional Spine Assessment and Education Clinics (ISAEC) model of care; a successful pilot program for low back pain.

    Primary care providers must be enrolled in RAC Low Back Pain in order to refer patients. Find out more here.

    OntarioMD call for abstracts
    The call for abstracts for EMR: Every Step Conference at the Toronto Congress Centre on Sep. 26, 2019 has been launched. Deadline May 24, 2019.

    CHOGIP Benefits webinar, May 22, 2019
    Looking to switch dental and health benefit providers? AFHTO is pleased to present CHOGIP choice and voice benefit services to our members. Gallagher Benefit services will be presenting an overview in this webinar. Register here.

    Transitions in Care: A Quality Standards Webinar, May 8, 2019
    Learn about a draft quality standard for quality care for patients transitioning from hospital to home. Find out more here.

    IFIC Canada Virtual Community Webinar Series: Global Tour Of Integrated Care And What It Means For Us, May 14, 2019
    Learn how others around North America have successfully integrated care practices. Join for the first monthly meeting with IFIC. Join the first virtual conversation.

    Antimicrobial Stewardship in Primary Care
    Register for an online CE course for prescribers & pharmacists to help HCPs optimize antibiotic use in common clinical scenarios. Find out more here.

  • St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT Physician prescribes money to low-income patients: Vox interview

    Vox article published on May 3, 2019

    By Sigal Samuel, Vox

    Gary Bloch became a doctor because he wanted to help people who were less privileged than him. For years, he tried his best to treat patients coping with poverty and homelessness.

    But no matter how many blood tests he ordered and prescriptions he wrote, many of his patients’ health problems persisted. He realized it was because he wasn’t addressing the issue that most plagued them: poverty.

    So in 2005, instead of prescribing only medication, he started developing the concept of prescribing money. And for the past 10 years, he’s been putting that concept into practice.

    In concrete terms, that means that Bloch connects his patients to ways of boosting their income, like applying for welfare or disability support. Often, it means guiding patients to fill out their tax forms so they can access government benefits. Is it a doctor’s responsibility to do this? Yes, Bloch says, because if you don’t treat the social determinants of health (like income and housing), you’re not actually doing what you can to ensure your patients get healthier.

    Similar to the notion behind universal basic income, the idea here is that if you really want to help people, the most effective starting point might be to simply give them more money.

    As a family doctor at St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team in Toronto, Bloch hasn’t contented himself with prescribing income in one-on-one appointments: He’s also been pushing for broader social policy change. Treating individuals’ poverty may be a good step, but he wants to see systemic change, including a more robust social assistance program. In 2016, he was appointed to an Ontario government commission tasked with creating a 10-year road map to income security for the province (you can read the resulting recommendations here).

    Although some doctors have told him they just don’t have the time or resources to prescribe money, Bloch says he’s gotten an overwhelmingly positive response from across Canada and beyond.

    Click here to access the complete interview transcript & article on Vox.

  • Bits & Pieces: palliative care framework, Doctors’ Day, abstract confirmations & more

    Bits & Pieces: palliative care framework, Doctors’ Day, abstract confirmations & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • Palliative care health services delivery framework
    • Over 120 submissions received for the AFHTO 2019 Conference
    • Doctors’ Day is May 1
    • CHOGIP Choice and Voice webinar on May 22
    • Free assistance from practice facilitators in Ottawa area
    • Training and capacity building in healthy childhood development survey
    • Seeking input: draft quality standard for transitions in care
    • Upcoming events regarding healthcare consent and more

    conference tree

     

    Over 120 submissions received for the AFHTO 2019 Conference

    Thank you to all those who applied! If you are part of a group that has prepared an abstract, please ensure your group contact has received the email with the subject: “AFHTO 2019 Conference: Abstract received confirmation“.
     
    If your contact person has NOT received this confirmation, please contact info@afhto.ca by 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, May 1.

     

     

     

     

    Doctors’ Day is May 1
    Tomorrow, May 1, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) and health care organizations across the province will be recognizing the amazing contributions made by Ontario’s doctors. Ontarians can submit their story at oma.org/doctorsday.

    Patient stories will be shared through the OMA’s social media channels throughout the month of May. Posters with real stories are also available for download and printing. You can also join the conversation with hashtag #DoctorsDay.

    A special thank you to all the family doctors working with our teams for the great care you provide to your patients each and every day.

