Do you have concerns about an employee’s performance? As an employer you may need to deal with problems caused by the performance of an employee but you must address this through progressive discipline. Learn more about the steps of progressive discipline from Maria McDonald, Employment Lawyer at Dykeman, Dewhirst and O’Brien – click here.
Blog
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Investigations in the Workplace
Workplace investigations may take many forms and may take place for many reasons – it can be everything from an incident or complaint of harassment, bullying, sexual harassment or discrimination. Do you know how to do a thorough investigation in order to protect yourself and your workplace. Learn more about how to conduct an investigation from Maria McDonald, Employment Lawyer at Dykeman, Dewhirst and O’Brien – click here.
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AFHTO Strategic Plan 2011-13 and FHT Survey Results
This strategic plan charts the next steps in the journey to establish FHTs as a highly-valuable and valued model for delivering primary health care to Ontarians, and to develop the capacity for its representative body, AFHTO, to be their strong and effective voice. A draft plan, built upon the consensus achieved among 150 FHT leaders in November 2009, was sent out to all FHT leaders for consultation at the end of January. On February 9, 2011, about 70 FHT leaders joined a web meeting to learn more about the plan and give initial feedback. This was followed up with a survey sent to all FHT leaders to invite further feedback, and 127 responded. Survey respondents were unanimous in their agreement with the vision, mission, principles and values proposed in the draft strategic plan. The strategic directions and initiatives reflect the priorities indicated by the survey respondents. The speed and strength with which this plan can be implemented fully depends upon the support of FHTs. To access the AFHTO Strategic Plan 2011-13, click here. Survey results are posted on AFHTO’s members-only website. Log in with your FHT’s username and password, then click here to access the survey results.
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Termination of Employment
Termination of employment is one of the most common stresses for employers – do you know the difference of termination ‘with cause’ and ‘without clause’? Learn more about the steps to take when you terminate an employee from Maria McDonald, Employment Lawyer at Dykeman, Dewhirst and O’Brien – click here.
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MOHLTC February 2011 Family Health Team Newsletter
Click here to access the February 2011 edition of “FHT to Print”, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s newsletter for family health teams.
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FHT Leaders’ Response to AFHTO’s Draft Strategic Plan – February 2011 survey results
AFHTO belongs to FHTs and is the voice for FHTs. The AFHTO board of directors therefore engaged FHT leaders in developing a strategic plan, and in finding the way to build AFHTO into a strong and sustainable voice for FHTs. Building on the consensus achieved among 150 FHT leaders in November 2009, the board further developed these ideas into a draft strategic plan. The draft was sent out to all FHTs for consultation via a web meeting in February 2011 with approximately 70 FHTs in attendance to explain the strategic directions of AFHTO. This was followed up with a survey sent to all FHT leaders to invite further feedback, and 127 responded. Click here to see the survey results regarding AFHTO’s vision, mission, principles, values and priority initiatives. Click here to see the survey results regarding FHT engagement and fair and affordable fees.
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How FHT Leaders Interact With One Another – January 2011 survey results
AFHTO’s membership is our strength, and so we have been seeking input from FHT leaders to help determine AFHTO’s path for the next 2-3 years to ensure that it captured and reflected the key priorities shared by FHTs across Ontario. As a first step, we asked FHT leaders to fill out a survey to find out how they were interacting with one another and the media they used to do this. The next step is an AFHTO Strategic Plan Meeting on February 9th, 2011 where we will be asking for feedback from all FHTs. Responses to this initial survey helped us determine the most effective ways to foster and support membership engagement. On January 10th, 2011, an email was sent out to all FHTs in the province inviting them to participate in the survey. By the January 31st deadline, 118 people responded. Click here to see the survey results. Click here to see comments.
