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  • Bits & Pieces: revamped website, our 2019 conference, March deadlines & more

    Bits & Pieces: revamped website, our 2019 conference, March deadlines & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:
    • Introducing our revamped website
    • AFHTO 2019 Conference call for working groups
    • Leadershift 2019 spring cohort deadline
    • Reminder- transforming primary care for older Canadians living with frailty
    • Harvard ManageMentor video available-deadline Mar. 25
    • Health Quality Ontario draft quality standards
    • Advance Care Planning Day 2019  
    • Save the date: LeaderShift Conference, July 11, 2019
    • Ontario Works Handbook
    • Upcoming events on risk management and more

     

    Introducing our revamped website

    McMaster FHT Bright Lights photo

     

    We’re pleased to introduce our new website, updated with a new look and layout. Now updated to become an even better resource to the public and members alike. Changes include:

    • Individual login for members
    • Improved search experience
    • Making it easier for people to find teams

    To learn more, please see our Frequently Asked Questions. Adjustments to all the content we’ve brought over are ongoing, but if you spot a glitch, please feel free to contact us.

    Beautiful green tree with many-branching roots

    AFHTO 2019 Conference call for working groups

    We have officially launched our 2019 conference, Health System Integration Built on the Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care.

     

    Play a vital role in shaping the conference by joining a working group today. Come behind the scenes and be the first to learn about new developments in the field, influence conference programming and discover the latest innovators in your areas of interest. Working group members also receive a $50 discount off their registration fee. Deadline Mar. 26, 2019.

     

     

     

     

    Leadershift Spring 2019 cohort infographic

    Leadershift 2019 spring cohort deadline

    As the LeaderShift Project enters its final year, we’d like to strongly encourage you to apply for a spot in an upcoming LEADS Learning Series cohort.  

    The upcoming cohorts are in Oshawa, Hamilton and Toronto in May/June 2019. There are zero registration fees for members and travel subsidies are available. No formal educational prerequisite is required.

    For more information on HOW TO APPLY TODAY click here. Deadline Mar. 18, 2019.

     

     

    Reminder- transforming primary care for older Canadians living with frailty

    Remember to register for the upcoming webinar, Transforming Primary Care for Older Canadians Living with Frailty scheduled for Thurs., Mar. 21 from 12-1pm. This webinar is for all members of the team. For more information, click here.

    Harvard ManageMentor video available-deadline Mar. 25
    Last Tuesday we had a lunch and learn session hosted in partnership with Harvard ManageMentor. The video is now on our members only site.

    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 by March 25.

    Health Quality Ontario draft quality standards

    Send feedback on the following draft quality standards by Mar. 18:

    Advance Care Planning Day 2019  
    Advanced Care Planning Day 2019 is on Tues., April 16. Hospice Palliative Care Ontario invites you to consider planning an educational or promotional event within your organization or community.

    The National ACP Day Campaign Toolkit developed by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) and the National Speak Up Campaign has resources that can help. Find out more here.

    Save the date: LeaderShift Conference, July 11, 2019
    Mark your calendars! LeaderShift will be hosting a one-day leadership conference on July 11, 2019, at the BMO Institute for Learning in Toronto. You won’t want to miss out on this exciting, ground breaking leadership development conference for leaders in community and primary health care. This event could not be timelier, so stay tuned for more detail and check out www.leadershiftproject.ca, which will be updated regularly.

    Ontario Works Handbook
    OpenLab has created An Insider’s Guide to Ontario Works handbook that was co-designed by people with lived experience with being on Ontario Works.   

    Done in partnership with City of Toronto Employment & Social Services, Working for Change, this City of Toronto-specific handbook is packed with practical tips, tools and strategies that will help someone navigate the Ontario Works system.  

    You can access the guide here or if you wanted printed copies, you can email openlab@uhn.ca. Any questions can be directed to Tai Huynh, Creative Director, at tai.m.huynh@gmail.com.

