AFHTO is making it easier to access resources on the Members Only resources website – content has been re-organized into five broad categories to improve navigation. As you browse  you’ll find that each sub-category includes a description of the type of content to be found there:

• Governance and Management: includes tools and resources on governance, management/operations of primary care teams, leadership development and supports for legislative and contractual issues.
• Measurement and Quality Improvement: includes links for members to participate in Data to Decisions, resources to support effective use of EMRs, tools for using data to improve care and quality improvement planning, and updates/records of the QIDS Program.
• Advocacy and Government Relations: includes advocacy tools, reports following AFHTO meetings with the ministry and updates on recruitment & retention advocacy efforts.
• Collaborative Patient Care: is a compilation of resources provided by members to share collective knowledge and templates for team collaboration, Health Links and other community partnerships, patient engagement, medical directives, health promotion and chronic disease management, care for specific populations, access to care and team-based mental health care.
• Library: continues to hold the archive of AFHTO member communications, annual conference materials, past webinar recordings and reports about primary care teams and the policy environment.

This is a first step in an overall strategy to make the website more useful to members. We will be simplifying access to Members Only and support browsing with smartphones and tablets. Stay tuned for more information as these changes come into effect.

Stay engaged and updated on AFHTO activities:

• The AFHTO website is open to all staff, physicians and board members of member organizations. Share your team’s log-in credentials with them. Contact info@afhto.ca for help with log-in if needed.
• Join the AFHTO community on Facebook and Twitter for updates on AFHTO activities.
• Ensure all the key contacts in your FHT/NPLC are signed up to receive AFHTO e-mails. Send updates for contact information to info@afhto.ca.
• Encourage your staff to connect with a profession-based and/or EMR community of practice.

Updates, education opportunities and resources for FHTs and NPLCs. Click below for more information:

• AFHTO’s Response to HQO Report on Patient Experiences of Care Coordination and Communication
• Congratulations to Two Rivers FHT for completing their RNAO BPSO Designation
• IDEAS: Advanced Learning Program – free tuition available; deadline to apply is June 1
• Physician education: CFPC replacing MAINPRO education program with MAINPRO+
• Online Low Back Pain course re-accredited and available until October 7
• Revised CMOH Directive on Ebola virus disease (EVD) control measures
• New clinical tool for primary care: Preconception Health Care Tool
• Information to share with Patients:
  • Ontario Health Study
  • Affordable Housing Consultation

AFHTO’s Response to Health Quality Ontario Report on Patient Experiences of Care Coordination and Communication

Health Quality Ontario (HQO) released “Experiencing Integrated Care: Ontarians’ views of health care coordination and communication”, a report on patients’ experiences of their transitions between their primary health care doctor, specialists and hospitals. In primary care, however, we know care coordination also involves collaboration spanning a wider array of health and social services and is a fundamental role of primary care. To read more on our response to the report please visit our site.

Congratulations to Two Rivers FHT for completing their RNAO BPSO Designation

Two Rivers FHT has graduated from the three-year pre-designation program to become a Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) designate. Since 2012, Two Rivers FHT has been implementing and evaluating the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO)’s best practice guidelines in order to improve patient, staff and administrative outcomes. BPSOs are health-care and academic organizations selected through a request for proposals process. More information about this process is on the BPSO webpage.

IDEAS: Advanced Learning Program – free tuition available; deadline to apply is June 1

The IDEAS program (Improving & Driving Excellence Across Sectors) has opened applications for the 2015/16 accredited Advanced Learning Program. It includes nine days of classroom instruction and group-learning activity spread over five months focused on quality improvement in healthcare, plus support from an advisor to apply the learning to a project. Tuition is covered by IDEAS. Deadline to apply is June 1. Information and how to apply is available at www.ideasontario.ca.

Physician education: CFPC replacing MAINPRO education program with MAINPRO+

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is replacing MAINPRO, its program designed to support professional development for family physicians, with MAINPRO+ this year. Changes include new reporting categories to earn credit for more practice activities and increased accessibility through smartphones and tablets. Click here or watch this video to find out more.

Online Low Back Pain course re-accredited and available until October 7

The Low Back Pain course offered by the Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) has been re-accredited and is available until October 7, 2015 through funding received from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). The online course is available to providers across Canada in both English and French.

Revised CMOH Directive for primary care settings on Ebola virus disease (EVD) control measures

The Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) issued a revised Directive for primary care settings to provide instructions on control measures related to Ebola virus disease (EVD) on April 13. The primary revision in the Directive is with the person protective equipment required for staff in primary care settings who are at risk of exposure to a suspect case of EVD or that case’s environment or waste. If you have any questions or concerns you can contact the Health Care Provider Hotline by phone at 1-866-212-2272 or by email at emergencymanagement.moh@ontario.ca.

New clinical tool for primary care: Preconception Health Care Tool

The MOHLTC has engaged CEP in partnership with the OCFP to develop clinical tools and health information for primary care providers. The first in a series is a Preconception Health Care Tool to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in your practice by guiding discussions of health promotion and illness prevention strategies with patients of reproductive age.

Information to share with Patients: Ontario Health Study and Affordable Housing Consultation

• Ontario Health Study – Local Study Centres increasing access for patients to participate

The Ontario Health Study is setting up temporary study centres in communities across Ontario to sign up new participants and collect blood samples, which will enable researchers to better understand what affects health and quality of life. Primary care providers are asked to share information about the study and the local study centres with patients and facilitate participation if appropriate. To learn more about the study and how you can help, click here. Contact the Ontario Health Study at 1-866-606-0686 or info@ontariohealthstudy.ca.

• Addressing social determinants of health – public consultations to improve access to affordable housing

The province is launching consultations to update their Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy. Given the need for affordable housing and its potential impact on patient health, primary care providers may invite their patients to provide input as well as doing so themselves. The Consultation Discussion Guide outlines the progress of the current strategy, future goals and areas where more input from partners is needed. Participants can submit their views to the government online, by telephone or in writing by July 3, 2015.

Sign up to participate in Data to Decisions (D2D) 2.0. If your team is still considering participating, see the video below to help your team see the value. Teams participating in D2D 2.0 can choose to submit data for one or more indicators, based on your team’s readiness to contribute data. The list and sources of data are outlined in the data dictionary. Some of these indicators require OHIP data from ICES, to access this data fill out the online ICES data request form and submit by April 21, 2015. Why participate: This video was created by your peers to help all team members and decision makers understand how D2D may impact care. Teams may choose to participate in D2D for a variety of reasons. Begin the conversation with your Board and colleagues to see how D2D can benefit your team. Scroll down to see what your peers have to say about their experience with D2D. For more information about the video click here. Next steps: A detailed timeline for participating in D2D 2.0 is available on the AFHTO website along with the D2D 2.0 data dictionary. The most important next steps are:

1. Sign up to contribute data to D2D 2.0 and create a codename to retrieve data from the report once it’s live.
2. Submit the online ICES data request form by April 21, 2015.  You will receive your ICES data by May 17th. Note: A signed version of the form by the ED and Lead Physician of your team is required.  Please scan and email to AFHTO or fax to (416) 920-6556 attention Denise Pinto.
3. The deadline to submit data from all sources via the D2D 2.0 submission platform is May 28, 2015.

For more information contact your QIDS Specialist, the QIDS provincial program or go to the D2D webpage. Additional AFHTO members have shared their experiences participating in D2D:

“I see D2D 2.0 as a unique reflection of interdisciplinary care.  Reporting how we are doing as teams can  help those of us in the trenches measure, improve and ultimately advocate for team-based care across Ontario” Cathy Faulds, lead physician, London FHT

“I see D2D 2.0 as a way to make measurement more reflective of how I work every day with my team and with my patients.  I like the idea of having input into what those measures are.  D2D 2.0 gives me a way to do that” Rob Annis, family physician, Board member North Perth FHT (Listowel) and AFHTO

“D2D 2.0 lets me see how our team stacks up against other teams like us so we can see where the gaps are locally as well as across the province.  This gives me a sense of pride in what we have already been able to achieve — and helps me focus my energy on what is most important” Kavita Mehta, Executive Director of South East Toronto FHT, AFHTO board member

“D2D moves quality improvement to the next level. Optimizing the patient experience happens when we measure the things that are truly meaningful to both patients and their healthcare providers.” Dave Courtemanche, Executive Director, City of Lakes FHT (Sudbury), QIDSS host team

“AFHTO members are delivering great value – D2D 2.0 gives us a way to demonstrate that in a way that we and our partners can see and act on it!” Randy Belair, Executive Director Sunset Country FHT, QIDSS host team, AFHTO president