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  • AFHTO 2021 Conference: Registration now live

    AFHTO 2021 Conference: Registration now live

    Post-Pandemic Primary Care: Respond, Recover, Rebuild

    Registration now open for the AFHTO 2021 Conference!

    Primary care has risen to the challenge of COVID-19 and while we wouldn’t dare say we have become used to its sweeping impacts on our work and lives, we can say we have adjusted to provide the best care possible for patients under trying circumstances.

    Teams have had to cross chasms to take care of our communities but now, while the end may seem to be a pinprick of light in the distance, it is at least in sight. But in many ways, there is an equally daunting future.

    We only have an inkling of what lies ahead – delayed care, ongoing effects of the pandemic and the complex interactions of these with our society- but we need to prepare for it.

    Join your peers tuning in throughout Ontario and beyond as we learn how to respond, recover, and rebuild.

    See the full Conference Schedule here. For general information, you can visit our conference page.  

    We look forward to seeing you at the AFHTO 2021 Conference!

  • Order Printed Cancer Screening Awareness Materials by Sept 3rd for your Team

    Content below developed by Ontario Health

    Dear members,

    As you know, Ontario’s health care system has been significantly impacted by COVID-19, including preventive care like cancer screening. Ontario Health runs the province’s organized cancer screening programs, the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), the Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP) and ColonCancerCheck (CCC). Since March 2020, all three programs have seen a decrease in the number of tests completed, compared to pre-pandemic.   

    Ontario’s primary care providers play an important role in cancer screening. To help support you and your patients get caught up on cancer screening tests, Ontario Health will be sharing a cancer screening awareness tool-kit.

    The tool-kit has digital and print options that include materials like key messages that can be used for emails or newsletters, social media content, slides for digital screens in offices. This email is to provide information to Association of Family Health teams of Ontario (AFHTO) members who wish to order print materials – more information will be shared in the coming weeks about how you can access the digital tool-kit.

    Printed cancer screening awareness materials
    Ontario Health develops materials to support partners and providers in raising awareness of the importance of cancer screening for all three of our organized programs. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is in October, as is Cervical Cancer Awareness Week and Colon Cancer Awareness Month is in March. Though developed for these awareness months/week, the materials can be used at any time.  

    Posters (8.5 x 11 inches) and postcards (5 x 7 inches) are being made available to print and ship to AFHTO members that would like copies. A colorectal cancer fact sheet can also be ordered. These are available at no charge to members. Materials are available in English and French, and the top 10 languages based on the most recent census data (for a list, see the URL below for the ordering form).

    If your practice would like to order materials, please use the following link to access the order form: https://forms.office.com/r/zZtQ4mhmGG . The form provides an image of each product and allows you to select a quantity in each language offered. You will need to provide contact and mailing information.

    Please complete the form by September 3rd, 2021 at 6pm. Materials are expected to be delivered by the end of September/early October.

    If you have any questions, please reach out to Ontario Health at primarycareinquiries@ontariohealth.ca.

  • Extended Bright Lights nomination deadline- now Monday, August 30, 12 noon

    Extended Bright Lights nomination deadline- now Monday, August 30, 12 noon

    Bright Lights Hall of Fame banner cropped

    Bright Lights nomination deadline now Monday, August 30, 12 noon!

    We know you’re working hard on your nominations so we’re giving you a bit more time to submit.

    Awards will be presented at the AFHTO 2021 Conference Awards ceremony, which will be held on October 27th, 2021.

    We encourage small, rural, and Northern teams to apply. You can watch this 2016 webinar or view the slides if you’ve never submitted a nomination before.

    Don’t forget we have two education grants as well. For more information regarding eligibility please visit our site.

    To complete your nomination by August 30, 2021:

    • Review the nomination categories in advance (see nomination guide pg. 3 for descriptions).
    • Review the nomination evaluation criteria (see nomination guide pg. 2 for details).
    • Complete the online nomination form and send all supporting materials before August 30, 2021.

    For more information, you can visit the Bright Lights webpage.

