Ultimate Blogging Championship

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  • Announcing the AFHTO 2016 Bright Lights Award Winners!

    AFHTO has named eight innovators as winners of the organization’s annual Bright Lights Awards for their work in making meaningful improvements in patient health, how patients experience their care, and how efficiently healthcare resources are used. The awards recognize individuals for their leadership and for the work being conducted to improve the value of services delivered by primary care teams in Ontario. The winners were selected by a panel of judges from more than 60 nominations. The Bright Lights Award recipients are listed below. Click on the links to read a summary of each of their achievements. 1. Manitoulin Central Family Health Team Award category: Planning programs and fostering partnerships for healthier communities Achievement: Mobile Teleophthalmology Program – Successful implementation of innovative technology to conduct diabetic retinopathy screening in a rural location

    2. Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team Award category: Optimizing access to interprofessional teams Achievement: Obstetrical Clinic – Identified a real need for pre- and post-natal care in rural communities and put together an interprofessional team to run an obstetrical clinic

    3. Couchiching Family Health Team Award category: Strengthening collaboration within the interprofessional team Achievement: School Success Program – Created partnership among parents, caregivers, healthcare providers and schools to ensure classroom success for children with mental, physical or behavioural difficulties

    4. Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team Award category: Measuring performance to foster improvement in comprehensive care Achievement: Healthy Living with Pain Program – Using best practices, put a program in place to identify opioid abuse and improve treatment

    5. Clare Liddy and Erin Keely, Champlain Base eConsult Team, The Ottawa Hospital Academic Family Health Team Award category: Coordinating care to create better transitions Achievement: Online eConsult System – Created an online system that allows patients prompt access to specialists, now adopted across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom

    6. Cathy Faulds, London Family Health Team Award category: Leadership and governance in a changing environment Achievement: Engaging Patients with Online Communications – Dr. Faulds introduced an online communications initiative that allows patients to have a real relationship with their physicians and team members and offers them access to curated information about their health concerns

    7. Couchiching Family Health Team Award category: Clinical innovations to address equity. Achievement: Digital Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Screening – Introduced a comprehensive, universal screening process that also allowed for demographic data collection

    8. Espanola & Area Family Health Team; Powassan & Area Family Health Team; City of Lakes Family Health Team; Great Northern Family Health Team; East End Family Health Team; Temagami Family Health Team Special recognition for collaboration across interprofessional teams to foster improvement Achievement – Technology-based Falls Prevention Program – Collaborated to incorporate a falls risk assessment into the electronic medical records, along with links to prevention and education programs

    All eight award winners will receive education grants from the Bright Lights sponsors – Boehringer-Ingelheim Inc. and Merck Canada Inc. This year the AFHTO Board also presented two awards. These awards recognize significant contributions to Ontario’s primary care teams: – Theresa Agnew, Angie Heydon, Adrianna Tetley Achievement – Earning a Commitment and Seeing It Through: Primary Care Compensation – Advocated for improved compensation for Ontario’s primary care teams, leading to the Government of Ontario’s commitment of $85 million over three years to ensure that they “can effectively recruit and retain qualified interprofessional staff in primary care settings.”

    –  Dr. Ross Baker Achievement – Primary Care Governance – Authored a groundbreaking study, which formed the basis for the toolkit and curriculum – Effective Governance for Quality in Primary Care – that AFHTO has used to train hundreds of primary care team board members over the past three years

    The Bright Light Awards were presented during an awards dinner on the evening of October 17, as part of AFHTO’s 2016 Conference, “Leading Primary Care to Strengthen a Population-focused Health System.” The dinner was attended by more than 240 people including AFHTO members, senior representatives from government, key agencies and associations. The call for nominations for the 2017 Bright Light Awards will go out in June 2017. All AFHTO members are welcome and encouraged to participate. For additional event photos, please contact info@afhto.ca. [envira-gallery id=”26353″]

  • Physicians in the Lead……Developing Capacity

    Sunday, October 16, 2016

    Workshop: Physicians in the Lead……Developing Capacity

    • Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
    • Style: Workshop (session is structured for interaction and/or hands-on learning opportunities)
    • Focus: Practical (focus is on how to implement programs and/or practices in the team environment)
    • Target Audience: Leadership (ED, clinical lead, board chair, board member, etc.), Clinical providers

    Learning Objectives

    Physician participants will be introduced to key concepts in leadership and enhance their capacity to impact their own organizations, and ultimately, the system of care. Using case studies, brief exercises and opportunities for discussion, participants will be encouraged to reflect on their own capacity in leadership and learn from colleagues about new strategies.

