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  • Bits & Pieces: structured psychotherapy webinar, mixing and matching and more

    Bits & Pieces: structured psychotherapy webinar, mixing and matching and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program, June 10
    • Reminder- COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9
    • Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk: drug safety for older adults beyond “Start Low, Go Slow”
    • Mixing and matching to be recommended and more
    • Update on Health Report Manager and COVaxON
    • Reminder- member renewal deadline June 30
    • Perkopolis mobile app
    • Dietitian input requested
    • Attn QIDSS, QIIMS and similar: consultation for how provincial government should use AI, deadline June 4
    • Upcoming events including Primary Care Vaccine Quality Improvement Support Group Webinar Series featuring members and more

    Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program, June 10

    The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) Program provides access to publicly funded, evidence-based, short-term, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and related approaches to patients with depression, anxiety, and anxiety-related conditions.

    Originally launched as a pilot at four sites in 2017, the Ministry of Health has recently approved six health service providers to serve as new lead organizations of regional psychotherapy networks, one of which is AFHTO member CarePoint Health.

    The Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence at Ontario Health would like to invite primary care organizations to a webinar on June 10 to learn more about the program’s background, the vision of OSP as a provincial program, and next steps with the expansion. Register here.

    Reminder- COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9
    This session with Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Associate Medical Officer of Health at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health will cover key questions, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and mixing of vaccines, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council will talk about why Indigenous people are prioritized to receive vaccines. Register here.

    Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk: drug safety for older adults beyond “Start Low, Go Slow”

    Co-hosted with GeriMedRisk, in this webinar, Dr. Ho will review the pharmacology of aging and its impact on adverse drug events among seniors. We’ll also explore tools and services for primary care providers to use to optimize drug safety. Register here.

    Mixing and matching to be recommended and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Update on Health Report Manager and COVaxON

    As of May 18, 2021, and onwards, Health Report Manager (HRM) has been pushing data prospectively to physicians when their name has been collected through COVaxON at point of vaccination. Further information around HRM COVaxON Vaccination Reports can be found on the OntarioMD website here.

    COVID vaccination data is now also available through the provincial clinical viewers, Connecting Ontario and Clinical Connect. Access to the viewers can be requested via Ontario Health’s Digital Health Service’s website. In the coming weeks, you will also see curated lists of enrolled patients that have been vaccinated made available on a monthly basis to physicians through the eReport tool which is available to any patient enrollment model (PEM) physicians in Ontario. Any PEM physician with an Ontario Health ONE ID account will have access to their reports. Physicians without a ONE ID account can get one through the CPSO website or by making a request at Ontario Health’s Digital Health Service’s website.

    Reminder- member renewal deadline June 30

    Thank you to our members who have renewed for 2021-22 fiscal year. Only a small number of teams haven’t gotten around to this yet, but we’d like to remind you the deadline for renewal is June 30. Unconfirmed and unpaid memberships will be cut off after this date. Don’t lose access to our resources, webinars and updates!

    Perkopolis app flyer

     

     

    Perkopolis mobile app

    One of the benefits includes access to Perkopolis as an AFHTO member. You can get these perks through their mobile app as well.

    Download it here.

    If you don’t have access yet, EDs can email info@afhto.ca to get started. It’s free to join.

     

     

     

    Dietitian input requested

    The School of Public Health and Health Systems at the University of Waterloo is seeking dietitians to evaluate questions to assess changes in food acquisition and eating practices as a result of the pandemic. The questions were administered to participants from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project.  

    If you decide to participate, you will be asked to review the questions and complete an anonymous 10- minute online survey. Participation is voluntary. This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Committee (ORE#42709). To learn more, please visit the study website.

    Attn QIDSS, QIIMS and similar: consultation for how provincial government should use AI, deadline June 4
    The Ontario government is accepting submissions, until June 4, on its Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework which will guide the way it uses the new technology. This could have implications for primary care. Deadline to take the survey June 4. Find out more here.

    Virtual wellness workshop series for patients, starting June 1, 2021
    New Vision FHT is opening their upcoming Anxiety during COVID and Emotional First Aid virtual workshop series to non-FHT patients and would like to invite you to share this with your team/patients to register. Registration is limited, so please encourage patients to register as soon as they can. Find out more.

