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  • Bits & Pieces: 2023 Ontario budget and more

    Bits & Pieces: 2023 Ontario budget and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Overview of the 2023 Ontario government budget
    • Farewell to Abisola Otepola
    • PCC submission re Bill 60, Your Health Act, 2023
    • Reminder- CPS Full Access free trial ends April 1
    • Chronic noncancer pain management: Integration of a nurse-led program in primary care
    • Upcoming events including DFCM New Horizons Speaker Series with Dr. Kwame McKenzie, and more

    Overview of the 2023 Ontario government budget

    Last Thursday the government released their 2023 Ontario Budget, Building a Strong Ontario. This budget was largely a reinforcement of “Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care”. Introduced in February 2023, it focused on three pillars: The Right Care in the Right Place, Faster Access to Care, and Hiring More Health Care Workers.

    Most relevant, the provincial budget recommitted to connect Ontarians to additional primary care teams by investing $60 million over two years. We have confirmed this is the same $30 million that was announced in February, carried over 2 years resulting in a total investment of $60 million dollars. While this is a step in the right direction, we are disappointed there was not more of a commitment over the longer term.

    The health human resources crisis that currently exists was acknowledged through additional investments in nursing, medical school education and home care, but none were made for primary care nor any mention of dropping the appeal to retain Bill 124. However, much needed support in mental health and addictions was welcomed. Read full details on our site.

    Abisola Otepola

    Farewell to Abisola Otepola

    It is with genuinely mixed feelings we announce that Abisola Otepola will be leaving AFHTO for new opportunities.

    Abisola has been with AFHTO since last May as Director of Policy and Stakeholder Relations. Many have you had the pleasure of working with her as she has led our efforts on the compensation review and IHP guidance document, details of which are to be released soon.

    We’re going to miss Abisola but know she will bring so much to her future endeavours. Please join us in giving her our sincerest best wishes. Her last day with AFHTO will be April 14 – any questions related to her work can be directed to info@afhto.ca.

    PCC submission re Bill 60, Your Health Act, 2023

    On Mar. 27, members of the PCC including AFHTO presented our submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy on Bill 60, Your Health Act, 2023. “We are committed to working with the government on health policy that will uphold the principles necessary to provide Ontarians with the care they need. This submission highlights further clarification and recommendations regarding Bill 60 to ensure an equitable and sustainable approach to the delivery of care provided under this act.” Read the submission here.

    Reminder- CPS Full Access free trial ends April 1

    On Feb. 23, we sent an email, “Introducing our new benefit- discount on CPS Full Access”, to all member EDs and Admin Leads. If you spend time clarifying prescriptions, use CPS Full Access, a Canadian-developed platform that features up-to-date Canadian information such as:

    • Current drug shortages.
    • Health Canada–approved product names, indications, dosing and patient information.
    • Warnings, recalls and safety alerts.
    • Evidence-based therapeutic content and algorithms.
    • Drug tables with price ranges.  

    This is a reminder that the free trial expires April 1. After that, members can get a 40% discount. Login information for the trial is available on our site at the triad level only (i.e., accessible just to EDs/Admin Leads, lead clinicians and board members). This benefit is being offered on a trial basis for a year, at which time we will assess participation rates. If you have any questions, please feel free to email info@afhto.ca.

    Chronic noncancer pain management: Integration of a nurse-led program in primary care

    Problem addressed Chronic noncancer pain is often excessively managed with medications (most notably opioids) instead of nonpharmacologic options or multidisciplinary care—the gold standards.

    Objective of program To offer an effective alternative to pharmacologic management of chronic noncancer pain in primary care.

    Learn more about the successful integration of this nurse-led program at Bruyère Academic FHT.

    DFCM New Horizons Speaker Series with Dr. Kwame McKenzie, Mar. 31, 2023
    Join a conversation with Dr. Kwame McKenzie, CEO of Wellesley Institute and Professor of Psychiatry at U of T, on how family doctors and primary care providers can better link their work in education, research, and quality improvement to the social determinants of health, and how to partner with organizations that serve communities to be more socially accountable in their work. Learn more here.

    Surgical Site Infections Quality Standard Webinar, Apr. 13, 2023
    This session will introduce Ontario Health’s recently released Surgical Site Infections quality standard and describe how it can drive quality improvement and improve care for Ontarians across the health system. Register here.

    QI Innovations: Better Data, Better Decisions, Better Outcomes, Apr. 18, 2023
    This year’s free QI Innovations conference is for mental health and addiction providers and system planners who are interested in data driven decision making and quality improvement. Register here.