    Governance Webcast Series: Risk Management, Mar. 27, 2019
    Join us to discuss risk management and the board’s role and leading practices in this. Register here.

    Transforming Primary Care for Older Adults Living with Frailty, Mar 21, 2019
    Learn how to better care for older patients in this interactive webinar supported by the Canadian Frailty Network & AFHTO. Suitable for all team members. Register here.

    Leadership in Primary Care Collaborative Mentoring Network Conference, Mar. 25, 2019
    OCFP’s inaugural conference for the Leadership in Primary Care Collaborative Mentoring Network, ‘Connected Leadership for Greater Competence, Confidence and Capacity‘. Register here.

    Charting the Future of Primary Care: Leadership, Teams, and Culture, Apr. 11-12, 2019
    The Ivey Academy’s new executive education program for physicians, delivered in partnership with Harvard Medical School. Find out more here.

  • AFHTO 2019 Conference: create YOUR conference program. Sign up by Mar 26

    AFHTO 2019 Conference: create YOUR conference program. Sign up by Mar 26

    AFHTO 2019 Conference
    Health System Integration Built on the Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care

     

    Tree with many roots

     

    Join a working group

    Play a vital role in shaping the conference by joining a working group today. Come behind the scenes and be the first to learn about new developments in the field, influence conference programming and discover the latest innovators in your areas of interest. Working group members also receive a $50 discount off their registration fee.  

    Please extend this invitation along to your patients, colleagues and staff. Having diverse voices, especially patients, in the working groups helps us build a varied and relevant program.

     

     

     

     

    Conference Themes

    We’re setting up working groups for each of the six concurrent streams and for the Bright Lights Awards program. The six concurrent streams will focus on:

    1. Access to care: improving access to team-based care
    2. Continuous care: ensuring seamless transitions for patients across the continuum of care
    3. Comprehensive team-based care
    4. Patient and family-centred care    
    5. Community and social accountability
    6. Enabling high -performing primary health care

    (Full descriptions here)

    Working Group Details

    Concurrent program working group members:
    The task requires a total of 4-10 hours of effort between April and May, specifically:

    • March 27 to April 24: AFHTO staff will manage the call for proposals process.
    • Week of April 8: working groups will have an initial teleconference to brainstorm ideas on specific topics and speakers to contact/encourage to submit a presentation abstract.  
    • April 26 to May 10: each working group member individually reviews and scores presentation abstracts for their program.
    • May 13 to 17: working groups will teleconference to review scores and determine the program for this theme.

    Sign up by March 26, 2019 to confirm your participation and select your conference theme.

    Bright Lights 2018 winners
    <em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; AFHTO 2018 Bright Lights winners</em>

    “Bright Light” Awards Review Committee:
    The task requires a total of 6-12 hours in July, specifically to individually review and score nominations followed by a group teleconference to determine the award winners. Sign up by March 26, 2019.

    We will also need volunteers at the conference itself (e.g. at the registration desk). There may be other duties as we update our conference program but like other volunteers described above, onsite volunteers will receive discounted conference registration. Sign up today.

    Registration Fees for Conference Working Groups:

    • Conference working group members and presenters receive a $50 discount off their registration fee.
    • We understand patients face additional financial and time pressures and do not want the registration fee to limit participation in a working group. Patients participating in full in a conference working group will be eligible for complimentary registration (to be determined once the working group task is complete).  

    AFHTO members still receive a 50% discount on conference registration fees.

    Conference key dates:

    • March 27, 2019: Applications for concurrent session and poster abstracts open
    • April 24, 2019: Deadline to submit concurrent session and poster abstracts
    •  June 2019: Conference registration opens
    • September 19 & 20, 2019: AFHTO 2019 Conference

    For more information, you can contact us by phone (647-234-8605) or e-mail (info@afhto.ca).

  • Introducing our revamped website

    Introducing our revamped website

    Doctor examining young boy on table

     

    We’re pleased to introduce our new website, updated with a new look and layout. Now updated to become an even better resource to the public and members alike. Changes include:

    Member login buttonIndividual login for members– now members can register for their own login by clicking on this button at the top of our home page. No more need to email us if you’ve forgotten your password- you can reset it yourself.

