Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: advocacy

  • Bits & Pieces: virtual funding opps, aggregate report update, and more

    Bits & Pieces: virtual funding opps, aggregate report update, and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Virtual funding opportunities for primary care, Sep. 16
    • Expanding your differential diagnosis, Oct. 14
    • 3rd dose referral and guidance
    • Update on COVaxON Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report
    • Reminder – Pandemic PPE Transitional Supports (PPTS)
    • Keeping our kids safe at school, new IPAC guidance, and more
    • New telementoring program for health-care providers in occupational medicine
    • PSHSA workplace violence toolkits: work refusal and emergency response to workplace violence (code white)
    • Opportunity to bring Early Words program to your team – at no cost
    • Upcoming events regarding COVID-19 malnutrition and more

    Virtual funding opportunities for primary care, Sep. 16
    Co-hosted with Ontario Health, this webinar will provide information and answer questions about FY2021-22 digital and virtual care provincial funding opportunities for Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) and In Development Team, including support for online appointment booking and virtual primary care projects.
    Find out more and register here.

    Expanding your differential diagnosis, Oct. 14
    Co-hosted with ECHO Ontario at UHN, this presentation provides an overarching schema of rheumatic diseases, with a focus on types and patterns of articular involvement, and extraarticular and serologic correlates. By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to apply this schema when approaching common rheumatic disease presentations.
    Find out more and register here.

    3rd dose referral and guidance

    Since Ontario announced third doses of COVID-19 vaccine for some populations, the Ministry has prepared a draft sample letter that physicians and nurse practitioners may wish to use to provide their patients with the necessary referral and attestation in the cases where the patient’s own primary care provider/specialist are not administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Your local public health unit may also have additional forms/information so please also check with them too.

    The updated guidance on third does for special populations can be found in this link.

    Update on COVaxON Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report

    Please find attached a memo from Ontario Health highlighting two important changes that have made to the COVaxON Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report:

    • The full list of rostered patients (everyone born in 2009 and older) will be available to PEM primary care providers not just those who received one or two doses; and
    • The refresh cycle is moving from monthly to weekly to provide data in a timelier manner.

    Reminder – Pandemic PPE Transitional Supports (PPTS)

    Just a reminder about the availability of PPE for Primary Care Providers and Interprofessional Primary Care Teams from the provincial stockpile. As part of the Pandemic PPE Transitional Support (PPTS)  for Primary Care Providers, Specialists (Community-based Physician Specialists), Community Health Service Providers, and Indigenous Communities and Health Service Providers, it is imperative to follow the steps in the ‘How-To Complete Remedy Form’ document before submitting a request. For more detailed instructions on how-to complete the Remedy Intake Form, please reference the ‘Detailed How-To’ document. For additional information related to the transitional support, please reference the ‘FAQ’ document.

    Please note the below attestation, which is at the bottom of the “General” section of the intake form, does not apply to the Pandemic PPE Transitional Support. Primary care providers, specialists (community-based physician specialists), community health service providers, and Indigenous communities and health service providers are asked to please select this box to continue with the intake process.

    ☐   By selecting this box, your organization confirms it still has a supply shortage of under 14 days of stock despite following Steps 1-3* and requires PPE from the pandemic stockpile to continue providing services. Additionally, I have verified or will verify and confirm that any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) I receive from Ontario Health will remain in Ontario, and will be used for direct patient care. Further, the PPE received will not be resold or redistributed without the express written consent of Ontario Health.
     
    The ministry provides guidance on the use of PPE that can be found on the Ministry of Health (MOH) COVID-19 website and in the Guidance for Primary Care Providers in a Community Setting.

    Keeping our kids safe at school, new IPAC guidance, and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Someone whose hands and torso are visible sits in front of an open laptop with stehoscopre beside it and a clipboard with pen in front of it

    New telementoring program for health-care providers in occupational medicine

    Primary health-care providers in Ontario are invited to join ECHO Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ECHO OEM). The new program will increase provider capacity to recognize occupational and environmental exposures, and support patients in recovery and return to work. Over 12 weekly, 1.5-hour sessions, an interprofessional team of specialists will guide and mentor providers as they discuss patient cases and pertinent topics in OEM. Health-care providers will also gain CME credits, confidence in providing comprehensive care for their patients, and a new community of practice.  

    The ECHO OEM sessions run on Fridays from September 17 to December 3, 2021. Learn more and register here.

    PSHSA workplace violence toolkits: work refusal and emergency response to workplace violence (code white)
    PSHSA’s Violence, Aggression and Responsive Behaviours (VARB) toolkits were developed in partnership with healthcare and labour stakeholders to support healthcare workplaces in reducing and preventing the risk of workplace violence.

    Two new toolkits are now available on Work Refusals and Emergency Response (Code White). These join their five initial toolkits on Workplace Violence Risk Assessment, Individual Client Risk Assessment, Risk Communication/Flagging, Security and Personal Safety Response System.