    Summary / Abstract

    This workshop is designed for physicians who recognize their need to enhance their leadership capacity, whether a leader with a titled position or not.  Family Health Teams are in the midst of substantial change as the entire system will be influenced by new legislation, regional healthcare restructuring, and an unfolding new type of relationship with Ontario’s doctors. This workshop will provide practical approaches to increase your self-awareness as leader, understand better the dynamics of change and encourage you to use systems thinking in order that you can help to navigate the changing landscape of primary care. Participants should be prepared to be fully engaged in the exercises and contribute to group discussion. You will be able to take new knowledge and strategies for leading more effectively back to your own organizations before you even leave the AFHTO Conference!

    Materials

    Slides from the presentation have been posted here.

    Speakers

    Colleen

    Colleen Grady: Colleen is a researcher with a special interest in physician leadership development and complexity science. She brings to her work several years of leadership experience in healthcare, social services and local government and has supported organizations both large and small in how they encourage and cultivate the talent within.  In the last several years her leadership work has been primarily focused around physicians which has been the most fascinating journey of all. She has worked with, and presented to, physicians in B.C. and Ontario in order to support them in the challenges they face working in a complex system with constantly-shifting priorities.  She has had the privilege of working with physicians in both acute care and primary care, including 3 years as Executive Director of a Family Health Team.  Colleen currently holds the position of Research Manager with the Centre for Studies in Primary Care, Department of Family Medicine, at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. 

    Marion

    Marion Howell: Marion serves the Canadian health care sector with a passion for making a difference in the lives of physician leaders.  She is grounded in principles of how to lead in complex systems and works with her client to apply these in challenging real work situations.  Her experience with physician coaching and facilitating has provided her the opportunity to understand the unique roles and constraints associated with physician leadership.

    As a facilitator, Marion understands the importance of bringing practical application of academic models in order to enhance the performance of leaders.  The Iris Group’s workshop design is grounded in research that helps leaders better understand how to lead in complex change. As a coach, Marion has logged 3,200 coaching hours and delivered coaching in leadership programs at the Rotman School of Business, the Schulich School of Management, and Interior Health Authority in BC.  In particular, Marion has been a coach and facilitator for all six cohorts of the Physician Leadership Development Program (PLDP).  Marion brought her program design experience to the working group for the CMA’s Coaching Connections pilot and subsequently delivered coaching to physicians across Canada. For more information about other physician education sessions happening around the AFHTO 2016 conference, check out the Physician Clinical Education Sessions. To find out more about what else is on the agenda, check out our conference schedule.

  • Minister Hoskins has signed compensation funding letters

    Today the Minister’s Office confirmed that funding letters regarding the compensation increases promised in the 2016 provincial budget are signed and will be going out within the next week. Click here to read the Minister’s announcement. Dates for web briefings with Ministry staff are being arranged. We expect to have further information out to you shortly.

    Previous: Minister Hoskins commits $85 million over three years to interprofessional primary care

