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  • Data to Decisions eBulletin #82: Following Up on Follow-Up

    In this issue

    • Following up on follow-up
    •  Introducing a council for the community of “Q”
    • Building together: How to become a high-performing team
    • Deferring the next D2D report

    Following-up on follow-up

    First, thank you to the over 50 people who braved the snow and shared their stories about follow-up in Sudbury at the end of November for Focus on Follow-Up. Second, thanks to our generous sponsors, OpenLabs (who developed Patient Oriented Discharge Summaries), LifeLabs, and CognisantMD, for making the event possible. Thanks also to our partners at the North East LHIN, the North East Ontario Hospital Network (NEON), Health Quality Ontario, and OntarioMD for participating and learning along with us. Finally, thanks in advance to you, for doing your part to pick up and spread what we learned together there:

    To get more details on these and other helpful tips for improving follow-up, check out all the slide decks and resources here. Or maybe these stories will inspire you to tell your peers how you are doing follow-up to keep your patients from falling through the cracks after they leave hospital. AFHTO’s board has identified follow-up after hospitalization as a priority for 2019. It’s also an important way for primary care to respond the issues of hospital overcrowding and “hallway medicine” and finally, it will be a focus of the 2019-20 QIPs. So, let’s work together to show what we’re already doing for follow-up and maybe even make it a little bit better!

    Introducing a council for the community of “Q”

    It started with seven QIDS Specialists who first came together at the AFHTO conference in 2013. Five year later, the distribution list for the QIDSS community of practice is 60 strong. The QIDSS were joined first by QIDSS-like folks, then Quality Improvement and Information Management Support (QIIMS) staff from the NPLCs, and most recently E-QIP data and information coaches. They’re now a robust, mature community of QI workers and leaders, collectively known as “The Q.” They have built a large collective body of knowledge and a strong network for resource-sharing and peer support. AFHTO’s emerging culture of measurement is thanks in large part to them. Now, they’re taking a big step together on their own: Over the next few months, they’ll be electing a council of peers to serve as leaders and advocates for their own community of quality. Nominations are now open. If you think your Q is the B’s knees, encourage them to put their name forward!

    Building together: How to become a high-performing team

    Join us in March for a deep dive into what makes teams, your teams, work, and learn how to make your team even better. This workshop will explore the nine dimensions of high functioning teams identified by Dr. Judith Belle Brown, Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Western University. It will focus on the dimensions that your fellow teams told us they find most important in achieving high performance. You’ll leave the workshop with concrete ideas that you can use to make your team even better. This workshop is for every member of a primary care team. Everyone is welcome, from the official to the unofficial leaders, the clinicians and the clerical staff and everyone in between. Team-building happens from the bottom up and the top down and from every other direction as well. The workshop will be held twice – in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 and in Toronto on Friday, March 8, 2019. We’ll share more details soon but mark your calendars now! Practical support for the research and funding for the workshops has been provided by our research partners at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, Western University, through the INSPIRE2-PHC program funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. We look forward to seeing you – and your team – there!

    Deferring the next D2D report

    In light of changes to QIDS program funding, AFHTO’s board has decided not to produce D2D 6.1 this winter as originally planned. Instead, AFHTO’s QIDS program staff will be focussing on getting even more value from the measurement work AFHTO members have done. They will be doing deeper analysis of the existing D2D data (including the qualitative data from the QI enablers study), expanding team characteristics data and finalizing research partnerships to ensure ongoing analytic support for D2D, regardless of how QIDS program funding unfolds.

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #81 or other back issues here!

    Questions? Comments? Connect with the QIDS team at improve@afhto.ca.

