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  • Strengthening mental healthcare delivery in primary care

    The OMA and the Primary Care Collaborative have released a joint policy paper with recommendations to strengthen mental healthcare delivery in primary care.

    The rate of new mental health and addiction diagnoses is increasing, exacerbated by the ongoing impacts of the pandemic. Approximately three-quarters of Canadians rely on their primary care provider to address their mental health needs, but there are longstanding system gaps that must be addressed to enhance the ability of primary care doctors to deliver mental health care.

    In a paper, titled Strengthening the delivery of Mental Health and Addiction Services in Primary Care, the Ontario Medical Association and the Primary Care Collaborative have identified the following policy actions that are necessary to ensure greater support for primary care providers and improve care in this crucial area:

    • Enhance primary care’s capacity to offer treatment locally by funding and establishing interprofessional care teams with expertise in treating moderate to severe depression and anxiety
    • Improve the ability of primary care providers to connect their patients who have moderate to severe depression and anxiety to local services by leveraging and expanding the navigation service, Health Connect Ontario
    • Expand access to harm reduction services, such as supervised consumption and treatment sites
    • Implement an Indigenous-led mental health and wellness strategy

    The paper was released on October 3, 2022.

    The full news release can be read here.

     

    About The Primary Care Collaborative
    The Primary Care Collaborative is an alliance of primary care organizations that joined together to collaborate on strengthening primary care as we move toward recovering from the pandemic. It is made up of the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario, the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, the Alliance for Healthier Communities, the Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association, the Ontario College of Family Physicians, and the OMA’s Section on General and Family Practice.

  • Electronic Monitoring Policy

    Organizations with 25 or more employees as of January 1, 2022, must provide employees with an electronic monitoring policy by November 10, 2022. The Ministry of Labour has published guidelines that set out information and their interpretation of the new law.

    Maria McDonald from McDonald HR Law has shared the following with AFHTO to support teams:

    • An E-Alert with more fulsome information on the Electronic Monitoring Policy requirements
    • A sample policy for teams to use as a template.
      • This is very general and only refers to the basic type of monitoring most organizations engage in. If your team already has more specific monitoring practices, that would need to be added to your policy.

    Executives are encouraged to do the following:
    a.    Review the E-Alert
    b.    Review the guidelines
    c.    Consider and outline the types of monitoring your organization does
    d.    Use the sample policy as a template for building your own electronic monitoring policy

     

  • AFHTO reflects on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

    AFHTO reflects on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

    The words are National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on an orange background with feathers to their right. Below it says Before reconcilation must come truth

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Every year, on September 30, we mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and Orange Shirt Day to honour and commemorate survivors and ancestors who were and continue to be impacted by the tragic and painful history of residential schools. The last residential school closed in 1996 and the effects of the system and colonization are still deeply felt in communities today.

    The Orange Shirt represents the stripping away of the freedoms, cultures, and practices experienced by Indigenous children and families and the opportunity to support and honor their healing journey. We keep the reconciliation process alive by commemorating this day.

    AFHTO continues to observe this day of learning, listening, and remembering. Before reconciliation must come truth. We encourage our members to seek understanding about the experiences of Indigenous peoples and recognize that historical and ongoing systemic wrongs have impacts that affects us all.

    Opportunities to learn, support, and show commitment to reconciliation, inclusion, and anti-racism:

    If you have not yet already, enrol in the IPHCC Foundations of Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) e-learning modules to learn the importance of adopting culturally safe and appropriate practices when serving Indigenous clients and patients.

    AFHTO acknowledges that we are on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.

  • AFHTO 2022 Conference: early bird deadline TODAY

    AFHTO 2022 Conference: early bird deadline TODAY

    Reconnect and Reimagine: moving forward together

    Register for #AFHTO2022 -early bird deadline today, Sep. 28!

    New session

    • NE/NW ED networking session added– this session will be held 8:30-9:30 am on Oct. 12 along with those already announced- BSM, Toronto Central and Southwest regions. EDs and Admin Leads can register for them as part of conference registration or update your registration using the link in your confirmation email.