    Autistic people and the COVID-19 pandemic – what have we learned so far? Apr. 27, 2023
    Hosted by CAMH. Register here.

  • Chronic noncancer pain management: Integration of a nurse-led program in primary care

    Chronic noncancer pain management

    Integration of a nurse-led program in primary care
     

    Research article published in Canadian Family Physician March 2023, 69 (3) e52-e60

    Abstract

    Problem addressed Chronic noncancer pain is often excessively managed with medications (most notably opioids) instead of nonpharmacologic options or multidisciplinary care—the gold standards.

    Objective of program To offer an effective alternative to pharmacologic management of chronic noncancer pain in primary care.

    Program description Patients 18 years of age or older with chronic noncancer pain were referred by family physicians or nurse practitioners in a family health team (outpatient, multidisciplinary clinic) in Ottawa, Ont. A registered nurse used the Pain Explanation and Treatment Diagram with patients, taught self-management skills (related to habits [smoking, consumption of alcohol, diet], exercise, sleep, ergonomics, and psychosocial factors), and referred patients to relevant resources.

    Conclusion A nurse-led chronic pain program, initiated without extra funding, was successfully integrated into a primary care setting. Among the participating patients in the pilot project, outcomes related to pain intensity, pain interference with daily living, and opioid use were encouraging. This program could serve as a model for improving chronic noncancer pain management in primary care.

    Chronic noncancer pain affects approximately 1 in 5 Canadians and leads to substantial social and economic costs.1–5 In 2019 it was estimated that 7.6 million Canadians were affected, with an estimated sum of direct and indirect costs related to chronic pain of $38.2 billion to $40.3 billion.1 By 2030 these numbers are expected to increase to 9 million people affected and $52 billion to $55 billion in associated costs.1 For chronic pain management, nonpharmacologic options and multidisciplinary care are recommended as gold standards.6–8 Self-management is central to such programs, as it empowers patients to adopt behaviour, strategies, and skills to improve their quality of life.9–11 In Canada most multidisciplinary clinics for chronic pain are located in hospitals, and access can be limited by long wait times.12 Family physicians or nurse practitioners are at the front lines of managing chronic pain, yet they often lack either the time or resources they need to access a multidisciplinary team with expertise in chronic pain.13–15

    As an unfortunate result, care of patients with chronic pain often relies on prescription drugs, most notably opioids.16 Indeed, Canada has the second-highest rate of opioid prescribing per capita worldwide (after the United States) when measured as defined daily doses and the highest rate when reported as morphine equivalent (MEQ) dispensed,17,18 and opioid abuse and overdose have become serious public health concerns.19 While initiatives have aimed to address existing shortcomings in chronic pain management,17 there is still a clear need and opportunities to develop better approaches in primary care to serve these patients.

    Authors:

    • Metasebia Assefa, Research Project Coordinator, Children’s Aid Society
    • Isabelle LeClerc, Bruyère Academic FHT
    • Dr. Elizabeth Muggah, Bruyère Academic FHT
    • Prof. Raywat Deonandan, University of Ottawa
    • Charles Godbout, Bruyère Research Institute
    • Prof. Hillel M. Finestone, University of Ottawa

    Click here for the full article

  • Overview of the 2023 Ontario Government Budget

    2023 Ontario Budget – Building a Strong Ontario
    An overview of the Ontario government’s budget

    March 24, 2023

    Overview
    Yesterday the government released their 2023 Ontario Budget, Building a Strong Ontario. This budget focuses on five pillars:

    1. Building Ontario’s Economy for Today and Tomorrow
    2. Building Highways, Transit and Infrastructure Projects
    3. Working for Workers
    4. Keeping Your Costs Down
    5. Better Services for You

    “With the budget’s significant focus on ways to combat the affordability crisis and tumultuous economic times, the government has made a strategic decision in this budget to shift the public dialogue from health care to those files.”- Enterprise Canada’s Health Care Analysis

    This budget was largely a reinforcement of “Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care”. Introduced in February 2023, it focused on three pillars: The Right Care in the Right Place, Faster Access to Care, and Hiring More Health Care Workers.

    Most relevant, the provincial budget recommitted to connect Ontarians to additional primary care teams by investing $60 million over two years. We have confirmed this is the same $30 million that was announced in February, carried over 2 years resulting in a total investment of $60 million dollars. While this is a step in the right direction, we are disappointed there was not more of a commitment over the longer term.

    The health human resources crisis that currently exists was acknowledged through additional investments in nursing, medical school education and home care, but none were made for primary care nor any mention of dropping the appeal to retain Bill 124. However, much needed support in mental health and addictions was welcomed.