    If you have any questions about the nomination process or want to know if your work is a good fit, email info@afhto.ca or call 647-234-8605x 1200. We’d be happy to help.

    We look forward to seeing your nominations and recognizing ALL the excellent work being done!

  • Aug. 24 Update on COVID Vaccines and Resources

    Dear Members,

    Like many of you we share the collective disbelief that we are in Wave 4 of the pandemic, with numbers increasing daily and back to school being just around the corner. We know how tired you are but despite that exhaustion, you are and have always been there for your patients and community.

    Thank you again for all you do day in and day out, especially during these unprecedented and challenging times. Please find below some additional resources and supports you may find helpful.

    As primary care continues to ramp up in-person care, the Ministry of Health released updated primary care guidance and the CPSO provided new information on striking the right balance between providing in-person care and virtual care.  

    These individual decisions should be made by each provider and team and these resources may help in your decision-making.  The OCFP’s Considerations for In-Person and Virtual Care document has also been updated and we are waiting for additional clinical decision-making tools on striking the right balance between in-person and virtual care which we will share once it becomes available.

    As announced on August 17th, the Ministry will begin to offer third doses to the most vulnerable Ontarians including those in high-risk congregate settings and those that are immunocompromised – you can read more about that announcement here*. To help with identifying those eligible for third doses, the eHealth Centre of Excellence (eCE) is currently developing the queries for PS Suites, Oscar and Accuro – more details to follow.

    Let’s get closer to 100% – Every health care team member, every patient, every encounter
    In collaboration with all health sector partners, the OMA has supported the development of some messaging to encourage every health care visit include a discussion around vaccines. Whether the visit is in-person or virtual, health professionals and teams can be powerful influencers when it comes to vaccine acceptance. At check-in, during the encounter, or at the end – just the act of asking about vaccine status makes a difference:

    1. Ask: “Have you had a chance to get the COVID-19 vaccine yet?” Every health care team member, every patient, every encounter.
    2. Share: “I got the vaccine. I helped my friends and family to get it too”. Listen to your patients’ concerns, share your personal experiences of vaccination, your knowledge about the vaccines, and your hope for an optimistic Canada once more of us are vaccinated. If you are comfortable doing so, tell the patient why you think a vaccine is a good decision for them.
    3. Connect: “This is where you can get a vaccine.” Know where vaccines are being offered locally (e.g., your team, other primary care clinics, pharmacy, mass clinics, pop up clinics) and point your patients there.

    By making this concerted push now, we can limit the effects of the fourth wave this fall, one patient at a time. To help support those opportunistic vaccine visits, please see the attached memo from the Chief Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Kieran Moore) and the Chair of the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force (Dr. Homer Tien) on managing those unused vaccine doses vials.

    As in other jurisdictions, there are early indicators of slowing vaccination rates for the 12-17 age group. There appears to be a variety of reasons for increasing hesitancy, but the main rationale is the perceived safety of vaccines, including:

    • Concerns from parents about what the long-term effects of a new vaccine will be on their children; and
    • Concerns about the evolving reports of adverse health events resulting from vaccine administration, including myocarditis.

    Here are some key messages to use in your conversations about the vaccines with children/youth:  

    • All vaccines provided in Ontario provide strong protection against COVID-19 and its variants.
    • Health Canada approved vaccines are conveniently available at hospitals, doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and mass vaccination sites.
    • Vaccinating as many people as possible is the most important thing we can do to protect against COVID-19 and help us all get back to normal life as soon as possible.
    • Every dose brings us closer to what we’ve missed.
    • Vaccines are the best way to protect your child and your family from COVID-19, including highly contagious variants.
    • The faster everyone gets vaccinated, the sooner we can all safely resume doing the things we’ve missed.
    • When you and your kids 12 and over get vaccinated, it helps protect other family members too, such as those under 12 who can’t get vaccinated yet, or older individuals who may have a lower immune response to the vaccines.
    • Ensuring youth 12-17 are vaccinated means getting them back to class, to sports, to band practice, and to being kids again.