  • Season’s Greetings from AFHTO | Holiday Hours Inside

  • Bits & Pieces: members saving urgent care more than $700k, ON budget & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates
    Members stories: integration and more Bancroft and North Hastings FHTs: Bancroft and North Hastings FHTs to integrate Central Lambton FHT: OCFP honours Central Lambton FHT physicians City of Kawartha Lakes FHT: City of Kawartha Lakes FHT saves urgent care more than $700,000 Espanola & Area FHT: Espanola & Area FHT implements new addictions service McMaster FHT: Evaluation of the McMaster Family Health Team: results and practical implications for quality improvement Marathon FHT: CBC profiles Marathon FHT’s Bright Lights Award for Safer Opioid Prescription (HARMS) Program In this Issue: Members stories: integration and more 2019 Ontario budget consultations HQO Leadership Summit slides Opportunity to participate in an accreditation pilot Knowledge Translation in Primary Care Initiative needs assessment Upcoming events regarding strategic planning and more      
    2019 Ontario budget consultations Ontario’s government is seeking public input for the 2019 Ontario Budget until Feb. 8, 2019. They want to hear your ideas on the best ways to fulfill their five core commitments, including the commitment to cut hospital wait times and end hallway healthcare. Creating a robust and well–resourced primary health care system is a major solution to address the current crisis so this is an opportunity to highlight how your team is making a difference in your community and why there needs to be further investments in team-based primary care. You can submit suggestions in multiple ways, including online and in-person.
    HQO Leadership Summit slides On Nov. 30. The HQO Leadership Summit 2018 took place. We now have all the presentations from the main plenary sessions. Please visit our website to see the slide decks.
    Opportunity to participate in an accreditation pilot The Canadian Centre for Accreditation (CCA) provides leadership in accreditation by assuring quality and continuous improvement in community-based health and social services. The CCA is offering a pilot project for Community-based Primary Health Care Standards that the CCA has revised. While accreditation of FHTs and NPLCs is not mandatory at this time, teams are being offered an opportunity to provide input into the development of primary care accreditation standards. This will include submitting pre-site evidence and hosting a CCA reviewer for one day to conduct the site visit. All expenses are covered by the CCA. If you’re interested in participating, please contact Bryn Hamilton before the holidays at bryn.hamilton@afhto.ca.
    Knowledge Translation in Primary Care Initiative needs assessment The Centre for Effective Practice wants to know what topic areas family physicians and nurse practitioners would like a clinical tool or resource to cover. Your response will directly influence the topics they select for the Knowledge Translation in Primary Care Initiative (KTinPC). The CEP is collaborating with the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) and the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO) on this multi-year Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) funded initiative to develop and disseminate clinical tools and resources on up to five clinical topics each year. Fill out the 5-minute survey
    Governance Webcast Series: Strategic Planning, Jan. 15, 2019 Learn how strategic planning can bring your organization growth and success. Register now! Beyond Silence Mental Health Training for 2019 Dates from Jan-May 2019 for Toronto, Cobourg, Chatham, Thunder Bay & Hamilton developed by McMaster University. Learn more here.
    Governance Webcast Series: Public Complaints, Feb. 20, 2019 Learn requirements and tips on how to address public complaints. Register now! Opioids Clinical Primer MacHealth has released the first 2 of six free courses on understanding and managing the ongoing opioid crisis. Learn more here.

     

  • Rapids FHT & Bluewater Health open house to help find mental health, addiction services

    The Sarnia Journal article published on December 9, 2018 By The Sarnia Journal Residents in search of the proper mental health and addiction resources can attend monthly open houses starting Dec. 19. At each open house, hosted by the Rapids Family Health Team and Bluewater Health, a registered social worker and hospital addictions program employee will be available to help identify what services are available and how individuals can access them. “We certainly don’t have all the mental health services that we require, but we have many services that people are often unaware of and it’s important, especially during the holidays, to get people connected with services that fit their needs,” said Lynn Laidler, executive director at Rapids Family Health Team. Open houses run the third Wednesday of the month, 11a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rapids FHT Community Teaching Kitchen, 460 Christina St., N. (back entrance at Maxwell Street). Free refreshments and free Naloxone kits provided by Lambton Public Health. For more, contact Cynthia at 519-339-8949 or cmccoleman@rapidsfhteam.ca Click here to access the Sarnia Journal article

  • HQO 2018 Leadership Summit Slides

    On Nov. 30. HQO Leadership Summit 2018 took place. We now have all the presentations from the main room. Please click on the image below to see the relevant document.