    Opportunity to bring Early Words program to your team – at no cost
    Early Words, the Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation’s literacy program is expanding and accepting expressions of interest from clinics and hospitals.

    The program launched in Iqaluit in 2020 and is now operating in 12 clinics in Nunavut, as well as two clinics in Winnipeg. They provide free books, training, and resources to support healthcare professionals integrate early literacy into their practice.

    They’re seeking Expressions of Interest from healthcare clinics and hospitals whose patient population includes children aged five and under experiencing barriers to literacy – such as families with low literacy, limited access to programs and resources, and low socioeconomic status. They provide access to books and resources to help professionals counsel families on early literacy.

    For more information, you can visit their site or register for the September 14 info session.

    The deadline to apply for the Expression of Interest is October 1 at midnight local time. If you have any questions, you can contact Zoe Keefer at zkeefer@childrensliteracy.ca.

    COVID-19 malnutrition – how to identify and treat in team-based primary care, Sep. 20, 2021

    Gain a greater awareness of prevalence of malnutrition in primary care and the impact of undiagnosed malnutrition on quality of life, health outcomes and health care dollars. Find out more and register here.

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

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

    Promoting Resiliency in Children, Youth, and Families in Primary Care, Sep. 30, 2021

    ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health Special Interest ECHO Session. Register here.

    Tapering and Stopping Opioids, Oct. 19, 2021
    Co-hosted with ECHO Ontario Chronic Pain and Opioid Stewardship (UHN). Register here.

    AFHTO 2021 Conference, Oct. 27-28, 2021
    Post-Pandemic Primary Care: Respond, Recover, Rebuild. Members get a significant discount on the registration fee. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: COVID-19 malnutrition, conference registration and more

    Bits & Pieces: COVID-19 malnutrition, conference registration and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • COVID-19 malnutrition – how to identify and treat in team-based primary care
    • AFHTO 2021 conference registration now open
    • Thank you for your 2021 Bright Lights nominations
    • Order printed cancer screening awareness materials by Sep. 3 for your team
    • Member consultation forum on election strategy postponed
    • Fall preparedness, balancing in-person vs. virtual care and more
    • World Health Organization Long COVID Core Outcome Set Study, Deadline Sep. 1
    • Upcoming events regarding tapering and stopping opioids and more

    COVID-19 malnutrition – how to identify and treat in team-based primary care

    After attending this webinar, participants will:

    1. Gain a greater awareness of prevalence of malnutrition in primary care and the impact of undiagnosed malnutrition on quality of life, health outcomes and health care dollars
    2. Learn about malnutrition screening happening in primary care settings across Canada
    3. Walk away with tips and tools to implement screening within your site
    4. Be introduced to a Malnutrition Toolkit complete with screening tools, care pathways and outcome measures for malnutrition screening in primary care

    Find out more and register here.

    Mamta Gautam

    AFHTO 2021 conference registration now open

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

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

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

    Featuring Dr. Mamta Gautam, on “MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER: The Power of Resilience”

     

    Thank you for your 2021 Bright Lights nominations
    We received over 30 nominations yesterday and a confirmation email has been sent.
     
    If you are part of a group that has prepared a nomination, please ensure your contact has received the email with the subject: “Thank you for your 2021 Bright Lights nomination!”. (Please have them check their junk mail as well.)

    If your contact person has NOT received this confirmation, please contact info@afhto.ca by Sep. 2.

    Order printed cancer screening awareness materials by Sep. 3 for your team

    As you know, Ontario’s health care system has been significantly impacted by COVID-19, including preventive care like cancer screening. To help support you and your patients get caught up on cancer screening tests, Ontario Health will be sharing a cancer screening awareness tool-kit.

    The tool-kit has digital and print options. This is to provide information to members who wish to order print materials – read more here. Please complete the form by September 3rd, 2021 at 6pm.

    Member consultation forum on election strategy postponed
    After some discussion with our government relations firm, Enterprise Canada on current circumstances with wave 4, back to school, the federal election, and other areas, we will be rescheduling this forum for mid-November.
     
    We will still have the fireside chat with Enterprise at our conference and the forum will follow in mid-November. Material will be updated and circulated by the end of November, with webinars or training will follow. You will then be ready to go – and supported along the way – for conversations and advocacy with all your local candidates! The new date for the November forum will be confirmed in the next couple of weeks.

    Fall preparedness, balancing in-person vs. virtual care and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    World Health Organization Long COVID Core Outcome Set Study, Deadline Sep. 1

    Researchers at Johns Hopkins are working with the World Health Organization on a long COVID outcome study and need North American clinician/researcher participants. Per Dale M. Needham, FCPA, MD, PhD:
    “We desperately need PASC/Long COVID researchers/clinicians (and patient/caregivers) to share their expertise for this Core Outcome Set done in collaboration with the World Health Organization, ISARIC, and COMET Initiative.”  Note: this Delphi is directed for adult, rather than pediatric Long COVID. We have about 1000 respondents but are very under-represented by clinicians and researchers (including non-clinician researchers), and especially under-represented for geographic regions outside of Europe.  
     