     

    search buttonImproved search experience – not only is our search tool more sensitive, bringing you even more appropriate results, you can filter by topics and tags.

     

    team map

    Making it easier for people to find teams – not just using Google Maps and a table. Teams can be sorted alphabetically and by region. Multiple sites can be added as well.

     

     

    Other changes to improve your experience:

    • Better use of roles and permission levels – members-only items are only visible once you log in, and sensitive items specific to the leadership triad are only visible to qualifying members.
    • Simplified structure– we had quite a few categories and subcategories on our old site and these determined whether a specific post was public or members-only. Now we have just 9 topics, and ‘public vs. members-only’ is picked according to content instead. This makes it easier to share resources with partners as needed.
    • Online job posting – now open to qualifying organizations for a moderate fee, AFHTO members can still post for free here once logged in, instead of sending an email.
    • Fresh pics – we’ll be changing our home page photo throughout the year, all the better to reflect the interprofessional comprehensive care AFHTO members provide. These gear towards member photos, including those from past Bright Lights nominations, like our current picture, from McMaster FHT.
    • And more!

    If you have any questions, please see our Frequently Asked Questions below. Adjustments to all the content we’ve brought over are ongoing, but if you spot a glitch, please feel free to contact us. We may experience some glitches during launch, so please bear with us as we work to update your website experience.

    We hope you enjoy the new site. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please e-mail info@afhto.ca.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    1. Why have you changed the site?

    The changes to the AFHTO website are part of an overall strategy to provide a more streamlined user-friendly experience for our members and partners, tailored for each. In our old website, members were finding it increasingly difficult to find the information they needed. We’ve taken this opportunity to re-organize the content, refine the search experience, and provide direct access to the newest and most relevant information.

    2. Ok, but why are you doing it now?

    We actually started this process last spring, as reported to members during our 2018-19 renewal season. It’s simply taken until now because it’s a fairly involved project and we wanted to make sure we got it right.

    3. I don’t see members only news on the home page any more. Where is it?

    Before, everyone visiting the AFHTO website could see the titles of webpages in Members Only News and under AFHTO Programs. Now you must log in as a member to see any members only items.

    4. What is my log-in for the Members Only section?

    We now have individual instead of team login. Click on Member Login to start setting up your individual login. All individuals will be verified by AFHTO staff before permission is granted, so to facilitate the process, please use your team’s email address if you have one. If you experience any difficulties, please e-mail info@afhto.ca.

    5. Can I share my Members Only log-in with my colleagues?

    We no longer have team log-in to the AFHTO website. Please encourage your colleagues, affiliated physicians and board members to create their own and do not share your login with anyone else.

    6. I can’t find what I’m looking for. Where can I get help?

    With the reorganization of the site, some content may be in new sections. While we hope this has made things easier to find, we understand there may be a period of adjustment. A few tips for searching content:

    • Keyword Search– Click on the search icon at the top right of your screen and input key words. The search results will pull all public and members only content on the website based on the key word search and your login status. You can further filter by topic and sort by relevance or date.
    • Explore – you can click on ‘Explore’ at the top of the screen or explore topics in the middle of the home page to see posts in any of 9 topics. You can also click on the tags, if any, on these posts.

    And if you’re still not able to find what you’re looking for, please email us at info@afhto.ca or call 647-234-8605 x200.

    7. I’ve found something out of date or incorrect on the website. How can I get this changed?
    Please send an e-mail to info@afhto.ca with the URL and section of the page that needs updating. We will make necessary corrections as needed.

    8. How can I add an event, careers posting, member story, etc.?

    For career postings: AFHTO members are welcome to post job openings on this site, free of charge, while qualified non-member organizations can now do so for a moderate fee. Both can do this online through our Careers page. Members need to be logged in to post for free.