    Program host and other volunteer opportunities
    One of our program hosts had to cancel so we have an opening! These volunteers help keep our sessions on track and get complimentary registration in return. See the role description here and email paula.myers@afhto.ca by this Friday, Sep.30 if you’re interested.

    We also have volunteer opportunities onsite for deeply discounted registration, such as registration desk, attendee assistance at breakfast and lunch and wayfinding. Email us for more information by this Friday, Sep. 30.

    Conference Highlights:

     

    Patients and students welcome! For general information, you can visit our conference page.  

    We look forward to seeing you at the AFHTO 2022 Conference!

    This Group Learning program has been reviewed by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and is awaiting final certification by the College’s Ontario Chapter.

    Canadian College of Health Leaders logo

    MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION
    Attendance at this program entitles certified Canadian College of Health Leaders members (CHE / Fellow) to:
    – Full conference, 2.5 Category II credits
    – On-demand sessions, maximum of 2.75 Category II credits towards their maintenance of certification requirement.

  • Possible mental health and addiction funding for teams

    Dear Executive Directors/Admin Leads,

    As part of the pandemic response, in 2020/21 the Ministry rolled out an initiative that provided interprofessional teams with one-time funding to deal with mental health and addiction (MHA) care backlog in your clinics. Despite the very late roll out of funding it was great to see how so many teams were able to step up and provide much needed support for their patients and their communities.

    We are getting some intel that there may be another MHA one-time investment  again this year – this time with an October 1st to Mach 31st timeframe. The funding would be more substantive and, if approved, could be used to flexibly to support MHA work in your organization, similarly to the last one time investment.  If approved, it could be used for any or all of the following:  

    • hire staff,
    • increase the FTE of current staff,
    • purchase services from publicly funded and/or private MHA providers,
    • overhead costs, administrative and logistics support including space for groups,
    • purchasing of workbooks for patients and other supports that are needed to increase access to MHA support in primary care.

     This funding could also be pooled with other interprofessional teams in your region. This funding would not include an increase in psychiatry sessionals.

    The goal of this funding would be to address the backlog of MHA challenges in the community, but this is still in early discussions and there are no commitments being made yet. We would be interested to know if there are any challenges or barriers (aside from the general HHR shortage), to implementing this type of funding again, should it become available.  As the Ministry continues planning to deal with the increased MHA challenges in the province, we want to ensure that primary care is not forgotten in those discussions. Once we hear something definitively we will let you know.

    Sincerely,
    Your AFHTO Team

  • Bits & Pieces: tomorrow #AFHTO2022 early bird deadline and more

    Bits & Pieces: tomorrow #AFHTO2022 early bird deadline and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Tomorrow is the #AFHTO2022 early bird deadline
    • AFHTO annual report featuring your stories
    • OurCare national survey launched
    • School immunization programs
    • Wellness check: dealing with transitions and managing stress materials
    • Bill 7 implementation memo and more
    • Reminder- UpToDate price changes coming in October
    • Next B&P after #AFHTO2022
    • Feedback requested on new quality standards – surgical site infections and eating disorder
    • Upcoming events including IPAC and more

     

    Tomorrow is the #AFHTO2022 early bird deadline

    AFHTO 2022 Conference logo- background is multicoloured streaks going towards an abstract event horizon

     

    After tomorrow, registration fees increase for both in-person and virtual.

    2021-2022 annual report with afhto logo. Title is reconnect & reimagine: moving forward together. The background colour is a yellow gradient and there are member submitted pictures.

     

     

    AFHTO annual report featuring your stories

    We released our 2022 annual report in the notice for our annual general meeting sent to the triad yesterday. Read for a reflection on the ways primary care teams have continued to rise to current challenges and lead the way in future health and social care delivery.