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All FHT leaders are invited to give input on AFHTO’s future
A web-based meeting attended by over 70 FHT leaders on February 9 indicated agreement with AFHTO’s general direction. We would like to hear more from you about where we place our priorities and how we resource the work needed to advance them. Whether or not you participated in the web meeting, we invite all FHT leaders to complete a brief survey to give more detailed input on your association’s direction and the ways in which we can power this work through volunteer resources and sustainable infrastructure. The link to the survey was e-mailed to all FHT leaders on February 10. If you missed the survey link, please e-mail caitlin.burgess@afhto.ca to receive it. To download a copy of the draft strategic plan, please click here To view the slides from the February 9 meeting, please click here . AFHTO works with FHTs and for FHTs as the advocate, champion, network and resource centre for this innovative model of care. The draft strategic plan flows from the direction provided by 150 FHT leaders at the AFHTO leadership retreat held in November 2009. It aims to take AFHTO to the next level with the goal of delivering greater value to all members. About two-thirds of the February 9 participants responded to each of the polls conducted at the meeting. These FHT leaders told us:
- All agreed that AFHTO’s vision, mission, principles and values continue to reflect their expectations for their association.
- All agreed that the 10 priority initiatives proposed in the draft strategic plan reflect some or all of the key priorities their FHT holds for AFHTO.
- Four-fifths of those who responded (about half of the group) were willing to volunteer their time to work on AFHTO projects.
- All support AFHTO’s work. Naturally, the level of financial support that individual FHTs are able to provide is mixed. We hope to learn more from you about what is fair and affordable to enable all FHTs to become members in their association.
We look forward to your participation in this survey.
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New Nicotine Replacement Therapy program announced: AFHTO seeks FHT leaders to consult on implementation issues
The Minister of Health Promotion and Sport just announced a new program here. The Ministry of Health’s FHT Unit is sending out a “Question and Answer” package to help staff in FHTs respond to public inquiries about this program. In the next week or two, FHTs that want to participate will be invited to complete and submit an expression of interest document. AFHTO remains committed to work on behalf of its members to address policy and implementation issues, on this program and others. To do this we need help from the field — please let us know if you would like to be part of a small group of FHT leaders who can be called upon to give input and feedback as the implementation plant for the NRT/Smoking Cessation program is developed. Thank you, Dr. John McDonald, President Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario ……………………………………………………………. McGuinty Government Takes Steps To Reduce Costs Of Tobacco-Related Disease Ontario is taking action to address the rising costs of tobacco-related disease on the province’s health care system by expanding services that help smokers quit. Beginning in Spring 2011, participating Family Health Teams will provide access to over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) such as nicotine patches and gum, combined with counselling, at no cost to the smoker. These services are also already available in many Public Health Units, Community Health Centres, Aboriginal Health Access Centres, pharmacies and hospitals. Expanding these services to Family Health Teams will give 20,000 more Ontarians the tools to quit smoking over the next two years, and help the province reduce the $1.93 billion in tobacco-related health care costs. Family Health Teams will work in partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health to:
- Identify, advise and assist current smokers within Family Health Teams
- Offer NRT treatment and expert smoking cessation counselling
- Follow-up with participants to prevent relapses
- Offer additional counselling and follow-up support through the Smokers’ Helpline and online services
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AFHTO is seeking your FHT’s input for the 2011 Strategic Plan
AFHTO works with FHTs and for FHTs as the advocate, champion, network and resource centre for this innovative model of care. Our membership is our strength. We need your help to determine AFHTO’s path for the next 2-3 years to ensure it captures and reflects the key priorities shared by FHTs across Ontario. As a first step, we ask you to help us learn more about how FHT leaders interact with one another and the media you use to do this. Please take a two minute survey; e-mail caitlin.burgess@afhto.ca for the link. For the following step, in the last week of January you will receive a draft set of strategic priorities for AFHTO. We will collect your input and feedback on these priorities over the first three weeks of February. Your responses to the survey above will help us determine the most effective ways to foster and support membership engagement. The draft strategic plan you will receive flows from the direction provided by 150 FHT leaders at the AFHTO leadership retreat fourteen months ago. The plan aims to take AFHTO to the next level with the goal of delivering greater value to all members. AFHTO’s board is currently completing work on this draft. To help facilitate this process over the next 2-3 months, we have added to AFHTO’s staff complement. Caitlin Burgess, who recently worked to help launch one of the Wave 5 FHTs, joins our executive director, Angie Heydon, to assist with membership communications and engagement. We look forward to your participation! Sincerely, Dr. John McDonald AFHTO President On behalf of the AFHTO Board of Directors