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  • Bits & Pieces: update on the Ministry request memo and more

    Bits & Pieces: update on the Ministry request memo and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Update on the Ministry request memo and more
    • Refer frontline health workers to psychological practitioners for MOH-covered treatment
    • Reminder- Supporting Caregivers Supports Patients- The Critical Role of Primary Care in Preventing Caregiver Burnout, Nov. 24
    • Recruiting for study on healthcare providers and sex trafficking
    • Strategies to improve antibiotic use in primary care
    • TechSoup courses- disaster planning and cybersecurity
    • Have thoughts on how social work practice is organized and supported in primary care?
    • Exceptions to the Prescription Drug List- deadline Nov. 29
    • Upcoming events including Routine childhood vaccination: How to address lapses during COVID-19 and more

     

    Update on the Ministry request memo and more

    Recent updates include:

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

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

    Refer frontline health workers to psychological practitioners for MOH-covered treatment

    Primary care providers can now refer patients directly to psychologists from their EMR enabling increased access to timely specialized mental health services. This is possible through a partnership between the Ontario Psychological Association and Ontario’s eServices Program, which saw the integration of the Ocean and Strata Health e-referral platforms thereby allowing family physicians, nurse practitioners, and other primary care providers to connect with psychologists.
     
    The Covid-19 Psychological Support Program, funded by the Ministry of Health, ensures that frontline health workers can receive up to 12 psychotherapy sessions with a registered psychologist or psychological associate at no cost. To learn more email opa@psych.on.ca or read their e-referral guidelines for more details.
     
    This builds on a prior collaboration between AFHTO, NPAO, OCFP, NPLCA, OMA’s section of General & Family Practice, and the Alliance for Healthier Communities.

    Reminder- Supporting Caregivers Supports Patients- The Critical Role of Primary Care in Preventing Caregiver Burnout, Nov. 24

    Co-hosted by The Ontario Caregiver Organization and the Primary Care Collaborative, this webinar will include insights from a caregiver with lived experience, as well as examples of primary care initiatives across Ontario that are connecting caregivers to support. Register here.

    Are you a healthcare provider wanting to improve services and supports for sex trafficking survivors?

    Recruiting for study on healthcare providers and sex trafficking
    Women’s College Research Institute seeks social workers, nurses and physicians who live and work in Ontario to discuss their thoughts and experiences regarding the domestic sex trafficking of adolescents and adults in Canada.   
     
    “In Canada, there has been limited research on sex trafficking, especially in adult populations and from a healthcare perspective. By attending to healthcare providers’ thoughts and experiences as professionals regarding domestic sex trafficking of adolescents and adults in Ontario, Canada, we can build an understanding of the gaps in care for this population and areas in which care can be improved.”   

    For further information please contact frances.recknor@wchospital.ca.

     

    Strategies to improve antibiotic use in primary care
    Nov. 18-24 is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. To help promote this year’s campaign and to reinforce their commitment to the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), PHO has published new fact sheets, Strategies to Improve Antibiotic Use in Primary Care.

    TechSoup courses- disaster planning and cybersecurity

    Have thoughts on how social work practice is organized and supported in primary care?

    This study from the University of Toronto is looking to host one more focus group for social workers who haven’t had the chance to share their experience and perspectives on how social work practice has shifted during the pandemic. Participants will take part in a 60-minute focus group with other social workers in primary care.
     
    Led by Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft, Associate Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, it’s supported by AFHTO and OASW.
     
    If you’re interested in participating, please send an email to Simon at sck.lam@utoronto.ca and include the clinic you work in.

    Exceptions to the Prescription Drug List- deadline Nov. 29

    Health Canada’s initial consultation on exceptions to the Prescription Drug List will close on Tuesday, November 29.
    You can participate in this consultation and provide feedback about which existing exceptions are still needed and why on their site. For more information, you can watch this recorded webinar.

    Routine childhood vaccination: How to address lapses during COVID-19, Nov. 24, 2022

    Accredited webinar offered by the Canadian pediatric Society and co-developed with Public Health Agency of Canada. Register here.

    Trauma Informed Care for Primary Care Providers: A Four-Part Series, Nov. 24- Dec. 15, 2022

    Free special series by ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health. Register here.

    Collaborative Health Governance in a Time of Deep Uncertainty, Nov. 25, 2022

    In this View From the Top session, held by McMaster University, guest speakers, Helen Bevan, Jodeme Goldhar and Stacey Daub will discuss why radical collaboration and collaborative governance make a difference for population health, healthcare, and wellbeing. Register here.

    Highlights and implications of the Ontario Science Table’s brief on primary care, Nov. 30, 2022

    On October 3, 2022, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) released its final brief, a 3-part exploration of how primary care responded to and was affected by the pandemic, and implications for ongoing health system planning and policy. In this webinar, you will hear from a panel of primary healthcare experts who contributed to that brief, as they share some of the most significant findings and implications. Register here.

    NEW Patient Safety Learning Community of Practice, Dec. 6, 2022

    The Quality and Patient Safety Team at Ontario Health kicks off the new community of practice focused on developing robust processes to track, prevent and learn from patient safety incidents. Register here.

    Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing, Dec. 8

    Metered dose inhalers produce significant carbon emissions. Ironically, these contribute to changes to the climate that can exacerbate respiratory conditions. Simple practice changes can help disrupt this cycle and lessen the health sector’s contributions to climate change.

    Register here.

  • Update on the Ministry Request Memo – Respiratory Illness Season

    Dear Members,

    This fall, we have encountered an uptick in infections leading to hospital capacity becoming strained, especially at paediatric hospitals where cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have coincided with an increase in COVID transmission and an earlier-than-normal flu season. It is expected that these pressures will continue until mid-January. Additionally, pharmacies across Canada are dealing with a shortage of cough syrup and cold medicine, particularly medication for children. Health Canada expects a shipment of ibuprofen from the U.S. and acetaminophen from Australia to arrive imminently and will be available for distribution to pharmacies soon. Please click here for an update on the Children’s Cold and Flu Medications and Amoxicillin Shortage from the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health.

    Memo on an Important Ministry Request – Respiratory Illness Season

    Yesterday you would have received a memo from the Primary Health Care Branch at the Ministry of Health EN FR in response to the rising respiratory illness and system capacity constraints. We know many of you have a lot of questions on how to interpret the memo, especially the line:

    … I am writing to call on your support and requesting your organizations to offer clinical services 7 days a week, including evening availability, until further notice, to meet the needs of your patients. Please advise your patients of this availability so they may seek care in the appropriate place for their health concerns.

    In discussions with the Ministry, this memo was not intended to be directive nor prescriptive but was a request to communicate to your patients about how to access care, especially for sick children, with a focus on receiving care through their primary care teams first so that your patients do not seek care in the hospital if not needed.

    For many of you this likely does not change the expanded services you already provide; however, this is an opportunity to remind your patients of these services including virtual care supports, after-hours clinics and promotion of Health Connect Ontario (formerly THAS). And if you’re not open or accessible 7 days a week, please let your patients know where else they can seek care first before going to the hospital.  

    There are some great resources that you can also post on your website, send proactively to your patients, share via social media, and encourage your patients to use:

    IF you can deploy your FHT resources (e.g., NPs/RNs/PAs and front-line staff) to support additional after-hours care (this could be in person or could be virtually, whatever works best for your team), funding support for teams that anticipate extraordinary costs associated with the expansion of availability is available.

    If you have unspent funds in your budget, you can also reallocate funds to help support additional staff hours with the usual in-year reallocation approvals process. As well, pooling of resources among FHTs and other primary care teams is also an option and is highly encouraged, especially for weekend coverage.  Please speak to your Senior Program Consultant about options available to you.

    Note that overtime pay is at the discretion of the employer, however teams are required to follow the Employment Standards Act where the team is non-unionized. Where unionized, teams are required to comply with the Collective Agreement.

    We know you may have more questions about the memo and the ask to alleviate the pressures currently being faced in the health care system, especially in paediatric hospitals. We are in constant communication with the Ministry, the CMoH’s office and Ontario Health so please outreach and we’ll do our best to address your questions and concerns.

    Clinical Assessment Centres
    Another resource that can be promoted to patients are the Ontario Health Clinical Assessment Centres which will be expanding access and supporting primary care providers in diverting COVID, Flu and ILI assessments from the ED (ready for beginning of December). Ontario Health Regions and CACs have been encouraged to form partnerships with interprofessional primary care teams where feasible to enhance capacity and ensure broader access (i.e., evenings and weekends) to meet the increased needs of patients.

    There are currently 107 assessment centres across the province—some of you may already be affiliated with your local CAC, or you may receive partnership opportunities in the coming weeks to support this request. Revised Clinical Guidance for CACs will be released shortly, encompassing the broader scope of work required of CACs during this time. This guidance will be shared with all primary care providers and organizations to support collaborations with CACs in managing ILIs.

    Upcoming Changes to Process for Ordering Provincial PPE/Testing Supplies

    • Effective April 2023, Ontario Health will transfer the management of provincial PPE/ testing supplies stockpile to the Ontario Ministry of Health. As a result, the Ministry of Health is launching a platform that will enable providers to continue orders online. All primary care organizations/practices can register for a free account (1 per organization).  In the meantime, you can still access PPE through the provincial stockpile if you need it.
    • Members can expect a communique from Ontario Health with additional details (e.g., how to sign up for the new platform, Ministry contact information, etc.) closer to April 2023.

    Resources and Supports

    • Resources to support your patients (COVID-19 vaccines and Flu Vaccines):
      • Access the Ministry’s booster eligibility calculator here. This ensures your patients have a clear understanding of the COVID-19 booster dose recommendations and the importance of why and when they should receive a booster dose.
      • The OMA has developed Template letter: COVID-19 Fall booster doses for individuals aged 5+ that can be accessed. A reminder that the OMA has updated COVID resources that can be found behind their paywall here.
      • Access the COVID-19 Vaccines Information Sheet. This document reflects updates to high-risk groups and availability of the Pfizer bivalent vaccine EN FR
      • COVID-19, RSV and Flu Vaccine Posters (please continue to encourage COVID boosters and flu shots with every patient visit if possible):
        • Boost Your Protection Against COVID-19 poster EN FR
        • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) EN FR
        • Anyone can catch the flu. Protect yourself and others. EN FR
      • Flu shot social media graphics

    Updated COVID-19 Guidance:

    • As you may be aware, the Ontario Ministry of Health has updated its COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance (November 7, 2022 – English only) which reflects the following changes (remember to clear your cache to see the updated guidance):
      • Addition of NACI guidelines for monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech 6 months – 4 years.
      • Revision of high-risk populations.
      • Addition of out-of-Province vaccination chart.
      • Reference table for mRNA vaccines: caps and labels.

    We know how much teams have stepped up during these grueling almost three years of the pandemic without any additional supports or recognition and you are exhausted. We have expressed to the CMoH and others in the Ministry and Ontario Health that members are already working at capacity, dealing with vacancies and staff being off sick, working with partners in their OHTs, all while still facing greater and greater operating pressures and mounting wait lists on regular care, in addition to surge issues. We remain in continual awe when our teams respond to these calls to action as you continue to shine a light on how critical primary care is to the health care system – it is truly the foundation.  A sincere thank you for everything that you do for your patients and your communities.

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

  • Physician Orientation Toolkit

    Shared by AFHTO & the Osborne Group

    This toolkit provides easy access to a comprehensive collection of tools, resources and templates that will help orient new physicians to the FHT. Developed in partnership with The Osborne Group and a small working group comprised of AFHTO member EDs and physician volunteers. The Toolkit can be used:

    • As an orientation guide for physicians who are new to FHTs or FHT leadership
    • As a support for current physician leaders
    • As an educational tool to help explain the role of a FHT physician or lead physician
    • As a resource for FHT boards as they orient and support the lead physician role

    Download the Physician Orientation Toolkit:

    The material is organized as follows:

    1. Family Health Teams: This section describes FHT structure and governance;  the roles of the executive director and lead physician; funding and relationships to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN); and measurement and quality improvement.
    2.  Our Family Health Team: This section can be customized to describe your team’s vision, mission and values; strategic plan; quality improvement plan; organizational structure; patient population; physician/FHT relationship and roles; and community partnerships.
    3. Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Definitions

  • Environmental Scan and Strategy Framework for Primary Care

    Dear board chairs, executive directors, and admin leads,
     
    We have developed a succinct 2-page Environmental Scan and Strategy Framework for Primary Care to support teams with generative discussions and strategy development. This has been done using a common strategy framework known as PEST, which groups factors that are affecting primary care into four categories.
     
    PEST stands for Political, Economic, Socio-cultural, and Technological.
     
    Broken into these four categories, the scan lays out current issues in Ontario that boards should keep in mind when doing strategic planning.
     
    This is a standard support tool for boards of primary care organizations, and we encourage teams to use it to help develop or update strategic priorities. Also in this document are 10 questions that we encourage boards to ask during their strategy development.
     
    We hope this is helpful. We invite you to contact us at info@afhto.ca if you have any questions.
     
    Sincerely,
    Your AFHTO Team

  • QI in Action eBulletin #123: HFHT Green Initiative, Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care Guidelines

    In this Issue:

    • The HFHT Green Initiative
    • Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care- Guidance for Primary Care
    • Primary care clinicians can how directly refer frontline health workers to psychological practitioners for MOH-covered psychological treatment
    • Evidence2Practice Ontario Program
    • Upcoming Events

    The HFHT Green Initiative
    Content below developed by Hamilton FHT

    The HFHT Green Initiative is an interprofessional team developing practical solutions to improve patient healthcare outcomes while simultaneously reducing climate change. The initiative provides a free and evidence-based program which includes an action-based checklist, poster orders (1148 so far delivered), a monthly newsletter (17 sent so far), a CFPC Mainpro+ accredited webinar series (212 attendees thus far), an infographic series (31 different topics), 2 waiting room videos, 2 EMR-embedded prescription templates, patient-facing group education, resource kits, and project support.

    Since its launch in 2019, this project has supported environmental efforts in 19 different Ontario Family Health Teams as well as additional primary care teams across Ontario and Canada and has helped direct the efforts of our local OHT as well as national sustainable health care initiatives such as CASCADES. For more information, please contact the HFHT Green Team at green.team@hamiltonfht.ca.

    The Hamilton FHT’s Green Initiative recently presented a disease prevention webinar highlighting practical tools that will make cancer screening and smoking cessation easier in both the clinical setting and for QI projects. Please watch this 20 min webinar recording to hear family physician and project lead Dr. Meghan Davis speak about:

    • Understanding how cancer screening/smoking cessation is good for our patients and the environment
    • Accessing a cancer screening dashboard for teams and individual practices  
    • The Screening Activity Report
    • Finding patients who were lost to follow-up after screening positive
    • A new digital patient communication pathway for ordering FITs
    • Managing colonoscopy results
    • Providing paps: Pathway for interprofessional health care training & updated guidelines
    • Guidelines for mammograms post-COVID-19 vaccine
    • Videos for your waiting room
    • Helping patients to quit smoking

    Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care- Guidance for Primary Care
    Ontario Health recently released new virtual care guidance materials for primary care clinicians. The “Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care Guidance for Primary Care” aims to help primary care clinicians feel supported in the decisions they make related to the planning and delivery of virtual care. This is ‘phase one’ of the virtual care guidance for primary care. More detailed virtual care guidance will be released in the future, including materials focused on other specialties and areas of care. The virtual care guidance materials can be accessed here in English and French. Click here to watch the Ontario Health Community of Practice recording from November 9 where Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Bordman speak about the guidance document.

    Primary care clinicians can now directly refer frontline health workers to psychological practitioners for MOH-covered psychological treatment
    Content below developed by Ontario Psychological Association

    Primary care providers can now refer patients directly to psychologists from their Electronic Medical Record system (EMR) enabling increased access to timely specialized mental health services. The new development is made possible through a partnership between the Ontario Psychological Association and Ontario’s eServices Program which saw the integration of the Ocean and Strata Health e-referral platforms thereby allowing family physicians, nurse practitioners, and other primary care providers to connect with psychologists.
     
    The Covid-19 Psychological Support Program, funded by the Ministry of Health, ensures that frontline health workers can receive up to 12 psychotherapy sessions with a registered psychologist or psychological associate at no cost. Primary care clinicians wishing to learn more can email opa@psych.on.ca or read our e-referral guidelines for more details.
     
    This work builds on a prior collaboration between the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO), the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO), the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP), the Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association, Ontario Medical Association’s (OMA) section of General & Family Practice, and the Alliance for Healthier Communities. For a demo, please click here.  

    Evidence2Practice Ontario Program
    Content below developed by Centre for Effective Practice

    CEP is proud to lead the launch of Evidence2Practice Ontario (E2P) and its first set of digital tools and supports for heart failure. Co-led with the eHealth Centre of Excellence and North York General Hospital, E2P is a province-wide initiative developed to strengthen and support the delivery of evidence-based care and best practice in primary and acute care settings. The first E2P tool, developed in the Telus PSS EMR, focuses on enhancing care of patients with suspected or diagnosed heart failure.

    CEP’s renowned academic detailing service and accompanying clinical tools on heart failure are available to further support primary care providers. Tools and supports in additional EMRs (e.g., Oscar and Accuro QHR) will follow in 2023, focused on supporting adult patients living with major depression, anxiety disorders and type 2 diabetes. Click here to learn more.

     

    Upcoming Events

    Evidence2Practice Ontario
    Friday, November 18, 2022, 12-1 pm
    Evidence2Practice Ontario is co-hosting a webinar with Ontario Health: Dr. David Kaplan, Vice President, Quality at Ontario Health, and Young Lee, Vice President, Corporate Performance and Digital Health Innovation at North York General Hospital will provide an overview of how this key initiative is embedding quality standards into health information systems to support clinician adoption. Register here.

    CCHL Webinar: Leading Climate Resilient and Low Carbon, Sustainable Health Systems
    Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 12-1 pm
    Climate and environmental change pose accelerating and complex threats for 21st century health systems- and these modern health systems are a significant contributor to global carbon emissions. Increasingly, the executive boards, and healthcare staff leading Canada’s health systems are recognizing the need to address these challenges. New Leadership and Governance standards include explicit requirements to consider environmental stewardship, with implications for patient engagement, enterprise risk management plans, capital investment plans, talent management and acquisition, procurement policies and practices and budgeting. Click here to register.

    Infection Prevention and Control in Primary Care “Spread Prevention- Not Infection”
    Wednesday, November 23, 2022, 12:30-2 pm
    The Hamilton Family Health Team’s Patient and Provider Safety committee has planned a virtual IPAC information session with their partners from Public Health Ontario and Hamilton Public Health Services. The content shared will be focused on increasing the learner’s knowledge of current IPAC trends as well as providing practical strategies for primary care providers to enhance IPAC practices in their clinical setting. Click here to register.

    Supporting Caregivers Supports Patients- The Critical Role of Primary Care in Preventing Caregiver Burnout
    Thursday, November 24, 2022, 12-1 pm
    Primary care providers can play a key role in preventing burnout and enhancing caregiver well-being by initiating early interventions and connecting caregivers to support. Co-hosted by The Ontario Caregiver Organization and the Primary Care Collaborative, this webinar will include insights from a caregiver with lived experience, as well as examples of primary care initiatives across Ontario that are connecting caregivers to support. Click here to register.

    Highlights and Implications of the Ontario Science Table’s Brief on Primary Care
    Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 7:45-8:45 am
    On October 3, 2022, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) released its final brief, a 3-part exploration of how primary care responded to and was affected by the pandemic, and implications for ongoing health system planning and policy. In this webinar, you will hear from a panel of primary healthcare experts who contributed to that brief, as they share some of the most significant findings and implications. To register, click here.

    Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing
    Thursday, December 8, 2022, 12-1 pm
    This webinar will explore the carbon footprint of healthcare systems and how inhalers contribute to it, examine two problems related to inhaler prescribing and imagine practice change that results in an immediate reduction in emissions: “high value, low carbon care”. To register, click here.

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #122 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

  • Bits & Pieces: virtual care guidance and more

    Bits & Pieces: virtual care guidance and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Clinically appropriate use of virtual care guidance for primary care
    • Resources addressing children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen shortage
    • Nurse Practitioner Week
    • Ontario’s Fall Economic Statement
    • Member stories
    • Reminder – Highlights and implications of the Ontario Science Table’s brief on primary care, Nov. 30
    • Updated COVID-19 vaccine guidance and more
    • Reminder – seeking input on how to improve person-centred osteoarthritis care
    • Hospice Palliative Care Ontario call for abstracts
    • Public Health 2023 call for submissions
    • Upcoming events including The Critical Role of Primary Care in Preventing Caregiver Burnout and more

    Clinically appropriate use of virtual care guidance for primary care

    Today Ontario Health released the much anticipated ‘Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care Guidance for Primary Care’- EN FR.  The materials are intended to support primary care clinicians to make deliberate and purposeful decisions in the planning and delivery of virtual care.

    This is ‘phase one’ of the virtual care guidance for primary care –more detailed virtual care guidance will be released in the future, including materials focused on other specialties and areas of care.

    You can also watch Drs Kaplan and Bordman speak about the guidance document during the November 9th OH Community of Practice. Click here for the recording.

    Resources addressing children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen shortage

    NPAO Celebrating Nurse Practitioner Week NPAO.ORG. Text beside picture of a smiling woman in mask and cap

     

    Nurse Practitioner Week

    Thank you to all the NPs working in primary care teams for your passion, your dedication, and your ongoing commitment to excellent patient-centred care! Happy Nurse Practitioner Week!

     

     

     

     

     

    Ontario’s Fall Economic Statement
    On Monday, the Minister of Finance tabled Ontario’s Fall Economic Statement (FES) entitled Ontario’s Plan to Build: A Progress Update.

    In the last few years, FES has been used as a “mini budget” with new investments. This year, it returned to being what it is called: an economic statement. It repeated campaign commitments and noted the number of new healthcare workers, acute care beds, and long-term care homes under development. There was nothing new about health care and no mention of mental health and addiction.

    AFHTO and partners will continue advocacy to hopefully see meaningful commitments in the spring budget. For a synopsis of the FES, please read Enterprise Canada’s highlights.

    Member stories

    Minto-Mapleton FHT– Filling the Gaps in Access to Rural Mental Healthcare– featuring their NP and counsellor

    Peterborough FHT – The front door to health care is broken

    Reminder-Highlights and implications of the Ontario Science Table’s brief on primary care, Nov. 30

    On October 3, 2022, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) released its final brief, a 3-part exploration of how primary care responded to and was affected by the pandemic, and implications for ongoing health system planning and policy. In this webinar, you will hear from a panel of primary healthcare experts who contributed to that brief, as they share some of the most significant findings and implications. Register here.

    Updated COVID-19 vaccine guidance and more

    Recent updates include:

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

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

    Hospice Palliative Care Ontario call for abstracts

    Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO) is accepting submissions for presentations at their 2023 Annual Conference, Now is the Time, on June 11-13, 2023. More details here. Deadline Dec. 5, 2022.

    Public Health 2023 call for submissions

    Canadian Public Health Association is accepting submissions for Public Health 2023, taking place virtually June 20-22, 2023. For more details, please visit their site. Deadline Jan. 12, 2023.

    Reminder – seeking input on how to improve person-centred osteoarthritis care

    Per UHN:
    “Dr. Anna Gagliardi at University Health Network (UHN) is recruiting healthcare professionals for a one-time 20-minute phone interview for a research study about how to improve person-centred osteoarthritis (OA) care. During the interview, we will ask you for your perspectives, experiences, and recommendations regarding strategies to improve care for immigrant women affected by osteoarthritis.

    You are eligible for this study if you:
    — Are a family physician, nurse practitioner, or community pharmacist who works with patients with osteoarthritis
    OR
    — Are a healthcare executive, healthcare manager, or policymaker who oversees osteoarthritis services

    For more information or to express interest in participating, please contact the study coordinator, Madeline Theodorlis, by email: madeline.theodorlis@uhn.ca. Please note that information sent by email may be accessible by external parties and therefore not entirely secure. Many thanks for your consideration.”

    Infection Prevention & Control in Primary Care, Nov. 23, 2022
    Hosted by Hamilton FHT and Public Health Ontario. Find out more here.

    Evaluating program planning using an equity framework, Nov. 23, 2022
    To plan for an expansion of healthcare services in newly developed neighbourhoods, a planning initiative was conducted to better understand the needs of the population. Ensuring equity of care was identified as a priority for this initiative.

    CCHL Forum webinar featuring speakers from Ontario Health, North York FHT and Queen Square FHT. Register here.

    Supporting Caregivers Supports Patients- The Critical Role of Primary Care in Preventing Caregiver Burnout, Nov. 24

    Co-hosted by The Ontario Caregiver Organization and the Primary Care Collaborative, this webinar will include insights from a caregiver with lived experience, as well as examples of primary care initiatives across Ontario that are connecting caregivers to support. Register here.

    Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing, Dec. 8

    Metered dose inhalers produce significant carbon emissions. Ironically, these contribute to changes to the climate that can exacerbate respiratory conditions. Simple practice changes can help disrupt this cycle and lessen the health sector’s contributions to climate change.

    Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: memo to primary care from OH and more

    Bits & Pieces: memo to primary care from OH and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Memos to primary care, on operational direction and more
    • Health ministers’ meeting in Vancouver
    • Reminder- Supporting Caregivers Supports Patients- The Critical Role of Primary Care in Preventing Caregiver Burnout, Nov. 24
    • Virtual concussion occupational therapy services for teams
    • Moving towards an integrated health data ecosystem & QIP update
    • OLTCA convention call for content
    • Nominate high performing early career family physicians
    • IPHCC & PHAC seeking participants for short videos
    • Upcoming events including Evaluating program planning using an equity framework and more

     

    Memos to primary care, on operational direction and more

    Recent updates include:

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

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

    Health ministers’ meeting in Vancouver

    screenshot of AFHTO news release

    “Mr. Duclos … added the federal government is also prepared to make bilateral agreements with provinces and territories on issues of shared priorities, such as increased access to family health teams and mental-health services.” Full article here.

    As the provincial and territorial health ministers gather in Vancouver to meet with the federal Minister of Health, the Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, AFHTO remains hopeful that all parties share his priority of increasing access to primary care teams and that we will see much needed funding flow to the province through the Canada Health Transfer.

    Please read AFHTO’s statement here. 

    OCO webinar flyer

     

     

    Reminder – Supporting Caregivers Supports Patients- The Critical Role of Primary Care in Preventing Caregiver Burnout, Nov. 24

    Primary care providers can play a key role in preventing burnout and enhancing caregiver well-being by initiating early interventions and connecting caregivers to support.

    Co-hosted by The Ontario Caregiver Organization and the Primary Care Collaborative, this webinar will include insights from a caregiver with lived experience, as well as examples of primary care initiatives across Ontario that are connecting caregivers to support. Register here.

     

     

    Virtual concussion occupational therapy services for teams

    The Neurology Centre of Toronto (NCT) has developed a concussion rehabilitation program that has been implemented and proven successful with an existing FHT in Ontario. The program provides patients with access to virtual concussion occupational therapy services and has been running successfully since March 2022.

    The patients in this program wouldn’t have access to this care otherwise, and the program has generated very positive feedback and results. Specifically, when surveyed after completing this program:

    • 33% of patients demonstrated an improvement in daily activity tolerance
    • 67% of patients demonstrated an improvement in their symptom scores, and
    • 83% reported satisfaction with the program.

    NCT would like to extend this service to other teams (including NPLCs and CHCs) in need of concussion rehabilitation services to support their patients. Please contact Jenni Diamond, Occupational Therapist and Program Director, to discuss the details and how it may fit within your team: jenni.diamond@numinus.com.

    Moving towards an integrated health data ecosystem & QIP update

    OLTCA convention call for content

    Taking place March 27-29, the Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) in partnership with the Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA) are hosting the Together We Care 2023 Convention in person. The TWC Call for Content is now accepting abstracts. For a full list of program streams and to submit an abstract, please visit their site. Deadline November 21, 2022, at 4:00 pm EST.

    Nominate high performing early career family physicians

    Dr. Monica Aggarwal at the University of Toronto is conducting a study that will identify the key capabilities and competencies of high-performing family medicine graduates. This will help inform how learning, teaching and assessment can be improved in family medicine residency programs in Canada.

    She’s looking for nominations for high-performing early-career family physicians (based on the criteria identified here). If you have a nominee, please contact monica.aggarwal@utoronto.ca.

    IPHCC & PHAC seeking participants for short videos

    The Indigenous Primary Health Care Council is looking for both health care staff as well as general population participants for the creation of short videos.

    Created in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the videos aim to increase knowledge about the importance of vaccination, build vaccine confidence, and address barriers to accessing vaccination services. An honorarium will be provided. Please see the flyer for more information.

    ONCA A Year Later: the 100 Most Asked Questions, Nov. 10, 2022
    Hosted by Community Legal Education Ontario, who have compiled the most frequently asked questions into a database and want to share what they have learned. Register here.

    Infection Prevention & Control in Primary Care, Nov. 23, 2022
    Hosted by Hamilton FHT and Public Health Ontario. Find out more here.

    Evaluating program planning using an equity framework, Nov. 23, 2022
    To plan for an expansion of healthcare services in newly developed neighbourhoods, a planning initiative was conducted to better understand the needs of the population. Ensuring equity of care was identified as a priority for this initiative.

    CCHL Forum webinar featuring speakers from Ontario Health, North York FHT and Queen Square FHT. Register here.

    Highlights and implications of the Ontario Science Table’s brief on primary care, Nov. 30

    On October 3, 2022, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) released its final brief, a 3-part exploration of how primary care responded to and was affected by the pandemic, and implications for ongoing health system planning and policy. In this webinar, you will hear from a panel of primary healthcare experts who contributed to that brief, as they share some of the most significant findings and implications. Register here.

    Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing, Dec. 8

    Metered dose inhalers produce significant carbon emissions. Ironically, these contribute to changes to the climate that can exacerbate respiratory conditions. Simple practice changes can help disrupt this cycle and lessen the health sector’s contributions to climate change.

    Register here.

  • AFHTO fall update for triad

    This email was sent to executive directors/admin leads, board chairs, and lead clinicians

    Hello triad members,

    As there isn’t a scheduled leadership council meeting before the end of the year – and the follow-up communique that comes with it – we’d like to provide a summary for you of some work that’s underway at AFHTO.

    Compensation Market Review Update
    As you may recall, the Community Health Compensation Working Group (CWG) invited consultants to submit a proposal for a community health market salary review for Ontario. Consensus has been reached on the preferred candidate for this role, and we’re in the final stages of securing the contract. We have received contributions from all ten members of the CWG and anticipate this project to be completed within the next few months.

    This project will allow us to have greater insight into wage disparities for 78 positions across the primary and community care sectors. The final report will serve as an important tool to support discussions with government on reasonable, fair compensation. Stay tuned for further updates.

    Mental Health and Addiction Funding Update
    The Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, federal health minister, is meeting with the provincial and territorial health ministers in Vancouver in mid-November. One topic of discussion is the mental health funding transfer. The provinces say that health cost share is currently 78% provincial and 22% federal, and they are jointly advocating for more from the federal government, including targeted funding for mental health and addiction. Duclos has said that the government is currently negotiating $3B in transfer for MHA with provinces and territories. We hope to have an update following their November meeting, with the hope that some of the funding is embedded sustainably in primary care.

    As we noted in our September 27th communique, the Ontario Ministry of Health is providing one-time funding to support teams with innovations in improving mental health and addiction challenges within the communities served. We know that the timing for the funding isn’t ideal or sustainable and that teams will likely have a short amount of time to utilize it. But to  support knowledge sharing and to build a business case around sustainable funding, AFHTO will reach out to EDs in mid-November to glean plans underway and share ideas and strategies across regions. If you would like to share your ideas now, please email Abisola at abisola.otepola@afhto.ca.

    Progress Towards Development of Primary Care Networks
    AFHTO continues to work with other associations and providers about ensuring that a strong primary care sector is the foundation of an integrated system. For this to happen, primary care needs to be organized. Primary care networks (PCNs) are an opportunity to strengthen the sector and see improved health outcomes.
    AFHTO and partners developed a concept paper blueprint with recommendations for the establishment of PCNs within the Ontario Health Teams based on best practices and lessons learned from other jurisdictions. This was submitted to the ministry in mid October for consideration, and discussion is now underway. If there is agreement that this is something that the ministry (and possibly Ontario Health) wants to pursue, there will be consultations with stakeholders and our collective members to refine the recommendations in the coming months. We will keep members apprised of this work as it continues.

    Status of FHT/MOH Contract Recommendations
    After over a year of consultations with members and stakeholders, AFHTO is in the process of submitting the final recommendations for the next FHT contract to the ministry. Along with our consultant, Dale McMurchy, we met with ministry officials on October 19th where we outlined the recommendations focused on the three key areas: governance, accountability/performance, and FHT/physician affiliations with recommended MOUs.
    As the current contract expires on March 31, 2023, we look forward to working with MOH on this in the next few months and will consult further as needed. MOH will make the final decision, and we will keep members apprised of this work. Thank you to all the working group members who contributed to the development of the recommendations and for providing insights.

    Mandatory Vaccine Policies
    Maria McDonald, McDonald HR Law, has provided more thoughts for employers on mandatory vaccine policies in the workplace. Members can see her comments here.

    Reminder: Governance Training with Charity Village
    We’d like to remind teams that AFHTO has undertaken a partnership with Charity Village to offer three different governance training programs that align with the expectations in teams’ governance attestation. Over 20 teams have already participated!  

    We encourage teams check out these programs if they feel they might benefit. Any questions can be directed to Bryn Hamilton.

    Improving Communication with and Between IHPs
    IHPs may have seen the QR code that was set up around the conference to sign up for IHP communication. This is where IHPs can share their name, profession, and work email to improve AFHTO’s outreach to IHPs, especially for participation in research, in showing the value of the work you do, and upcoming work around compensation advocacy.
     
    It has also been set up as a way for professions to communicate with one another and to create their own communities of practice to network and share best practices.
     
    We encourage all IHPs to provide their work email addresses so we can include you in relevant communications and so you can network with your colleagues across AFHTO’s member teams. If you can please share this information with the IHPs on your team and encourage them to sign up, we would greatly appreciate it.

     

    Finally, it was a pleasure seeing so many of you at the conference last month! The resources and recordings were emailed to attendees on October 19 and the Bright Lights Awards winners are posted. We also saw a great attendance of EDs at the session with Fernando Tavares from the Ministry of Health the day before the conference. If anyone was unable to attend and would like to listen to the recording, you can find it here.

    Enjoy the rest of the fall, and if you have any questions or comments, please contact us any time at info@afhto.ca.

    Yours in good health,
    AFHTO

  • Governance Training with Charity Village

    We are pleased to have a partnership with Charity Village to offer our teams three different governance training program options aligned with the expectations in the governance attestations. The three training options available are as follows:
     
    Better Board Kit
    This is a three-part series which includes a 1.5 hr online, on-demand Boards that Work course + a Board Self EvaluationSurvey + a Facilitation Guide that will walk your board through a planning session based on the survey results.
     
    The Boards that Work course is available for up to 10 board members and focuses on:
    •    Part One: Introduction to Boards
    •    Part Two: Board Duties, Roles, and Responsibilities
    •    Part Three: The Board/Staff Partnership
    •    Part Four: Board Building & Structures
    •    Part Five: Board’s Role in Fund Development
    •    Part Six: Effective Board Practices
     
    For more information, please visit this page. This is a great refresher for all board members and a good way to complete the board evaluation that’s required as part of your governance attestation!
     
     
    Governing your Organization: A Deeper Dive
    This is a 2 hour on-demand course that the covers the following:
    •    Part One: To Whom Does the Board Owe a Duty?
    •    Part Two: Building a Great Board
    •    Part Three: The Board’s Role in Strategy
    •    Part Four: Effective Time Allocation
    •    Part Five: Different Organizations Need Different Governance Approaches
     
    For more information, please visit this page.
     
    Diversity, Sensitivity, and Inclusion Training: Promoting Anti-Discrimination and Equity in the Workplace
    This is an on-demand course that will take approximately 1-2 hours to complete. In this course you will learn to:
    •    Understand basic human rights of people in the workplace
    •    Build knowledge of and demonstrate tolerance and respect for diversity at work
    •    Become self aware about your perceptions and behaviour toward others
    •    Use language that is non-discriminatory, inclusive, sensitive, and respectful to everyone
     
    For more information, please visit this page.
      
    If you have any questions or wish to share interest, please contact info@afhto.ca
     
     

  • Bits & Pieces: preventing caregiver burnout and more

    Bits & Pieces: preventing caregiver burnout and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Supporting Caregivers Supports Patients- The Critical Role of Primary Care in Preventing Caregiver Burnout, Nov. 24
    • Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing, Dec. 8
    • MOH booster communications toolkit and more
    • TUTOR-PHC call for applications
    • Seeking input on how to improve person-centred osteoarthritis care
    • Upcoming events including ONCA A Year Later: the 100 Most Asked Questions and more

    Supporting Caregivers Supports Patients- The Critical Role of Primary Care in Preventing Caregiver Burnout, Nov. 24
    Primary care providers can play a key role in preventing burnout and enhancing caregiver well-being by initiating early interventions and connecting caregivers to support.

    Co-hosted by The Ontario Caregiver Organization and the Primary Care Collaborative, this webinar will include insights from a caregiver with lived experience, as well as examples of primary care initiatives across Ontario that are connecting caregivers to support. Register here.

    Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing, Dec. 8

    Metered dose inhalers produce significant carbon emissions. Ironically, these contribute to changes to the climate that can exacerbate respiratory conditions. Simple practice changes can help disrupt this cycle and lessen the health sector’s contributions to climate change.

    Learning outcomes:

    • Explore the carbon footprint of healthcare systems and how inhalers contribute to it
    • Examine two problems related to inhaler prescribing
    • Imagine practice change that results in immediate reduction in emissions: “high value, low carbon care”

    Register here.

    Graphic of purple vaccine vial, with another transparent vial behind it on a light blue background. below, text says

     

    MOH booster communications toolkit and more

    Recent updates include:

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

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

     

    TUTOR-PHC call for applications

    Transdisciplinary Understanding and Training on Research – Primary Health Care (TUTOR-PHC), is a one-year, pan-Canadian interdisciplinary research capacity building program that has been training primary and integrated health care researchers, clinicians and decision-makers from family medicine, nursing, psychology, epidemiology, social work, occupational therapy, education, policy, and many other disciplines since 2003.  The deadline to apply is December 5, 2022.

    For more information, please go to the website or email the TUTOR-PHC Project Coordinator at tutor@uwo.ca.

    Seeking input on how to improve person-centred osteoarthritis care

    Per UHN:
    “Dr. Anna Gagliardi at University Health Network (UHN) is recruiting healthcare professionals for a one-time 20-minute phone interview for a research study about how to improve person-centred osteoarthritis (OA) care. During the interview, we will ask you for your perspectives, experiences, and recommendations regarding strategies to improve care for immigrant women affected by osteoarthritis.

    You are eligible for this study if you:
    — Are a family physician, nurse practitioner, or community pharmacist who works with patients with osteoarthritis
    OR
    — Are a healthcare executive, healthcare manager, or policymaker who oversees osteoarthritis services

    For more information or to express interest in participating, please contact the study coordinator, Madeline Theodorlis, by email: madeline.theodorlis@uhn.ca. Please note that information sent by email may be accessible by external parties and therefore not entirely secure. Many thanks for your consideration.”

    Hamilton FHT Green Initiative’s Cancer Screening, Nov. 2 or 10, 2022

    Led by Dr. Meghan Davis, Ontario Health’s Regional Primary Care Lead (Cancer Screening). Find out more here.

    ONCA A Year Later: the 100 Most Asked Questions, Nov. 10, 2022
    Hosted by Community Legal Education Ontario, who have compiled the most frequently asked questions into a database and want to share what they have learned. Register here.

    Highlights and implications of the Ontario Science Table’s brief on primary care, Nov. 30

    On October 3, 2022, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) released its final brief, a 3-part exploration of how primary care responded to and was affected by the pandemic, and implications for ongoing health system planning and policy. In this webinar, you will hear from a panel of primary healthcare experts who contributed to that brief, as they share some of the most significant findings and implications. Register here.

    MyPractice: Primary Care Report: Using Data for Improvement – a focus on using the opioid prescribing indicators to drive improvements in patient care, Nov. 10, 2022
    Ontario Health is hosting a webinar for primary care providers on using the opioid prescribing indicators in the MyPractice: Primary Care report to drive improvements in patient care. This 1-credit-per-hour Group Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1.0 Mainpro+Ⓡ credits. The program is part of a series that has been certified for up to 4 Mainpro+ credits. Register here.

    Hospice Palliative Care Ontario’s online learning portal for person centred decision making
    The Modules are intended for Clinician Competency Training on Health Care Consent, Advance Care Planning, and Goals of Care conversations. Learners will move beyond advancing their knowledge and attitudes to develop clinical skills. Learn more here.