    FEBRUARY 25, 2016 “To ensure these clinics (CHCs, NPLCs, FHTs, AHACs and nursing stations) can effectively recruit and retain qualified interprofessional staff in primary care settings, Ontario will invest an additional $85 million over three years.”  This is quoted from the 2016 Ontario Budget, released today. (p.115) The Association of Ontario Health Centres (AOHC), the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO) and the Nurse Practitioners Association of Ontario (NPAO) representatives have just emerged from the Ontario Government’s budget lock-up where we learned exciting news about compensation for staff in AHACs, CHC, FHTs and NPLCs. In the budget lock-up, senior ministry officials committed to meet as soon as possible to work out the details on how the funds are to be allocated.  To put this into perspective, the AFHTO-AOHC-NPAO proposal called for a total of $122 million in additional funds spread over four years; this commitment could potentially fund the first three years of the implementation. We are pleased to have this financial commitment in place. We look forward to moving quickly to work through the implementation details.  The AFHTO-AOHC-NPAO proposal continues to be the direction we are pursuing. We will keep members informed as these discussions progress. Given the tough fiscal climate, we appreciate the fact the Wynne government prioritized this new funding in this year’s Ontario Budget. This was no small task when “the government has also succeeded in bringing down annual spending growth on health from about 7% to about 2% while continuing to improve access to care.” (p.113) Today’s news comes after years of relentless advocacy by AFHTO, AOHC and NPAO.  We have commissioned evidence informed reports, met with dozens of politicians and government officials, and worked collaboratively with our members who have taken up the torch with zeal and dedication. Your efforts have played a key role ensuring we secured this important win. We particularly want to acknowledge the work and support of the Dietitians of Canada who have also played an important role making the case for fair and equitable compensation. Other professional organizations such as the OPA and RNAO have joined the chorus of voices demanding fair and equitable compensation for our staff. “Today, we are thrilled to hear that the Wynne government and Ministers Hoskins and Sousa have heard our collective voice. Within the 2016 Ontario Budget there is an investment that will help CHCs, FHTs, NPLCs and AHACs retain staff so as to better serve clients and communities. This investment shows that our interprofessional health provider team-members are valued” says Theresa Agnew, Nurse Practitioners Association of Ontario. “With this new funding, the government has clearly committed to strengthen primary care as the foundation of Ontario’s health system,” says Angie Heydon, Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario. “This investment now puts interprofessional primary care teams onto more equal footing to attract and keep the skilled professionals needed to deliver better care, better health and better value for Ontarians.” “We are very heartened that the Government has finally taken a step in the right direction to correct a serious imbalance in improving access to interprofessional primary health care.  This is especially important because it will enable Ontario to do a better job ensuring people who face barriers to health can access the services they need from interprofessional teams.” says Adrianna Tetley, Association of Ontario Health Centres. Sincerely,

    Adrianna Tetley Association of Ontario Health Centres of Ontario Angie Heydon Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario Theresa Agnew Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario

     

  • FREE Primary Care Day October 19 – Limited space still available

    HQO’s Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Forum  is a special Primary Care Quality Improvement event focused on opportunities to support Practice Improvement in primary care and connect with other primary care practitioners.

    Date: October 19, 2016 Time: 8:15am – 4:30pm Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre

    This event will feature breakout sessions where practitioners can network and discuss practice-based improvement approaches. These approaches and the networking opportunity will help strengthen our capacity for quality improvement as a sector. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend a Keynote address by Dr. Helen Bevan on Leading Change that Sticks. Dr. Helen Bevan is the Chief Transformation Officer at the National Health Service and is internationally known for her leadership in large scale change initiatives that advance system transformation.

    There are still a few spaces left!

    This is a great opportunity to extend the value of the AFHTO 2016 conference. Access the online registration form here.   Use access code QIPSF2016 and select Primary Care in the drop-down menu.

    Need more information?

    For more information, including details and descriptions of the breakout sessions, please visit the QIPSF2016 event page. If you have any questions, please contact david.kaplan@hqontario.ca.

     

  • Registered Nurse (Term) – Markham FHT

    Position:  Registered Nurse, Full Time Maternity Leave Term Position

    The Markham Family Health Team (MFHT) serves over 27000 patients and has three sites in the Markham area. Our team consists of 19 Physicians and a wide variety of Interdisciplinary Health Professionals and Administrative Professionals. (See website for more MFHT information).

    General Qualifications and Requirements:

    Education and Membership Requirements:

    • Member in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario
    • RN diploma or BScN
    • Current membership with RNAO and evidence of liability insurance

    Skills and Knowledge:

    • Excellent interpersonal skills re: patients and their families
    • Must be team focused and flexible; works collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team
    • Excellent communication skills
    • Ability to multi-task, work under pressure, and meet deadlines
    • Effectively uses the EMR for documentation
    • Proficient computer skills
    • CPR certification

    Experience:

    • Preference given to those with at least 2 years of Primary Care experience
    • Practical experience with EMR’s preferred
    • Candidates must have a valid driver’s license and own vehicle.

    Qualified applicants please send your resume by October 31st, 2016 by email only to: david.marriott@markhamfht.com While we appreciate your interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

  • Data to Decisions eBulletin #44: Did you know you can print your D2D report?

    You can now print the D2D report – even if you didn’t contribute data! You can create a printed version of your team and peer group’s data from the interactive D2D web page. If you didn’t contribute data, you can still print out the performance of your preferred peer group for comparison. This makes it easier to share D2D with others. See a sample printout here. Need help with the interactive D2D web page? View the launch webinar from September 29th for more information about how to use the D2D platform. Calling all EDs: Please complete the D2D survey even if you didn’t contribute data. The survey results help spread the word about the progress AFHTO members are making to advance primary care . Check out the D2D booth at the AFHTO conference! Pick up a special treat, resources about D2D 4.0, tools to increase access to EMR data for improvement and tips to win exciting prizes in the D2D Scavenger Hunt. Health Quality Ontario releases Measuring Up 2016: The goal of Measuring Up is to provide data to drive accountability and improvement. This year’s report gives the broadest look at health care quality to date and points out areas the system can focus on for improvement. Preparing for your 2017-2018 Quality Improvement Plan (QIP)? Check out a recording of a webinar that Health Quality Ontario recently hosted to help primary care teams prepare for their upcoming QIPs. d2d-4_0-timeline-09-29-16

  • Webinar: Are you paying the best price for your group insurance plan?

    Need more information about CHOGIP? 

    Please review the following resources:

    Still have questions?

    Please contact Group Benefit Services at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., the administrators of CHOGIP, using the email addresses and phone extensions listed below:

    By popular demand, a third session of the CHOGIP Information Webinar has been added for Thursday, October 13 from 3:00-4:00 pm. Are you interested in finding out if your organization is paying the right premium for your group insurance plan? Please join us for an overview of the new group insurance program available to AFHTO members. This 1-hour presentation, which includes time for questions, will touch on:

    • What is the CHOGIP plan?
    • Advantages of joining the CHOGIP plan
    • Plan design options available to your organization
    • Administrative capabilities available to your organization
    • Consulting services available to your organization

    Please note: This webinar will be offered twice. Registration is not required. See connection details below.

    Session 1: Wed, Sep 28, 2016 | 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

    Pre-registration is not required for this webinar. You may join directly using your computer, tablet, or smart phone. To join the conference call, dial 1-866-365-4409 and enter access code 9632998 (followed by # key). First GoToMeeting? Try a test session.

    Session 2: Tue, Oct 4, 2016 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

    Pre-registration is not required for this webinar. You may join directly using your computer, tablet, or smart phone. To join the conference call, dial 1-866-365-4409  and enter access code 9632998 (followed by # key). First GoToMeeting? Try a test session.

    NEW! Session 3: Thu, Oct 13, 2016 | 3:00 pM – 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

    Pre-registration is not required for this webinar. You may join directly using your computer, tablet, or smart phone. To join the conference call, dial 1-866-365-4409  and enter access code 9632998 (followed by # key). First GoToMeeting? Try a test session.

    Questions? Please contact Group Benefit Services at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., the administrators of CHOGIP, using the email addresses and phone extensions below:

  • AFHTO 2016 Conference: Tips for your arrival and stay

    Planning your Conference Experience Sharing your Conference Experience Hotel Registration & Directions

    See below for important information about Toronto Blue Jays home games happening at the same time as the conference. It’s now less than one week to the AFHTO 2016 Conference on October 17 & 18! We look forward to seeing you all as we welcome over 800 delegates from around the province. To ensure a smooth experience, please see below for some helpful tips for planning your arrival and stay at the conference:

    Planning your Conference Experience

    • Today is the deadline to pick your sessions and ensure your personalized schedule will be printed on your name badge. Click on the “change or update your registration” link in your confirmation email to do so.
    • The conference program is available online and a printed kit will be handed out on arrival.
    • Displays at the Conference: Feel free to visit our poster and exhibit displays during your breaks.
    • Wi-Fi will be available to conference attendees for 1 device per person (smartphone, tablet, computer or other electronic device).
    • For information on our Concurrent Sessions, Opening and Closing Plenaries, Bright Lights Awards Dinner, and all other conference sessions click here .

    Conference On-site Registration opens at 8:00 AM on both Oct. 17 and 18

    • Conference registration is in Convention Centre North, Second Floor. For a map of the convention centre see page 4 of the registration kit.
    • If you can no longer attend the conference and someone else is taking your place, please forward your registration confirmation e-mail to him/her to show it at the registration desk

    Sharing your AFHTO experience

    • The official AFHTO hashtag is #afhto2016 – be sure to follow @afhto on twitter and “like” AFHTO on Facebook for regular updates at the conference.

    Hotel Registration & Directions

    Note: Blue Jays play home playoff games on Monday, October 17 at 8:00pm and Tuesday, October 18, at 4:00pm. The conference winds up at 2:30, well in advance of the game, but traffic in the Toronto waterfront area is likely to be heavier.  Allow for longer travel times, or perhaps plan to extend your stay by a few hours to enjoy the excitement! Hotel room registration is in the main building.

    Attendance at this program entitles certified Canadian College of Health Leaders members (CHE / Fellow) to 7.5 Category II credits toward their maintenance of certification requirement. This program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario office for up to 16.25 Group Learning credits.

  • Patient Engagement Tools from HQO

    Health Quality Ontario (HQO) has developed new tools to help health care providers get started with engaging their patients.

    Patient engagement means patients, their families and other caregivers working together with health care professionals to improve the quality of Ontario’s health system.

    The framework for patient engagement can help you plan, implement, and evaluate patient engagement activities. It provides an overview of the purpose, principles, methods, and major enablers for patient engagement activities in your team.

    Additionally, HQO has developed five checklists to use in developing these activities:

    For more resources about patient engagement from HQO, visit their online hub, or contact them at engagement@hqontario.ca.

  • Member news: Members in the media, continuing education, and more

    Below are relevant updates and items for AFHTO members:

    Members in the Media
    Central Lambton Family Health Team was featured in the Petrolia Topic for successfully leveraging partnerships with local organizations to expand access to mental health services for Petrolia Youth.

    Continuing Education Opportunities
    FREE Webcast Series on Perinatal mental health from Mount Sinai Hospital. Upcoming episodes October 27, November 24. Email for more information. Advanced Health Leadership Program – Rotman School of Management. Modules starting in February, April, and June. Scholarships available. Apply by November 15.
    FREE Primary Health Care Research Training: Transdisciplinary Understandings and Training on Research (TUTOR-PHC) accepting applications for 2017-18 – CME and University accredited. Apply by December 2. Upcoming Tools from Centre for Effective Practice including Medical Assistance in Dying, Mental Health, Chronic Insomnia, and Options for Chronic Pain, part of the Knowledge Translation in Primary Care initiative.

    Clinical Resources for Providers & Patients
    Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) landing page from MOHLTC includes public-facing Patient Pathway, FAQs, and other tools.

    Conferences
    AFHTO 2016 Conference – October 17 & 18. Registration is still open.  Need a place to stay? Rooms are available for a limited time at a conference rate of $209/night at the Radisson Admiral, just down the street. Book now – offer ends Thursday, October 6! Use promotional code AFHTO. Health Promotion Ontario Conference 2016. October 18 & 19, Ottawa. Register here.
    Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Forum 2016. October 19, Toronto. Register here. Children’s Mental Health Ontario 2016 Conference. November 20-22, Toronto. Register now or download conference program.
    Ontario College of Family Physician 54th Annual Scientific Assembly. November 24-26, Toronto. Register now or email for information.  

    Upcoming Web Events

    Webinar: Are you paying the best price for your group insurance plan? NEW session added for October 13, 3:00-4:00pm. Join the webinar here – preregistration not required. Webinar: Financial Literacy for FHT/NPLC Leaders. November 15, 12:00-1:30, presented by AFHTO and BDO Canada, for board members and EDs/Admin Leads. Register here.
    WIHI Podcasts: Join the Institute for Health Improvement’s biweekly podcasts, alternate Thursdays from 2:00-3:00pm. Upcoming episodes October 20 & November 3. Telemedicine Event: Beyond the Break – World Osteoporosis Day. Osteoporosis Diagnosis, Prevention, and Management. October 20, 2016. Fore more information, visit www.osteoporosis.ca.

    Send Your Input to Help Develop Policy and Resources
    Health Technology: Health Quality Ontario is seeking professional and public comment on draft guideline recommendations. Email for more information. Levels of Care Framework: This is a component of Patients First intended to support home and community care. Read the discussion paper (English|French) and send feedback to the MOHLTC.

    AFHTO News
    AFHTO’s 2016 Annual Report – Equity,  Integration and Access: Shaping a Population-Focused Health System  has been released. It showcases the work of AFHTO and its members to move toward our vision of timely access to high-quality and comprehensive primary care for all Ontarians. D2D 4.0 Interactive Report is live! See your results;  check out how AFHTO member teams measure up against provincial averages; and learn more about how to use your data. Need help? Watch a webinar or contact us.
    On September 24, the Health Minister spoke at NPAO’s annual conference, where he announced that the anticipated funding letters would be sent in “weeks, not months.” Kavita Mehta will be assuming the role of CEO at AFHTO, effective November 30, 2016. AFHTO members and friends will have an opportunity to bid a fond farewell to Angie Heydon at the 2016 AFHTO Conference in October.