    Resources for patients:

    Resources for health care providers:

    COVID@Home
    Ontario Health will be hosting its next COVID@Home CoP on September 8th at 8:00 a.m. They will share their thoughts on the QI evaluation to date, review any new or emerging evidence and discuss the group needs moving forward. Please click here to register or see attached flyer for more details.

    If you are a clinician or staff who participated in the implementation of, or patient care for, the COVID@Home initiative OH would be grateful to hear about your or your patients’ experiences. Please fill in this survey link or contact Julie Datta (dattaj1@mcmaster.ca) to participate.

    Additional Resources you may find helpful:  

    We look forward to continually updating you on the provincial vaccination strategy and hope you continue to stay safe. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas.

    Yours in good health,
    The AFHTO Team

    *Please note that the news release also speaks to mandatory vaccination policies for high-risk health care settings. At the moment this is limited to hospitals, home and community care and paramedic services. To help support our teams with their policies, we have invited EDs, Admin Leads, lead MDs/NPs and board chairs to a webinar with an HR lawyer to address your questions. If this is relevant to your role, please discuss your participation with your leadership. If you are part of the triad mentioned above and have not received the registration email, please contact us and we will send the information to you.

     

  • JUST ONE WEEK LEFT to submit your Bright Lights nomination

    JUST ONE WEEK LEFT to submit your Bright Lights nomination

    Bright Lights Hall of Fame banner cropped

     

    •    Are you proud of what your team has accomplished, especially during this pandemic?
    •    Do you want your colleagues to be recognized for the amazing work they do?
    •    Do you think it would be great to see your initiative spread across the province?

    If you’ve said yes to any of the above, submit a Bright Lights nomination!
    Don’t be left out- send in your nominations and supporting documents
    before the deadline, Friday, August 27.

    Awards will be presented at the AFHTO 2021 Conference Awards ceremony, which will be held on October 27th, 2021.

    We encourage small, rural, and Northern teams to apply. You can watch this 2016 webinar or view the slides if you’ve never submitted a nomination before.

    For more information regarding eligibility please visit our site.

    To complete your nomination by August 27, 2021:

    • Review the nomination categories in advance (see nomination guide pg. 3 for descriptions).
    • Review the nomination evaluation criteria (see nomination guide pg. 2 for details).
    • Complete the online nomination form and send all supporting materials before August 27, 2021.

    FINAL DAY TO NOMINATE FOR BOARD AWARD

    For the first time ever, the AFHTO board invites all members to help them select the recipient of a Board award. Submit a nomination online for the Board Award category by end of day today, August 20, 2021.

    Find out more about the criteria here. You can find the nomination template here.

    If you have any questions about the nomination process or want to know if your work is a good fit, email info@afhto.ca or call 647-234-8605x 1200. We’d be happy to help.

    We look forward to seeing your nominations and recognizing ALL the excellent work being done!

  • Register now! Vaccinations in the Workplace: Top Questions Employers Are Asking

    Hello triad members,

    We invite members of the triad to join Maria McDonald from McDonald HR Law for guidance on questions we all have about vaccination in the workplace. Can vaccines be mandatory? Can a policy be written? What do you do if a frontline staff does not want to be vaccinated?

    Join Maria on September 8 from 12 PM to 1:30 PM to learn more!

    Please submit your questions when you register, so she can address what is most top of mind. We will ensure any question that does not get addressed in the webinar receives a follow-up response.

    This webinar is intended for executive directors, admin leads, HR staff, and other management. We leave it at your discretion to share this invitation with staff as deemed appropriate.

    This is being done in collaboration with the Alliance for Healthier Communities, the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, and the Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association.

    Register here!

  • Bits & Pieces: last chance for Bright Lights, member stories and more

    Bits & Pieces: last chance for Bright Lights, member stories and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Bright Lights nomination deadline this Friday, Aug. 27
    • Member stories
    • Memo re unused doses, tracking COVID-19 through race-based data and more
    • Call for the government to implement vaccine certificates
    • ECHO Ontario Autism registration open
    • Upcoming events regarding election strategy and more

    Bright Lights nomination deadline this Friday, Aug. 27

    Don’t wait until the last minute to shine a light on your team’s achievements. You can nominate an outstanding team or individual for a “Bright Lights” Award even if:

    1. You’re a small, rural, or Northern team- we have an award dedicated to you.
    2. Your team has already won a Bright Lights Award- you just need to nominate a new program or individual
    3. You’re not sure if it’s eligible- just ask! Email info@afhto.ca or call 647-234-8605 x1200. We’re here to help!