  • City of Kawartha Lakes FHT saves Urgent Care more than $700,000

    The Lindsay Advocate article published on December 7, 2018 By Bert Lauwers A costing by the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team has revealed that the team has saved the health care system more than $700,000 since 2014 through its emergency room and after hours clinic diversion programs. Under these programs, the team’s health care professionals assess whether their care and treatment of the patient in the family health team offices resulted in the patient not having to go to the emergency department or attend local after hours clinics. Since 2014, tracking patients visits has indicated that more than 8,800 patients have avoided the emergency room and the after hours clinic due to the family health team. Health Quality Ontario reported in 2014/15 that emergency room visits were continuing to raise, especially by patients aged 65 and over. “Although these numbers are estimates, the real value of the family health team model comes in many other ways,” says Dr. Eric Ready, chair of the board of the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Team. “Examples of this are the improved access to care in rural areas; improved local mental health care; and improved complex chronic disease management. These things are priceless,” adds Ready. The savings figures were based on average per patient financial data compiled by the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Organization and Lakeridge Health, which is a local ‘case costing’ hospital. The hospital’s case costing program provides detailed, cost-related data to inform decision-making about the types of health services to deliver and how to deliver them. The emergency room costs were based on visits that did not include being admitted to hospital. The City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team’s Executive Director, Mike Perry, is also pleased with the figures. “This is a significant savings over time,” he notes. “We will be continuing to help patients and save the health care system money wherever we can. It is also good to see how a family health team can free up wait times and spaces in other key areas of the health system.” “The Ross Memorial Hospital applauds the efforts of the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team to improve access to primary care. As a close community partner, we are committed to working collaboratively with the Family Health Team to advance access to patient care. Clearly, this data resoundingly supports positive efforts for patient care. Congratulations are in order,” adds Dr. Bert Lauwers, president & CEO of the RMH. The City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team began operation in 2011 and has health care professionals providing care to patients in Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Lindsay, Little Britain and Omemee. If you need a family doctor, contact Health Care Connect at 1-800-445-1822 to register locally. Click here to access the Lindsay Advocate article

  • Members invited to participate in Communities of Practice for Telus PS, OSCAR, Accuro, and P&P EMRs

    What is an EMR Community of Practice (CoP)?

    An EMR CoP is a group that seeks to optimize use of their EMR. We do this by continuously engaging EMR vendors, super-users, clinicians, QIDS Specialists and other team members to strengthen collective knowledge, expertise and problem solving capability in EMR offerings. Our EMR Communities of Practice collaborate closely with vendors to improve their understanding of AFHTO member requirements and to facilitate resolution of common problems in a mutually-agreed priority order. Several success stories have emerged from the EMR CoPs, illustrating the role they play in the spread of improvements, change in behaviours and expectations, and impact beyond their own boundaries. Unlike most EMR user groups, the communities of practice have the following characteristics:

    • Equality among members
    • Focus on issues in common
    • Led by users (QIDS Specialists, physicians, etc.)
    • Priorities set collectively via action item list
    • Problems solved collaboratively through sharing of best practices
    • Accountable to the community
    • Their own social networking platform
    • Regular meetings (via web or teleconference)

    Goals of the EMR Communities of Practice

    • Leverage the wisdom of the field
    • Change conversations with EMR vendors to expedite improvement
    • Identify data extraction tools and processes

    AFHTO members and staff support 4 EMR Communities of Practice:

    • Accuro
    • OSCAR
    • P&P
    • TELUS PS

    Want to join an EMR CoP? Please contact us for more information.      

  • Governance Webcast Series: Board Orientation and Education

    Looking to strengthen your board? This webcast reviewed why board orientation and education is important. Speakers were Catherine Anastakis from Collaborative Solutions and three family health team executive directors.

    Leading practices and tools were discussed, and sample resources from teams were reviewed to see how boards can excel. A toolkit has been designed to support teams’ ongoing efforts to design and conduct orientation for new board members.

    The presentations from three executive directors on their local board orientation and education processes are here:

    The recording of the webcast is here:

    Speakers:

    Catherine Anastakis, Collaborative Solutions; Lori Richey, ED, Peterborough FHT; Kelly Griffiths, ED, Tilbury District FHT; Sandy Scapillati, ED, Etobicoke Medical Centre FHT.

    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.

  • OCFP Honours Central Lambton FHT Physicians

    Sarnia This Week article published December 4, 2018 By Sarnia This Week  Four doctors from the Central Lambton Family Health Team (CLFHT) were honoured in November, given a prestigious designation by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) recognizing the outstanding contributions the doctors made to the field of family medicine. Dr. Firas Al-Dhahar, Dr. John Butler, Dr. Enoch Daniel and Dr. Angela Wang were presented with Fellowship Designations at the CFPC convocation ceremony on Nov. 17. To receive a Fellowship Designation, doctors must be in practice in good standing with the college for ten years and distinguish themselves with superlative contributions to their communities, to their colleagues and to the discipline of family medicine. CLFHT executive director Sarah Milner said she expressed her support for the doctors who worked on behalf of the community. “It is a reaffirmation of all the hard work our doctors put in to making certain we are cared for,” she said. Dr. Wang said she was humbled to receive the fellowship. “As a family physician, I am humbled, honoured and in awe of the amount of trust that patients have in me,” she said. “The fellowship that was bestowed on us is recognition of lifelong learning and dedication to patient care and community health. Thank you to all my patients, family and colleagues who have and continue to support my journey.” Wang’s colleague, Dr. Daniel said he was proud of the family health team’s achievements across Lambton County. “Daily I count my blessings when I think of Petrolia, Lambton County, my patients, my staff and my colleagues,” he said. “I remember the struggles that we have had as a community to establish equality of health care for our rural patients. All of this has brought about an exemplary rural health delivery model that will be duplicated by other communities. To us as physicians of the CLFHT, the work that we do here is our life’s work and we will continue to respond to our community’s needs.” Relevant Links