    CHOGIP Choice and Voice webinar on May 22

    Looking to switch your employee health and dental benefit plan? AFHTO members are invited to a webinar to learn more about the CHOGIP benefit plan geared towards primary care organizations!

    AFHTO members who join the plan have access to reduced rates for dental benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term disability amongst other types of coverage. Enjoy an overview of the features and ask any questions you may have about this choice and voice focused benefit plan.

    Register to attend the webinar on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 12:00 PM.

    Free assistance from practice facilitators in Ottawa area
    Want free assistance from knowledgeable Practice Facilitators? Does your team need help identifying and implementing evidence informed strategies to address gaps in care while monitoring progress over time?

    Teams in the Ottawa area are invited to join the Ottawa Practice Enhancement Network (OPEN), which aims to support primary care practices achieve quality improvement (QI) goals. Teams can use a goal identified from their Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) or any other area of interest. Click here for more information.

    Training and capacity building in healthy childhood development survey
    Do you support the health and well-being of children and their families? The Nutrition Resource Centre (NRC) wants to hear from you. Have your say on NRC’s future development of training, tools and resources in early childhood development.

    Please take a few minutes to complete this survey on training and professional development needs and tell us how we can enhance and strengthen your knowledge and skills. Deadline May 13.

    Seeking input: draft quality standard for transitions in care
    hqo transitionsA new quality standard is being developed to address a common experience for Ontarians that tests the ability of our health system to offer seamless care – the transition home from the hospital.

    Both the quality standard and accompanying patient guide are being developed by Health Quality Ontario. Share your thoughts on a draft quality standard and patient guide by May 14, 2019.

     

    HPCO CoP Health Care Consent & Advance Care Planning In Ontario, May 7, 2019
    Learn about an algorithm that aids and outlines the process of informed consent using the treatment of CPR. Find out more here.

    Transitions in Care: A Quality Standards Webinar, May 8, 2019
    Learn about a draft quality standard for quality care for patients transitioning from hospital to home. Find out more here.

    IFIC Canada Virtual Community Webinar Series: Global Tour Of Integrated Care And What It Means For Us, May 14, 2019
    Learn how others around North America have successfully integrated care practices. Join for the first monthly meeting with IFIC. Join the first virtual conversation.

    Community Health Connections 2019, June 12 & 13, 2019
    Join CACHC and AHC for their Community Health Connections conference held in Ottawa. Learn more here.

  • Palliative Care Health Services Delivery Framework

    The Ontario Palliative Care Network has launched the Palliative Care Health Services Delivery Framework, recommendations for a model of care to improve palliative care in Ontario.

    The Delivery Framework is a model of care for adults with a life-limiting illness who are living at home or in community settings and their families/caregivers. It’s designed to enable care to be delivered according to the quality standard for Palliative Care. The goal of the Delivery Framework is for the palliative care needs of patients, families and caregivers to be met in a timely and effective way, allowing them to experience care at home as long as possible, if that is their choice.

    Unanimously endorsed by the four OPCN Partners – CCO, LHINs, Health Quality Ontario and the Quality Hospice Palliative Care Coalition of Ontario – and the result of 18 months of system-wide engagement, the model’s 13 recommendations reflect the best evidence, and collective expertise of our many provincial, regional and local community partners. The 14 Regional Palliative Care Networks, interdisciplinary healthcare providers from across the province, healthcare organizations at the provincial and local levels, and patients and family/caregivers played a key role in shaping the Delivery Framework. Their shared commitment and active participation will be crucial in realizing its successful implementation.

    In addition to the Delivery Framework, the OPCN is releasing the following companion resources:

  • AFHTO 2019 Conference: If you have submitted an abstract, please make sure you have received confirmation

    AFHTO 2019 Conference: If you have submitted an abstract, please make sure you have received confirmation

    afhto 2019 conference tree

    Over 115 submissions were received for concurrent session and poster presentations at the AFHTO 2019 Conference. Thank you to all those who applied!

    A confirmation email has been sent to the contact person for each abstract submission.

    If you are part of a group that has prepared an abstract, please ensure your group contact has received the email with the subject: “AFHTO 2019 Conference: Abstract received confirmation”.

    If your contact person has NOT received this confirmation, please contact info@afhto.ca by April 30.