    For additional information, please read:

    Summary of Health Care Investments:

    Team-Based Care:

    • $60 million over two years to expand existing teams and create up to 18 primary care teams in communities with the greatest need ($30 million was previously announced for 2022-2023 and this commits this funding into 2023-2024).

    HHR Recruitment and Education:

    • The government is providing an additional $3.3 million over the next three years, beginning in 2023–24, to expand access to dual credit opportunities in health care‐related courses for an additional 1,400 secondary students.
    • The province is expanding the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant to add more health care professionals in underserved and growing communities. Applications will open this spring for the 2023–24 academic year, targeting up to 2,500 postsecondary students who enrol in – nursing programs in Northern, Eastern and Southwestern Ontario; medical laboratory technologist/medical laboratory sciences programs in Northern and Southwestern Ontario; and paramedic programs in Northern Ontario.
    • $200 million in 2023-2024 to extend supports to address immediate health care staffing shortages, as well as to grow the workforce, including investments in the Enhanced Extern Program and the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership Program
    • $100.8 million over the next three years to expand and accelerate the rollout of undergraduate and postgraduate seats.
    • $33 million over three years to add 100 undergraduate seats beginning in 2023, as well as 154 postgraduate medical training seats to prioritize Ontario residents trained at home and abroad beginning in 2024
    • $51 million over three years to support the Dedicated Offload Nurses Program to support timely 911 responses by hiring health care workers focused exclusively on transferring ambulance patients to hospital care, allowing paramedics to respond to more calls.

    Home Care and Seniors Supports

    • $569 million in 2023-2024, including nearly $300 million to support contract rate increases to stabilize the workforce. (part of the government’s previous commitment to invest up to $1 billion over three years for home care.)
    • $174 million over two years, starting in 2024-2025, to continue the Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care Program to serve all eligible seniors across Ontario.  
    • The government is investing an additional $5 million annually for three years starting in 2022–23 to support 6,500 people with dementia to live independently in their homes and to be engaged in their community. (Previously announced in 2022 budget)

    Hospital and Long-Term Care Capital Investments

    • The government is making a multibillion-dollar investment in hospital infrastructure. This is included in a 10-year plan to invest more than $48 billion in hospital infrastructure, including over $32 billion for more than 50 hospital projects that would add 3,000 new beds. (Previously announced in 2022 budget)
    • A four per cent increase in base operating funding for hospitals.
    • $72 million in 2023-2024 to increase surgeries at community surgical and diagnostic centres. (This builds on $300 million as part of the surgical recovery strategy and $18 million for diagnostics and surgeries in existing facilities.)
    • $5.5 million in 2023-2024 to build new Behavioural Specialized Units in long-term care homes, including approximately 70 new specialized beds, to expand care for individuals with complex needs.
    • $1.2 million to the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association to promote the PSW profession in the long-term care sector to help with recruitment.

    Access to MHA

    • $425 million over three years, including a five per cent increase in the base funding of community-based mental health and addictions service providers. (Builds on an investment of $3.8 billion over 10 years included in the Roadmap to Wellness.)
    • $202 million each year in the Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program to help those experiencing or at risk of homelessness, struggling with mental health and substance use, those escaping intimate partner violence, community organizations that deliver housing services.

    Other Health Care

    • The government commits to expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists to cover additional minor ailments including mild to moderate acne, canker sores, diaper dermatitis, yeast infections, pinworms and threadworms, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
    • The government is investing $3.1 million in 2023–24 for an expansion of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Ottawa House.
    • To support children and youth with complex special needs, the government is investing $12 million over three years to fund 14 additional beds at Safehaven, a not‐for‐profit organization providing residential and respite care at community sites in the Greater Toronto Area.

    This budget only goes a little further for primary care teams. Most critical will be our support to government as they roll out the investment in primary care to focus on those communities with higher rates of patients not attached to teams and/or those that have historically faced greater barriers to funding to meet population health needs.

    We will be in close communication with Ministry officials, especially considering the context of the recent federal-provincial agreements and their implications for primary care. We will keep members apprised of ongoing developments and urge each of you to stay in touch with your local MPPs as local advocacy could be a game changer in influencing the development of this expansion. #ItTakesATeam

  • Bits & Pieces: CIRA grants and more

    Bits & Pieces: CIRA grants and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • CIRA grant deadline April 12
    • Diagnosing and treating POTS in Long COVID patients and more
    • Reminder- Q & A with Fernando Tavares for EDs, Mar. 28
    • Perkopolis Day at Canada’s Wonderland
    • Relevant reports – networks of care in resource constrained settings & socioeconomic gradient in mortality

     
    • Feedback on supplemental screening as adjunct to mammography for breast cancer screening in people with dense breasts
    • Upcoming events including Pharmacists’ Expanded Scope – and What it Means for Appropriate Prescribing, and more

     

    CIRA grant deadline April 12
    AFHTO members and/or their partners may be eligible for Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) grants. Grants are available up to $100,000. You can learn more about eligibility, key dates and priority funding areas for 2023 on their site. You can also watch their information webinar here.

