The call for Ontario Health Teams has gone out, signaling another phase in a major change to Ontario’s healthcare system. Within a very short span of time the landscape will look very different, so we need to make sure primary health care teams are as prepared as they can be.
Colleagues from other health care sectors, non-profits, and the academic community will be at the conference, all eager to hear about your programs and patient care in our 6 core themes.
April 24, 2019 Deadline to submit concurrent session and poster abstract
June 2019 Conference registration opens
Sep 19 & 20, 2019 AFHTO 2019 Conference
If you have any questions about the submission process or want to know if your work is a good fit, email info@afhto.ca or call 647-234-8605x 200. We’d be happy to help.
We really want you to submit your AFHTO 2019 Conference abstract. Deadline Apr. 24
Member news -the case for a single EMR in each OHT
Prenatal Screening Ontario – new program for primary health care
Chronic Kidney Disease Medication Safety List now available online
Brain health and wellness project
Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, June 5, 2019
Upcoming events regarding financial statements and more
Ontario Health Team webinar today
The Ministry has just announced its second webinar on the Ontario Health Teams with a focus on Readiness assessment supports and process scheduled for today at noon. If you have not yet done so, please click here to register.
AFHTO has started a series of Executive Director Forums (North, South, East and GTA) for EDs to come together from the province to discuss how OHT development is happening in their community. Invitations have already gone out and we’ll be collecting questions from each of the Forums which we’ll send to the Ministry for response. If you haven’t received your invitation to attend the Forum please contact Beth MacKinnon at beth.mackinnon@afhto.ca.
Ongoing information about the development about the OHTs are available on our website so please make sure you check there periodically.
We really want you to submit your AFHTO 2019 Conference abstract. Deadline Apr. 24
Are you:
A small, rural or Northern team?
Helping your patients live healthier lives?
Improving your community through effective partnerships and programs?
Providing truly integrated care and embodying the patient medical home?
Then your experience is invaluable! Your peers across the province want to hear from you. Deadline to submit Apr. 24.
Member news -the case for a single EMR in each OHT
Prenatal Screening Ontario – new program for primary health care
Looking for resources for your prenatal practice? Prenatal Screening Ontario (PSO) is a provincial resource supporting providers and patients by providing up-to-date information, current requisitions, and practice guidelines for prenatal screening in Ontario. Find new resources, including point-of-care tools, and screening timelines and pathways on their site.
Do you have questions about prenatal screening? Would you like PSO to present an update to your group? Call their prenatal screening info line (833)351-6490.
Brain health and wellness project
Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) is seeking interested clinicians to participate in a project that has recently received funding through the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI).
The project involves clinicians promoting mental wellness by supporting their patients in setting a SMART goal during routine care in an area of brain health and resilience and then checking in with the patient 4 weeks later to gauge their success.
Piloted in Nova Scotia with great success, this concept is now being attempted nationally. Introductory webinars are being held on April 25 and 26. Find out more here.
Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, June 5, 2019
Learn about ongoing primary health care research through presentations and posters and participate in skill-building workshops. Participants will be exposed to the latest in peer-reviewed primary health care research.
*Includes the Distinguished Lecture by Dr. Rick Glazier
Understanding Financial Statements, Apr. 17, 2019
The first in our financial webinar series, presented by Grant Thornton LLP. Board members are also encouraged to attend this webinar as they have been charged with fiduciary and duty of care responsibilities. Register and find more information here.
A Successful Nurse-Led Program in Primary Care for Patients with Chronic Pain, Apr. 18, 2019
Learn about the feasible, evidence-based and cost-effective program based on self-management support for chronic non-cancer pain. Find out more here.
Microcytic Anemia in Primary Care, Apr. 23, 2019
Presented by Marg Alfieri, RD and AFHTO board member. Register here.
CMHA and Mental Health Works workplace conference, May 13-14, 2019
Held in Toronto, it will bring together leaders, managers, employees, researchers and experts in the field to discuss emerging best-practices and practical, on-the-ground skills that will develop resiliency in the workplace. Find out about Roadmaps to Resiliency: Investing in Mental Wellness for Ontario’s Workplaces.
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.
FHT Mental Health Networking and Education Event, May 30-31, 2019
Held in Chatham-Kent. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email Marijke Jurriaans at Marijke.jurriaans@hamiltonfht.ca or call (905) 667-4848 extension 160. Learn more here.
We received word late Friday afternoon that the FY 2019-20 recruitment and retention letters will be rolling out in the next month or so. Annual Operating Plans (AOPs) will be released shortly as well. As we learn more information, we will share with you, but we are pleased to see that the R&R investment made in the 2018 Ontario Budget is still committed.