    The confirmation email is your assurance that your abstract has been received and will be reviewed by a working group for presentation at the conference.

     

    Final concurrent session and poster presentations will be selected by May 24, 2019.
    The program will be announced when registration opens in early June 2019.

    We look forward to seeing you at the AFHTO 2019 Conference!
    Health System Integration Built on the Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care
    September 19 & 20, 2019
    Westin Harbour Castle, One Harbour Square, Toronto

  • Susan Fitzpatrick Named Interim CEO of Ontario Health

    On April 24 Christine Elliott, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, announced that Susan Fitzpatrick will assume the role of interim CEO of Ontario Health, the new superagency which will ensure a consistency of care across Ontario.

    Susan Fitzpatrick was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) in 2015, following a career in the Ontario Public Service that spanned more than three decades. Prior to joining the LHIN, Susan was Associate Deputy Minister, Health System Delivery and Implementation, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. As Associate Deputy Minister, Susan was responsible for bringing together health programs in LHINs, CCACs, Long-term Care and Physician Services, and creating alignment opportunities in order to deliver quality health services to patients.

    Prior to her role at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Susan was the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Negotiations and Accountability Management Division and the General Manager of the Ontario Health Insurance Plan where she led significant policy achievements.

    Susan holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario, and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Queen’s University.

    Relevant Links

  • Examining the Healthcare Experiences of Foreign-Born Older Canadians: Call for Participants

    Examining the Healthcare Experiences of Foreign-Born Older Canadians: A Pilot Study – Call for Participants

    Overview: Although foreign-born older adults (immigrant seniors) are at a higher risk for certain chronic diseases and negative health conditions, limited Canadian studies have examined healthcare experiences of foreign-born older adults (FBOAs), and few have developed or proposed practical solutions to support patient engagement, system navigation ,and care coordination. This is an exploratory study aimed at further understanding FBOA-patient and provider interactions and experiences across the system. The intent is use these pilot data to develop a future program of research and grant application to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research focused on supporting FBOAs and their health care providers.
     
    Requested Support: The University of Waterloo is reaching out to community organizations and partners to seek their preliminary guidance and perspectives. If you currently work with FBOAs, they would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you to learn from your experiences.  Furthermore, if there are any FBOA patients that you think would be interested in sharing their healthcare experiences, please let them know.
     
    This study is being led by Dr. Paul Stolee, with the assistance of Dr. Catherine Tong, whose PhD research focused on the health of foreign-born older immigrants and who has prior experience conducting multilingual studies with older adults. If you are interested in participating or if you have any questions please contact Alison Kernoghan (alison.kernoghan@uwaterloo.ca).

  • 2019/20 Quality Improvement Plans available

    In April Health Quality Ontario received 1,024 Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) from hospitals, primary care organizations, long-term care homes, and LHIN home and community care services across Ontario. All of the 2019/20 QIPs are now available on QIP Navigator.

    You can use the Download QIPs tool to download the full QIP of any organization, or use the Query QIPs tool to search all submitted QIPs for a key word or indicator of interest. These tools are a great way to find out what organizations in your area are working on this year or read about the lessons organizations have learned during their efforts to address the key quality issues targeted by the QIPs.

    Another source for ideas and inspiration is Quorum, Health Quality Ontario’s health care quality improvement community. You can browse the new Indicators & Change Ideas page to explore and comment on approaches to improvement for this year’s QIP indicators, or search for the QIP tag to read spotlight stories and interviews related to the QIPs.

    It’s clear from initial observations on the 2019/20 QIPs that organizations are focusing their efforts on the three critical themes of timely and efficient transitions, service excellence, and safe and effective care. If you or your team have any questions about the QIPs or about Health Quality Ontario’s quality improvement resources, please contact QIP@HQOntario.ca.

  • AFHTO 2019 Conference: extended abstract deadline – now Friday at 9 am

    AFHTO 2019 Conference: extended abstract deadline – now Friday at 9 am

    Happy children pointing at laptop

    These past few weeks have been very busy for AFHTO members. Given the demands on your time, we’ve responded by extending the deadline to submit abstracts for the AFHTO 2019 Conference “Health System Integration Built on the Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care”.

    The Ontario health landscape will look very different very soon, so we need to hear from you. Don’t wait to impart your lessons learned, your tips and experiences to colleagues from all across the province under 6 core themes.

    submit button

    The deadline is now April 26, 2019 at 9:00 AM (EDT).