    This Delphi survey will take only 5 to 10 minutes since many of you have already thought deeply about these issues.
     
    This URL will take you to the Delphi: https://delphimanager.liv.ac.uk/PC-COS/Delphi

    Who can take part?
    1.    People who have long COVID/PASC and their caregivers
    2.    Health professionals (including medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, physiotherapists, etc.)
    3.    Researchers of long COVID
    4.    Organizations who use the research (e.g., those approving new treatments) representatives.
    Final deadline Sep. 1.

    The Canadian/Global COVID-19 Policy Response, Sep. 1, 2021

    Lung Health Foundation & McMaster’s Global Nexus Policy Forum, moderated by Heather Bakken, Deputy Publisher and VP, Business Development, iPolitics.ca Register here.

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

    Project ECHO OBN: Etiology, Assessment and Treatment of Obesity, starting Sep. 9
    They have expanded the curriculum to offer you the opportunity to update your knowledge of post-bariatric care and explore treatment options for individuals living with obesity. Find out more here.

    Tapering and Stopping Opioids, Oct. 19, 2021
    Co-hosted with ECHO Ontario Chronic Pain and Opioid Stewardship (UHN). Register here.

  • Need for Indigenous Cultural Safety Training and Education for all public servants

    Need for Indigenous Cultural Safety Training and Education for all public servants

     

    Primary Care Collaborative logos

     

    To: Hon. Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier, Minister of Health
    Hon. Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General

    Cc: Hon. Greg Rickford, Minister, Indigenous Affairs
    Matthew Anderson, CEO, Ontario Health
    Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Ministry of Health
    Helen Angus, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health

    Re: Need for Indigenous Cultural Safety Training and Education for all public servants

    August 3, 2021

    Dear Deputy Premier Elliott and Minister Jones,

    The leaders representing the Ontario Primary Care Collaborative across the province write to you today urgently about the ongoing crisis facing Indigenous people and communities due to systemic racism and trauma rooted in colonization. Throughout the pandemic, the challenges of COVID-19 have intersected with other public health challenges and emergencies and we’ve seen that racism can create and maintain barriers – to vaccinations, to people getting the services and care they need, and to healing. The impacts of racism, intolerance and lack of understanding contribute to ongoing trauma experienced by Indigenous people and communities.

    Deputy Premier and Minister, we all know systemic racism is itself an emergency that impacts health. It’s why we’ve seen governments at all levels talking the talk on addressing anti-Indigenous racism in the last several months, particularly as Canada has started to reckon with the full truth and ongoing trauma of residential schools. Walking the walk of addressing anti-Indigenous racism requires bold leadership and courage, however, and taking practical steps with foundational policy shifts that can truly change the systems, organizational structures, cultures and actions that perpetuate and sustain systemic racism against Indigenous people and communities.

    We need to work together to create truly safe spaces (physical and virtual), environments, and the ability for Indigenous people to interact with Ontario’s systems with a reduced risk of racism and violence, and to increase access to health and social care and services across the board. To do it, Ontario needs to mandate and fund Indigenous cultural safety training for all decision-makers and all branches of government whose services and programs interact with and serve Indigenous communities. We need meaningful training opportunities that are created and led by Indigenous people and communities, and which broker the conversations and connections needed to create conditions for healing, safe spaces and active reconciliation. It is also essential – while we support behavioural changes for individuals through Indigenous cultural safety training opportunities – that we also simultaneously work to create change at organizational levels, so the health system not only supports, but encourages and fosters change of practices and policies.

    The Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC) is in the process of modernizing a made in Ontario Indigenous Cultural Safety approach to health care that will aim for individual behavioural change through Foundational ICS, but which will also work to support organizations within the health system on their journey towards creating culturally safe spaces through implementation of culturally appropriate policies, procedures and practices. The IPHCC Indigenous Cultural Safety approach is focused on supporting Indigenous Health transformation as part of the overall health and social service systems transformation underway in Ontario. We are strongly recommending that you learn more about this program and make this available to your staff.

    By now, we are all acquainted with the stories of Joyce Echaquan, Brian Sinclair, and many others, which speak to the worst-case scenario of racism seen in Canada’s health systems. At that higher level, we also see through occurrences with the recent evacuation efforts in Northern Ontario and reported living conditions that the need for Indigenous cultural safety is as great as ever. Ontario has the capacity to improve how all of the province engages with Indigenous leaders, organizations and populations when action and coordination are needed to help people. We can and must do better, and we know you agree we can.