Today the PC government released their first Ontario Budget entitled “Protecting What Matters Most”. In this budget, the government spoke about a foundation of four clear priorities:
First – Restoring accountability and trust by introducing a credible, sustainable and fully costed plan that will return the province to fiscal balance in five years.
Second – Protecting what matters most by adopting bold new ways to deliver services in areas of health care and education, while supporting our front-line workers.
Third – Putting people first by making life more affordable and convenient with a new Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses (CARE) tax credit, a plan to make auto insurance more accessible and affordable, an expanded rapid transit system, and a reduced Estate Administration Tax.
Fourth – Making Ontario Open for Business and Open for Jobs by lowering business costs, and making it easier for employers to hire workers and for workers to find a job.
The focus on health included mainly investments in hospitals, long-term care, home and community care and mental health and addictions. There was also a focus on reducing inefficiencies by streamlining back-office functions and the mention of the implementation of a digital first strategy which will increase the use of virtual care in the province.
There was no mention of any further investments in primary care nor was there any mention of the already committed recruitment and retention funding made in last year’s budget so we will work with our Ministry colleagues to get further information on that.
Introducing the Quality Improvement in Primary Care (QI in PC) Council and the IHP Advisory Council, and their vision for improvement
AFHTO 2019 Conference call for abstracts
Refreshed eBulletin
The D2D eBulletin will be undergoing changes and refocusing to highlight efforts of teams in the field. As quality continues to remain a priority in AFHTO’s mandate, the eBulletin will act as a resource to share and spread innovations, tools and stories from primary care teams across the province. Each eBulletin will focus on a specific topic and help guide your team on how to improve in these areas of quality in concrete ways.
If you would like to share a tool, resource or highlight a successful program or service in your team, we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at improve@afhto.ca.
Moving Forward with AFHTO’s Quality Agenda
Although we’re looking to sunset the work of D2D given the current environment and uncertainty around funding, AFHTO will continue its efforts to support teams in the field of quality and demonstrate the value of team-based primary care. AFHTO’s priorities have shifted from measurement to driving improvement across the sector. AFHTO’s Quality Steering Committee (QSC) will work closely with the QI in PC Council, the IHP Advisory Council, AFHTO members, and partners to set priorities for improvement in areas of transitions, access, integration, mental health and addictions, and patient engagement.
Quality Improvement in Primary Care Council
In January of 2019, the Quality Improvement in Primary Care (QI in PC) Council was formed. The QI in PC council consists of 5 appointed QIDSS and QIDSS-like individuals with the goal to support the QIDSS Community of Practice (CoP) and strengthen collective QI capacity across the sector. The QI in PC Council surveyed members of the QIDSS CoP to determine where to focus their efforts and supports for teams in the field. The priority areas are listed below.
Priority tasks:
Provide a voice in Ontario’s primary care data collection and QI priorities
Strengthen existing communication formats in the QIDSS CoP
Make it easy to share EMR queries
Share HQO’s QIP to members and develop a collective QI project
The Interprofessional Health Care Providers (IHP) Advisory Council fosters leadership across the IHP community within FHTs and NPLCs; provides input on FHT and NPLC matters related to IHP issues; and gives advice and input to the AFHTO board, staff, and other leadership councils.
The council provides a mechanism to advance best-practice knowledge transfer and exchange, to enhance collaboration, and to give IHPs the opportunity to communicate operational, governance, and other FHT- or NPLC-related items. The council’s vision includes acting as a resource to teams, providing advocacy on behalf of IHPs, and demonstrating the value of interprofessional primary care teams. Click here to view details of the IHP Advisory Council’s vision.
For more information about the IHP Advisory Council including the terms of reference and contact list, click here.
AFHTO 2019 Conference Call for Abstracts
Share your team’s ideas by submitting an abstract to present a concurrent session or poster at the AFHTO 2019 Conference on September 19 & 20, 2019. Find out more here. Deadline is April 24, 2019.
Improving your community through effective partnerships and programs?
Providing truly integrated care and embodying the patient medical home?
Then your peers across the province want to hear from you! Don’t wait to impart your tips and lessons learned to colleagues from all across the province under 6 core themes. Your experience is invaluable.
Now more than ever we want to ensure our sessions reflect the ever-changing health care environment and are relevant to primary health care today. This means we want to hear what’s worked for you. The deadline to submit abstracts for concurrent sessions and posters is April 24, 2019 at 5:00 PM (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.
Not sure if your work is a good fit? Feel free to ask us! Email info@afhto.ca or call 647-234-8605x 200. We’d be happy to help.
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:
April 24, 2019 Deadline to submit concurrent session and poster abstract
AFHTO submission on Bill 74: The People’s Health Care Act
Financial webinar series starting Apr. 17
Primary Care Virtual Community meeting Apr 25
OHIP+ update
Hospice Palliative Care Ontario seeking regional champions
Going beyond imitation: how do your benefit programs & compensation compare?
Upcoming events regarding chronic pain and more
Call for Ontario Health Teams
The government sent out the guidance document and additional materials for Ontario Health Teams on April 3.
While it’s not mandatory that FHTs or NPLCs be part of OHTs, we encourage teams be working with local providers and, most importantly, with one another to discuss collaboration. The long-term goal is for all Ontarians to receive their care through an OHT.
The deadline for the first readiness assessment is May 15, but the Ministry will continue to accept, assess and evaluate groups interested in becoming an Ontario Health Team on an ongoing basis. Read more on our site.
AFHTO submission on Bill 74: The People’s Health Care Act
AFHTO’s President and Chair Beth Cowper-Fung, Treasurer Dr. Allan Grill and CEO Kavita Mehta had the opportunity to present our submission on The People’s Health Care Act to the Standing Committee on Social Policy at the Ontario Legislature on April 2, which was well received. Read the highlights and full submission here.
Financial webinar series starting Apr. 17
<em>Lindsay Royston, CPA, CA, Manager, Grant Thornton LLP</em>
AFHTO is pleased to be presenting a financial webinar series for health care non-profits, members and non-members alike. We’ll be tackling topics from fraud to cyber-security. Register for 1 session or all 6!
Board members are also encouraged to attend this webinar as they have been charged with fiduciary and duty of care responsibilities.
Mark your calendars for the inaugural primary care virtual community meeting on April 25th.
The virtual community will bring together those in primary care that are interested in leading in their context and supporting meaningful system change within the Ontario healthcare system. With the changes coming through the development of Ontario Health Teams, positioning supporting primary care clinicians to lead in their settings will be important in order to truly integrate patient-centred care to improve the patient experience and outcomes, and to improve the experience of those delivering care too.
Join the first virtual conversation with special guest, Dr. Robert Varnam, GP and Head of General Practice Development at NHS England, 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. AFHTO is pleased to be supporting this primary care virtual network with our OCFP and Change Foundation partners.
OHIP+ update
The Ministry is hosting weekly webinars to provide an overview of the redesigned OHIP+ and to answer questions regarding changes to Ontario Drug Benefit program coverage for children and youth aged 24 years and under. The next webinar is on Wed. Apr. 10, 2019 from 12:15-1:00 pm.
Hospice Palliative Care Ontario seeking regional champions
Hospice Palliative Care Ontario is currently seeking additional Regional Champions to fill vacancies in the Health Care Consent Advance Care Planning Community of Practice across multiple LHIN regions. Details available here.Deadline May 6, 4:00 p.m.
Going beyond imitation: how do your benefit programs & compensation compare?
As the landscape surrounding employee engagement, retention and attraction evolves, it’s important to know where your employee’s total rewards programs stack up.
CHOGIP is pleased to offer AFHTO members complimentary access to Gallagher’s 2019 National Benefits Strategy Benchmark and Compensation Survey. To participate, register through the link for your personalized login details. Deadline Friday April 19, 2019.
For those who participated in 2018, you can request your data be prepopulated in the 2019 survey to reduce your work-load!
If you have any questions, contact Susan Healey, Senior Consultant, Gallagher, at susan_healey@ajg.com or (519) 340-1121.
Big White Wall and BounceBack: Free Psychotherapy Services for Adults And Youth With Mild To Moderate Depression And Anxiety, Apr. 4 & 11, 2019
Attend this accredited webinar to learn more about these free mental health services. Register here.
A Successful Nurse-Led Program in Primary Care for Patients with Chronic Pain, Apr. 18, 2019
Learn about the feasible, evidence-based and cost-effective program based on self-management support for chronic non-cancer pain. Find out more here.
CommunityConnect 2019 conference, Oct. 23-24, 2019
Hosted by the Ontario Community Support Association, the call for abstracts is open until April 18, 2019. Learn more here.
LeaderShift Conference, July 11, 2019
Join other leaders in the community and primary care for this leadership conference delivered by LEADS Canada. Registration and call for projects are now open. Find out more here.
This document is detailed guidance on the process involved in becoming an Ontario Health Team. There will be a continuous readiness assessment process that will begin with providers’ self-assessment, followed by an application and an in-person visit.
More information and resources are here, including rough timelines on the assessment process and details on a webinar for this Friday, April 5, at 2 PM.
There is also a tele-town hall with Minister Elliott at 4 PM today, which we encourage you call in to, if possible on such short notice:
1. That Bill 74 require primary care to be part of an Ontario Health Team (OHT). It is also recommended that primary care teams be the lead of an OHT in areas with highly functioning teams who can continue to be leaders in delivering truly integrated care. Primary care is the entry point to the health care system. These are the health care providers who know the patients and their families the best.
2. That Bill 74 (Part IV – Definitions) be strengthened by including the vision of the Patient’s Medical Home when speaking about the Integrated Care Delivery Systems, with specific notation made to the Minister’s Patient and Family Advisory Council Patient Declaration of Values. While there is notation in the preamble about the importance of the patient in the development of Bill 74, it is important that there also be a strong vision for this health system restructuring, especially with the creation of the local level Ontario Health Teams. The Patient Medical Home encompasses that vision – it puts the patient and the family in the center of care while also recognizing the importance of the Quadruple Aim through its pillars.
3. That there be an addition in Part IV of the Bill under Integrated Care Delivery Systems that specifically outlines governance of integration, including principles of collaborative governance and what the requirements will be of the Boards of the HSPs that are coming together to change the way care is being delivered in their community. For integrated health care systems, it is truly placing the patient at the center of care – not the organization where the care is being delivered. And that, for many, will require a tremendous amount of change management support. Health care organizations have been funded in siloes for decades with targets and indicators that are very specific to their funding. A move towards a shared budget will require a shift in thinking, new partnership building and, fundamentally, trust.
4. a) As Ontario Health starts becoming operational, we recommend it stay true to Part II (The Agency) Objects and General Powers and support the health service providers in the sector as outlined in the Bill and NOT be involved in direct service delivery, including in the area of home and community care.
b) We ask that the relationship between primary care and home and community care be strengthened by transitioning the function and associated resources of care coordination to primary care.
c) It should also be noted that in any application for an OHT, there should be concerted effort made to ensure that primary care and mental health and addictions supports are integrated and it is our recommendation that this is a priority for each integrated care delivery system in the province.
AFHTO is pleased to see the government’s commitment towards truly integrated patient-centred care. Health care providers in interprofessional team-based primary care have been working in integrated systems of care for years but have felt that there is still fragmentation in the care they are able to provide, mainly because of the disconnect between the siloes of care, from acute to home care, from mental health and addictions to long-term care. Primary care is the entry point to the health system and for many patients in the province, the relationship they have with their family physician or nurse practitioner is everlasting and built on trust. A truly effective, high quality health care system needs to be coordinated, integrated and foundationally built in primary care, which will ensure we are delivering a sustainable health system for the future.
Team-based primary care is popular with its 3.5 million patients because it provides a better patient experience, helping people avoid long and confusing waits for referrals and getting lost navigating our complex system. We need to expand this experience so that every Ontarian can get access to the care they need when they need it. We look forward to working with the government as it starts the journey on implementing this very important health restructuring plan and creating a new integrated system of care that is focused around the patient.
The Guelph Community Health Centre (CHC) has been given the green light to continue to operate its supervised consumption site.
The provincial government announced on Friday 15 sites were approved across Ontario “in areas with the greatest need.”
Guelph CHC first opened its site in May 2018, in partnership with the Guelph Family Health Team and HIV/AIDS Resources and Community Health (ARCH).
The service was established under the previous Liberal government’s overdose prevention site model.
In October 2018, the current Progressive Conservative government announced that model would be replaced by the new Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) program, which would cap the number of sites at 21.
Existing sites had to reapply under the new program if they wished to stay open. Guelph CHC submitted its application in December after public consultations and approval from city council.
Executive director Raechelle Devereaux said it was a relief to finally hear back from the province and learn that they would be able to continue to offer “life-saving services” to the community.
“We had been through three health alerts, with spikes in fentanyl in our community since we applied,” she said. “Certainly we are seeing rising numbers of clients coming to our site.”
Devereaux said the funding from the CTS program will also allow Guelph CHC to hire more staff, including a social worker and a registered practical nurse, to help connect people with wraparound services in the community.
Currently the staff includes a registered nurse, who works in the consumption room, and an individual with lived experience of mental health and addiction, who helps with ongoing monitoring in the post-use room.
While Guelph CHC’s application was approved, one site in Ottawa learned its application was turned down.
Three sites in Toronto were also not approved, however two were given last-minute exemptions to continue operating under the federal government’s supervised consumption site program.
Friday’s announcement did not include the Region of Waterloo, which has also applied to open one or more sites under the provincial program.
In an email to CBC Kitchener-Waterloo, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care said the province will continue to accept applications from interested organizations, but did not indicate a timeline for responding to the region’s request.
