Blog

The AFHTO Leadership Council met on June 14, 2022. Below are highlights from the spring 2022 council meeting, projects that are underway, and links to useful resources, including last week’s webinar on the Working for Workers Act.

Compensation Markey Review in Primary and Community Care

• We know that compensation rates across teams is a huge concern. Primary and community care providers/staff are underfunded compared to other areas of the healthcare sector, and funding for these roles has not kept up with inflation and cost of living increases.
• AFHTO has begun work with 10 other associations to provide recommendations to government on reasonable and fair compensation in the sector, outside of acute care.
• Our RFP has been issued, and a vendor is expected to be confirmed in August. The market review work will be complete in November. A summary of the work will be shared with members shortly.

Vaccine Update in Primary Care

• AFHTO received an update from the ministry last week on vaccines in primary care, including those given to Indigenous communities.
• The Primary Care COVID Vaccine Update can be read here. If you are experiencing any challenges with vaccines in your community, please let us know.

FHT Contract Consultation

• FHT 2018-2022 contracts have been extended to March 2023, and AFHTO will be providing recommendations on an updated contract to the ministry in the fall.
• There are now three working groups discussing the top three areas for modernization in the contract and who will be finalizing recommendations: governance, performance and accountability, and FHT/physician affiliation.
• AFHTO will keep members apprised of this work and may reach out for more input. Stay tuned for more details!

AFHTO Conference and Bright Lights Submissions

• The AFHTO conference is on October 12, and nominations are now open for the Bright Lights Awards. Awards will be presented at the conference – which will be hybrid this year! – and fall in the conference themes:
  • It takes a team: collaboration inside and out
  • Health equity at the centre
  • Sustainable solutions to primary care problems
  • Mental health and addictions
  • Special recognition for underrepresented teams
• Please check out the Bright Lights Nomination guide here!
• Any questions, members are welcome to contact Paula Myers.

Provincial and Federal Advocacy

• The 2022 election is done, and a majority progressive conservative government has been elected. AFHTO looks forward to continuing our work with them. We expect to learn who the next health minister is shortly and will begin outreach this summer.
• Thank you to all members for your excellent local advocacy. We encourage you to congratulate your MPP on their (re)election and begin/continue relationship building.
• Please share any stories and pictures from the election with Beth MacKinnon to support AFHTO’s central advocacy.
• AFHTO will be starting federal advocacy to encourage prioritization of funding to team-based primary care in Ontario. This advocacy will begin this summer.

Resource Library Refresh

• AFHTO is updating our members’ resource library with samples of by-laws, policy manuals, strategic plans, agreements, and more. Many of the samples we post are contributed by members for members, so we need your help!
• If you have any resources or tools you are willing to share with other teams, please send them to us or to the member on our leadership council who will be reaching out to you. Stay tuned!
• Members with any questions are welcome to contact Bryn Hamilton.

Increase in Nurse Practitioners’ Scope of Practice

• As of July 1, 2022, nurse practitioners will see an increase in their scope allowing them to order computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
• NPs will now have the ability to:
  • Refer individuals to the Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) and the High-Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP)
  • Manage unattached OBSP participants with abnormal results
  • Authorize OBSP sites to arrange all assessment tests required for OBSP participants
• NPs have been able to provide colonoscopy referrals for the ColonCancerCheck (CCC) program, but if they would like to be added to the OH list of providers who can support patients with an abnormal FIT result who does not have a primary care provider, they can put their names on the CCC attachment form.
• Here are the slide deck and one-pager from Ontario Health for more information. Please share this with the NPs and other members on your team.  

Managing Risk Post Pandemic

• As the insurance industry experienced high claims during the pandemic, renewing in 2022 will be met with increased premiums and changes to policy packages. Sourcing for insurance that meets a primary care team’s need within its budget can be cumbersome. Working with an insurance broker can help a team compare its existing policy against what’s available on the market and to get an affordable renewal premium rate.
• Starting the renewal process at least two months in advance of the coverage expiry gives enough time to evaluate the team’s insurance requirements and the quotes received.
• To connect with an insurance broker or if you have any questions, please reach out to Sombo Saviye.

Update on Temporary Retention Incentive for Nurses

• Roll-out on this funding is slow but the ministry has told AFHTO it is a priority. They’re working on a funding package for approval by the minister, once appointed, as quickly as possible.
• While timing is not confirmed, the ministry anticipates it may be late summer before nurses begin to see this first payment. The second payment would be in the fall.

Mental Health Supports for Healthcare Providers

• Ontario Health has started providing bilingual mental health and wellness supports for healthcare workers, a collection of services alongside the Ontario Psychological Association.
• Frontline workers can self-refer to one of the five mental health hospitals where they will be matched with a social worker or psychotherapist for up to 6 sessions of 1-1 therapy. If they are deemed to require more sessions or may be best served by a psychologist/PA by the hospitals, the patient may be referred to an OPA psychologist for 8 (up to 12 sessions) of therapy covered by MOH. Check out their digital toolkit.
• CMHA has also launched Your Health Space, a free mental health program designed to support healthcare organizations in addressing burnout and promoting psychological health and safety in the workplace.

Working for Workers Act: Tools and Recording from Webinar

• Maria McDonald from McDonald HR Law joined members of AFHTO, the Alliance, and the NPLCA on June 16 to review and answer questions on the “Working for Workers Act: What Employers Need to Know.”
• The slide deck, recording, and draft policy can be seen here.

Other Webcasts and Supports

• Upcoming webinars can be seen here. Check them out and share with your staff!
• Don’t forget to check out our website for COVID-19 tools and supports, as needed.

Apply to Join AFHTO’s Board of Directors!

• Members are encouraged to apply to become a board member of AFHTO. There are four 3-year terms open and one 1-year term.
• To apply, please complete this survey and send your CV to Beth MacKinnon. The deadline is July 29.
• We encourage you share this invitation with all board members, physicians, and IHPs on your team. Three people on AFHTO’s board can also be non-AFHTO members.

Apply to join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council!

• There are several openings on AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council. A call has gone out in our weekly newsletter today, and members will also see an email on this soon.
• EDs and admin leads are asked to encourage IHPs on their team to apply.
• Any interested IHP is asked to complete this survey by July 29 and can contact Beth MacKinnon with any questions. More information is here.

Thank you for the great work you all do, and please let us know if there are any other ways in which we can support you. We hope you all find a bit of down time this summer for some much-deserved rest.

Sincerely,
Your AFHTO Team