    Changing minds, hearts and attitudes long term is what many governments have professed to in the wake of the discovery of mass and unmarked graves across Canada. We believe the Ontario government has an opportunity to lead with concrete actions that will truly change behaviours and make an impact with safer, fairer and more just spaces, services and organizations serving Indigenous peoples. Together, we can make a tangible impact in addressing systemic anti-Indigenous racism and showing others the path forward, but we need your support to do it.

    We look forward to hearing from you very soon, and we’re available to meet or answer any questions you might have on next steps.

    Sincerely,
    Leanne Clarke, CEO, Ontario College of Family Physicians
    Katie Hogue, Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association
    Sarah Hobbs, CEO, Alliance for Healthier Communities
    Caroline Lidstone-Jones, CEO, Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    Kavita Mehta, CEO, Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    Allie Kinnaird, Executive Director, Ontario Medical Association, Section on General & Family Practice

    See the pdf version here.

  • Bits & Pieces: 2022 election priorities, free bot to document vaccines and more

    Bits & Pieces: 2022 election priorities, free bot to document vaccines and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • 2022 Election Priorities: seeking members’ input
    • AFHTO statement on racism and hate
    • Reminder- Cancer screening during the pandemic and onwards, June 21
    • Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 30
    • Free bot to help document vaccinations and more
    • Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program slides and video
    • COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky webinar materials
    • New regulation to streamline reporting requirements under OHSA
    • Oxygen saturation monitors still available
    • Seeking dietitians’ input -nutrition screening in primary and community care
    • Upcoming events regarding geriatric clinical pharmacology and more

    2022 Election Priorities: seeking members’ input

    The provincial election is fast approaching! Election day will be on or before June 2, 2022 – less than a year away.

    We will continue to be strongly advocating for expansion of team-based primary care, and we want your input to ensure we are effectively advocating for you and with you.

    We ask all members complete this survey to share your priorities. We want to hear from you all: executive directors/admin leads, board members, physicians, nurse practitioners, IHPs, QIDSS, admin staff! This will only take about 5-10 minutes of your time, and the results will be kept confidential.

    Please click here to complete the survey!

    Please complete this by tomorrow, June 16. We will be taking the feedback to our board of directors at their board meeting next week. 

    AFHTO statement on racism and hate
    We want to start by expressing our grief and sorrow about the tragic and horrifying events of the last few weeks, recognizing that racism and hate has been part of Canada since its inception. We are committed to working with our partners and allies to listen, learn, grow, and do better at creating a more equitable and safer country for all. You can read AFHTO’s statement here.

    Reminder – Cancer screening during the pandemic and onwards, June 21

    In collaboration with our primary care partners and Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), we will be hosting a webinar to further explore guidance for resuming breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening and share stories from teams that have already resumed cancer screening.

    Register here.

    Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 30
    Are you interested in serving on the AFHTO board of directors? The Governance Committee of AFHTO’s board invites anyone who works within an AFHTO member organization to apply. Please share this call for nominations with all who work in your team and with members on your Board. Given the composition of the continuing board members, priority for the directors to be elected will be given to candidates who are:

    • Executive Directors, especially those actively involved in their Ontario Health Team (OHT) development and supporting integrated care in their community;
    • Interprofessional Health Care Providers, especially those actively involved in OHT development;
    • Members from Central Ontario Health Region;
    • Board members, especially community members in the position of Chair of the Board; or
    • Experienced in finance, including accreditation as a financial professional (e.g., CA, CPA, CMA);

    Learn more about how you can take on a leadership role here. Deadline July 30.

    Free bot to help document vaccinations and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program title slide

    Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program slides and video

    The Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence at Ontario Health invited primary care organizations to a webinar on June 10 to learn more about the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) Program’s background, the vision of OSP as a provincial program, and next steps with the expansion. Slides and video now available on our site.

     

    COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky webinar slide

    COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky webinar materials
    On June 9th Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health covered key questions, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and mixing of vaccines, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, discussed why Indigenous people were prioritized to receive vaccines. Resources include:

    New regulation to streamline reporting requirements under OHSA
    A new regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) will come into effect on July 1, 2021: Ontario Regulation 420 / 21 – Notices and Reports under Sections 51 to 53.1 of the Act – Fatalities, Critical Injuries, Occupational Illnesses and Other Incidents– EN and FR.

    The new regulation incorporates the critical injury definition and streamlines reporting requirements into a single regulation that applies to all workplaces covered under the OHSA. The amending regulations include:

    • O. Reg. 427/21: HEALTH CARE AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES –EN and FR

    Oxygen saturation monitors still available

    Oxygen saturation monitors are still available free of charge for primary care providers. Please be sure to order yours before the end of June!  Every primary care provider can benefit from having these in their practice and for distribution to patients you may be monitoring with COVID, but also for other conditions (e.g., COPD).  These monitors will then belong to your practice – you do not need to return them to the Ministry of Health. Link to ordering survey HERE. Monitors usually arrive within 2-3 days after requesting. For questions, please contact OH_COVIDatHome@ontariohealth.ca. For a link to the one-pager with all the resource you need for monitoring COVID patients visit HERE.

    Seeking dietitians’ input -nutrition screening in primary and community care
    Professor Heather Keller (University of Waterloo), Marg Alfieri (Primary Care Dietitians Association) and the Primary Care working group of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force are conducting a survey to determine what models of nutrition screening have been implemented in primary and community care, the reach of these efforts and for those who have yet to start screening, the challenges they are experiencing. This data will be used to launch further research on the outcomes and benefits of different nutrition screening models and further investigate how to support implementation of nutrition screening in the community. Get additional information and complete survey here.

    Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk: drug safety for older adults beyond “Start Low, Go Slow”, June 24

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

    NACI Recommendations On COVID-19 Vaccine Interchangeability, June 21, 2021 *NEW DATE*
    Join PHAC as they discuss evidence around interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as NACI recommendations for interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines.
    Learn more here.

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

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

    Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP, June 17 & July 8, 2021
    Join PCPs, EDs & clinical managers from AFHTO, AHC & NPLCA to share learnings, tools and strategies to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario.
    Find out more here.

    COVID-19 CoP, June 18, 2021
    Join the OCFP’s COVID-19 CoP where they will be discussing “Getting to herd immunity: addressing children, confidence, and complacency”.
    Find out more here.

    Evaluating Integrated Care: How should we be evaluating integrated care? June 22, 2021
    Join the HSPN, IFIC Canada and Emerald Publishing as they discuss evaluation of integrated care both at a local and health system level.
    Register here.

  • AFHTO Statement on Racism and Hate

    AFHTO Statement on Racism and Hate

    AFHTO logo- full

     

    We want to start by expressing our grief and sorrow about the tragic and horrifying events of the last few weeks, recognizing that racism and hate has been part of Canada since its inception.

    We mourn the discovery of the mass grave at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. The profound loss of 215 young lives, some as young as three years old, will have long lasting impact on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc community and all other First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people. It will remain a reminder to all Canadians of our nation’s shameful history of residential schools and colonialism.

    To all who may have been shocked by this discovery, it’s important to remember Indigenous communities have long said there are thousands who never made it home. We must listen to marginalised communities when they speak of their pain rather than instinctively shy away because it’s hard to hear or goes against what we’d like to believe about our country.

    We support the calls to the Government of Canada to implement the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and to prioritize the search of all residential schools across the country so that all Indigenous children can be brought home. They Came for the Children is a powerful but painful story of Canadian colonialism, but it is important for all of us to read to better understand the legacy of residential schools and to participate in the work needed for reconciliation.

    We are grateful for the wisdom and support of our primary care partner, the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC), who we work with to amplify the need to confront our own biases with respect to anti-Indigenous discrimination.

    AFHTO looks forward to continuing to learn about the Indigenous Cultural Safety Program through the IPHCC, which improves Indigenous healthcare experiences and outcomes by increasing respect and understanding of the unique history and current realities of Indigenous populations. We encourage others to do so as well.

    The racism that is so prevalent in this country continued earlier this week with the deliberate, hate-filled murder of a Muslim family in London, Ontario. We grieve and are saddened by the tragic loss of four lives of people targeted because of their faith. We will forever hold in our hearts the young 9-year-old boy who has lost his family.  

    We stand in solidarity with our Muslim communities. We will work to ensure that our governments and political leaders are held accountable for their words and actions to counter hate and racism. We urge our primary care colleagues to uphold human rights, to acknowledge our collective responsibility as individuals to stand in solidarity with members of our Muslim communities, and to combat all forms of discrimination.

    On May 26, 2021, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Professor of Global Health at the University of Toronto, wrote an op ed piece entitled Why hatred should be considered a contagious disease. He notes that ‘‘Hatred can be conceptualized as an infectious disease, a determinant of health and a public health issue spreading violence, fear and ignorance” and “Hatred is a public health issue because it often engenders widespread physical, psychological or political violence.” In the conclusion, he notes that the global community, including the medical community, needs to recognize that hatred is a public health issue, and it is up to all of us to “address the root causes through promotion, education and awareness.”

    Like many of you, AFHTO is on its own Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) journey to address the inequities and built-in racism that exists in our health and social systems. Together with our allies, we will continue to listen, learn, grow, and do better. We look forward to this journey with our partners, our members, and our communities.

     

  • Primary Care Collaborative looks forward to working closely with new Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore

    TORONTO, June 2, 2021 /CNW/ – The Primary Care Collaborative (“PCC”) congratulates Dr. Kieran Moore on his official appointment as Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, effective June 26, 2021. We also extend our appreciation to Dr. David Williams for his leadership in this role over the past five years. Thank you, Dr. Williams, for your dedication and important work to keep Ontarians safe, and we wish you all the best in your retirement. 

    Over the past several months, the PCC has worked closely with decision makers on primary care’s involvement in vaccination efforts in the province. Through this work we met regularly with Dr. Moore in his role as Medical Officer of Health for Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington Public Health (KFL&A) and as a member of the Ontario COVID-19 Distribution Task Force. It comes as no surprise to the members of the PCC that KFL&A Public Health continues to be publicly recognized for its exemplary response to address the COVID-19 pandemic due to the strong leadership of Dr. Moore. 

    Dr. Moore is a consistent champion for an equitable vaccine rollout and the need for increased involvement of primary care in vaccination efforts in all 34 public health units. We are grateful to Dr. Moore for his advocacy, and his proactive efforts and successes around partnership with primary care in KFL&A.

    The PCC looks forward to continuing to work with Dr. Moore as he assumes his new role as Chief Medical Officer of Health in late June. In addition to ongoing work around the pandemic response and a more consistent role for primary care, our Collaborative stands ready to support provincial efforts to address the parallel public health crisis of toxic drug overdose deaths. Leadership is needed for people who continue to be at risk of overdose, and death from overdose, and we are hopeful that with Dr. Moore we will see some much-needed progress in preventable overdose deaths, and the devastation this creates for families, friends, communities, as well as health care providers.

    The PCC welcomes our continued partnership and collaboration in our work with Dr. Moore towards more equitable responses to Ontario’s most pressing health crises. We look forward to his leadership in facilitating greater connections and collaboration with primary care and public health as we build back towards a new normal beyond the pandemic.

    SOURCE Primary Care Collaborative

    For further information: Media contact for interview requests, comments or inquiries: Paula Myers, Manager, Membership and Communications, Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario, Email: paula.myers@afhto.ca, Phone: (647) 234-8605 extension 1200

  • Ontario government’s paid sick leave legislation doesn’t go far enough

    Ontario government’s paid sick leave legislation doesn’t go far enough

    Shared by the Primary Care Collaborative

    Primary Care Collaborative logos

     

    Ontario government’s paid sick leave legislation doesn’t go far enough and too many workplaces remain open: Workers need protection that provides flexible paid sick leave for illnesses, to self-isolate and to get vaccinated

     

    TORONTO – April 30 – Simply put, this just isn’t enough. As well, far too many workplaces are still classified as “essential” in Ontario, putting workers, their families, and the stability of our health system at risk.

    While we are pleased to see the Ontario government finally recognized paid sick leave is important to the health and safety of Ontario’s essential workers, the Primary Care Collaborative remains concerned that the legislation passed, which gives up to three paid sick days through employers, does not go far enough to protect employees, and may create new barriers to accessing income support benefits. Pressuring people to return to work too soon, and keeping too many businesses “essential” will continue to pressure our health system and lengthen the time it takes to control this wave of infections. 

    Workers need sufficient time to support and recover from COVID-19-related illness, to self-isolate and to get themselves and their families vaccinated. We concur with the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table’s Science Brief on the Benefits of Paid Sick Leave from April 28 that lays out the parameters for what paid sick leave can do to support people to be able to follow public health measures and to get vaccinated. “Paid sick leave can support essential workers in following public health measures. This includes paid time off for essential workers … with guaranteed salary payment regardless of duration of absence (minimum 2 hours, maximum 2 workweeks).”

    The temporary sickness benefit the Ontario government has legislated will only be available until September 25, 2021, to align with the expiry of the federal Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB). As we have advocated publicly for months alongside our health system partners, we are still asking that paid sick leave legislation be made PERMANENT, universal and accessible. Never again should people have to make the difficult choice between having to go to work while sick and being unable to pay bills, support their families or risk losing their jobs. 

    An important first step is recognition of the critical need for paid sick time. However, we can and need to do better for all workers in Ontario. We need a more fulsome plan that will protect everyone, especially essential workers, during this pandemic and beyond as we build back the province stronger than before. And right now, Ontario also needs a narrower definition of “essential workplace” that is limited enough to break chains of transmission and stop further outbreaks. 

    Both limiting this definition of essential and putting in place a comprehensive paid sick leave program are the keys to slowing the spread, lowering the number of illnesses and deaths, and supporting our health system and health care workers.

    See the pdf version here.

  • PCC calls for more supports for essential workers and workplaces, more robust community vaccination rollout & isolation supports

    PCC calls for more supports for essential workers and workplaces, more robust community vaccination rollout & isolation supports

    Shared by the Primary Care Collaborative

    Primary Care Collaborative logos

    Toronto – April 17, 2021 – The organizations of the Primary Care Collaborative echo the alarms being sounded by our healthcare and public health colleagues since Friday. There was no doubt given the modelling from the Ontario COVID-19 Science Table Advisory Board on Friday afternoon that additional measures were and are necessary to help slow the spread of the virus in our province, particularly the spread of the more contagious and deadly Variants of Concern. Some of the measures taken by the Ontario government yesterday – notably limiting non-essential travel, extending the stay at home order, and expanding the number of vaccines available to hotspot areas – will indeed help reduce transmission and ultimately lower the burden on our health system.
    However, we are deeply concerned that these measures are not nearly enough to stop outbreaks from happening in the highest risk environments – essential workplaces and congregate settings. We are seeking immediate action on the following:

    • robust paid sick day supports; the temporary, retroactive federal sickness benefit maxes out at $450 a week after tax and cannot be used immediately by a worker who may be experiencing COVID symptoms; we need emergency sick day supports that allow anyone who is experiencing symptoms to stay home without fear of losing their job; 
    • access to adequate PPE, including N95 masks for all congregate settings and essential workplaces, including long-term care and retirement homes;
    • expansion of rapid testing, and connections to local community supports for people who test positive and need to isolate immediately;
    • defining “essential” workplaces more narrowly, including high risk workplaces that continue to be sources of outbreaks.

    Without these decisive actions, more lives will be lost. Also, our healthcare workers and the health system will continue toward catastrophic scenarios. Collectively, primary care providers will continue to step up and do what we can to keep essential services in place, to encourage cancer screening, to keep people healthy and out of hospitals, and to continue vaccinating, but we need help. Primary care also continues to play key roles directly in COVID-19 supports, helping people isolate, get tested in community, and by rolling out the vaccination and vaccine information in hotspots and meeting people where they’re at. Support for us to continue doing this work and to scale it up across the province is essential to slowing the spread and flattening the curve of the third wave in every community.
    Workplace enforcement measures alone are not enough to keep people safe in essential workplaces. Paid time off must be in place so people can book and get vaccinated and stay home when not feeling well, minimizing the risk of spread. These are proven, evidence-based interventions that can help get us through this wave of the pandemic sooner, with less suffering. 

    Without every possible measure being taken to protect the people working in in essential workplaces – many of whom are marginalized and from racialized and newcomer communities – these places will also eventually be forced to close, as there is further spread and more and more people get sick and die from COVID-19. And workers will bring more spread back into their already devastated families and communities.
    We also remain deeply concerned that yesterday’s modelling has led to a closure of outdoor activities, and an emphasis on enforcement of the stay at home order through policing, “carding” and ticketing of people out in public. These are actions that are known to harm mental health of people while not measurably reducing the risk of COVID-19 spreading. These measures will also cause disproportionate harm to racialized and other marginalized communities. We need to approach people at the most risk with support, empathy and effective ways to stay safe. At a time when we need to further build trust to support our vaccination rollout, these enforcement measures, especially those taken heavy-handedly, will only push us further from where we need to be. It’s in that spirit that we acknowledge and support the enforcement agencies and police forces who’ve gone on the record saying they will not be stopping people in public.
    The voices of our hospitals and others on frontlines of care, and especially among the people and families facing the worst — the loss of loved ones to the virus – must be heard. The exhaustion, frustration and anger of our front-line health workers, our doctors, nurses, therapists and others who are desperately battling the virus 24/7, must be heeded. Half-measures will not get us out of this pandemic – the right decisions driven by the evidence will. As noted by Dr. Adalsteinn Brown on Friday: “There is little point to looking back at hypotheticals or what was or wasn’t done in the weeks and months past. We must notice what needs to be done now, and act swiftly to protect lives and our health system.”

    For press inquiries or to schedule an interview, please contact:

    Jason Rehel – jason.rehel@allianceon.org; cell: 416-817-9518

    Relevant links:

     

    About the Primary Care Collaborative (PCC):

    We are a coalition of primary care organizations collectively representing 14,000 family doctors, 1,000+ primary care nurse practitioners, 286 primary care teams, 28 Indigenous primary care teams, including northern, rural, and remote teams in Ontario. This alliance of comprehensive primary care organizations joined together by common purpose to build on the collaborative work during the COVID-19 pandemic as we move towards recovery in a time of health system transformation. The PCC provides a collective and cohesive voice with the purpose of advancing equitable person-centred primary care in Ontario and is focused on influencing policy by creating a unified voice towards resolving barriers or challenges that prevent comprehensive primary care from being the foundation of the health system.

  • Stay-At-Home Order Welcome But More Needed

    Stay-At-Home Order Welcome But More Needed

    Shared by the Primary Care Collaborative

    Primary Care Collaborative logos

    April 7, 2021 – The Primary Care Collaborative welcomes the Ontario Government’s announcement of new provincial measures to stop the alarming spread of COVID-19. While the vaccine rollout continues across the province, we are in a race against the variants, and bold action was needed to protect all Ontarians, particularly those most marginalized. We recognize the collective exhaustion with COVID-19 restrictions, including among primary care providers, yet the stay-at-home order is necessary if we are to turn the tide on the pandemic.

    A further step needed to slow the spread and halt the devastation of COVID-19 is provincial support for paid sick days, which would support staying home when ill. As well, we echo the Ontario Medical Association in urging those who are able to support their local restaurants and other small businesses by ordering food and other goods through delivery or curbside pickup. 
     
    This pandemic has shown time and again that COVID-19 will affect the most vulnerable among us. Primary care will continue to step up by providing care, staffing assessment centres, and now integrally involved in the vaccine rollout. We will do our part to ensure equity is front and centre in our response and we will work together with the Ontario Government and Public Health to end COVID-19. 

    Relevant links:

     

    About the Primary Care Collaborative (PCC):
    We are a coalition of primary care organizations collectively representing 14,000 family doctors, 1,000+ primary care nurse practitioners, 286 primary care teams, 28 Indigenous primary care teams, including northern, rural, and remote teams. This alliance of comprehensive primary care organizations joined together by common purpose to build on the collaborative work during the COVID-19 pandemic as we move towards recovery in a time of health system transformation. The PCC provides a collective and cohesive voice with the purpose of advancing equitable person-centred primary care in Ontario and is focused on influencing policy by creating a unified voice towards resolving barriers or challenges that prevent comprehensive primary care from being the foundation of the health system.

  • Bits & Pieces: respiratory care during COVID-19, Stay-at-Home order and more

    Bits & Pieces: respiratory care during COVID-19, Stay-at-Home order and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Respiratory care during COVID-19: what have we learned one year later, Apr. 21
    • Ontario needs a Stay-at-Home order
    • Member stories
    • Lessons learned from KFLA Moderna community vaccination clinics and more
    • UpToDate discount reminder
    • Evaluation and performance improvement for OHTs CoP and webinar
    • Upcoming events including improving the population health of people at risk or living with diabetic foot complications and more

     

    Respiratory care during COVID-19: what have we learned one year later, Apr. 21

    The COVID-19 pandemic has required healthcare professionals to change the way care is delivered and has allowed for the development of innovative practices and partnerships for the continued provision of quality care.

    On April 21 this webinar, co-hosted with the Lung Health Foundation, will highlight practice changes and considerations for the diagnosis and management of chronic lung diseases such as COPD. This includes highlighting the challenges of respiratory diagnostics such as spirometry testing and policies and changes that were needed to provide a safe testing environment.

    Find out more and register here.

    Ontario needs a Stay-at-Home order

    Ontario needs a Stay-at-Home order, community vaccination plans, and paid sick leave for ALL workers to stop spread of COVID-19 variants, reduce the burden on health care.

    Today the Primary Care Collaborative (PCC) issued a statement urging the government to do more to suppress the transmission of COVID-19, including these 5 vital actions:

    1. Move the province from a shutdown to a stay-at-home order
    2. Ensure vaccines are reaching those who are most at risk for infection and who need them the most
    3. Prioritize vaccination of teachers, educators and school staff
    4. Create a broad education and communications campaign to address vaccine hesitancy
    5. Implement paid sick leave for all essential workers now.

    Read the full statement here.

    Member stories

    Dr. Allan Grill on CTV

    Markham FHT– our president and chair Dr. Allan Grill on CTV on protecting schools from outbreaks and more

    Multiple members- our Twitter thread highlighting members’ vaccine efforts. One tweet already has nearly 20,000 views!

    Lessons learned from KFLA Moderna community vaccination clinics and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    UpToDate discount reminder

    Thanks to our partnership with Wolters Kluwer, AFHTO members have access to special benefits on UpToDate®. Physicians, residents, NPs, pharmacists, and PAs are all eligible.  For more details, please contact your ED or Admin Lead.

    EDs and Admin Leads, if you have any questions, please email us at info@afhto.ca.

    Evaluation and performance improvement for OHTs CoP and webinar

    HSPN is hosting a new community for those working on evaluation and performance improvement in OHTs. You can join here.

    The next OHT Evaluation Webinar will be OHT Improvement Measures for Focus Populations on April 27. Register here

    Your role in improving the population health of people at risk or living with diabetic foot complications, April 15, 2021
    Co-hosted with Wounds Canada, this interactive webinar will provide an overview of your role to improve the population health of people at risk or living with diabetic foot complications across the full continuum of care settings to improve patient experience, outcomes and costs. Register here.

    Together We Care Virtual Conference, April 20-22, 2021
    Join the OLTCA & ORCA as they connect the LTC and retirement community sector to help shape the future of senior’s care.
    Find out more here.

    Building vaccine confidence in the Black community, evolving guidance, and more, Apr. 9, 2021

    The OCFP’s COVID-19 COP will focus on building vaccine confidence in the Black community.
    Find out more here.

    A Deep Dive into Co-Designing Care Models for your Priority Populations, May 6, 2021
    The RISE OHT webcasts will show how your OHT can re-design care for patients in your priority populations, and help every patient in those populations experience coordinated transitions between providers.
    Learn more here.