    Click here to access the Sarnia This Week article  

  • Bits & Pieces: palliative and end-of-life care mentoring network, Spine online & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates
    OCFP palliative and end-of-life care mentoring network The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) has launched a mentoring program to support clinicians in the delivery of high-quality Palliative and End-of -Life Care. This builds on the successful work of the OCFP’s mentoring networks in mental health and addictions and pain. Initial groups will start in the South West and Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand, Brant LHINs (Group 1); Central East and South East LHINs (Group 2); and North East and North West LHINs (Group 3). Please visit the mentoring network webpage.  The team can be reached at ocfpmentoring@ocfp.on.ca.     In this Issue: OCFP palliative and end-of-life care mentoring network Addictions and mental health call for abstracts Community Health Ontario Group Insurance Plan (CHOGIP) Patient and caregiver declaration of rights at end-of-life consultation Spine Online e-course now available DDO risk management for health care charities webinar series New quality standard for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Upcoming events regarding board orientation and more
    Addictions and mental health call for abstracts Addictions and Mental Health Ontario’s conference is taking place May 26, 27 and 28, 2019 and they’re currently seeking abstracts. Deadline Jan. 4, 2019.
    Community Health Ontario Group Insurance Plan (CHOGIP) CHOGIP is offered jointly through the Alliance for Healthier Communities (Alliance), Addictions and Mental Health Ontario (AMHO) and Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO), and is offered only to not-for-profit, community-based organizations. Click here to learn more.
    Patient and caregiver declaration of rights at end-of-life consultation The Quality Hospice Palliative Care Coalition of Ontario (QHPCCO) is conducting a Patient and Caregiver Declaration of Rights at End-of-Life consultation. It’s the outcome of a recommendation to the QHPCCO in the Advancing High-Quality High Value Palliative Care in Ontario – A Declaration of Partnership and Commitment to Action Report (December 2011), to develop a “patient and caregiver declaration of rights” that builds on existing legislation. Its purpose is to help empower patients and caregivers and embed these commitments in service plans to clarify expectations and accountability for all partners to support informal caregiving and build on existing legislative rights. They’re particularly interested in receiving feedback from patients and caregivers. The deadline to complete the survey is Friday, December 14, 2018. If you have any questions, please contact Julie Darnay, Manager, Partnerships & Communities of Practice, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario at jdarnay@hpco.ca.
    Spine Online e-course now available Developed by the Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) and funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC), as part of the Knowledge Translation in Primary Care Initiative, this course aims to familiarize primary care providers with current guidelines for evidence-based assessment and treatment of patients with low back and/or neck pain. The CORE Back and CORE Neck Tools are incorporated, so you can easily translate this knowledge into practice and use them to maintain and re-frame your practice care pathways. This Self-Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 4 Mainpro+ credits
    DDO risk management for health care charities webinar series DDO Health Law’s 6-part webinar series, Risk Management for Health Care Charities, starting November 2018 to April 2019, is focused on:

    • Privacy (Archived Access)
    • Board Oversight (December 5)
    • Reputation (January 9)
    • Events (February 6)
    • Clients, Families & Staff (March 6)
    • Governance (April 3)
    • Plus, a bonus 1-hour webinar on April 17 updating charities on emerging areas of law including cannabis, medical assistance in dying, and big data.

    Visit www.healthcarecharities.ca for more information, pricing and to register or contact Franca at flatino@ddohealthlaw.com
    COPD_quality_standard_EN New quality standard for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Health Quality Ontario has released a new quality standard: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease For more information about quality standards, visit their website.
    Reflections on Using Data for Improvement, Dec. 6, 2018 Dr. Tara Kiran (Family Physician at St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team) will share her experiences using data to drive quality improvement in primary care. Learn more here. Sweden-Canada Digital Health Initiative, Dec. 5, 2018 Share knowledge and discuss Ontario & Sweden’s digital health strategies and the challenges with implementing digital health solutions. Learn more here.
    Governance Webcast Series: Board Orientation and Education, Dec. 6, 2018 Learn why board orientation and education is important. Register now! Beyond Silence Mental Health Training for 2019 Dates from Jan-May 2019 for Toronto, Cobourg, Chatham, Thunder Bay & Hamilton developed by McMaster University. Learn more here.