    The Path to an Effective Vaccine – Lessons Learned in Real Time, June 2, 2021
    Free panel by Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Register here.

    Primary Care Vaccine Quality Improvement Support Group Webinar Series, June 3, 2021
    Join this week’s Ontario Health CoP meeting to hear about the experiences of:

    • Janine van den Heuvel, Algonquin FHT
    • Lorraine Johnston, Cottage Country FHT
    • Dave Courtemanche, City of Lakes FHT

    Followed by Dr. Tara Kiran on Building Vaccine Confidence. Register here.

    Evolving evidence on COVID-19 transmission & vaccination & implications for primary care, June 4, 2021

    Join the OCFP’s CoP where they’ll talk about new evidence on COVID-19 transmissions and discuss IPAC implications for primary care offices. This week’s panelists include:

    • Dr. Peter Juni, Director of the Applied Health Research Centre (AHRC), St. Michael’s Hospital, and Scientific Director of Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table
    • Dr. Allison McGeer, Infectious Disease Specialist, Mount Sinai Hospital.

    Register here.

    Applying an Equity Lens when Caring for your Population, June 17, 2021

    This RISE OHT webinar will be based on a PHM approach, deep diving into co-designing care models for different priority populations.
    Learn more here.

    A Morning with the Lung Experts: What’s Trending in Primary Care? June 12, 2021

    Join Dr. Tony D’Urzo and the Lung Health Foundation Experts as they explore emerging respiratory care issues.
    Find out more here.

  • Tilbury District, Chatham-Kent and Thamesview FHTs partner with community to provide 2 pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics

    iHeartRadio article published May 25, 2021

    By Lindsay Charlton, CTV Windsor

    Two COVID-19 vaccine community clinics will be popping up in Chatham-Kent for those 18 and older looking to get their shot.

    A pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic hosted at Tillbury District Family Health Team at 22 Mill Street in Tilbury will take place on Thursday for anyone 18 years and older. The clinic will be administering Moderna vaccines. Appointments can be booked by calling 519-682-2307 ext. 303.

    “This is great news! We are pleased to announce that pop up clinics are coming to your community! We want to make it easy for anyone who wants to be vaccinated to be able to do so. Offering this opportunity to our citizens in C-K is another step closer to getting us back to a sense of normalcy. Vaccines save lives,” primary care vaccination lead, Dr. Vishal Chawla, said in a news release.

    A second pop-up will be held on Thursday, June 3 hosted by Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres in Wallaceburg at 808 Dufferin Avenue.

    The clinic will be administering Moderna to members of the public 18 and older. Those looking to book an appointment can do so by calling 519-397-5455 ext. 322.

    The two COVID-19 vaccine clinics are being offered through a partnership with the Tillbury District Family Health Team, Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres, Chatham-Kent Family Health Team, Thamesview Family Health Team, Medavie EMS Ontario, Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team and are supported by Chatham-Kent Public Health.

     

    Read the full article here

  • Bits & Pieces: vaccine consent and information for youth, physiotherapy month and more

    Bits & Pieces: vaccine consent and information for youth, physiotherapy month and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Vaccine consent and information for youth and more updates
    • National Physiotherapy Month
    • Member stories
    • Ontario is creating a roadmap to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030
    • Important information about AstraZeneca second doses and more
    • MindWell for Healthcare Workers
    • Support reminder- BounceBack
    • Call for applications for FASD support groups-deadline May 26
    • Public Health 2021– call for submissions
    • DYK- board postings on AFHTO site
    • NPAO Patient Choice Award
    • Upcoming events including virtual wellness workshop series for patients and more

    Vaccine consent and information for youth and more updates

    There were so many updates in Friday’s situation report from the Ministry, this had to be separate from our COVID-19 section below. Documents include:

    Three COVID-19 vaccine documents have been developed for youth and/or parents/legal guardians:

    Two COVID-19 vaccine documents have been updated:

    The following documents have been updated and are available on the Ministry’s website:

    These documents and links will be updated on our site shortly.

    National Physiotherapy Month
    Primary care takes care of patients for a lifetime, which is why physiotherapists are an integral part of the team. For National Physiotherapy Month, we’d like to say THANK YOU to the amazing PTs in primary care teams.

    Member stories
    Northumberland FHT – radio interview on facilitating vaccinations

    Rideau FHT – Vaccines on wheels: organizing a drive-through vaccination clinic in your practice

    Text= We're building Ontario's roadmap to eliminate hepatitis C. Background= illustration of the profiles of people of different colours with different hairstyles and head coverings

     

    Ontario is creating a roadmap to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030

    Ontario is creating a roadmap to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. Over 110,000 Ontarians are living with hepatitis C. With a diagnosis that is simple, an effective cure, and proven prevention strategies, eliminating hepatitis C is within our reach. Building upon a 2019 national strategy, multiple stakeholders are coming together to chart the path to elimination in Ontario.

    AFHTO is an advisor on this project. To find out more, visit the Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap website.

     

    Important information about AstraZeneca second doses and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    MindWell for Healthcare Workers
    MindWell for Healthcare Workers is designed for healthcare workers by healthcare workers to give you the tools you need to feel confident and capable, remain calm amidst chaos and build overall resilience and well-being so you can perform at your best no matter what is happening around you.
     
    Short, simple, and effective lessons are provided in 4 weekly modules designed to give you maximum results in the least amount of time.  Sign up today to see positive change.
     
    MindWell for Healthcare Workers is a 4-week self-paced online learning experience accessible from any device. Each week includes approximately 10-15 minutes of learning content plus one 50-minute live session offered several times a week to fit most schedules.

    I miss my friends. I miss my social life. I'm lonely. Superimposed over a man's downcast face.

    Support reminder- BounceBack

    Bounceback’s latest campaign targets different demographic groups and highlights the struggles their coaches and clinicians have been hearing about from program participants during the pandemic. This includes concerns from middle-aged moms, men, parents of young children, people working from home, front-line workers, and students.

    If you’re interested, please feel free to share on your social channels and broadly with your networks.

    Call for applications for FASD support groups-deadline May 26
    Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a neuro-developmental, permanent disability that affects 4% of the population in Ontario. Support groups for individuals with FASD or their parents/caregivers provide information, support, and reduce isolation and loneliness.

    Health Nexus has launched its application process for FASD Support Groups. Apply to receive up to $4,500 to run a virtual support group for individuals with FASD or their caregivers (and in person when COVID-19 permits). Candidates will be able to reapply for projects annually. To learn more, visit their site.

    Public Health 2021– call for submissions
    The Canadian Public Health Association is now accepting submissions for presentation at Public Health 2021. Submissions will be accepted for oral and poster abstracts, didactic symposiums or interactive workshops that are focused on one of their conference keywords. Deadline June 3, 2021.

    DYK- board postings on AFHTO site
    You know the AFHTO careers section as the best place to advertise job openings for staff, but did you know you can also post volunteer board positions there as well? Now you do. Feel free to post here.  And for any of your partners, as non-members they can post for a nominal fee.

    NPAO Patient Choice Award
    The NPAO NP Patient Choice Award is presented at the NPAO annual conference in September. Please share with your patients, colleagues and friends. How has your NP made a difference in your life or that of your family or friend? Deadline June 18, 2021.

    COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9

    This session with Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Senior Medical Consultant at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health will cover key questions, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and potential mixing of vaccine, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council will talk about why Indigenous people are prioritized to receive vaccines. Register here.

    The Path to an Effective Vaccine – Lessons Learned in Real Time, June 2, 2021
    Free panel by Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Register here.

    Virtual wellness workshop series for patients, starting June 1, 2021
    New Vision FHT is opening their upcoming Anxiety during COVID and Emotional First Aid virtual workshop series to non-FHT patients and would like to invite you to share this with your team/patients to register. Registration is limited, so please encourage patients to register as soon as they can. Find out more.

    Child & Youth Eating Disorders: Information for Primary Care, June 1 – 15, 2021
    This special interest ECHO session series will cover:

    • Understanding Medical Implications and Monitoring for Children and Youth with Eating Disorders, June 1, 2021
    • Supporting a Young Person with an Eating Disorder in Primary Care – Tips and Tricks for the Primary Care Provider, June 15, 2021

    For more information, click here.

    Project ECHO: Ontario Bariatric Network, Starting June 2, 2021
    Join these OBN Project ECHO Series held by Guelph General Hospital BCOE & The Ottawa Hospital BCOE.
    Find out more here.

  • Important Information about AstraZeneca Second Doses

    Dear members,

    As you are aware the Ministry announced yesterday that they will make second dose administration of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine available, beginning with those who received their first dose of the vaccine between March 10 and March 19, 2021. For primary care this impacts the primary care clinics that were part of the initial AZ pilot in 6 PHUs (Peterborough Country City Health Unit, City of Hamilton Health Unit, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit, Peel Regional Health Unit, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, and City of Toronto Health Unit).

    For those sites that were part of the initial rollout of AZ vaccines, you have probably been contacted about next steps in getting the vaccines so that you can start booking the second doses to patients who want them through informed choice. This is a time limited rollout during the week of May 24 for individuals who opt for an earlier dose interval of 10 weeks with informed consent. If you are in one of those pilot areas and have not received any information about the second doses, please connect with your PHU contact or let us know so we can inform the Ministry.

    The Ministry has released two documents to help primary care providers with the administration of 2nd dose of AZ vaccines:

    In addition, take a moment and read the OCFP President’s Important Update about AstraZeneca Second Doses which also includes a script for your patients that you can adapt for your clinics.
     
    And take a moment and watch Dr. Allan Grill as he speaks to CTV News about the second dose AZ with informed choice, VOCs, safely enjoying the outdoors and getting more #NeedlesInArms.

    As always, we look forward to continually updating you on the provincial vaccination strategy. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas. We hope you get an opportunity to safely enjoy the outdoors this long weekend if you can.

    Yours in good health,
     The AFHTO Team

  • Take 15 minutes just for you – CMHA Campaign

    Shared by the CMHA

    We understand that things are tough right now. More than a year into the pandemic and we’re all feeling the effects. Many of us are struggling with burnout, loneliness, and depression. Balancing the tasks of everyday life – work, parenting, caregiving – has now become more stressful and exhausting. And the idea of taking even a few minutes to practice healthy coping techniques can feel like just another chore.

    But looking after yourself is especially important when you’re struggling. Self-care is about self-preservation. It’s a necessity, not an indulgence.

    A self-care task should not be big or complicated – in fact, when energy and resolve is low, it’s important to make it as simple as possible. This is what we’re offering here – we are sharing simple 15 minute ideas to help you feel better.

    Click here to access the package (PDF, EN) (FR), for some tips for:

    • Feelings of  burnout
    • Your mental health
    • Your emotional health
    • Your physical health
    • Your social health
    • Your spiritual wellness

    To remind your peers or patients to take care of themselves, click here for the Digital Package (EN) | (FR)

    FOR OTHER MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, CLICK HERE.

  • Tilbury District, Chatham-Kent and Thamesview FHTs partner Vaccination Clinic Draws Record Turnout

    Chatham Daily news article published May 21, 2021

    By Mark Malone, Chatham Kent Daily News

    A record turnout rolled up their sleeves at a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic Friday at Wallaceburg Memorial Arena.

    WALLACEBURG – A record turnout rolled up their sleeves at a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic Friday at Wallaceburg Memorial Arena.

    More than 1,100 people – more than at any previous mobile clinic in Chatham-Kent – were scheduled to receive a dose.

    “It’s nice the communities and surrounding areas are taking advantage of us being in those areas,” said Donald MacLellan, general manager of Chatham-Kent emergency medical services.

    The previous mobile clinics in Wheatley and Highgate drew more than 400 people apiece.

    The Chatham-Kent vaccination team was able to book more people indoors at Wallaceburg Memorial Arena than at previous sites. Ten stations were set up for the 10-and-a-half-hour clinic.

    Most visitors were receiving their first dose, but some were getting their second.

    “We’ve been doing this long enough. People are getting to that 16-week mark for second doses,” MacLellan said.

    Two more pop-up clinics for adults 18 and older were announced Friday by the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team. They’ll be held Thursday, May 27, in Tilbury and Thursday, June 3, in Wallaceburg.

    The May 27 clinic will be hosted by the Tilbury District Family Health Team at 22 Mill St. Call 519-682-2307 ext. 303 to book an appointment. Phone messages will be checked on the weekend and on Victoria Day.

    The June 3 clinic will be hosted by Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres at 808 Dufferin Ave. Call 519-397-5455 ext. 322 to book an appointment.

    The Moderna vaccine will be given at the May 27 and June 3 clinics, which are being delivered through a partnership of theTilbury District Family Health Team, the Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres, the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team, the Thamesview Family Health Team, Medavie EMS Ontario and the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team with support from the Chatham-Kent public health unit.

    “We want to make it easy for anyone who wants to be vaccinated to be able to do so,” Dr. Vishal Chawla, the primary care vaccination lead, said in a statement. “Offering this opportunity to our citizens in C-K is another step closer to getting us back to a sense of normalcy. Vaccines save lives!”

    The Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team said more pop-up community clinics will be coming soon.

     

    Read the full article here

  • Patient perspectives on quality of care for depression and anxiety in primary health care teams: Study

    Research paper published in Health Expectations. 2021

    Abstract

    Background: Widespread policy reforms in Canada, the United States and elsewhere over the last two decades strengthened team models of primary care by bringing together family physicians and nurse practitioners with a range of mental health and other interdisciplinary providers. Understanding how patients with depression and anxiety experience newer team-based models of care delivery is essential to explore whether the intended impact of these reforms is achieved, identify gaps that remain and provide direction on strengthening the quality of mental health care.

    Objectives: The main study objective was to understand patients’ perspectives on the quality of care that they received for anxiety and depression in primary care teams.

    Method: This was a qualitative study, informed by constructivist grounded theory. We conducted focus groups and individual interviews with primary care patients about their experiences with mental health care. Focus groups and individual interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Grounded theory guided an inductive analysis of the data.

    Results: Forty patients participated in the study: 31 participated in one of four focus groups, and nine completed an individual interview. Participants in our study described their experiences with mental health care across four themes: accessibility, technical care, trusting relationships and meeting diverse needs.

    Conclusions: Greater attention by policymakers is needed to strengthen integrated collaborative practices in primary care so that patients have similar access to mental health services across different primary care practices, and smoother continuity of care across sectors. The research team is comprised of individuals with lived experience of mental health who have participated in all aspects of the research process.

    Authors:
    Rachelle Ashcroft PhD, Matthew Menear PhD, Andrea Greenblatt PhD(c), Jose Silveira MD, Simone Dahrouge PhD, Nadiya Sunderji MD, MPH, Monica Emode MSc(c), Jocelyn Booton MSW, Marvelous Muchenje PhD Student, Rachel Cooper BA (Hons), Asante Haughton BSc (Hons), Kwame McKenzie MD

    Relevant Links:

     

  • Bits & Pieces: Astra-Zeneca pause supporting documentation, CMOH webinar and more

    Bits & Pieces: Astra-Zeneca pause supporting documentation, CMOH webinar and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Supporting documentation for Astra-Zeneca pause
    • COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9
    • Happy Foot Health Month- plus article on initial diabetic foot screening
    • COVID-19 vaccination clinic workflow update
    • Provincial Antigen Screening Program – Intake Portal and more
    • Relevant reports and studies- patient perspectives on quality of care for depression and anxiety and need for team-based primary care in the US
    • ECHO Ontario Integrated Mental and Physical Health
    • OHT Impact Fellows- deadline May 25
    • 1st North American Conference on Integrated Care– call for submissions
    • Upcoming events including Measuring Patient and Provider Experience: Completing the Quadruple Aim and more

     

    Supporting documentation for Astra-Zeneca pause

    As we noted last week the Ontario government announced on May 11 that primary care and pharmacy are to pause on the further use of the AstraZeneca (AZ)/COVISHIELD COVID-19 vaccines as first doses to eligible individuals.

    On May 14, the Ministry released related supporting documentation for healthcare workers:

    COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9

    From variants of concern to changing directives on vaccines, understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve rapidly. The Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, the Alliance for Healthier Communities, and the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario are pleased to invite Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Senior Medical Consultant at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health to speak with our members on the latest findings and considerations related to COVID-19, so that you can be better equipped to answer your patients’ questions.

    This session will cover key questions that we have heard from you, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and potential mixing of vaccine, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council will talk about why Indigenous people are prioritized to receive vaccines. Register here.

    Happy Foot Health Month- plus article on initial diabetic foot screening

    This month chiropodists and podiatrists all over Ontario will be promoting awareness and education on the importance of good foot health. Everyone involved in foot health, including physicians, chiropodists, nurses, diabetes teams, and other IHPs, can provide better outcomes for their patients by sharing important weekly tips and information about good foot health, common conditions, and preventative measures. Some useful sources include:

    In recognition of Foot Health Month, we would also like to celebrate a recent peer reviewed publication from Dufferin Area FHT’s chiropodists in The Foot journal. Conducted at the DAFHT, the study explains how the 60-second diabetes foot screens that many diabetes teams and nurses use (to refer) could be enhanced with a use of the Manchester Scale visual tool. The purpose was to emphasize a primary care and inter-collaborative approach to diabetes foot screens.

    COVID-19 vaccination clinic workflow cover data & emr edition tips & tricks

     

    COVID-19 vaccination clinic workflow update
    We have just updated the document geared towards the Super User, with some tips and tricks for teams, their mass vaccination clinics, drive-thru vaccination clinics and in-clinic vaccinations.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Provincial Antigen Screening Program – Intake Portal and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Relevant reports and studies- patient perspectives on quality of care for depression and anxiety and need for team-based primary care in the US

    View frome behind of people in a meeting room with more light on those at the back

    ECHO Ontario Integrated Mental and Physical Health

    Are you looking for support managing your most complex patients?  Apply for ECHO Ontario Integrated Mental and Physical Health.  The FREE and virtual interactive sessions will take place on Fridays from 12:00-1:15 PM EST from June 4-August 27, 2021. 

    Identifying the most effective mental and physical health interventions can be challenging.  Our program connects you with the expertise of leading clinicians and a panel of your peers.  By learning together, you will not be alone in finding the best path ahead for your patients.  Apply here.

    OHT Impact Fellows- deadline May 25
    The OHT Impact Fellows program offers recent Master’s and PhD graduates a one-year embedded fellowship opportunity in Ontario Health Teams, where they will support local projects and contribute to rapid learning.

    The program provides Fellows with advanced training in implementation and evaluation while enabling them to apply their skills in an exciting work environment and be a catalyst for health systems change. Deadline May 25. Find out more here.

    1st North American Conference on Integrated Care– call for submissions

    The 1st North American Conference on Integrated Care in association with the 6th World Congress on Integrated Care will be run as a virtual conference in partnership with the University of Toronto, KPMG Canada, HSPN and iCOACH from October 4 – 7,  2021. With the overarching theme ‘Co-designing for health and wellbeing with individuals and communities’, deadline to submit is May 31. Find out more here.

    Input needed today on the curriculum for a new mentoring program on occupational and environmental medicine
    How confident do you feel about identifying a work-related illness, completing a WSIB Form 8, or doing a functional abilities assessment with injured patients?  You can get support on these topics and more through the new Project ECHO Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) for Ontario healthcare providers.  Help tailor the program curriculum by completing this short needs assessment.  It takes less than 10 minutes, and you could win a $50 gift card. The (free) ECHO OEM program launches this fall. Deadline extended to today, May 18.

    Addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in clinical practice, May 19 & 20, 2021
    The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID) is hosting a webinar to inform health care providers on addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in clinical practice.  

    COVID-19 CoP: Mobilizing community, administering Moderna in the office, evolving guidance and more, May 21, 2021
    Join the OCFP for their 23rd CoP to see how primary care is vaccinating communities and more.
    Find out more here.

    Measuring Patient and Provider Experience: Completing the Quadruple Aim, May 25, 2021
    HSPN will be discussing the measures of provider experience they recommend for use in OHTs. Patient & provider experiences will be shared from their own perspective.
    Register here.

    McMaster University Review Course in Psychiatry, May 27-28, 2021
    Hosted by Continuing Professional Development, McMaster University and accredited. Find out more here.

    Child & Youth Eating Disorders: Information for Primary Care, June 1 – 15, 2021
    This special interest ECHO session series will cover:

    • Understanding Medical Implications and Monitoring for Children and Youth with Eating Disorders, June 1, 2021
    • Supporting a Young Person with an Eating Disorder in Primary Care – Tips and Tricks for the Primary Care Provider, June 15, 2021

    For more information, click here.

    Project ECHO: Ontario Bariatric Network, Starting June 2, 2021
    Join these OBN Project ECHO Series held by Guelph General Hospital BCOE & The Ottawa Hospital BCOE.
    Find out more here.

  • Using Manchester Scale during initial diabetic foot screening in primary health care settings: Study

    Research paper published in The Foot Volume 47, June 2021, 101810

    Abstract

    Limitations have been identified in the current state of primary care practises with regards to identifying and correctly categorizing foot deformity and its associated risk of developing foot ulcers in patients with diabetes. This study aims to bridge these gaps through the implementation of additional categorization tools to be made available for primary care professionals.

    This study thus analysed the relationship between foot pressure distribution and amount in patients with diabetes with Hallux Valgus foot deformity, and its different stages, in order to better understand the clinical applications of the Manchester Scale. Statistically significant data in pressure distribution (P < 0.05) was found in all three severity groups identified by the Manchester Scale (Mild, Moderate and Severe) when compared to a No deformity group.

    However, only the Severe Hallux Valgus group crossed the threshold over 500 kPa in the area of first metatarsal bone. Further research should aim to analyse pressure distribution and amount in patients with both diabetes and diabetic neuropathy of all stages of Hallux Valgus.

     

    Authors:

    • Sulejman Menzildzica, Dufferin Area FHT
    • Nosheen Chaudhryab, Dufferin Area FHT
    • Carol Petryschukc, Dufferin Area FHT

    Relevant Links:

     

  • Georgian Bay FHT & OHT partners opens appointments for COVID-19 Vaccines in Collingwood

    Collingwood Today published May 25, 2021

    By Collingwood Today Staff

    The local family health team is also offering second doses of AstraZeneca to anyone who had their first dose between March 10 and 19.

    Are you 18+ and waiting to receive your first dose of COVID-19 vaccine?  

    Appointments still remain for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine clinic being held in Collingwood tomorrow, May 26 from 2 to 6 p.m.  

    Click here to book now through the South Georgian Bay Ontario Health Team. 

    AstraZeneca – second dose

    If you received your first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine between March 10 and March 19, we have received a small supply of AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine that we are able to offer for your second dose at the Collingwood drive-thru vaccine clinic on Saturday, May 29. The current recommendation by  AstraZeneca is to give the second dose four to 12 weeks after your first dose, with 12 weeks offering optimal protection. Click here for more information about safety, efficacy and dosing intervals.  

    Dr. Sohail Gandhi, local family physician and past President of the Ontario Medical Association, answers some frequently asked questions below. These answers are not specific medical advice for you as an individual, only general answers based on current information. 

    1. What should I know about the safety of the AZ vaccine? 

    There is no such thing as a vaccine/medicine/treatment that is 100 per cent guaranteed. However, the  AZ vaccine, and indeed, all of the current COVID vaccines, are amongst the safest vaccines available. If you got a sore arm, fever, headaches or muscle pains with your first dose, it would be helpful to take Tylenol 1000 mg three times a day, the day before, the day of, and the day after your second dose. Generally, these symptoms are very short-lived (24-48 hours) and are an indication that your body is mounting an immune response – that is to say, the vaccine is working. 

    2. What should I know about the risk of Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT) after second doses of AZ vaccine? 

    The first thing is that the risk of this is very, very low. The second thing is that in England (where over 30 million doses of AZ have been given), it has been noted that if you did not get VITT after the first dose, you are not going to get it with the second dose.

    3. What other options might become available to me if I delay my second dose?

    As of today, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization has recommended using the same vaccine for first and second dose. We will update as soon as new information becomes available. 

    Click here to book now if you feel that you have sufficient information and wish to proceed to book your second dose of AZ vaccine.  

    If booking is full and you are unable to book an appointment at this time, please keep checking our website as we will continue to add appointments according to demand and vaccine supply.

    Please do not call your Family Physician’s office or the Georgian Bay Family Health Team. 

    If you proceed to booking and attend our drive-thru clinic, we ask that everyone arrive as close to their appointment time as possible (not early or late) to avoid traffic congestion. Wear loose clothing.

    Please note that you are only eligible for this clinic if your first dose was given between March 10 and 19. You will be turned away if this is not the case.

     

    Read the full article here