     

     

     

     

    OurCare national survey launched

    Dr. Tara Kiran, a researcher from MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions (Unity Health Toronto), and St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT physician, is leading an important project on the future of primary care. As part of the project, she is conducting a research survey to hear from people across Canada about their experiences and priorities. Study findings will be shared with policymakers and used to shape a blueprint for the future of primary care in Canada.

    Help the study team hear from as many people as possible. Use these materials to encourage patients and the public to take the 15-minute research survey.

    School immunization programs

    Due to the pandemic, there have been disruptions to school-based vaccine programs in Ontario. The Ministry of Health put out a guidance document to communicate the extended eligibility for publicly funded vaccines for school-based programs and there are informational webinars coming up to learn more about the issue.

    Click here to register for upcoming events and to view resources regarding vaccines for school-aged children.

    Wellness check: dealing with transitions and managing stress materials

    We cohosted this webinar with CMHA on Sep. 15. Due to the sensitive and interactive nature, no recording is available, but you can access the worksheet and other resources here.

    Bill 7 implementation memo and more

    Recent updates include:

    • RE: Bill 7 Implementation to Support Ontario’s Plan to Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery- EN and FR– MLTC, MOH and OH, Sep. 14, 2022
    • Appendix: Summary of ALC Regulation Changes- EN and FR– Sep. 14, 2022
    • LTCH Admissions for ALC Patients Field Guidance for Placement Co-ordinators – EN and FR– Sep. 14, 2022

    We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:

    Reminder- UpToDate price changes coming in October

    AFHTO members are able to save on an individual subscription to UpToDate® and optional add-on products. (*Savings on annual and longer subscriptions only and based on subscription type).

    WoltersKluwer has informed us a price increase will go into effect October 1 for members, so now would be a good time to subscribe.

    EDs and Admin leads, if you need additional information to access these discounts, please email info@afhto.ca.

    Next B&P after #AFHTO2022

    Staff will be busy preparing to welcome you to the conference next week, so the next newsletter will be sent Oct. 18-19, the week after the conference.

    Feedback requested on new quality standards – surgical site infections and eating disorder

    AFHTO 2022 Conference, Oct. 12, 2022

    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. Register with your verification code here.

    Community of Practice: Infection Prevention and Control in Primary Care, Oct. 4- 31, 2022

    Quarterly (CoP) meetings hosted by Public Health Ontario to support Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) programs in Primary Care settings.  

    Sessions will be held on several dates and times for different regions. Find out more here.

    Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, Oct. 14, 2022

    In-person at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Find out more here.

    Social Prescribing Conference: Current Practices & Community Conversations, Oct. 20, 2022
    Virtual conference hosted by the Alliance. Find out more here.

    Practical Evidence for Informed Practice, Oct. 21-22, 2022
    Family medicine rapid fire conference. Find out more here.

  • School Immunization Programs

    Resources

     

    Past Events

    Routine Immunizations For Children And Teens In School: The Current Landscape In Primary Care And Public Health (May 16, 2022)- Click here

    School Immunization Program Crisis: Role of Advocacy and Collaboration 

    Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 7 pm- Click here

    Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 12:00 pm- Click here        

    Objectives:

    • Increase understanding of how you can play a role in eliminating HPV-related cancers in Canada 
    • Understand what is happening with school-based programs across the country 
    • Identify solutions to increasing coverage rates 

    Longwoods Event: Missed Vaccines are Putting our Kids at Increased Risk of Cancer and Meningitis 

    Monday, October 3, 2022, from 1:30-2:30pm  

    The COVID-19 pandemic created a crisis in delivering routine and school-based vaccinations to school-age children, resulting in delayed and missed vaccinations for many children across the country. Join us for a discussion with clinicians and public health experts about how this issue has particularly impacted Ontario and what they think needs to be done to address the problem. Moderated by Kelly Grant, The Globe and Mail. 

    Click here to register.