    Diagnosing and treating POTS in Long COVID patients and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates– the original page, with news and updates. You can find links to related pages here as well.

    Reminder- Q & A with Fernando Tavares for EDs, Mar. 28

    Fernando Tavares will join us for another Q&A session to provide a brief update on the Annual Operating Plan (submission timelines + process), discuss further details on the FHT contract extension including updates to the Governance & Attestation document, and review details of the “Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care” investment of $30 million to help bridge the gap in accessing interprofessional primary care. All EDs/Admin Leads are invited to attend the session on March 28th @ 12:00pm. Register here.

    Picture of people with their legs dangling as they sit at the top of a rollercoaster on a sunny day. The background shows trees and neighbourhoods. Text- early bird special .99

     

    Perkopolis Day at Canada’s Wonderland

    Perkopolis Day at Canada’s Wonderland is April 29th. This is an exclusive opportunity to spend a day enjoying Wonderland before the park opens. If your team isn’t registered under the AFHTO account yet, please email info@afhto.ca. Early bird deadline is March 31st. Find out more.

     

    Relevant reports – networks of care in resource constrained settings & socioeconomic gradient in mortality

    Feedback on supplemental screening as adjunct to mammography for breast cancer screening in people with dense breasts

    Ontario Health invites you to share your thoughts about a health technology assessment and draft funding recommendation Supplemental Screening as an Adjunct to Mammography for Breast Cancer Screening in People With Dense Breasts. Open for feedback until April 6, 2023. Learn more here.

    Pharmacists’ Expanded Scope – and What it Means for Appropriate Prescribing, Mar. 22, 2023

    In several provinces, the scope of pharmacist prescribing has expanded, enabling them to assess and prescribe treatments for common syndromes. With other provinces and territories expected to adopt similar approaches, how do we support pharmacists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals in promoting resource stewardship and appropriate prescribing practices? Hosted by Choose Wisely Toronto. Find out more here.

    Journey with depression: Experiences accessing treatment and services, Mar. 23, 2023
    Virtual town hall hosted by ODPRN Citizens’ Panel with Dr. Noah Ivers. Find out more here.

    Together We Care 2023, Mar. 27- 29, 2023
    Together We Care is the largest and most comprehensive learning and networking experience for professionals in long-term care and retirement living. Find out more here.

    Engaging primary care – from the inside out, Mar. 24, 2023
    Part of the OHT Impact Fellows- Knowledge Translation Lunch and Learn Series. Register here.

    DFCM New Horizons Speaker Series with Dr. Kwame McKenzie, Mar. 31, 2023
    Join a conversation with Dr. Kwame McKenzie, CEO of Wellesley Institute and Professor of Psychiatry at U of T, on how family doctors and primary care providers can better link their work in education, research, and quality improvement to the social determinants of health, and how to partner with organizations that serve communities to be more socially accountable in their work. Learn more here.

    Primary care data reports for OHTs, Mar. 29, 2023

    Hosted by INSPIRE-PHC. Primary Care Data Reports for all OHTs are available here. Join here.

  • Solutions for Rapid Utilization of MHA Funding & Preliminary Survey Reminder

    Dear Executive Directors/Administrative Leads,
     
    Thank you for all your hard work with the one-time MHA funding that you received early this year.
     
    We recognize that short timelines and capacity constrains pose challenges with utilizing funding, so with our partners we have created a resource with a detailed list of recommendations to support you. Please see “Solutions for Rapid Implementation of MHA Funding for Primary Care Teams”. You may find this guidance helpful in addition to the previous guidance we shared.
     
    If you haven’t already, please also click here to fill out the 5-7 minute preliminary scoping survey about this MHA funding, which is helping to identify the value and spectrum of your work (survey deadline extended to March 31). Your responses will help shape the final evaluation of this MHA funding that will follow in April. Your contributions and survey participation can help build a strong case for renewed and sustained Mental Health and Addictions funding for primary care teams across Ontario.

    We hope this resource is helpful both for utilizing this funding and for your ongoing work. Thank you in advance for all your effort and contributions.

    If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Abisola Otepola.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #127: Nutrition Month

    QI in Action eBulletin #127: Nutrition Month

    In this Issue:

     

    • Nutrition month resources
    • Food for thought
    • NEW- Eating Disorders Quality Standard
    • NEW- Surgical Site Infections Quality Standard
    • Share your experience and inform future prenatal care innovations
    • Upcoming Events

    Nutrition month resources
    This month we join our Registered Dietitians in celebrating the impact of good nutrition on our patients’ health outcomes. Examples successfully integrating this focus in primary care teams include:

    Webinars and conference sessions

    Posters

    Select Resources

    Food for Thought

    NEW- Eating Disorders Quality Standard
    Ontario Health’s Eating Disorders quality standard consists of nine quality statements that describe what high quality care looks like for people with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. It applies to all care settings and the accompanying patient guide and caregiver guide can help inform conversations between health care providers and people with an eating disorder and their families and caregivers. Find out more.

    NEW- Surgical Site Infections Quality Standard
    Ontario Health’s latest quality standard consists of seven quality statements highlighting key areas for improvement to prevent surgical site infections for people having surgery that requires an incision. Its accompanying patient guide can help inform conversations between health care providers and people having surgery. Find out more.

    Share your experience and inform future prenatal care innovations

    Share your experience with us and inform future prenatal care innovations

     

    BORN and Prenatal Screening Ontario are funded by the Ministry of Health with mandates focused on improving the health outcomes of individuals during and after pregnancy. Prenatal Screening Ontario, who currently oversees aneuploidy screening, is expanding its reach to offer high-quality prenatal screening for conditions amenable to populated-based screening to better inform care and prenatal management.

    They want to hear about your experiences caring for pregnant individuals. Interviewees will receive a $50 gift card as a token of their appreciation. Sign up here.

     

    Upcoming Events

    Surgical Site Infections: A New Quality Standard for High-Quality Care in Ontario
    Apr 13, 2023, 12:00pm
    This session will introduce Ontario Health’s recently released Surgical Site Infections quality standard and describe how it can drive quality improvement and improve care for Ontarians across the health system. Register here.

    Eating Disorders: A New Quality Standard for High-Quality Care in Ontario
    May 5, 2023, 12:00pm
    This session will introduce Ontario Health’s recently released Eating Disorders quality standard and describe how it can drive quality improvement and improve care for Ontarians across the health system. Register here.

    QI Innovations: Better Data, Better Decisions, Better Outcomes
    April 18, 2023
    This year’s free QI Innovations conference is for mental health and addiction providers and system planners who are interested in data driven decision making and quality improvement. Register here.

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #126 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

     

  • Bits & Pieces: inclusive community grants and more

    Bits & Pieces: inclusive community grants and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Applications open for 2023-24 Inclusive Community Grants
    • Member stories
    • Infant Moderna shelf-life extension, Canada investing in Long COVID research and more
    • Join the Ontario First Trimester Preeclampsia Screening Task Force- deadline Mar. 15
    • Call for expression of interest: Ontario MHA Oversight Table
    • It’s never too early to begin preparing for National Advance Care Planning Day
    • Community Legal Education Ontario wants to understand your legal needs
    • Upcoming events including Pharmacists’ Expanded Scope – and What it Means for Appropriate Prescribing, and more

     

    Applications open for 2023-24 Inclusive Community Grants
    Members and/or partners may be eligible for Inclusive Community Grants. The grants provide municipalities, non-profit organizations, and Indigenous communities with up to $60,000 for local projects that will help older residents and people with disabilities participate in community life. Deadline April 20, 2023. Find out more here.

    MPP Robin Martin stands with MD, social worker and pharmacist and leadership team at North York FHT and their Board Chair in front of windows in a room. All are masked.

     

    Member stories

    North York FHT – MPP for Eglinton-Lawrence and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health Robin Martin visited North York FHT last week.

    Picture left: MPP Robin Martin with physician, social worker, pharmacist, leadership team and Board Chair at North York FHT.

     

     

    Infant Moderna shelf-life extension, Canada investing in Long COVID research and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates– the original page, with news and updates. You can find links to related pages here as well.

    Join the Ontario First Trimester Preeclampsia Screening Task Force- deadline Mar. 15

    Prenatal Screening Ontario (PSO) is seeking experts to join the First-Trimester Preeclampsia Screening Task Force to advise on implementation considerations for first-trimester preeclampsia screening, should it be made available in Ontario. This is a short-term task force (find terms of reference here). To apply, fill out this survey and forward your CV to PSO@bornontario.ca  by Mar. 15, 2023.

    Call for expression of interest: Ontario MHA Oversight Table

    Ontario Health has sent out a Call for Expression of Interest for members of the Mental Health and Addictions Oversight Table. The table will define, guide, monitor and lead the development and delivery of standardized, high quality mental health and addictions services to address the needs of Ontarians per the mandate of the Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence.

    The table will have input from the Clinical Council, the Planning and Performance Council and other, more focused, Centre of Excellence advisory tables, and the broader mental health and addictions stakeholders across Ontario. Senior clinical and administrative system leaders are invited to submit an expression of interest as a member of the Oversight Table. Please see the Call for Expression of Interest and terms of reference for more information. Submissions should be sent by Friday, March 24, 2023 to mhacoe@ontariohealth.ca.

    It’s never too early to begin preparing for National Advance Care Planning Day

    Content provided by Hospice Palliative Care Ontario

    National Advance Care Planning Day is on April 16, 2023, and Hospice Palliative Care Ontario has tools and resources to help you prepare.

    The Person-Centred Decision-Making Online Learning Portal was developed to assist you with having Advance Care Planning conversations and Goals of Care discussions with your patients. This program is intended to increase awareness and knowledge as well as build capacity across Ontario’s health care system. If you are a health professional or administrator and are interested in learning about Advance Care Planning, Health Care Consent, and Goals of Care, you can access the course here.

    We also have resources to support you whether you plan on providing an educational event within your organization or community, or plan on having a conversation with your patients. The guides, posters, postcards, wallet cards, and bookmarks are great resources to incorporate into your Advance Care Planning Day initiatives or ongoing conversations.

    To encourage these important conversations, all orders placed on materials until March 31 at 4:00 P.M. will be provided with a discount of 20% off. Visit our website to order materials.

    Community Legal Education Ontario wants to understand your legal needs

    Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) is launching a survey to get a picture of the legal needs of nonprofits relating to governance, employment law, and privacy/record keeping. By participating, you will be helping to inform CLEO about the legal supports your organization needs. The survey has 15 questions and should take about 15 minutes. Please take a moment to complete the survey. To learn more about the Nonprofit Law Ontario project, visit nonprofitlaw.cleo.on.ca.

    Pharmacists’ Expanded Scope – and What it Means for Appropriate Prescribing, Mar. 22, 2023

    In several provinces, the scope of pharmacist prescribing has expanded, enabling them to assess and prescribe treatments for common syndromes. With other provinces and territories expected to adopt similar approaches, how do we support pharmacists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals in promoting resource stewardship and appropriate prescribing practices? Hosted by Choose Wisely Toronto. Find out more here.

    Journey with depression: Experiences accessing treatment and services, Mar. 23, 2023
    Virtual town hall hosted by ODPRN Citizens’ Panel with Dr. Noah Ivers. Find out more here.

    Together We Care 2023, Mar. 27- 29, 2023
    Together We Care is the largest and most comprehensive learning and networking experience for professionals in long-term care and retirement living. Find out more here.

    Engaging primary care – from the inside out, Mar. 24, 2023
    Part of the OHT Impact Fellows- Knowledge Translation Lunch and Learn Series. Register here.

    DFCM New Horizons Speaker Series with Dr. Kwame McKenzie, Mar. 31, 2023
    Join a conversation with Dr. Kwame McKenzie, CEO of Wellesley Institute and Professor of Psychiatry at U of T, on how family doctors and primary care providers can better link their work in education, research, and quality improvement to the social determinants of health, and how to partner with organizations that serve communities to be more socially accountable in their work. Learn more here.

    Primary care data reports for OHTs, Mar. 29, 2023

    Hosted by INSPIRE-PHC. Primary Care Data Reports for all OHTs are available here. Join here.

  • Farewell Message from Kavita Mehta, Outgoing CEO of AFHTO

    Farewell Message from Kavita Mehta, Outgoing CEO of AFHTO

    Kavita Mehta is smiling. Her hair is down to below her shoulders and blends in with her black top.

    Dear members, colleagues, partners, and friends,

    It is hard to put down in words just how difficult it was to write this message to an amazing group of people who I have had the pleasure of working with, and learning from, over my many years in primary care.

    I don’t even really know where to start. I started my journey in primary care, specifically with primary care teams, 17 years ago and it has been an absolute privilege to be part of a sector that continually does everything they can to provide exceptional care to patients, their families, and communities. We know primary care is the foundation of the health care system and working from the policy angle from my time at the Ministry to the operational level during my time as an Executive Director of a family health team to now here at AFHTO with an advocacy lens, it just highlights to me that a sustainable health care system MUST start and end with strong primary care.

    I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your best wishes as I step into this next chapter of my professional life. Your emails and phone calls have been truly uplifting and I appreciate your kind words – these relationships matter a lot, and I am thankful for the opportunity to have met so many great people along the way.

    • To everyone on our member teams – it is always astounding to see how much primary care gets done, even when there are not a lot of supports or even understanding of what primary care truly is. Thank you for your leadership, your engagement, and your ongoing commitment to AFHTO – your stories, your innovations, your passion is what drives the organization and for that I am truly grateful.
    • To the many partners I have had the privilege of working with – I want to thank you for your partnership and collaboration as we work towards creating a much more integrated health care system. I especially want to thank my partners in the Primary Care Collaborative. Working together to create that unified voice with like minded individuals who are truly passionate about creating a sustainable and equitable health care system that is foundationally based in primary care is truly motivating and inspiring.
    • To my colleagues in the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health – thank you for always being readily accessible and available as we collectively navigate towards rebuilding our health care system where primary care, through the lens of the quintuple aim, is prioritized and supported. I know it is not an easy task and I am grateful for your ongoing commitment at ensuring we have a voice.
    • To the AFHTO Board members, new and those who have been around for a while – thank you for always being there, always willing to jump in and provide support and guidance when it was needed and when times were tough, always being that compassionate ear.
    • And then finally, to the small but mighty AFHTO team! We say that a lot, but I think a lot of people are always surprised by how much we get done with such a small team. It has been a true honour to work with each and every one of you and I know that your collaborative spirt and willingness to always jump in to support our members is as important to you as it was to me. There are no other words than thank you.

    Without our member teams, our amazing board members, our partners and most importantly, the AFHTO team, it would have been very difficult to do this job. After all, we always say #ItTakesATeam to deliver the best care but it also takes a team to develop solutions and work towards policy that ensures we develop roadmaps to deliver better care, with primary care at the centre. Now, more than ever, we are seeing a lot of discussion around creating more primary care teams and I feel that there is momentum like we have not seen in many years. The pendulum is shifting!

    I am truly grateful for everyone’s support, guidance and partnership over the years – health care is a truly small space so I am sure our paths will cross again. Please take care of yourselves and each other and a very warm thank you!

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    Kavita Mehta
    CEO, AFHTO

  • $30 million new/expansion funding for teams

    Dear Executive Directors/Administrative Leads,

    On Feb 2nd we shared Minister Jones launch of the Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care. This plan includes an investment of $30 million to create up to 18 new teams and help bridge the gap in accessing interprofessional primary care for vulnerable, marginalized, and unattached patients to ensure they are able to connect to care where and when they need it. While the number of 18 was noted in the plan, the Ministry may also be looking at expansion of EXISTING teams and new satellite locations and will share their expectations as they work through their internal planning.

    As we await further information around next steps in the funding implementation process, we encourage all teams to begin thinking about and preparing for the call for proposals. We expect Ministry/OH will release guidance documents towards the end of March with a submission timeline of end of April. We have requested Ministry/OH to provide a technical briefing and review of the relevant documents and process once finalized. We will share the date of this webcast once confirmed.

    To get an idea of what the application template MIGHT look like, here is the link to the 2017-19 IPC Team Expansion Business Case Template. We anticipate the new application process will be similar in terms of structure and big categories for content. Below are also number of principles from the previous process that you may want to keep in mind to help create a successful submission:

    Planning Principles

    • Readiness for early implementation
    • Population health based planning approach
    • Promote equitable access to interdisciplinary primary care across the OHT
    • Enhance access to appropriate, linguistically and culturally sensitive care and services
    • Engage patients and caregivers in planning
    • Integrate and collaborate with local health, social and community service providers
    • Develop model for comprehensive, continuous and coordinated care
    • Enhance attachment, accessibility and timeliness of primary care
    • Enhanced quality improvement and safety
    • Reduce barriers to access to care for vulnerable populations (e.g., Francophone and Indigenous populations)
    • In areas where teams exist, it would be optimal to leverage these existing teams to minimize administrative costs and expend the majority of the allocation on direct patient care.

    Implementation Principles

    • Services/programs reflect OHT population health needs
    • Services/programs are open to the wider community (i.e. populations beyond the rostered or registered patients)
    • Patient and community engagement is a component of planning and governance
    • Health equity is a focus of programs/services
    • Increased programming that is planned and delivered in a culturally sensitive manner, with special focus on addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities, including Indigenous peoples and Francophone Ontarians in Ontario
    • Focus on quality, including reporting on key performance indicators
    • Governance structure that includes community members to ensure local population needs are met
    • Improved attachment and access to primary care across OHT
    • Embedded care coordination and care navigation in primary care settings

    Please also note that the $30M is inclusive of increases in base funding for those teams experiencing overhead budget pressures – the process for increases in your base budget will be included in your annual operating plan which is set to be released imminently. Please make sure you join Fernando Tavares for a Q&A on March 28th @ 12:00pm where he will also touch upon the process to apply for increased base funding and provide an overview of this year’s annual operating plan and governance attestation documents. Register here.

    As always, please contact us if you have any questions.

  • Register Now – New Governance Support Available

    Hello EDs/Admin leads, board chairs, and lead clinicians,

    We’ve got all your Governance Training needs covered! Please see the Governance courses, webcast and training sessions available through AFHTO below:

    Provincial Webcast: Governing Through Complexity
    As a result of COVID-19, the implementation of Ontario Health Teams, HHR challenges, capacity and access constraints, and the shift to a population based approach, the pace of change has been quick and for many governors of primary health care teams the question remains: “What is the role of our board in this changing environment? How do we strengthen our governance practices? Where should we focus our efforts?”? This provincial webcast will help explore these questions and equip board members with the necessary knowledge to lead effectively and implement high functioning governance practices.

    Facilitators:       

    Dr. Rob Annis | Family Physician & AFHTO Board Member
    North Perth Family Health Team
    Bryn Hamilton | Interim CEO
    Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario

    DATE: April 4th 12:00-1:30pm

    AFHTO/David Hartley Partnership
    Many of you are familiar with David Hartley’s particular expertise in primary care governance, so we are excited to share AFHTO’s partnership with him! David will offer his ‘Best Practice FHT Board Governance Training’ to teams on a 50/50 cost shared arrangement with AFHTO. This is $1350 in savings for teams! Up to 20 teams will receive Training in the form of either: 1) Virtual Option: 2 X 90 minute virtual training sessions (the sessions can be spread out 2 months). Cost per team = $1350; 2) In-Person Option: 3 hours at a location of your choosing. Cost per team = $1850

    More details on the resources and course content are available here.

    AFHTO/Charity Village Partnership
    We are pleased to announce a continued partnership with Charity Village to offer our teams a range of free governance courses. Over 100 members across 25 teams took advantage of these sessions last year with overwhelmingly positive feedback. We have added to the course offerings this year to ensure a broad range of topics to choose from.  

    Each course is chock full of solid information and practical resources that you can download and keep on hand for future reference. Courses are offered virtually in a self paced format. You have 3 months to complete the course once started. Below is a list of courses teams may choose from.

    1. Better Board Kit
    This is a three-part series which includes a 1.5 hr online, on-demand Boards that Work course + a Board Self Evaluation Survey + a Facilitation Guide that will walk your board through a planning session based on the survey results. The Boards that Work kit is available for up to 10 board members.

    For more information, please visit this page. This is a great refresher for all board members and a good way to complete the board evaluation that’s required as part of your governance attestation!

    2. Governing your Organization: A Deeper Dive
    Building on the foundations established in the Boards That Work course, this is a 2 hour on-demand course. For more information, please visit this page.

    3. Diversity, Sensitivity, and Inclusion Training: Promoting Anti-Discrimination and Equity in the Workplace
    This is an on-demand course that will take approximately 1-2 hours to complete. For more information, please visit this page.

    4. IDEA
    This module introduces core concepts and principles to help you establish foundational knowledge of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA). For more information, please visit this page.

    5. OHSA and AODA Compliance Training Package (Available for Managers and/or Employees)
    Compliance training regarding Harassment, Health & Safety and Accessibility are mandatory for all non-profit organizations. Ensure your organization is protected from risk and non-compliance by signing up. For more information, please visit this page (managers) or this page (employees).

    If you are interested in any of the courses or training listed above, please click here.

    Setting the Cornerstone: A Blueprint for the Implementation of PCNs in Ontario Discussion document

    And finally, in our efforts to strengthen overall governance practices and models by enabling horizontal integration of the primary care sector, we are pleased to share with you the concept discussion paper developed specifically for the Ministry of Health that outlines preliminary recommendations for the establishment of Primary Care Networks (or PCNs) in Ontario. Developed jointly with AFHTO/OCFP/SGFP, the Blueprint provides an important opportunity to strengthening our province’s primary care system.

    We respectfully acknowledge that further consultation with our members and key stakeholders representative of the sector is required to refine the recommendations being presented. We hope that by sharing the document it will be considered a starting point for discussions between the Ministry of Health, Ontario Health and representative of the primary care sector. With any changes it is critical that we work in co-design and all voices are heard. We will keep all members updated as conversations unfold.

     
    Any questions, feel free to reach out! We hope you find these offerings helpful as we continue to elevate our governance practices across teams.