    Two awards also have education grants! The deadline is this Friday, August 27, 2021. Find out more here.

    Health For All c19-vaccines Mar-Jul 2021

     

     

     

    Member stories

    Health For All FHT– COVID-19 vaccines March- July 2021 infographic

    North York FHT- ‘Getting to the last 20 per cent is challenging.’ Why a mobile health team is bringing COVID-19 vaccines to the hidden unvaccinated

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Memo re unused doses, tracking COVID-19 through race-based data and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Call for the government to implement vaccine certificates

    The Alliance for Healthier Communities, the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario, and the Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association strongly encourage all Ontarians to protect themselves and others against COVID-19 by getting the vaccine and call on the government to implement vaccine certificates. Read the full news release here.

    ECHO Ontario Autism registration open

    The ECHO Autism program, at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, is now registering paediatricans, family physicians and nurse practitioners for their September 2021 to June 2022 sessions. Funded by the Ministry of Health, this free online program provides training that will help screen, diagnose, and manage children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). MOC credits awarded.

    Other health team members, including occupational therapists and psychologists, are also welcome to attend sessions as observers. For more information, visit their site or email Salina Eldon seldon@hollandbloorview.ca.

    Member Consultation Forum on Election Strategy, Sep. 15, 2021

    The 2022 provincial election is fast approaching, and we need to hear from you! Register here.

    The Canadian/Global COVID-19 Policy Response, Sep. 1, 2021
    Lung Health Foundation & McMaster’s Global Nexus Policy Forum, moderated by Heather Bakken, Deputy Publisher and VP, Business Development, iPolitics.ca Register here.

    COVID@Home Monitoring for Primary Care Connecting Call, Sep. 8, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health, the webinar will cover some thoughts on the QI evaluation to date, review any new or emerging evidence and discuss the groups needs moving forward. Find out more here.

    ECHO Care of the Elderly (COE): Community series, Sep. 15- Dec. 15, 2021
    Hosted by Baycrest Health Sciences, in partnership with North East Specialized Geriatric Centre. Apply here.

    ECHO UHN FALL Programs, starting Sep. 2, 2021
    Multiple weekly series include Chronic Pain & Opioid Stewardship, Rheumatology, Liver, Concussion and Managing COVID-19. Register here

    Mood Disorders: Comprehensive and Realistic Strategies for Primary Care, Sep. 13 and 17
    Hosted by OCFP. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: election consultation, last chance for board award and more

    Bits & Pieces: election consultation, last chance for board award and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • It’s election time! Please register for AFHTO’s member consultation forum
    • Board Award nomination deadline this Friday, Aug. 20
    • Ontario makes COVID-19 vaccination policies mandatory for high-risk settings and more
    • Federal Holiday on September 30, 2021 – Does NOT impact health care and other provincial employers
    • Seeking family physicians’ input regarding routine screening of patients for poverty
    • Upcoming events regarding caregivers, COVID-19 CoP and more

    It’s election time! Please register for AFHTO’s member consultation forum

    The 2022 provincial election is fast approaching, and we need to hear from you! We’re asking all members in all professions to join our member consultation forum with our government relations firm, Enterprise Canada, on Wednesday, September 15, from 12 PM to 1:30 PM.

    Enterprise will present the election material they’ve drafted, and then we’d like your input. Is the proposed messaging effective? What would you change? What tools do you need for successful local advocacy that we may be missing?

    Please register here to receive your individual join info.

    We ask leaders to circulate this important invitation across your teams.

    If you have any questions, please email info@afhto.ca.

    Board Award nomination deadline this Friday, Aug. 20

    Bright Lights logo

    For the first time ever, the AFHTO board invites all members to help them select the recipient of a Board award. Submit a nomination online for the Board Award category by August 20, 2021.

    Find out more about the criteria here. You can find the nomination template here.

    And don’t forget to shine a light on your team’s achievements. Nominate an outstanding team or individual for a “Bright Lights” Award by August 27, 2021. Find out more here.

    Ontario makes COVID-19 vaccination policies mandatory for high-risk settings and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Federal Holiday on September 30, 2021 – Does NOT impact health care and other provincial employers

    Per Maria McDonald, McDonald HR Law regarding the new Sep. 30th National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

    “The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is ONLY for FEDERAL workplaces, such as banks, Canada Post, Federal public servants, etc.

    It is NOT a holiday for provincial employees, such as those working in healthcare.

    Here’s a tip to determine if you are federal employer or not. If you are governed by the Ontario Employment Standards Act, the Ontario Human Rights Code, or the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act; then you are NOT a federal employer and the September 30, 2021 holiday does NOT apply to your workplace.”

    Seeking family physicians’ input regarding routine screening of patients for poverty

    Queen’s University researchers are conducting an online survey study titled, ‘Identifying barriers and facilitators for family physicians in Ontario around routine screening of patients for poverty’.

    Poverty has been recognized as a risk factor for many health conditions, and family physicians may be well-positioned to identify poverty among their patients. They are seeking participants who are licensed family physicians currently involved in or previously have been involved in office-based primary care in Ontario.  

    Participation in the study involves completing a 15-minute online anonymous survey; participants can be entered into a draw for a $100 gift card, as a token of appreciation. For more information, please contact Ashvini Yogarajah at ashvini.yogarajah@queensu.ca or Dr. Amrita Roy at amrita.roy@queensu.ca.

    Pandemic Recovery and Chronic Disease Management: Primary Care for Adults with Asthma, August 19, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health and the Lung Health Foundation. Find out more here.

    Caregivers And Puppets: The Perfect Pair, Aug. 19, 2021
    Hosted by the Ontario Caregiver Organization. Find out more here.

    COVID-19 CoP- OCFP, Aug. 20, 2021
    “The vaccine, virus and in-person visits as we head into Fall”. Register here.

    Health Law: A primer for family caregivers in the mental health and addictions sector, Aug. 26, 2021
    Hosted by the Ontario Caregiver Organization. Find out more here.

    ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health, starting Sep. 7, 2021
    Limited spots available. The next cycle begins on September 7, 2021.  These weekly sessions take place via Zoom from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST every Tuesday for 24 weeks. Register here.

    COVID@Home Monitoring for Primary Care Connecting Call, Sep. 8, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health, the webinar will cover some thoughts on the QI evaluation to date, review any new or emerging evidence and discuss the groups needs moving forward. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: tapering opioids, Bright Lights and more

    Bits & Pieces: tapering opioids, Bright Lights and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Tapering and stopping opioids, Oct. 19
    • AFHTO Bright Lights Awards – nominations now open
    • Updates on aggregate primary care vaccination reports and more
    • Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) changes
    • Seeking input from healthcare professionals who provide nutrition information and advice  
    • Upcoming events regarding asthma and more

    Tapering and stopping opioids, Oct. 19

    Cohosted with ECHO Ontario Chronic Pain and Opioid Stewardship (UHN).

    There is evidence that chronic opioid therapy has a negative impact on patients’ quality of life and increasing the risk of serious complications like opioid use disorder, unintentional overdose, and death.

    Tapering opioids can be challenging to the prescriber and to the patient, and there is not a lot of guidance on how to do it safely, comfortably, and effectively. In this webinar, Dr. Furlan will summarize the 10 years of experience of the pain clinic at Toronto Rehab UHN where she works with an interprofessional team to help patients come off long term opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain. Find out more and register here.

    AFHTO Bright Lights Awards – nominations now open

    Bright Lights logo

    Shine a light on your team’s achievements. Nominate an outstanding team or individual for a “Bright Lights” Award by August 27, 2021. Five awards will be presented this year:

    1. Demonstrating a community response to COVID-19
    2. Small, rural, and Northern teams that have taken care of their communities during COVID-19
    3. Local-level research
    4. Reducing unnecessary care *
    5. Integrated care for older adults living with complex health conditions**

    * Education grant will be given to the award recipient in this category above thanks to the generous donations of our sponsor Choosing Wisely Canada.
     
    ** Education grant will be given to the award recipient in this category above thanks to the generous donations of our sponsor Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario.

    Find out more here.

    And don’t forget- for the first time ever, the AFHTO board invites all members to help them select the recipient of a Board award. Submit a nomination online for the Board Award category by August 20, 2021.

    Find out more about the criteria here. You can find the nomination template here.

    Updates on aggregate primary care vaccination reports and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) changes

    The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has revised the Disability Determination Package (DDP) for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) applicants and developed a new Medical Review Package (MRP) Self Report for recipients.

    The objective is to improve the ODSP adjudication process by introducing updated forms which will be easier for health care professionals (HCPs) and ODSP applicants and recipients to complete. Relevant documents include:

    Seeking input from healthcare professionals who provide nutrition information and advice 

    Laval University researchers would like to assess training and education among Canadian healthcare professionals who provide nutrition information and advice in their clinical practice.
     
    Participants are asked to complete a short online survey of 14 questions, which takes about 10 minutes to complete. The survey can be accessed here. Anyone who chooses to participate can provide their email address at the end of the survey (optional), for a chance to win one of three $50 grocery store gift cards. If you have any questions/concerns, please email justine.horne.1@ulaval.ca.

    OHT Virtual Engagement Series: collaborative Quality Improvement Plans, Aug. 11, 2021

    Hosted by the Ministry and Ontario health, this Information Session will be focused on the development and planning of collaborative Quality Improvement Plans (cQIPs). Find out more.

    Applying the Ontario Health Asthma Quality Standards for Children and Adolescents in your practice, August 12, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health and the Lung Health Foundation. Find out more here.

    Pandemic Recovery and Chronic Disease Management: Primary Care for Adults with Asthma, August 19, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health and the Lung Health Foundation. Find out more here.

    NPAO 2021 Virtual Annual Conference, Sep. 23-24, 2021
    This years’ Conference theme is Nurse Practitioner: Innovative Influencers of Health and Wellness. Find out more.

    OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Day, Sep. 30, 2021
    This virtual day will focus on leveraging digital health and virtual care tools to complement the in-person delivery of patient care. Find out more here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #110: COVID-19 Vaccination Reports, Cancer Screening Summary and Quality Standard Placemat

    QI in Action eBulletin #110: COVID-19 Vaccination Reports, Cancer Screening Summary and Quality Standard Placemat

    In this Issue:

    • COVID-19 Vaccination Reports
    • Resuming Cancer Screening During COVID-19
    • Quality Standard Placemat
    • Share your Thoughts on Addressing Patients’ Mental Health Needs as a Pharmacist
    • Upcoming Webinars

    COVID-19 Vaccination Reports
    Currently COVID-19 Vaccination Reports are available to Primary Care Providers in a few ways that are summarized below:

    • Health Report Manager (HRM®):
      • As of May 18, 2021, and onwards, physicians/NPs with access to HRM will receive HRM notifications with vaccination reports for patients for whom the Primary Care Provider (PCP) field was entered in at the time of vaccination. At the moment reports prior to May 18, 2021, will not be sent to the EMRs via HRM but work is being done to capture earlier vaccinations through HRM.
      • As of July 22, 2021, COVID-19 vaccination reports from the provincial COVaxON system are being enhanced with data from the Ministry of Health’s CAPE (Client Agency Program Enrolment) database to match patients to family physicians who practice in a Patient Enrollment Model (PEM). Patients are not always asked to identify their family physician for entry into COVaxON so the addition of CAPE data enables more reports to reach family physicians. If you practice in a PEM, you will now receive many more vaccination reports via HRM. The next improvement OntarioMD (OMD) is working on is a solution to send historical COVID-19 vaccination reports to family physicians.
      • To automate the process of entering these HRM reports into the immunization list of patients, eCE has created a Robotic Process Automation (RPA) (aka bot), which is currently compatible with the Telus PSS EMR. The bot is currently being offered at no cost and with supports from eCE. eCE will run the bot for you so no additional administrative supports will be required on your end. To see a demo of the bot in action, click here. To request more information or express interest in adding this bot to your workflow, please click here.
    • COVaxON Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Reports              
      • As of July 15, 2021, PEM physicians/clinicians with access to ONEID have access to aggregate eReports from the same portal as the Cancer SAR reports to download a complete list of patients vaccinated up to July 15, 2021. After this date, the report will be updated on a monthly basis.
      • EMR-eReport Patient Vaccination Reconciliation Toolkit were designed to be used with the Ontario Health’s COVaxON Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report and are designed for Microsoft Excel, Open Office, and Mac Numbers. These toolkits are designed for TELUS PSS, QHR Accuro and OSCAR EMRs. An FAQ on the aggregate reports can be found here. In addition, an information session slide deck and FAQ document can be found here.
      • Please note, a ONE-ID is required to access these reports. For instructions on completing a ONE® ID self-registration, refer to the ONE® ID CPSO Registration Guide. To assign a delegate further information can be found in the FAQ document here.
    • Clinical Viewers (ConnectingOntario ClinicalViewer and Clinical Connect):
      • These reports are available for physicians/clinicians for any time period, however on a per patient basis. For step by step instructions on how to access ClinicalViewers please refer to this reference document.
    • COVaxON:
      • For physicians/clinicians with access to COVaxON, patients can be queried on a per patient basis to inquire on vaccination status.

    For more information and updates on COVID-19 Vaccination Reports, please refer to the OMD page here.

    Resuming Cancer Screening During COVID-19

    Missed the last ebulletin? Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) has created a summary page for your reference on the resumption of cancer screening during the pandemic.

    Content below developed by Ontario Health (Health Quality Ontario)

    Quality Standard Placemat

    Ontario Health wants your input on the quality standard placemats!

    Ontario Health has recently developed a tool called the Quality Standard (QS) Placemat that is a resource for primary care practitioners. The placemat highlights key elements of care for a condition and is an evidence-based, quick-reference tool that concisely summarizes key information from the quality standard and includes links to resources and tools. To facilitate use at point of care, the placemat can be uploaded and used within EMRs for easy access. We have developed step-by-step user guides to help you add the QS placemats into Accuro, PS Suite and OSCAR EMR systems.

    They are looking for clinicians willing to review and use any of the QS Placemats for approximately 2 weeks. After that they would like you to complete a short survey (link below) that will give you the opportunity to provide feedback on the usefulness of the tool.

    Currently, there are seven quality standard placemats available:

    Would you or one of your colleagues be willing to help them test and provide feedback on the placemats?

    If so, please complete the following survey by clicking on the link below.  They would appreciate it if you can complete the survey by August 25th, 2021.

    Survey Link: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6387602/Quality-Standards-Placemat-Evaluation

    If you are interested in participating or have any questions, please email Jorge Ginieniewicz at: jorge.ginieniewicz@ontariohealth.ca

    A new Quality standard placemat has been developed:

    Early Pregnancy Complications and Loss QS Placemat—summarizes content from the Early Pregnancy

    Illustration of a woman with long wavy hair in profile, holding plants in her arms

    Complications and Loss Quality Standard, focusing on care for people experiencing complications, such as pain and vaginal bleeding, and/or the loss of their pregnancy in the first 13 weeks.

    Share your Thoughts on Addressing Patients’ Mental Health Needs as a Pharmacist
    If you are a primary care pharmacist, the research team wants to hear from you! This study seeks to examine primary care team pharmacist contributions to patient mental health care and understand pharmacists’ experiences with collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 15 to 20 min survey includes a mix of multiple choice and open response questions.

    This study from the University of Toronto is co-led by Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft, Assistant Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, and Dr. Lisa Dolovich, Professor & Dean at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.

    To take the survey, please click on this link: https://bit.ly/SplPharm.

    Upcoming Webinars:

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