  • Notice of the AFHTO Annual General Meeting – Oct. 11, 2022

    Dear AFHTO Members:

    This Notice of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) is being emailed to the Board Chair, Executive Director/Administrative Lead, Lead Physician or Clinic Director Nurse Practitioner, of each organization who, according to the AFHTO by-law, is eligible to vote. The AGM will be held before the Fireside Chat with Deputy Minister of Health Catherine Zahn and Ontario Health CEO Matt Anderson on Tuesday, October 11, which is the day before the Annual AFHTO Conference.

    The AGM will be in person and will take place at the following time and location: 

    Tuesday, October 11, 2022
    5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
    Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen Street West
    Chestnut Room

    Each AFHTO team-based model of care member is entitled to designate one voting representative for the AGM. The member Board Chair has the right to appoint any person associated with their organization as the voting delegate.

    Please e-mail beth.mackinnon@afhto.ca by end of day (EOD) Thursday, October 6 to indicate who will be voting as representative of your organization at the AGM. Voting delegates will be required to check-in and confirm their registration before the meeting to receive their package and voting keypad. (Walk-in registrations will be accommodated.)

    For teams that are unable to attend the AGM in person, you can submit a proxy ballot with your vote to kavita.mehta@afhto.ca by EOD Thursday, October 6.

    The agenda and accompanying reports are below. The AFHTO Board will present the following at the AGM:

    • 2022 AFHTO Annual Report to the members
    • AFHTO’s financial report, including the audited statements for the fiscal year 2021/2022
    • Updated AFHTO By-Law No. 11
    • Proposed acclamation of five Board Directors

    There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions and share ideas. You are also welcome to send me your comments, questions, or ideas in advance.

    On behalf of the AFHTO Board, we look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

    Sincerely,
    Kavita Mehta
    Chief Executive Officer

    AGM documents:

  • AFHTO 2022 Conference: ONE week to early bird deadline

    AFHTO 2022 Conference: ONE week to early bird deadline

    Reconnect and Reimagine: moving forward together

    Register for #AFHTO2022 before Sep. 28!

    Sylvia Jones is smiling, has a bob and is wearing glasses, pastel pink jacket and black top.

     

     

     

    We are pleased to welcome Ontario’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones to the AFHTO conference this year. She will provide some opening remarks and then stay to help hand out the awards at the Bright Lights Awards Ceremony. Come and celebrate the amazing work led by our teams over the last year!

     

     

     

    Going Hybrid- what does it mean?

    Virtual In-person

    Register today!

    New sessions

    • Three ED networking sessions will be held 8:30-9:30 am on Oct. 12- BSM, Toronto Central and Southwest regions. EDs and Admin Leads can register for them as part of conference registration or update your registration using the link in your confirmation email.

    Sessions filling up
    Some concurrent sessions are nearly full. If you’ve already registered and haven’t picked your sessions yet, don’t hesitate- do it now before your preferred session is gone!

    Program host and other volunteer opportunities
    One of our program hosts had to cancel so we have an opening! These volunteers help keep our sessions on track and get complimentary registration in return. See the role description here and email paula.myers@afhto.ca if you’re interested.

    We also have volunteer opportunities onsite for deeply discounted registration, such as registration desk, attendee assistance at breakfast and lunch and wayfinding. Email us for more information.

    Conference Highlights:

     

    Patients and students welcome! For general information, you can visit our conference page.  

    We look forward to seeing you at the AFHTO 2022 Conference!

  • Bits & Pieces: UpToDate price change and more

    Bits & Pieces: UpToDate price change and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • UpToDate price changes coming in October
    • Welcome to Veronica Jiang
    • Member stories
    • #AFHTO2022 updates- ED networking sessions and more
    • Long COVID materials and more
    • WSIB health and safety rebates are available – and they’re doubled for 2022!
    • Ministry and Ontario Health updates- MH data and substance use treatment
    • Toronto Geriatrics Update Course, Nov. 4, 2022
    • Upcoming events including Indigenous Cultural Safety and more

    UpToDate price changes coming in October

    AFHTO members are able to save on an individual subscription to UpToDate® and optional add-on products. (*Savings on annual and longer subscriptions only and based on subscription type).

