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  • AFHTO Annual Meeting takes place Wednesday October 15, 2014 at 9:00AM

    All who work within an AFHTO member organization or serve on its board are welcome to attend the AFHTO Annual Meeting. It takes place just before the official opening of the AFHTO 2014 Conference, on:

    Wednesday October 15, 2014 at 9:00AM Harbour Ballroom A+B, Westin Harbour Castle One Harbour Square, Toronto, Ontario.

    At this Annual Meeting, the AFHTO board will present its Annual Report to the Members.

    • Click here for a PDF copy of the Annual Report.
    • A print copy of the Annual Report will be mailed to each member organization, and conference attendees will receive a copy in their registration kits.
    • Further updates will be provided at the meeting, with particular focus on AFHTO’s work on recruitment and retention and on promoting the value of comprehensive interprofessional primary care.

    The meeting also includes a report on AFHTO’s financial outlook, in addition to the annual Audited Financial Statements, as well as the board’s Nominations Report and acclamation of five new board of directors. These reports are attached. There will be plenty of opportunity for AFHTO members to ask questions and present opinions. Each AFHTO member organization is entitled to designate one voting representative for the meeting.  Voting delegates will be required to register before the meeting to receive their voting card. The Notice of Meeting, agenda and reports for AFHTO’s Annual Meeting have been sent to the e-mail addresses AFHTO has on file for the Board Chair, Executive Director and Lead MD/NP of these eligible organizations. AFHTO members may request this package from Sombo.Saviye@afhto.ca. Each member organization is asked to contact her in advance to indicate who will be the organization’s voting representative so that a voting package can be prepared in advance for that person.

  • AFHTO’s 2014 Annual Report to the Members is now available

    The 2014 Annual Report gives insight into the progress of AFHTO members – family health teams and nurse practitioner-led clinics – collectively supported by their association, to move toward their shared vision. This is a vision where all Ontarians would have timely access to high-quality and comprehensive primary care, and that care is informed by the social determinants of health, delivered by collaborative teams in partnership with patients and communities, and anchored in an integrated, equitable and sustainable system. The association’s achievements are firmly grounded in AFHTO’s strategic priorities.  These priorities are squarely focused on ensuring members are supported in all the key factors required to optimize quality and value – governance and leadership, measurement and improvement, integration and support for care delivery, and the ability to recruit and retain staff. Read about the past year’s achievements in each of these strategic priorities – click on the link to go to AFHTO’s 2014 Annual Report to the Members.

  • D2D 1.0 Interactive Report – released October 2014

    Click here for orientation and supporting materials for D2D 1.0. [excel_webapp]  

  • D2D 1.0 Interactive Report – Orientation Materials

    Click here to launch D2D 1.0 and join the journey to better data and more manageable, meaningful measurement in primary care. Data to Decisions 1.0: Advancing Primary Care is a summary of performance on 11 indicators that were both possible to measure and meaningful to members, based on a membership-wide vote and a variety of other consultation processes.  The report contains data voluntarily submitted from 50 teams.  It is AFHTO’s first step in advancing manageable, meaningful measurement in primary care.

    Orientation to Data to Decisions (D2D) 1.0 and supporting materials

    Why D2D 1.0?

    Measuring our performance helps us demonstrate the value of patient-centered, relationship-based comprehensive primary care.  It helps us fulfill our commitment to our patients by helping us find the gaps locally AND provincially so we can direct the attention of our funders and partners to work with our members to improve the system.  Measurement also helps us use our resources (especially the QIDSS) to develop processes and tools that can help ALL primary care providers use manageable and meaningful measurement to improve quality.

    How was D2D 1.0 developed?

    D2D 1.0 was approved for implementation by the AFHTO board in Feb, 2014.  The project was guided by the Indicators Working Group (IWG), a sub-committee of the Quality Improvement Decision Support program’s Steering Committee (QSC), chaired by Ross Kirkconnell.  The IWG, under the leadership of Monique Hancock, undertook an extensive consultation process to narrow the selection of indicators from the starting place of the Primary Care Performance Framework and Starfield Model (which together comprise hundreds of indicators) down to the 11 seen in the current report, based on input from members of AFHTO in various forums.  Please see FAQ for more detailed discussion about the selection and production process.

    Orientation to D2D 1.0:

    See figures below (click to enlarge).

    orientation to d2d 1.0_1

    orientation to d2d 1.0_2

    Resources to support the use of D2D 1.0

    Supporting materials embedded in the report:

    For each indicator, there are supporting materials with more detailed information about the definition of the indicator, considerations for interpretation of the data, suggestions for evaluating and improving data quality and resources to help with efforts to improve care. The materials are intended to be used by any and all staff of member organizations to start conversations with their teams and their peers.  The ideas for actions presented in the supporting materials are just that – ideas!  AFHTO members are at different stages in their performance measurement journey.  For some, the next steps forward are conversations with Board members or clinical leaders to create forums for consideration of quality measures.  For others, the next steps might be attempts to extract EMR data and for still others, the next step might be the implementation of a new clinical program.  The goal of D2D 1.0 is to support members in taking action wherever they are at with whoever they can to step towards manageable meaningful measurement.  Any step is the right step!

    Videos:

    Short videos (2-15 minutes) for use by AFHTO member staff to better understand the tool and/or share with Board members or others

     

    Anonymous feedback survey:

    D2D 1.0 is about getting started.  We need to know from you what is working and what needs to change to make D2D 2.0 easier and more meaningful.  So in addition to the on-line forums, please feel click on complete this survey to provide your anonymous feedback about D2D 1.0 and what would make it more useful for your team.   The survey will be monitored by AFHTO staff on an ongoing basis to capture your input for planning for D2D 2.0.

    Contact information:

    Please contact Carol Mulder, QIDS Provincial Lead, with any questions, comments or suggestions.

  • Data to Decisions 1.0 report launches TODAY! Join the Webinar Today (Oct 1, 4 – 5 pm) or tomorrow (Oct 2, 12-1 pm)

    The on-line tool — Data to Decisions 1.0: Advancing Primary Care (D2D 1.0) – has been posted on the AFHTO’s members-only website.

    D2D 1.0 is a summary of primary care data that are currently available, comparable and mean the most to AFHTO members in their efforts to advance quality of care for their patients.  The report displays data submitted anonymously by 50 teams.  It can be used by ALL members – whether or not your team has contributed data. The report is accompanied by a suite of supporting materials to help teams use the data to advance their work to improve quality for their patients.

    Join the webinar this afternoon or tomorrow (Oct 1, 4-5 pm or Oct 2, 12-1 pm) for more information and education on using D2D 1.0 in your team.   Click on links below to register for one of the two sessions:

    • Wed., Oct 1, 2014,4:00 – 5:00 PM EDT
    • Thurs., Oct 2, 2014, 12:00 noon – 1:00 PM EDT

    Click here to view the slides from the webinar.

    Additional education opportunities include:

  • Data to Decisions 1.0 report launches TODAY! Join the Webinar Today (Oct 1, 4 – 5 pm) or tomorrow (Oct 2, 12-1 pm)

    The on-line tool — Data to Decisions 1.0: Advancing Primary Care (D2D 1.0) – has been posted on the AFHTO’s members-only website. D2D 1.0 is a summary of primary care data that are currently available, comparable and mean the most to AFHTO members in their efforts to advance quality of care for their patients.  The report displays data submitted anonymously by 50 teams.  It can be used by ALL members – whether or not your team has contributed data. The report is accompanied by a suite of supporting materials to help teams use the data to advance their work to improve quality for their patients. Join the webinar this afternoon or tomorrow (Oct 1, 4-5 pm or Oct 2, 12-1 pm) for more information and education on using D2D 1.0 in your team.   Click on links below to register for one of the two sessions:

    • Wed., Oct 1, 2014,4:00 – 5:00 PM EDT
    • Thurs., Oct 2, 2014, 12:00 noon – 1:00 PM EDT

    Click here to view the slides from the webinar. Additional education opportunities include:

  • Patient experience: time spent

    Click on the following links to access: 1. Technical notes 2. Interpretive notes 3. Data quality actions – Actions and ideas to consider and discuss with clinical leads and other members of the team 4. Potential actions related to processes of care – Actions and ideas to consider and discuss with clinical leads and other members of the team Note: The files linked above are updated regularly. Please refresh your internet browser to clear its memory, this will ensure that you see the most updated material. Most internet browsers will save a copy of the PDF file and show you an out of date version. Please see the Members-only page of AFHTO web site for online forums specific to each indicator so that members can share with and learn from others working on similar issues.

  • What the mandate for Minister of Health and Long-Term Care means for AFHTO members

    This afternoon the Premier publicly released the mandate letters sent to each of her Ministers.  These letters outline the specific priorities that each member of cabinet and their ministry will focus on. The mandate letter addressed to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care begins by pointing out government’s overall priorities, i.e. growing the economy, creating jobs, fiscal prudence. The Health Minister is specifically mandated to “lead the shift toward a sustainable, accountable system that provides co-ordinated quality care to people, when and where they need it.” The priorities named in the Health Minister’s letter include: “Bringing forward a plan to ensure that every Ontarian who wants one has a primary care provider.” The Liberal election platform articulated that one of the steps needed to make this a reality is to “Improve the recruitment and retention of community-based primary care teams.”  AFHTO continues to press this commitment, working in an environment where the Treasury Board President’s mandate letter says, “You will help ensure that any modest wage increases negotiated are absorbed by employers within Ontario’s existing fiscal plan through efficiency and productivity gains, or other trade-offs, so that service levels continue to meet the public’s needs.”

    The Health Minister’s mandate letter provides the possibility for the role of primary care to be strengthened. Statements include:

    • You will foster collaboration across the system and make the necessary trade-offs to shift spending to where Ontario will get the best value for our health care dollars — which must be shared between our health system partners.
    • Ensuring that patients receive timely access to the most appropriate care in the most appropriate place — and that the needs of Ontario’s patients are at the centre of the system.
    • Championing the delivery of quality co-ordinated care to patients by making the best use of the skills and capacity of all our health care providers, hospitals, community clinics and organizations, long-term care homes and others. You will take the lead in ensuring that changes are informed by evidence — and that Ontario’s precious health care dollars improve quality of care and health outcomes for patients and families.
    • Continuing to ensure that our system has the health human resources it requires to deliver quality and efficient care. This includes exploring appropriate expanded scope of practice for providers and more models for collaborative care.

    While primary care is not specifically named in these statements, AFHTO believes the strength of evidence that investment in a strong primary care system leads to better health and lower costs, combined with the evidence we anticipate will emerge as we progress with our “Data to Decisions: Advancing Primary Care” initiative, give us ample opportunity to build the strength of our sector. “Accountability and transparency” is a strong theme throughout the letter. One of the many references states:

    • You will now work with them (health care administrators, institutions and providers), as outlined below, to continue to drive accountability, transparency and quality throughout the system, while limiting expenditure growth.
    •  One of the outlined specifics is “Exploring options to further strengthen the framework for ensuring that the community sector and LHIN-funded health service providers are accountable for delivering quality patient care, including expanding the Excellent Care for All Act.”

    AFHTO is well-positioned to address these issues with and on behalf of members.  We have already begun to work with the leaders of our member FHTs and NPLCs to develop a common statement of principles and priorities for governance and accountability. This will guide our continuing work to advocate for our members and be a resource to support you. We look forward to receiving responses to our leadership survey from board chairs, lead MDs/NPs and executive directors, and building from the results at our Toward the Next Ministry Contract session immediately before the AFHTO conference.

  • AFHTO 2014 Conference: Minister & keynote speakers confirmed; Registration still open

    We are very pleased to welcome the Hon. Dr. Eric Hoskins and other keynote speakers: Special Keynote: Hon. Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Speaker - Opening Plenary - Minister Eric Hoskins - small for webDr. Eric Hoskins was first elected to the Ontario legislature as the MPP for St. Paul’s in 2009. He was re-elected in 2011 and 2014. Minister Hoskins currently serves as Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. He was appointed as Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Employment in February 2013. He has previously served as Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Minister Hoskins is also a renowned humanitarian, family doctor and a proud Ontarian with a long and dedicated record of public service.   Opening Plenary: “In Partnership with Patients” Wednesday, October 15, 2014 from 12:00 PM to 1:45 PM Speaker - Opening Plenary - Sholom Glouberman - small for web Dr. Sholom Glouberman, President of Patients Canada Dr. Sholom Glouberman, President of Patients Canada and Philosopher-in-Residence at Toronto’s Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, will lead conference participants in a thought-provoking exercise designed to prepare you for the conference sessions ahead and challenge you to think differently about how we plan and deliver primary care. Dr. Sholom Glouberman is a well-respected and knowledgeable health care systems policy analyst and teacher, and he is the president and founder of Patients Canada. In 2005, Sholom underwent a major surgical procedure and became a patient. He thought he could manage his experience as a patient in the system, but he was wrong. He now works to create a whole new education for patients – however sophisticated they are – to cope with the complexities and difficulties posed by being a patient in the system for any length of time. He believes that strengthening the patient voice is critical to improving everyone’s healthcare experience. Closing Plenary: “In partnership with patients: How far have we come? How far must we go?” Thursday, October 16, 2014 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Ask the experts:  What do patients think about the innovations and knowledge shared at this “In Partnership with Patients” conference?  A group of thoughtful and articulate patients will join Sholom Glouberman, President of Patients Canada, and Cathy Fooks, CEO of the Change Foundation and senior health leaders to reflect on what they saw and heard in the conference sessions. From their perspective – Where did they see promising progress? What is their advice for strengthening the patient-provider partnership and optimizing the patient experience? Click here for plenary description and further details. Register for the AFHTO Conference today!

    We look forward to seeing you there!

  • Data to Decisions 1.0 report launches Oct.1: Sign up now for interactive info sessions

    The on-line tool — Data to Decisions 1.0: Advancing Primary Care (D2D 1.0) — will be launched on AFHTO’s members-only website on October 1st. D2D 1.0 is a summary of primary care data that are currently available, comparable and mean the most to AFHTO members in their efforts to advance quality of care for their patients.  The report displays data submitted anonymously by 50 teams.  It can be used by ALL members – whether or not your team has contributed data. The report will be accompanied by a suite of supporting materials to help teams use the data to advance their work to improve quality for their patients. Register now for information and education on using D2D 1.0 in your team.

    • Pre-conference professional session:
      • Open to physicians and Quality Improvement Decision Support Specialists (QIDSS) registered to attend the AFHTO conference
      • Wed., Oct 15, 2014, 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon
      • Introduces physicians to D2D 1.0, with QIDSS co-facilitating
      • Click here for more information

    To help evaluate the impact of D2D 1.0 and to design additional supporting materials to further fuel local QI efforts, we are also sending out a “baseline” survey to EDs, to be completed in consultation with their clinical leaders.  An advisory panel of AFHTO members will also provide additional feedback regarding the content of supporting materials to help AFHTO members use the report to full advantage.