    All are welcome. Please pass this along to your peers, colleagues and network including those from other healthcare sectors, non-profits, and the academic and research communities.

    Email info@afhto.ca or call 647-234-8605x 200 if you have any questions. We’re here to help.

    Helpful links to get you started:

    Reduced registration fee for concurrent session presenters: For each approved concurrent session, up to 2 presenters will each be granted a $50 discount off the conference registration fee. Additional discounts apply for patients presenting at the conference. (Discount doesn’t apply for poster displays.)

    Conference key dates (updated):

    • April 26, 2019             Deadline to submit concurrent session and poster abstract
    • June 2019                    Conference registration opens
    • Sep 19 & 20, 2019     AFHTO 2019 Conference
  • Bits & Pieces: abstract deadline tomorrow, OHT webinar on patient partnership & more

    Bits & Pieces: abstract deadline tomorrow, OHT webinar on patient partnership & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • Deadline to submit your #AFHTO2019 abstract tomorrow
    • OHT webinar on patient partnership Apr. 25
    • Creating a “Balanced” View: we want to learn from you!
    • Registration open for LeaderShift Health System Leaders webinar #4 Apr. 30
    • Seeking input on improving primary stroke prevention
    • Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) launch
    • Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, June 5, 2019
    • Upcoming events including primary care virtual community meeting and more

    Deadline to submit your #AFHTO2019 abstract tomorrow

    AFHTO 2018 Panorama

    Time’s almost up to submit your AFHTO 2019 Conference abstract. Within a very short span of time the Ontario health landscape will look very different, so we need to make sure primary health care teams are as prepared as they can be. Deadline to submit tomorrow Apr. 24. at 5:00 p.m.

    OHT webinar on patient partnership Apr. 25
    The Ministry has announced its third webinar on the Ontario Health Teams with a focus on patient partnership on April 25 at noon. If you have not yet done so, please click here to register.   
     
    Ongoing information about the development about the OHTs are available on our website so please make sure you check there periodically.

    Creating a “Balanced” View: we want to learn from you!
    Is your team using a balanced scorecard approach to monitor progress towards strategic objectives? Has your team developed tools or frameworks for the board to assess organizational performance? We’d like to learn from you!

    Please consider sharing your tools with AFHTO as we continue in our collective pursuit to drive quality and identify opportunities for improvement.   

    Registration open for LeaderShift Health System Leaders webinar #4 Apr. 30
    Cross-sector collaboration is a major goal of the LeaderShift project. But how can we collaborate when we don’t really know what other parts of the community and primary care sector are doing?
     
    Tune into what’s happening in and across community & primary health today and uncover where the biggest opportunities for current and emerging leaders lie in the webinar: Innovation and Opportunity in Community and Primary Health Care. Find out more here.

    Seeking input on improving primary stroke prevention
    The Translation Research Program at the University of Toronto is looking for family physicians to participate in a study on improving primary stroke prevention. The study involves a 2-hour focus group at a pre-determined location and a short questionnaire about stroke knowledge.

    An honorarium will be provided for your time, and refreshments will be served during the focus groups. Click here for more details.

    Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) launch
    On June 24, 2019, Ontario is transitioning from the guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) to the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) as the recommended screening test for people at average risk of developing colorectal cancer. To support primary care providers, Cancer Care Ontario has updated existing ColonCancerCheck resources and developed new resources outlining changes to the program. Learn more here.

    Inaugural Primary Care Virtual Community meeting, Apr. 25, 2019
    With special guest, Dr. Robert Varnam, GP and Head of General Practice Development at NHS England. Join us as he shares learning from the journey that the UK underwent in health system transformation where primary care was at the centre of reforms, and how we might use that learning in Ontario. Join the first virtual conversation

    Transitions in Care: A Quality Standards Webinar, May 8, 2019
    Learn about a draft quality standard for quality care for patients transitioning from hospital to home. Find out more here.

    Project ECHO Liver: Liver Disease in Primary Care: Approach to Hepatitis B, May 16, 2019
    Join this webinar held by ECHO Ontario for their Liver series, which will cover approaches to different liver diseases in a primary care setting.  Learn more here.

    Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, June 5, 2019
    Submit your abstracts by May 1 if you would like to present your research. You can also register now. Learn more here.