    For other content, please send an email to info@afhto.ca with your request to post content on the AFHTO website. As a rule, we accept requests as follows:

    • Events: We will post conferences, webinars, education opportunities and other events that are relevant to AFHTO members and organized by AFHTO partners, non-profit organizations and/or government agencies.
    • Members’ stories: both success stories and ‘members in the media’ posts are curated from Canadian news sites. We invite all AFHTO members to share their accomplishments and updates to be posted.
    • Member resources and shared templates: The Members Only website holds a repository of templates and resources developed by other teams. All members are welcome to share content.
    • Other resources: We will post free resources for AFHTO members on our Members Only website. Please contact us to see what information may be relevant.

    Need further help? Contact us at info@afhto.ca or call 647-234-8605 ext. 200.

  • An Update on The People’s Health Care Act, 2019

    An Update on The People’s Health Care Act, 2019

    On February 26th, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Christine Elliott, announced the government’s plans for health system transformation by tabling the proposed legislation, Bill 74, The People’s Health Care Act, 2019. While some matters are still unknown with regards to the implementation of the legislation, there are two parts of the Act that may have impact for our members and are being highlighted.

    Ontario Health (previously known as the ‘Super Agency’)

    This new agency would deliver health care province-wide through the consolidation of 20 current Crown organizations including:

    • Cancer Care Ontario
    • Health Quality Ontario
    • eHealth Ontario
    • Trillium Gift of Life Network
    • Health Shared Services Ontario
    • HealthForce Ontario Marketing and Recruitment Agency
    • 14 Local Health Integration Networks

    Ontario Health would be an agency under the Broader Public Service Accountability Act and would be governed by a 15-person Board of Directors that will be appointed by Cabinet.  A CEO search is underway, with a focus on people with a business background.

    Ontario Health Teams (previously known as ‘MyCare Groups’)

    Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) will be responsible for delivery of patient care in a defined geography with the intent to deliver, in an integrated and coordinated manner, at least three types of health services including:

    • Hospital care
    • Primary care
    • Mental health and addictions care
    • Long-term care
    • Home and community care
    • Palliative care

    Although there appears to be 30 unsolicited proposals already submitted to the Ministry, all proposals will need to undergo a formal Expression of Interest (EOI) and a readiness assessment, which will also include a site visit that would include speaking to all partners identified in the proposal. At full maturation, it’s anticipated there will be 30 to 50 OHTs across the province, each serving between 50,000 to 500,000 people with an average of around 300,000.

    How does this all impact team-based primary care?

    *NOTE: this is speculative and would need to be verified once more information is known on the roll out of the new agency

    Ontario Health:

    • The legislation defines that FHTs and NPLCs will now be defined as ‘health service providers’ which means at some point, all contracts will move over to the agency BUT at the moment things will be status quo until they sort out contract management – it appears that current FHT contracts will probably stay in effect for some time and the NPLC contract will need to be opened up to allow for an assignment clause to Ontario Health. This could all take some time.
    • The LHINs may be in existence for a while with the function of managing home and community care until they are transferred, possibly to the OHTs (ensuring continuity of patient care).
    • Five regional entities will be established under the agency to provide more oversight of health service delivery.
    • It’s not well understood if family physicians can be defined as an HSP but the legislation allows ‘any other person or entity or class of persons or entities that is prescribed’.

    Ontario Health Teams:

    • Primary care can apply to lead the development of an OHT in their community, especially if the size of the population that they serve are over 50,000.
    • Governance structures will remain but there would be one budget that the lead would be accountable for – the focus right now is on collaborative governance, with a focus on seamless transitions of care for patients.
    • There will be a readiness assessment with the early adopters and site visits – if a proposal indicates that partners are going to participate, they’ll visit and see what that means if there was true collaboration in developing the proposal.
    • OHTs will have supports from the government and will also be a conduit to identify legislative and regulatory barriers to success, barriers to integration, sharing or best practices, tools for digital health and communications and change management assistance.

    Overall – there aren’t many answers yet and more information will follow as the Ministry starts working on its implementation plan. AFHTO looks forward to working with stakeholders including OCFP, Section on General and Family Practice, NPAO, and others to ensure that primary care’s foundational role in health system transformation is recognized.

    Next Steps:

    • AFHTO will be setting up a webinar with H&K to walk through the Act and to explain the EOIs when they come out – anticipated date for roll out is mid to late March so stay tuned for more details.
    • Sign up for the Ministry e-newsletter which will send you updates as they become available: https://mailchi.mp/ontario/connectedcareupdates
    • As this rolls out there will be a lot of questions so please let us know at info@afhto.ca – we will be having ongoing conversations with the Ministry during the implementation of the Act and would like to let them know about concerns/questions from the field.
    • If you or your team is interested in leading and/or participating in the EOI when they become available, please let us know at info@afhto.ca so that we can ensure the decision makers in the Ministry are also aware.

    Reference Documents:

  • Governance Webcast Series: Strategic Planning

    Strategic planning is key to an organization’s growth and success. How to develop a strategic plan, why this is important, and the board’s role in implementation were reviewed on a webcast on February 20.

    A Strategic Planning Toolkit has been designed for teams as a guide for developing a strategic planning process and a strategic plan:

    This toolkit was reviewed on the same webcast as the public complaints toolkit. The recording of the webcast is below. Strategic planning is the first half:

    Presenter: Catherine Anastakis, Collaborative Solutions

    Below are some resources provided by members to use as templates, if needed:

    This is part of the “Raising the Bar on Governance – Webcast Series,” which has been developed in response to new governance requirements, ongoing member feedback and advice from our Board Chair Leadership Council.

  • Considerations for Implementing the Nurse Practitioner Role Within Your Team

    Beth Cowper-Fung (NP-PHC, MN, Clinic Director of Georgina NPLC, and AFHTO President) and Claudia Mariano (MSc, NP-PHC, and Manager of Practice and Policy, NPAO) presented on considerations for implementing the nurse practitioner role within a team.

    The following was reviewed and discussed:

    • The scope of practice of an NP
    • Examples of NP integration
    • How the NP role contributes to patient care and team functioning
    • Characteristics of high-functioning teams

    The presentation can be seen here.

    Below is the recording of the webinar:

     

  • The People’s Health Care Act and Government Transformation of the Health Care System

    On February 26, the government announced a major overhaul to the health care system through Bill 74, The People’s Health Care Act, 2019. This legislation will, if passed, create an agency called Ontario Health that would have oversight of five sub-regions. Across these regions, there would be a total, province wide, of 30-50 Ontario Health Teams (OHT), serving up to 300,000 patients each. These teams will connect health care providers and services around patients and families.

    The intent of the proposed changes is to create a more coordinated and seamless patient experience, and to improve access to services, supported by digital tools.

    The Minister’s announcement can be heard here. 

    Background information:

    Please click here for resources and information on Ontario Health Teams.

    Please click here for an overview of the 2019 Budget.

     

  • Bits & Pieces: major overhaul to ON healthcare announced & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:
    • Major overhaul to ON healthcare  
    • MPP Advocacy: Primary care takes a team
    • Reminder- Harvard ManageMentor Mar. 5
    • New toolkits from Choosing Wisely Ontario
    • Addressing gaps experienced by adults with developmental disabilities
    • Overview of the Redesigned OHIP+
    • Seeking input on TELUS Health’s Babylon mobile app
    • Updating the Guideline for Diagnosing and Managing Pediatric Concussion
    • Upcoming events on team-based approaches to chronic pain management and more

    Major overhaul to ON healthcare

    This morning, the government announced a major overhaul to the health care system through legislation that will, if passed, create Ontario Health. This agency will have oversight of 30-50 Ontario Health Teams – teams that will connect local health care providers and services around patients and families. The Minister’s announcement can be heard here, and the legislation will be introduced this afternoon. More information is here, and it will be regularly updated.

    MPP Advocacy: Primary care takes a team

    The legislature has resumed, and the legislation for significant changes to the health care system was announced today. All MPPs will be there as this legislation is debated, so keep up the great work with local meetings. MPPs can work to see team-based primary care be a key part of this reform if they know its value. Tools and resources are online, including key messages we encourage you communicate. We have also posted a new literature piece for your use. You’ll receive a few hard copies in the mail in the next 2-3 weeks!

    Reminder- Harvard ManageMentor Mar. 5

    Join us next Tues. Mar. 5, 12:00-1:00 p.m. for a lunch and learn session hosted in partnership with Harvard ManageMentor.

    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.

    New toolkits from Choosing Wisely Ontario

    You can help reduce unnecessary testing and treatments, starting with these new toolkits from Choosing Wisely Ontario:

    • Benzodiazepine use
    • Imaging for low back pain

    Addressing gaps experienced by adults with developmental disabilities

    The Health Care Access Research and Developmental Disabilities (H-CARDD) Program has released its latest report, Addressing Gaps in the Health Care Services Used by Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Ontario.

    Results show that adults with developmental disabilities were disadvantaged for every outcome examined. This was true regardless of age, sex, the wealth or poverty of the neighbourhood where they lived, or the kind of developmental disability they had. Find out more about this and their recommendations here.

    Overview of the Redesigned OHIP+

    The Ministry will be 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. Webinars will be held each week on Wednesdays from 12:15-1:00 pm

    Click on this link to access the webinar on Wednesday February 27, 2019 from 12:15-1:00 pm.

    Teleconference information will be available at this link 10 minutes prior to the start of the webinar. Please mute your phone by pressing *6 once you have dialed in.

    If you do not have the latest version of Adobe installed on your device, please click on the link a few minutes early in the event you are prompted to update your software.

    Seeking input on TELUS Health’s Babylon mobile app

    A 2nd-year graduate student in the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program at the University of Toronto, Irene Duah-Kessie, is conducting a project on a new health care mobile app named Babylon by TELUS Health. The aim of the app is to make care more accessible for patients without a family doctor, who have after-hours non-emergent needs, and/or live in rural areas.

    She’s currently looking for family physicians across the GTA to participate in a confidential 30-minute interview to initiate a conversation on how the app will impact physicians and their patients. The results will be used to develop a strategic plan to guide the implementation of this app in Ontario. She will be in the field now until Friday, March 15th.

    If you are interested in participating in this work or have any further questions, please email irene.kessie@mail.utoronto.ca.

    Updating the Guideline for Diagnosing and Managing Pediatric Concussion

    The process to update the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation’s ‘Guideline for Diagnosing and Managing Pediatric Concussion’ published in June, 2014 to guide healthcare professionals in diagnosing and managing pediatric concussion is underway.

    Led by Drs. Roger Zemek (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario; University of Ottawa) and Nick Reed (Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital; University of Toronto), this process has involved clinicians and researchers from the disciplines involved in pediatric concussion. Learn more here.

    Team-Based Approaches to Chronic Pain Management: Opioid Stewardship, Feb. 28, 2019

    Nearly 20% of Canadian adults experience chronic pain. This webinar will provide insights to help your patients manage their pain safely and effectively, and introduce you to the Opioids Clinical Primer. Register today.

    7th Annual Addictions and Mental Health Conference, May 26-28, 2019

    Registration is now open for Where Change Happens. Find out about the program and register here.

    Governance Webcast Series: Risk Management, Mar. 27, 2019

    Join us to discuss risk management and the board’s role and leading practices in this. Register here.

    Health Care Consent & Advance Care Planning in Ontario, Feb. 27, 2019

    Hosted by Hospice Palliative Care Ontario. Find out more.

  • Winter 2019 Highlights: AFHTO Leadership Councils

    Below are the highlights from the winter 2019 leadership council meetings: Executive Director Advisory Council (EDAC), Physician Leadership Council (PLC), Board Chair Leadership Council (BCLC), NPLC Leadership Council (NPLC LC), and IHP Advisory Council.
     
     
    A New Government and Health System Reform
    • Much is up in the air as the government undertakes health care reform. While nothing is final, documents leaked to the press in late January and early February give a general idea of the direction the government will go.
    • The draft Health System Efficiency Act, 2019 can be seen online through several media sources. A summary of it and of the other internal documents that were leaked are on AFHTO’s website. We encourage you take a look and become better informed about the proposed changes.
    • A key piece is the formation of a “super agency” that would oversee local integrated care delivery systems (ICDS) – MyCare Groups – whose function remains unclear.
    • AFHTO will work with our GR firm, H&K Strategies, to arrange a webinar to review and discuss the legislation and transformation agenda, including possible implications for our members, once the expected legislation is tabled. Please stay tuned for more details.
    • The Premier’s Council on Improving Health Care and Ending Hallway Medicine released its first interim report in late January. Its priorities align well with AFHTO’s pre-budget submission that was submitted a few days prior.
    • The Arbitrator’s Award was issued to the Ministry and the OMA on February 19. The news release from the Ministry is here.
    • AFHTO will continue to work with the new government to show that an investment in a robust primary care system will deliver a high-performing health care system, which will lead to better outcomes and patient experience.
    Meetings with the Minister and the Ministry
    • AFHTO met with the Minister on January 21. Mental health and addictions are among her top priorities. The meeting went well although the direction of primary care remained unclear.
    • AFHTO continues to meet with officials to discuss the direction of primary care in the province.
    • AFHTO is working closely with the Primary Care branch on issues such as an integration of mental health and addictions support in primary care, care coordination, and ongoing support for team-based care for more Ontarians. In a recent meeting, we were also notified that AOPs will likely be delayed this fiscal year.  AFHTO will keep teams posted on timelines once we learn more.
    • For the 10 or so pilot ICDSs, the Expression of Interest is expected soon. We’ll let teams know once we have more information. If your team is interested in possibly taking leadership in this new initiative, please let us know. We can ‘plant some seeds’ with the policy makers at the Ministry.
    • AFHTO continues to emphasise the importance of primary care being part of integration efforts.
    Local Advocacy – Time to Connect with Your MPP
    • We continue to encourage teams to meet with their local MPP to demonstrate the value of team-based care for the MPP’s constituents.
    • Tools and resources are online.
    • The tools include key messages to explain the value of team-based care and how it aligns with the government’s priorities.
    • AFHTO encourages teams be consistent with the main points to ensure the government hears the same message from MPPs about why team-based care is important as they undertake restructuring of the health care system.
    • Let us know when you’re meeting with your local MPPs! Send us your pictures, stories and tag us on Twitter @afhto.
    Continuing to Support Great Governance and Leadership
    • As we have already let members know, the G&L program did not receive project funding for 2018/19, and project funding for 2019/20 is unknown.
    • AFHTO still aims to provide support tools. Governance webcasts continue to roll out, and we continue to support teams transitioning to a skills-based board.
    • Integration and collaborative governance are an expected focus of the new government. AFHTO will align training and supports under this new direction to ensure teams are adequately equipped with the tools and knowledge needed.
    • A strategic planning toolkit is being prepared to support boards in developing a strategic planning process and a strategic plan. The final is expected in the coming month.
    • LeaderShift opportunities continue. Sign up now!
    Focus Shifting to Improvement
    • As noted with the G&L Program, the QIDS program also did not receive project funding for 2018/19, and project funding for 2019/20 is unknown.
    • To align with the government’s mandate, the focus of the program is shifting from measurement to improvement.
    • The main priority of the QIDS Program will be continued AFHTO support for QIDSS in the field and through the newly created “Quality Improvement in Primary Care” council, which will support QIDSS in the areas of advocacy, knowledge translation and improvement.
    • AFHTO is pleased that Dr. Kevin Samson has agreed to be the new Chair of the AFHTO Quality Steering Committee, which will be looking at a renewed focus on highlighting the value of team-based care.
    • On March 6 (Ottawa) and March 8 (Toronto), AFHTO will be hosting two KTE workshops based on our QI Enablers study called “Building together: how to become a high performing team.” A better functioning team is better care. Registration for Ottawa is now closed, and for Toronto it is February 22.
    • The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health spoke to several councils about OPTIMUM, a project funded by the Patient-Centred Outcomes Research Institute. They’re looking to collaborate with primary are providers to recruit 300 people for a project in optimising depression treatment in older adults. The presentation and contact information are here.
    Membership Renewals and Voluntary Contributions
    • A reminder that membership renewals will be going out at the end of February and early March.
    • AFHTO works to serve and represent our members to the best of our ability, and we hope to see you renew your membership! With all the health system reforms currently underway, now more than ever we need a strong voice for team-based primary care.
    • Please also consider a voluntary contribution to help ensure AFHTO can continue its work in advocacy, governance and quality. Contributions can flow out of the overhead budget line and there is no limit. Voluntary contribution forms will be sent with your membership renewal forms.
    Any questions or comments, please contact Bryn Hamilton, Provincial Lead, Governance & Leadership Program.
     