    WoltersKluwer has informed us a price increase will go into effect October 1 for members, so now would be a good time to subscribe.

    EDs and Admin leads, if you need additional information to access these discounts, please email info@afhto.ca.

    Veronica

    Welcome to Veronica Jiang

    We’re happy to introduce Veronica Jiang, our new Manager, Finance and Corporate Affairs.
    After graduating from the University of Windsor, Veronica worked in both not-for-profit and financial service industries. She gained experience in reporting and compliance requirements for not-for-profit organizations in the Association of Ontario Midwives and Junior Achievement of Canada.

    Veronica takes pride in providing the best fund valuation, investment information reporting, and revenue governance services to institutional investors through her employment at CIBCMellon. Over the years, Veronica expanded her expertise to the areas of corporate finance, budgeting and forecasting, financial investment instruments, and data management. She is a lifelong learner, and her career ambition is to eliminate redundancy and manual input with the most cost-efficient technology.

    Welcome, Veronica to the team!

    Member stories

    Arnprior and District FHT and Ottawa Valley FHT – Family health team expansion in the works for Carleton Place

    Queen’s FHT – how system navigator Valerie Dewal, RN, helps high-needs patients through their health-care journeys (article in FLA OHT newsletter)

    #AFHTO2022 updates- ED networking sessions and more

    Reconnect and Reimagine: moving forward together

    Long COVID materials and more

    Recent updates include:

    We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:

    WSIB health and safety rebates are available – and they’re doubled for 2022!

    To help smaller businesses (businesses with 1-99 full-time employees) recover from the pandemic, the WSIB is doubling the rebates through their Health and Safety Excellence program this year – and they’re giving businesses $1,000 towards their health and safety plan!

    EDs/Admin Leads, lead clinicians and board chairs can join for a webinar on Thursday, September 22 from 12-1pm to learn more about the program benefits and how investing in health and safety keeps your employees safe and can boost your bottom line. Check out WSIB’s website for more information and click here to register for the webinar.

    Ministry and Ontario Health updates- MH data and substance use treatment

    Toronto Geriatrics Update Course, Nov. 4, 2022

    Content provided by Sinai Health and University Health Network and Dr. Samir K. Sinha (edited for length)

    You are invited to attend our 10th Annual CME Course, which has been designed to provide primary care providers and health care professionals with the latest practical and evidence-based knowledge in providing geriatric care. We are bringing back the highly requested Top 10 Geriatric Medicine Articles, as well as providing you with Updates on MAID, tools on how to Navigate a Cognitive Assessment, and lots of other surprises from well renowned professionals! You don’t want to miss this one.

    This year’s course will once again be delivered virtually. Just note that the day will run from 8:40 AM – 3:30 PM EDT.

    Registration is Open! Scholarships are also available to ensure this can be an accessible event. Please contact us if you need assistance.

    For further information, please visit our website. View the agenda here.

    Introduction to ICS: What It Is and Why It’s Important, Sep. 22, 2022
    First of a three-part webinar series, which will aim to provide OHTs with the knowledge and skills necessary to meaningfully engage and include Indigenous organizations and communities in the planning, design, delivery, and evaluation of health services. The first webinar will focus on the foundations of Indigenous Cultural Safety, in recognition that learning to apply culturally safe care is lifelong. Register here.

    Community of Practice: Infection Prevention and Control in Primary Care, Oct. 4- 31, 2022

    Quarterly (CoP) meetings hosted by Public Health Ontario to support Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) programs in Primary Care settings.  

    Sessions will be held on several dates and times for different regions. Find out more here.

    AFHTO 2022 Conference, Oct. 12, 2022

    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. Register with your verification code here.

    Social Prescribing Conference: Current Practices & Community Conversations, Oct. 20, 2022
    Virtual conference hosted by the Alliance. Find out more here.

    Practical Evidence for Informed Practice, Oct. 21-22, 2022
    Family medicine rapid fire conference. Find out more here.