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Changes to Nurse Practitioners’ (NPs) practice resulting from legislative amendments will take effect on Oct. 1, 2011; therefore, the College of Nurses of Ontario has released a new Nurse Practitioner practice standard, which includes new expectations for NP practice. Visit www.cno.org/np to download a copy of the new practice standard and to read other information related to the changes to NP practice, including frequently asked questions and NP practice resources. For an overview of changes to nursing practice, go to  http://www.cno.org/en/what-is-cno/regulation-and-legislation/legislation-governing-nursing/faq-bill-179/

Click here to access an update bulletin from MOHLTC’s Primary Health Care Branch on the NPAR pilot project.

By January 1st, 2012 Family Health Teams must comply with the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service. The information below is provided for your reference, from MOHLTC’s FHT to Print newsletter, Winter 2011 edition. In addition, click here for  a brief, practical, self-assessment tool intended to assist primary health care settings to increase their awareness of the needs of disabled patients, and to enhance accessibility in the practice. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) is legislation that sets out specific standards of accessibility in a number of key areas. The Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, Ontario Regulation 429/07, is the first standard to be developed under the AODA. Effective Dates The customer service standard designates that Family Health Teams must comply with the standard by January 1st, 2012. Additionally, FHTs with 20 or more employees will have to file online accessibility reports. FHTs with fewer than 20 employees are currently exempt from filling out the report, but must still comply with the standard. Types of Accessibility When thinking about accessibility in primary care clinics, physical space is what usually comes to mind first. However, there are four broad areas of accessibility to consider: 1. Physical: The space should allow for disabled patients to freely enter and move around in the practice; 2. Attitudinal: The level of service provided at the clinic should be proportionate with the needs and abilities of the patients; 3. Expertise: FHT staff a should have an understanding and awareness of disability and its effect on the clinic and practice; and 4. Systemic: FHT policies, practices and procedures (both formal and informal) should be designed with the following four principles in mind: independence, dignity, integration and equal opportunity. Step by Step: Meeting the requirements of the customer service standard There are 11 compliance requirements associated with the Standards, with an additional three for providers with 20+ employees. Please refer to the Guide to Accessibility Standards for Customer Service for a complete listing. Here is a quick overview with additional detail in the links below.  Establish policies, practices and procedures related to providing services to persons with disabilities. They should be consistent with the principles of dignity, independence, integration and equality of opportunity.  Develop a policy for dealing with various assistive devices/methods used by persons with disabilities.  Develop a strategy for communicating with people with various disabilities (i.e. in person, over the phone or online).  Allow persons with disabilities to be accompanied by service animals as well as support persons.  Provide advance notice of any situation where admission fees would be charged for a support person.  Provide notice when facilities or services that persons with disabilities rely on are temporarily disrupted.  Establish a training program and train staff on accessibility and customer service.  Establish a feedback process on how you provide services to persons with disabilities.  FHTs with 20 or more employees must prepare documentation on accessibility standards.

Family Health Team membership in AFHTO surpassed the 90% mark as of in the last week of September.  171 of Ontario’s 186 FHTs have now joined. AFHTO is the voice for Family Health Teams (FHTs) in this province.

The purpose of this AFHTO-OMA collaboration is to inform both associations on the experience of physicians working in this model, and gain insight into their needs, ideas, issues and concerns.  The results will be released as part of a joint OMA/AFHTO presentation and discussion at the AFHTO 2011 Conference on Oct. 26. FHT physicians will receive the link to the on-line survey from the Lead Physician or ED of your FHT. If you have not received this link, please send an e-mail to info@afhto.ca . Please include your name and the name of the FHT in which you practice in order to receive the link. Responses must be submitted by Sunday, October 16. Thank you for your assistance, and we hope to see you at the AFHTO conference. Sincerely, Dr. John McDonald                                                               Dr. Stewart Kennedy President                                                                               President Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario                   Ontario Medical Association Lead physician, PrimaCare FHT, Paris                               Physician, Harbourview FHT, Thunder Bay