  • First interim report released by Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine

    The first report of the Premier’s Council on Improving Health Care and Ending Hallway Medicine was released on January 31, 2019. The Council, chaired by Dr. Rueben Devlin, 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.

    The first report describes three key challenges facing Ontario’s health care system:

    1. Patients and families are having difficulty navigating the health care system and are waiting too long for care. This has a negative impact on their own health and on provider and caregiver well-being.
    2. The system is facing capacity pressures today, and it doesn’t have the appropriate mix of services, beds, or digital tools to be ready for the projected increase in complex care needs and capacity pressures in the short and long-term.
    3. There needs to be more effective coordination at both the system level, and at the point-of-care. This could achieve better value (i.e. improved health outcomes) for taxpayer money spent throughout the system. As currently designed, the health care system does not always work efficiently.

    While there is very little mention about primary care, it should be noted that the report references that patients are going to the hospital when they could be treated in primary care, with a recognition that there should be additional focus on preventative measures and effective engagement with primary care providers.

    The essential role of primary care in providing mental health and addictions supports was acknowledged, with the report noting that about 1 in 3 adults who reported to an ED for mental health and addictions care hadn’t previously accessed physician-based care for their illness. And challenges in home and community care was highlighted, noting that the health care system is overly complex which makes it more difficult for patients and families to navigate.

    The report concluded with three opportunities for improvement: digital and modern health care, integrated care delivery and efficiency in the system.

    AFHTO was pleased to see that many of the findings in the report are consistent with AFHTO priorities and aligned with our most recent Pre-Budget Submission submitted to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs:

    1. We need a health system that is truly integrated, one where patients don’t have to move from one part of the system to another part to get their care, especially care for mental health and addictions – primary care and mental health care providers need to work together to ensure that mental health and addictions investments are integrated in primary care.
    2. The relationship between primary care and home and community care can be strengthened by transitioning the function and associated resources of care coordination to primary care. This will bring greater efficiency and patient-centredness to care. Care will be integrated, allowing for seamless transitions of care for patients.
    3. Support expansion of interprofessional team-based care across Ontario. This can start with communities that don’t have a team at all and then expand to all Ontarians who wish for it. Allow for local-level innovation but ensure that primary care providers are involved in the co-design on what would work best for them in their communities and for their patients.
    4. Look at existing models of performance measurement in primary care and facilitate and fund a strategy that spreads it across the system. This strategy must measure outcomes that matter to patients and providers while assisting in lower system costs. To support this, there needs to be further investments in quality improvement practice facilitators to help support front line providers.

    AFHTO members are already taking leadership in many of the areas that are highlighted as challenges in the report and we look forward to sharing your innovations, ideas and patient stories with the government so we can continually highlight that an investment in creating a robust primary care system will lead to a high performing health system with better outcomes and patient experience.

    Documents of Interest: