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  • See a video tour of a Georgian Bay FHT drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine clinic

    Collingwood Today article published March 14, 2021

    By Erika Engel, Collingwood Today

    While the term drive-thru usually refers to a coffee run, in Collingwood and Wasaga Beach, it’s also the method of delivery for vaccines against COVID-19. 

    Just like the coffee chains, you arrive to the local drive-thru clinics and check-in to confirm your (pre-booked) order – one dose please. At the next stop you hand over the paperwork and get a quick needle in the arm. Then you pull ahead and wait 15 minutes before you’re clear to head home. 

    “The only thing you don’t get is a coffee at the end of it,” joked Gaynor Edwards, clinical director for Georgian Bay Family Health Team (GBFHT), and one of the organizers for the drive-thru clinics. 

    Here’s a video of the whole process: 

    Each location – one at the Collingwood Legion and one at the Wasaga Beach Rec Plex – operates in partnership between the Georgian Bay Family Health Team and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. They were originally set up as COVID-19 assessment centres for swab testing, and still operate under that role when they’re not being used as vaccine clinics. 

    Edwards said it’s a very different inside the tents when staff are running vaccine clinics instead of test sites. 

    “The mood has lifted enormously,” said Edwards. “The people coming through are really happy to be here. The mood has lifted for all of us – patients and providers.” 

    Vaccine supply is limited right now and the clinics are being run as supply is available. Waiting lists are full and it’s tough to get an appointment, even for those who fit the limited eligibility criteria. 

    “We’re looking forward to more and more vaccine and a process that will enable us to ramp up to the fullest capacity,” said Edwards. “I think there is a lot of frustration that certain groups in the community aren’t getting vaccinated yet, but I think we all want to just put out to everybody that it is coming, it’s coming quickly and hopefully – maybe by the end of June – everybody will have received a first vaccine who wants it. That’s certainly what we’re hoping for.” 

    Vaccine appointments can only be made by following the online or phone booking process set up by the province. You can find information on eligibility and registering for an appointment on the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit website here.

    Please note, you cannot book an appointment through your doctor’s office or through the Georgian Bay Family Health Team at this time.

    Read the full article here

  • March 19th Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out

    Dear Members,
    We are writing to provide you with an update from our united Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Collaborative (PC-VAC*). This week’s key messages that we shared with vaccine decision-makers can be found here.  

    The projections from the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table and Modelling Consensus update on COVID-19 Table on March 11 suggests that vaccination in long-term care has paid off but progress has otherwise stalled. There are increasing concerns about variants of concern (VOC) that are spreading across Ontario and our behaviour over the next few weeks will determine what our summer will look like.

    However, given that VOCs make up nearly half of the confirmed cases being reported and there has been an increase in ICU numbers trending up, the Ontario Hospital Association and the Science Advisory Table have indicated that Ontario has entered a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.     

    Key Updates:

    Primary Care Vaccination Pilot Community of Practice:
    Together with Ontario Health (OH), the primary care associations have formed a Community of Practice to support those involved in vaccinations in these regions. Initially the CoP will include those participating in the pilot and will scale as other PHUs are included. If you are currently participating in the pilot and would like to join the CoP, you can register for the upcoming series of connecting calls here weekly Thursdays from 8 am to 9 am.

    Resources are available on the Quorum Community Space Primary Care Vaccination Pilot CoP. If you have trouble signing up for Quorum, please message janine.theben@ontariohealth.ca for assistance.

    COVaxON:
    OntarioMD will be providing additional training and onboarding on COVaxON (the vaccine registration system) for clinical providers, initially focused on those who are directly involved in vaccine pilots, including support for technical questions that arise throughout the process. You can register for training directly. A Clinical Workflow Training recording is also available.

    If you are beginning to participate in vaccine administration with your PHU and are not yet connected, below are OMD contacts by existing pilot site:

    COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility EMR Searches
    Version 1.0 of COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility EMR Searches are now available, created by the eHealth Centre of Excellence. This work is based on the Vulnerable populations and COVID-19 resource published by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and informed by the COVID-19: Vaccines Resource developed by the Centre for Effective Practice (CEP).

    It aims to equip Primary Care with resources for your EMR which will enable you to identify and prioritize ambulatory patients from within your roster who are in greatest need of the COVID-19 Vaccination to avoid negative healthcare outcomes. Version 1.0 of the searches are all available to download right now from our Community site for all three EMRs.

    IMPORTANT: The Province of Ontario has announced the focus for Phase Two of Ontario’s vaccination distribution plan. The list of eligible health conditions provided in this announcement does not align with the Version 1.0 searches currently released by the eHealth Centre of Excellence. Their team is hard at work putting together Version 2.0 of our COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility EMR Searches which will align with the health conditions listed in the Province’s announcement.

    COVID-19 Vaccination in Canada: an educational series for primary care professionals
    “COVID-19 vaccination in Canada” is now certified for up to 1 Mainpro+® credits.  This self-learning series from DFCM and the Ontario College of Family Physicians is designed to provide primary care professionals with the knowledge and skills to support Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination effort. Added is a new module on viral vector vaccines that includes extensive information on the AstraZeneca vaccine and available information on the Janssen vaccine. There is also updated content throughout the series including on the vaccine rollout, dosing interval and more. To learn more and to register please click here.

    The next COVID-19 Community of Practice for Ontario Family Physicians is on Friday, March 26th from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and will include dialogue with some of the family physicians involved in the AZ pilot sites. Click here to register.  Previous COVID-19 Community of Practice sessions can be found here.

    New Resources:

    Find resources from previous weeks here.

    Finally, the OMA has relaunched its burnout survey to understand the impact of COVID-19 on physician burnout. Physicians are invited to complete this 5-7 minute survey.

    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.

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Collaborative:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association/Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine
  • Bits & Pieces: community investment grants, free legal services and more

    Bits & Pieces: community investment grants, free legal services and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • CIRA community investment grants
    • Happy Nutrition Month
    • Members’ stories
    • Family Justice Centre -free legal services
    • AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine & thromboembolic events, MOH updates and more
    • COVID-19 support available for isolated seniors and people with physical disabilities
    • OMA burnout survey
    • White papers on population health management and population segmentation
    • Upcoming events including supporting older persons at home and more

     

    CIRA community investment grants

    AFHTO members and/or their partners may be eligible for Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)’s Community Investment Program grants.

    Applications for more than $1 million in grants for Canadian internet projects are now open. They’re looking for not-for-profits, charities, and researchers with projects to improve Canada’s internet – with a special focus on students and northern, rural, and Indigenous communities. Learn more on how to apply. Deadline is April 14.

    Nutrition month 2021 -colourful pics of people and food

     

    Happy Nutrition Month

    March is Nutrition Month, and tomorrow is Dietitian’s Day. We appreciate our registered dietitians and their ongoing commitment to teamwork and helping patients #FindYourHealthy!

     

     

     

     

     

    Members’ stories

    Elliot Lake FHT – Elliot Lake Health Team plans first mass vaccination clinic this week

    Grandview Medical Centre & Two Rivers FHTs– Vaccination clinic now open at Langs in Cambridge

    Guelph FHT – Guelph FHT to operate 2 new vaccination clinics

    Infographic- English

    Family Justice Centre -free legal services

    There is a substantial and long-standing disparity in the ability of Ontarians to access the family justice system. In some jurisdictions, upwards of 80% of litigants begin their court cases self-represented. The inequity in access has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the backlogs caused by court closures and the inability of people to pay for legal services due to job and/or income loss.
     
    Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) recently launched Family Justice Centre (FJC) to bridge this gap.

    Through the creation of public legal education resources and regularly held virtual legal clinics, family lawyers in private practice and law students provide FREE unbundled legal services (summary advice, document preparation, legal education, and legal coaching) to individuals who are unable to afford a lawyer. Learn more by visiting their website.

    AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine & thromboembolic events, MOH updates and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    know a senior?

    COVID-19 support available for isolated seniors and people with physical disabilities

    Do you know an isolated, low income senior or person living with a physical disability, without family or community support, who needs help getting essentials during the current COVID-19 pandemic?  
    The Ontario Community Support program helps those in need get meals, groceries, medicine, and other essentials delivered through Meals on Wheels so that they can safely isolate at home. Service is available through March 2022.

    To identify a local community provider and request service, visit their site or dial 211 or 1-877-330-3213 (toll free). TTY service is also available at 1-888-340-1001.

    OMA burnout survey

    The OMA has relaunched its burnout survey to understand the impact of COVID-19 on physician burnout. The results will be compared to findings from the burnout survey completed in March 2020 to assess the impact of the pandemic on burnout over the past year. You can complete the survey here.

    White papers on population health management and population segmentation

    Health System Performance Network (HSPN)’s three supporting white papers on population health management and population segmentation are now available on their site.

    They will hosting their next webinar on OHT Improvement Measures from Health Administrative Data: Where are OHTs Starting From? on March 23 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Click here to register.

    Supporting Older Persons at Home – Learning and Collaboration During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond, Mar. 25, 2021

    Cohosted with Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario, join us for a discussion on how to better support older persons in the community using lessons learned during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Register here.

    Primary Care and the Digital Health Revolution, Mar. 17, 2021

    The University of Toronto’s webinar, hosted by the Sandra Rotman Centre for Health Sector Strategy, will cover the digital revolution in primary care, and how providers and patients are changing in response to it.
    Learn more here.

    Wise Practices for COVID Vaccinators, Mar. 23, 2021
    Learn how to actively design and deliver vaccination services to support high quality, safe experiences for Indigenous patients. You’ll walk away with wise practices & strategies for working in a culturally safe & respectful way.
    Find out more here.

    The COVID-19 vaccine: An interactive panel discussion, Mar. 18, 2021
    DFCM City Wide Research Rounds from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Join on Zoom.

    Lessons from vaccine pilots, evolving guidance, and more, Mar 26, 2021
    The COVID-19 CoP, held by the OCFP and the University of Toronto DFCM, will be discussing lessons learned and new guidance around COVID-19 vaccines and rollout.
    Learn more here.

    Workplace investigation training course
    Training managers and/or HR people to conduct internal investigations by McDonald HR Law and Noxon Workplace Investigation. Learn more here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin # 105: Ontario Health Submission March 2021

    QI in Action eBulletin # 105: Ontario Health Submission March 2021

    In this Issue:

    • A new tool for primary care providers: Quality Standard Placemats
    • Quality Improvement Plans – Update
    • A Peoples’ Panel on how race and ethnicity data should be used for health data research in Ontario
    • Upcoming Webinars

    Content below developed by Ontario Health

    A new tool for primary care providers: Quality Standard Placemats

    Quality standards outline what high-quality care looks like for conditions or processes where there are large variations in how care is delivered in Ontario. They are based on the best evidence and designed to help you know what to do to reduce gaps and variations in care – there are over 25 quality standards developed by Ontario Health, in collaboration with health care professionals, patients, and caregivers across Ontario.

    Ontario Health is pleased to share a newly developed 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
    • includes links to helpful resources and tools
    • can be used to facilitate patient-centered discussions

    Three quality standard placemats have been developed to date:

    Illustration of someone touching their lower back with pain radiating from it

    Low Back Pain QS Placemat – summarizes content from the Low Back Pain Quality Standard, focusing on care for people 16 years of age and older with persistent or recurrent episodes of acute lower back pain. French version.

     

    3 pics of parts of the skeleton- knee, hip, hand- with pain radiating

     

    Osteoarthritis QS Placemat – summarizes content from the Osteoarthritis Quality Standard, focusing on care for adults with osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, or hand (i.e., thumb or fingers). French version.

     

    Acute low back pain and osteoarthritis represent two of the most common clinical conditions encountered on a daily basis in the primary care setting. We have received feedback from primary care providers that concise, evidence-based materials help to not only support dialogue between patients and providers, but also support clinical decision-making regarding patients presenting with acute low back pain and osteoarthritis.
     

    • Dr Colin Wilson, Primary Care Clinical Lead, Ontario Health

    Hear more from Colin here

    2 men seated facing each other, one with hand raised with pen and notepad in the other hand

     

    Anxiety Disorders Quality Standard (QS) Placemat – summarizes the Anxiety Disorders Quality Standard, highlighting the key elements of diagnosis, assessment, and treatment, as well as includes links to helpful resources and tools. French version.

     

     

     

     

    The placemats can also be uploaded and used within EMRs for easy access. Resources to support adding these tools into your EMR system will be added on Quorum soon, so please stay tuned for more information!

    In the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are observing an increasing unease among individuals in the communities and families. As health care providers, it is critical for us to appropriately diagnose anxiety disorders and differentiate them from other conditions that may arise in these uncertain times.

    • Dr. David Kaplan, Chief, Clinical Quality, Ontario Health

    Hear more from David here

    Access the quality standard and related resources at the links below:

    We would like to hear from you about how we can support you and if there are other topics you would find helpful for future QS placemats. Please email qualitystandards@ontariohealth.ca  

    Upcoming Events: Webinar
    As part of the release and dissemination of the quality standard, Ontario Health and Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario will be co-hosting a webinar for health care providers about delirium, in alignment with World Delirium Awareness Day on March 17, 2021.

    Webinar | Delirium – A New Quality Standard for an Important Health Concern| Wednesday March 17, 12–1 p.m.  
    Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario and Ontario Health co-host a webinar with clinical experts to share information and resources to support patients who are at risk for delirium or who are experiencing symptoms of delirium. The session will review delirium and its significance to COVID-19 infection, introduce key statements from the quality standard, and showcase related resources available to support people who are at risk for delirium or who are experiencing symptoms of delirium. Please register here to join the session.

    Quality Improvement Plans – Update from OH(Q)
    Last April, QIP submissions for 2020/21 were paused to allow organizations to focus on supporting their staff, health care providers, and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The QIP Navigator remained open so that organizations that had the capacity to continue working on their submissions were able to do so. We will be closing the 2020/21 cycle in Navigator on March 24, 2021.

    As we look ahead to the 2021/22 QIPs, we understand that organizations continue to be under unprecedented pressure related to the COVID-19 pandemic and that this will likely continue for the next several months. As such, we are making adjustments to the 2021/22 QIP to help ensure that organizations are able to focus their efforts on responding to urgent needs related to COVID-19. While quality improvement is of critical importance in our collective response to COVID-19, for now, the pause on the program will continue.

    We will monitor the situation and will share a revised approach in the coming months, ensuring that it is responsive to circumstances in the health system and that you have sufficient time to prepare. The approach to 2021/22 will be designed to provide organizations with flexibility to reflect where they are with their quality improvement efforts given the pandemic, local needs, pressures, and goals for the recovery period. We encourage organizations to continue with their local quality improvement initiatives and we will be in touch soon.  

    As always, please do not hesitate to contact us at QIP@OntarioHealth.ca if you have any questions.

    A Peoples’ Panel on how race and ethnicity data should be used for health data research in Ontario
    ICES is working together with the Tamarack Institute and Digital Justice Lab to lead a Peoples’ Panel on how race and ethnicity data should be used for health data research in Ontario. Through this Peoples’ Panel, ICES seeks to recognize the ways that science has perpetuated racism and understand the complexities in the use of race, ethnicity, and immigration data.

    The Peoples’ Panel will involve 30-60 diverse and representative individuals who will meet weekly for 5 weeks starting on March 17, 2021. ICES is seeking regular people—no experience in health, science or policy needed. If you live in Ontario and have an interest in how race data is used, and especially if you identify as racialized individual, they invite you to express your interest in being part of the Peoples’ Panel. Participants will be compensated.

    Learn more and apply

    Upcoming Webinars:
    OHT Improvement Measures from Health Administrative Data: Where are OHTs Starting From?
    March 23, 2021 (12:00 – 1:30 pm EST)
    Click here for more information and to register.

    Supporting Older Persons At Home – Learning And Collaboration During The COVID-19 Pandemic And Beyond
    March 25, 2021 (12-1 pm EST)
    COVID-19 highlighted numerous barriers and challenges to providing integrated care for older persons living in the community. Join Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario in a discussion on how to better support older persons in the community using lessons learned during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will discuss needs in primary care – focusing on the role of interprofessional teams – and offer some resources and tools to better support team-based care for older persons. We will also discuss how specialized geriatric service programs in your area can provide support to primary care clinicians. Click here to learn more and register.

    Interested in sharing your teams’ initiatives in a future webinar? Email Sandeep Gill – Sandeep.gill@afhto.ca to learn more about the AFHTO KTE Webinar Schedule!

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #104 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

  • Guelph FHT to operate 2 new vaccination clinics opening in Guelph

    Guelph Today article published March 11, 2021

    By Kenneth Armstrong, Village Media

    A pair of new large vaccination clinics are set to join the Guelph landscape within the next week, one on the University of Guelph campus and the other at SkyJack  in the city’s north end.

    The clinic at University Centre at U of G will be open to the public and operated by the Guelph Family Health Team, said its executive director Ross Kirkconnell by phone on Wednesday.

    That clinic will begin to see about 300 people per day starting on Monday, said Kirkconnell, but once vaccine supply ramps up could expand to see many more.

    “We are looking at this as a large site with capacity to do a lot of Guelph residents there,” said Kirkconnell. “We are building it so that it can support up to two-thousand people a day and evenings and weekends will definitely be where we go when we have enough vaccine.”

    People seeking vaccines will still need to preregister with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health via its web page.

    Doctors, nurses and other members of the Guelph Family Health Team will administer the vaccines, while the U of G is providing the location and some behind-the-scenes logistical help.

    “They (U of G) are bringing in student volunteers and other helpers around parking and way finding and all of that,” said Kirkconnell. “They have great facilities — we all know that. So really, it’s been us organizing the clinical side of it and the university doing the logistics of the space and working together all along.”

    Kirkconnell said members of the Guelph Family Health Team have been eager to get as many vaccines in arms as possible.

    “For our family doctors, they have busy practices but they know this is important. This is a short-term, everybody doing their part. It’s really heartening to see how people have signed up and are stepping up to do this,” said Kirkconnell. 

    Starting Monday, when someone gets a notification that it is their turn to receive a vaccination they will be given a choice as to which site to go, said Kirkconnell. 

    On Thursday, Linamar Corporation and Skyjack are launching a Community Vaccination Clinic at 201 Woodlawn Rd. W. that will also be used by the general public.

    “I am just so proud of our Vaccination Clinic Team, made up of dedicated people from inside and outside of our company, for the work they have done to launch the clinic in just a few short weeks,” said Linamar CEO Linda Hasenfratz in a press release.

    “We could not have achieved that without close collaboration with the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Unit and a strong unified team. We have created a fantastic partnership here in WDG that is a great example for other communities to follow. Vaccinating our entire population is the single most important factor toward getting back to a normal life and we are proud to play a role in that in our community.”

    When the U of G clinic opens on Monday, a total of five active clinics will be servicing Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph. 

    Vaccinating 75 per cent of the people in the region by August will require an all-hands-on-deck approach, said Dr. Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of health and CEO of WDG Public Health in a press release.

    “Linamar’s participation is a key component of this approach and demonstrates the importance of working with partners including our large private corporations to quickly and efficiently reach this goal,” said Mercer.

    Guelph Family Health Team has been involved in the fight against COVID-19 from the start, including partnering with Guelph General Hospital to open the local testing centre.

    “Ever since we all first heard it on the news, before it was called COVID, we were preparing. This is just part of the work that we need to do,” said Kirkconnell. “We are all just ready to see the end of this and we feel like we can make it happen more quickly if we all step up.”

    Read the full article here

  • COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out & Hesitancy in Indigenous Communities

    Vaccine Distribution Update

    Shared by Lambton Public Health

    Shared May 2021

    See this video of Kyle Stonefish, Community Health Supervisor for Walpole Island First Nation, who explains how COVID-19 has affected Indigenous communities in southwestern Ontario, and why everyone should seriously consider getting vaccinated. It also speaks to the need to continuing to engage in COVID-safe behavior after one’s vaccination. Viewers are welcome to share as you please.

     

    Shared by Akausivik Inuit FHT

    Revised March 10, 2021

    The Akausivik Inuit FHT continues to deliver dedicated health care to its Inuit community members in the Ottawa Area. This past week, AIFHT successfully increased the number of culturally safe COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, by 77.4%. 

     

    Vaccine Communications materials for Indigenous Communities

    Shared by Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority

    Shared March 10, 2021

    AFHTO members are welcome to use and distribute these comms materials shared by the Sioux Lookout First Nations Authority.

    Tips: 

    • Facebook is a great communication tool, as well as representatives from Tribal Councils to share information with the communities
    • Please personalize with your team’s logos and contact information where applicable

    Resources:

    In addition, here is a summary of the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs’ vaccine communications tips and initiatives (PDF). Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority is a part of the working group and some of their work is highlighted.

    Return to: COVID-19 Vaccination Information

  • Year-End Ministry of Health Updates

    Dear Executive Directors and Administrative Leads,

     

    We had a year-end call with ministry officials last week and would like to provide an update on multiple operational topics that were discussed.

    AOP submission

    There will be a pause on AOPs for 2021/22. They will resume for an April 2022 submission. While there will be no AOP this year, teams can still submit unsolicited funding requests as needed.

    The ministry is also analyzing quarterly reports and forecasting data to examine increases to overhead, rent, hydro, IT, professional services, etc. Through this process, they hope to get a sense of overall budgetary trends, limitations, and constraints across teams. We will share more on this work as we learn it, but we encourage teams to be timely with quarterly reports and audited financial statements to help inform this work.

    FHT contract

    The FHT contract is due to expire in 2022. However, the ministry has indicated that they will be extending the contract for one year, which they will communicate to teams directly when the decision is made. We have signalled that we would like to modernize the FHT contract to better reflect the current environment, so there will be discussion and consultation on possible contract changes and improvements. We do not yet have a timeline for these consultations, but we will begin internal discussions with members soon.

    Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs)

    Last April, OH(Q) paused QIP submissions for 2020/21 due the COVID-19 pandemic. The QIP Navigator remained open so that organizations that had the capacity to continue working on submissions were able to do so. They will be closing the 2020/21 cycle in Navigator on March 24, 2021.

    Regarding 2021/22 QIPs, OH(Q) understands that organizations continue to be under unprecedented pressure related to the pandemic and that this will likely continue for the next several months. As such, they are adjusting the 2021/22 QIP to help ensure that organizations can focus their efforts on responding to urgent needs related to COVID-19.

    While QI is of critical importance in the collective response to COVID-19, the pause on the program will continue for now. They will monitor the situation and share a revised approach in the coming months.

    The approach to 2021/22 will be designed to provide organizations with flexibility to reflect where they are with their QI efforts given the pandemic, local needs, pressures, and goals for the recovery period. They encourage organizations to continue with their local QI initiatives and will be in touch soon.    

    If your team has not submitted the 2020/21 QIP, which was due last April, it would be good to close it out. OH(Q) has created a video to help with that process. For any questions, please contact OH(Q) at qip@ontariohealth.ca.

    Mental health and addiction funding

    All teams should have received their one-time federal funding allocation to support the increase in MH&A supports needed as a result of COVID-19. Unfortunately, our request to allow these funds to be carried over due to the timing of the funding receipt and the exceptional circumstances of COVID-19 was denied. Funding must be spent by March 31, 2021. However, there is considerable flexibility in how teams can utilize this funding if it can be tied to providing MH&A relief (e.g., training, equipment, IT).

    Please note there is very specific and very limited criteria for which the government allows funds to be carried over into the next fiscal year and the MH&A funding does not meet the criteria. (For example, OHT funding meets the requirements of “project funding for implementation and start up,” so there is allowance for carry over of OHT funds.)

    Funding for vaccine clinics

    There is no direct funding from the ministry for teams that are working in or running COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Any inquiries about this funding need to be directed to your local public health unit as they are managing the budgets related to roll-out of the vaccine clinics.

    Also, a reminder that physicians on your team can review a Ministry INFOBulletin regarding newly negotiated compensation for vaccinations and vaccine outreach.

    Governance review

    The ministry recently conducted an assessment of the Governance & Attestation documents submitted by teams as part of their annual submission requirements. This assessment identified two areas that need improvement for many boards: 1) board monitoring of organizational performance; and 2) board self-performance monitoring.

    Over the next few months, we will be developing practical tools and templates to support team boards in these two areas. As a result of the review, some teams may also receive a specific action plan from the ministry identifying opportunities for further improvement in governance practices.

    Call-out to EDs to join a short-term working group!

    One of the first tools AFHTO will be developing to assist with governance, as noted in the previous section, is a toolkit for “Governance Oversight of Organizational Performance.” This will be done in collaboration with the Centre for Organizational Effectiveness. AFHTO is looking for guidance and input from EDs to inform this work.

    We’re hoping three or four EDs may be available in April and May to provide insight and feedback! We expect this would be two or three 1-hour virtual meetings over the course of the two months, and a few occasional questions via email regarding the document as it is developed. If you are able and interested, please email Bryn Hamilton.

    We hope you are all keeping well! If you have any questions, please contact us any time at info@afhto.ca.

    Sincerely,

    Your AFHTO Team

  • Bits & Pieces: leaving no story untold, IHPs and outcomes in diabetes care, and more

    Bits & Pieces: leaving no story untold, IHPs and outcomes in diabetes care, and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Don’t leave your team’s stories untold
    • Happy Pharmacy Appreciation Month
    • Members’ stories
    • Saegis Cybersecurity Clinic Update 2021 slides and video
    • AFHTO 2021 Conference survey deadline today
    • How IHPs affect outcomes in diabetes care- input needed
    • Patient and staff on the vaccine, guidance updates, armpit lumps and more
    • GoodLife rates increase April 1
    • Reminder- Supply Ontario input due today March 9
    • Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care resources
    • Draft recommendation on internet-delivered CBT for PTSD or acute stress disorder
    • Upcoming events including supporting older persons at home and more

     

    Don’t leave your team’s stories untold

    Don’t leave your team’s stories untold!
    We’ve heard so many amazing stories and we want you to keep them coming! Share anything, anytime on our member initiative webform.

    • Starting a new program because of a newly recognized demand?
    • Changing up how you provide care during COVID?
    • Collaborating with different partners to make a difference in the community?

    Enter your untold stories in this form and we’ll keep you in mind for our advocacy efforts. You choose how widely the information can spread: keep it in-house with AFHTO or allow us to share on our website, social media, publications and/or promotional material.

    Questions? Email us at info@afhto.ca.

    Pharmacy Appreciation Month #PAM2021

    Happy Pharmacy Appreciation Month

    March is Pharmacy Appreciation Month, so we thank all our teams’ pharmacists for stepping up, during the pandemic, before, and beyond. Happy Pharmacist appreciation month!

     

     

     

    Members’ stories

    Akausivik FHT – Vaccine rollout for Indigenous community expands

    Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, Arnprior and District, Madawaska Valley, Petawawa Centennial & West Champlain FHTs – Renfrew County FHTs & Partners providing virtual mental health and addiction walk-in counselling clinic

    saegis webinar mar 4 2021

    Saegis Cybersecurity Clinic Update 2021 slides and video

    On March 4 we cohosted a webinar with Saegis that:

    • Discussed the top 5 cybersecurity threats facing your clinic
    • Listed the 10 questions to ask before engaging an IT consultant for your clinic, and questions to ask about your clinics network security
    • Described how and where to report clinic cyberattacks and privacy breaches.

    Slides and video are now available.

    AFHTO 2021 Conference survey deadline today

    We’re going virtual again for this year’s conference and although we haven’t set a date yet, the earliest would be some time in October. Now that we’ve tried it once, we’d like to make the next better for you- more streamlined and focused on your needs.

    We need your help. What do you want to hear more about and how would you like it? Tell us in this really quick survey. Deadline today, March 9

    How IHPs affect outcomes in diabetes care- input needed

    The AFHTO QSC is looking to begin the process of exploring IHP and outcome data.  The committee chose diabetes as many teams are working daily to lower HbA1C in patients.  If you work in diabetes care, please complete this survey (about 5-8 minutes in length).    

    Patient and staff on the vaccine, guidance updates, armpit lumps and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    GoodLife rates increase April 1
    GoodLife rates for AFHTO members were due to increase in November, but because of closures due to COVID, existing – annual (paid in full) rates of $519 and biweekly rates of $24- have been extended until April 1. Those with existing GoodLife memberships should have already received emails from GoodLife. Phasing updates by region are available on their site here.

    To take advantage of discounted rates, you need a membership ID assigned by AFHTO. Automatically assigned to those on the ‘Bits & Pieces’ mailing list, these are sent to GoodLife monthly near the end of the month. To get your ID or be put on the list for one, please email info@afhto.ca.
     
    As of April 1, annual (paid in full) rates will be $619 and biweekly rates $25.

    Reminder- Supply Ontario input due today March 9

    Supply Ontario is a single integrated supply chain across the public sector that will leverage the province’s purchasing power to provide greater value and consistent access to high-quality products and services.

    They need your input to help identify opportunities to improve the value they can deliver for your organization and patients, through better supply chain processes. Deadline today, March 9.

    Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care resources

    • eLearning Hub– has a range of interactive, short eLearning courses that use LTC-specific case scenarios to illustrate care delivery-related concepts that are relevant in all care setting, like supporting people’s psycho-social and communications needs at the end-of-life, person centred language, nursing leadership. Many of them available in French too.
    • Webinars
    • Newsletter– short monthly newsletter reaching over 2000 people

    Draft recommendation on internet-delivered CBT for PTSD or acute stress disorder

    Ontario Health requests feedback on a health technology assessment and draft funding recommendation on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) delivered online to treat PTSD or acute stress disorder by March 14, 2021.

    Supporting Older Persons at Home – Learning and Collaboration During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond, Mar. 25, 2021

    Cohosted with Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario, join us for a discussion on how to better support older persons in the community using lessons learned during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Register here.

    The COVID-19 Vaccine: Newly approved vaccine, public health collaboration, and more, Mar. 12, 2021
    The OCFP’s COVID-19 CoP will be continuing the discussion on COVID-19 vaccinations- this time, focusing on the Astra Zeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Learn more here.

    BounceBack refresher webinar, Mar. 18 & 25, 2021
    The BounceBack communications and marketing team invites you to a 30-minute refresher presentation on BounceBack, a free CBT skill-building program designed to help individuals 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate anxiety or depression, stress or worry.

    RISE OHT Webinars, Mar. 17 & 18, 2021

    • Measurement-based Care in Mental Health and Addictions Service Delivery, Mar. 17, 2021
    • Redesigning Care Models through Co-design, Mar. 18, 2021

    Learn more here.

    Fundamentals in Practical Leadership, starting Mar. 29, 2021
    Fundamentals in Practical Leadership: Skills and Tools for New and Emerging Leaders and Managers is a year-long webinar series by Centre for Organizational Effectiveness. Learn more here.

    Delirium – A New Quality Standard for an Important Health Concern, Mar. 17, 2021
    The Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario & Ontario Health will be co-hosting a webinar with clinical experts to share information and resources to support people who are at risk for delirium or who are experiencing symptoms of delirium. Register here.

  • Ontario Health Unit Vaccination Plans

    Shared by the Toronto Star

    Updated March 2021

    The Toronto Star collected data on how each Ontario Region will roll out COVID vaccines. The 21 Public Health Units responded; 8 were found online; 5 were not found at the time.

    Ontario Health Unit Vaccination Plans, by Health Unit

     

    For more information on COVID-19 Vaccinations, click here

  • March 8th Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out

    Dear Members,

    We are writing to provide you with an update from our united Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Collaborative (*PC-VAC). This past week’s key messages that we shared with vaccine decision-makers can be found here.

    Today, the primary care organizations had an opportunity to present to some public health units, members of the Ministry’s Public Health Branch and colleagues from the Solicitor General’s office about the role primary care plays in the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines. We highlighted equity as the grounding principle to the vaccine roll-out and provided four different scenarios where primary care is already playing a pivotal role: In-Office Primary Care Vaccine Clinics, Drive Through Clinics, Mobile Units, and Vaccines for the Homebound or Limited Mobility Individuals.

    These scenarios were based on already existing experiences in primary care and was part of an administrative table-top exercise with the PHUs which will help them finalize their public health – primary care collaborations and future work that will be done with clinical leaders. The slide deck can be found here. As more information becomes available, we will continually be providing an update.  

    Key Updates:

    • The Ontario government announced Phase Two of the Vaccine Distribution Plan, including eligible populations. The full technical briefing is available here.
    • The AstraZeneca vaccine will soon be distributed in a limited number of PHUs and primary care offices in a pilot program. Details are forthcoming. An online Community of Practice will be led by Ontario Health to support sharing of lessons learned.
    • OntarioMD will be providing additional training and onboarding on COVAXON (the vaccine registration system) for physicians, starting with those involved in vaccine pilots, including support for technical questions that arise throughout the process. More information to follow.
    • Physicians can review a Ministry INFOBulletin regarding newly negotiated compensation for vaccinations and vaccine outreach.
    • A joint letter was sent to Premier Ford and Minister Elliott from a consortium of health care associations requesting that the government build upon and enhance strategies towards an equitable vaccination rollout: “Ensuring Equity in Ontario’s Vaccination Campaign”
    • With Health Canada approval of Johnson & Johnson single-dose viral vector-based COVID-19 vaccine, and the expected acceleration of Pfizer vaccine deliveries, Ontario is expected to receive significant doses of various vaccines over the coming weeks.
    • A feature article on collaboration between sectors during Phase 1 entitled We’re All in This Together: Power of Partnership is the Key Ingredient to Vaccine Rollout Success is featured in the OHA Health System News and speaks to three examples of how primary care, hospitals and public health worked collaboratively to vaccine LTC/RH residents.

    New Resources:

    Webinars:

    • Public Health Ontario Learning Exchange: COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Equity Considerations, Wednesday, March 10, 2:00-3:00 pm. The webinar will focus on sharing of equity centered health unit practices to support COVID-19 vaccine uptake, followed by a learning exchange on prioritizing trustworthiness and trust, as well as highlighting experiences/challenges/opportunities.
    • COVID-19 and the Black community: Answering questions about COVID vaccines, Saturday, March 13, 12-3 pm: A national forum hosted by the Black Opportunity Fund and BlackNorth Initiative to hear from and engage with Black doctors, nurses, social workers, and other medical professions.
    • The COVID-19 Community of Practice, with UofT DFCM and the OCFP, will take place on Friday, March 12, and Drs. Kieran Moore and Daniel Warshafsky will cover the role for family physicians in the vaccine rollout, and the new vaccines.  

    In Case you Missed it: Learnings From Primary Care: Vaccine Roll-Out Across Ontario Webinar
    On Friday, February 26, we heard from four AFHTO teams who have stepped up to provide leadership for vaccine distribution in their communities. They spoke to work that is underway, offered guidance and advice, spoke to challenges faced and how they are resolving them, and answered questions.

    Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Senior Medical Consultant, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, also joined the call to provide an update on vaccine roll-out and to take questions. You can access the slide deck and webinar on our site here.

    Find resources from previous weeks here.

    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.

     

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association/Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine