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Tag: Care for Specific Populations

  • Bits & Pieces: Ontario declares 2nd state of emergency, COVID-19 projection update, and more

    Bits & Pieces: Ontario declares 2nd state of emergency, COVID-19 projection update, and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Ontario declares second state of emergency
    • Update on COVID-19 projections, guidance for prioritizing healthcare workers for vaccines, and more
    • ‘Nobody is safe’: Ontario Hospital Association CEO speaks out on a province in crisis
    • Podcast series on AFHTO members- update
    • SGFP member survey
    • Registration open: COVID-19 CoP update on COVID-19 vaccines – part 2
    • University of Toronto Scarborough Arts & Science Co-op program
    • Upcoming events including Indigenous governance and self-determination in planning and responding to COVID-19 and more

    Ontario declares second state of emergency

    “In response to a doubling in COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, the real and looming threat of the collapse of the province’s hospital system and alarming risks posed to long-term care homes as a result of high COVID-19 transmission rates, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, is immediately declaring a second provincial emergency under s 7.0.1 (1) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA).”

    Read the full news release here.

    Update on COVID-19 projections, guidance for prioritizing healthcare workers for vaccines and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    ‘Nobody is safe’: Ontario Hospital Association CEO speaks out on a province in crisis

    “What they’ve learned is that they’re capable of remarkable things, but they’ve also increasingly learned that they need help from their provider colleagues. Whether it’s working with primary care to get assessment centres up and running and all the testing in place for the past 10 months; … they’ve been asked to start the vaccination program, but the vaccination program will only succeed over the next year if it’s done with public health, with the strong involvement of family medicine and nurse practitioners. That’s the only way a mass-vaccination program will succeed.”– Anthony Dale, CEO, Ontario Hospital Association

    Read the full TVO article here.

    HIROC podcast rebuilding pc

    Podcast series on AFHTO members-update

    As on-demand sponsor of #AFHTO2020, HIROC interviewed several presenters for their podcast series. The last three episodes focus on:

     Listen here. They’re also available via Apple and Spotify (search HIROC).

    SGFP member survey
    The OMA Section on General & Family Practice (SGFP) is seeking input from all family physicians and general practitioners. The purpose of this survey is to provide information and gain feedback from the SGFP to better understand its member’s priorities. Your input will help them better understand your views, which will enable them to advocate on your behalf.  Please take 5-10 minutes out of your busy schedule to complete the survey. As the open survey format is being used, you will need to fully complete the survey in one sitting.

    Note: the content of the survey has been developed by SGFP, MIG and Fora leadership and is not reflective of the ongoing 2021 PSA discussions with the Government. Due to the timing of this survey, the SGFP will not be sharing survey results with its members at this time.

    Please click here or copy and paste the full URL into your web browser. The deadline for this survey is January 20th, 2021.

    Registration open: COVID-19 CoP update on COVID-19 vaccines – part 2

    Register here for the fourteenth in the series ‘Changing the way we work: Update on COVID-19 vaccines – Part 2’ on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 8:00-9:00am (ET)

    Panelists:

    • Dr. Hugh Boyd, Care of the Elderly Physician and Chair of the OMA Section on Long Term Care/Care of the Elderly
    • Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, Paediatric Allergist and Clinical Immunologist and Adult Allergist
    • Dr. Noah Ivers, Family Physician, Women’s College Hospital and Co-Chair of the Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Advisory Council, Toronto, ON

    Guest speakers:

    • Dr. David Kaplan, Family Physician, North York FHT and Chief, Clinical Quality, Ontario Health
    • Dr. Liz Muggah, OCFP President, Family Physician, Bruyère FHT

    Moderator:

    • Dr. Tara Kiran, Fidani Chair, Improvement and Innovation, Department of Family & Community Medicine, U of T, and St. Michael’s Academic FHT

    Video of Part 1 is now available here.

    This COVID-19 Community of Practice is a joint initiative from the University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Ontario College of Family Physicians.

    University of Toronto Scarborough Arts & Science Co-op program

    Three students

    Could you use a skilled pair of hands to help lighten your workload, move projects forward, or assist with research? University of Toronto Scarborough Arts & Science Co-op has a pool of top undergraduate students from 35 academic programs including Life Sciences, Psychological & Health Sciences, Computer & Mathematical Sciences, and others.

    Students are available for 4-, 8- or 12-month work terms with flexible start dates to suit your needs. Learn more about how to hire, and about limited time Federal wage subsidy programs which currently provide 75% reimbursement on student’s wages up to $7,500. Visit their site here. Please contact cooppartner.utsc@utoronto.ca with any questions

    Now is the Time to Choose Wisely: Advancing Quality Improvement in Primary Care, Jan. 27, 2021

    Engaging primary care providers in QI is particularly relevant now, as the pandemic has further emphasized the importance of resource stewardship given the urgent care needs and constraints related to COVID-19. Learn more and register here.

    Indigenous governance and self-determination in planning and responding to COVID-19, Jan. 13, 2021
    The first of four in the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and COVID-19 series hosted by the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH). Register here.

    Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams series, Jan. 14- Dec. 2, 2021
    Eighth annual series with Kate Dewhirst and Maria McDonald. Register here.

    Better Breathing Conference, Jan. 18-22, 2021
    The Lung Health Foundation’s Better Breathing Conference’s accredited respiratory education programming is free for all Canadian healthcare professionals. Learn more here.

    Caregiving for Serious Illness and End-of-Life Telephone Based Program, Jan. 26- Mar. 30, 2021
    HPCO and OCACO program for seniors, caregivers and families, hospice volunteers. Find out more.

    Family Medicine Summit, Jan. 30- Feb. 27, 2021
    Registration is now open for the OCFP’s Family Medicine Summit (the former Annual Scientific Assembly – ASA). Find out more.

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

    Dear Members,

    As you are aware, the COVID-19 response is changing rapidly.

    As mentioned earlier this week, the Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council* is very active in provincial advocacy efforts. We are meeting regularly with many partners including the Ontario Hospital Association, Public Health, Ontario Medical Association, Ministry of Health staff and Vaccine Task Force representatives.  

    Thank you very much for your quick response to our survey from Monday. As of yesterday, 2000+ primary care professionals across the province responded to indicate interest and availability to support rapid vaccination in long term care and retirement homes, should we be called on in the weeks or months ahead.

     
    We also had 20 Indigenous Primary Health Care Council members and associates respond with their readiness to participate with vaccination supports. We are working closely with Public Health Units across the province who will have access to this data and supporting PHUs to partner with their local primary care leaders.

    There is a lot of confusion and concern in primary care about a variety of things including the lack of information, who is making decisions about primary care’s role in vaccination, when primary care will get vaccinated and who is leading the efforts.  

    The following information is what we know so far, but keep in mind that the plan continues to evolve:

    • Public Health will be taking the lead role in local vaccination distribution. They have acknowledged that their leadership in vaccination needs to happen in partnership with others including primary care. The 34 Public Health Units are identifying primary care vaccination leads in each of their regions. We are sharing our vaccinator volunteer list with each local PHU to facilitate connections.
    • Decisions about vaccine distribution are ultimately made by the Ministry of Health. As you know, the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force, led by retired General Rick Hillier, is making recommendations to the Ministry and Premier. There are several other tables that also provide input, but ultimately, the decisions are made by the Minister of Health.
    • An approach to prioritizing Health Care Workers for vaccination has been developed and it is anticipated that guidance documents will be available on Friday or Monday. Health Care Workers and staff, depending on the setting, the population served, and their risk factors will be vaccinated in Phase 1 (now until March) or in Phase 2 (after March). Vaccine supply will dictate how quickly each group can be offered the vaccine. We are hearing that there has been an inconsistent approach by hospitals regarding vaccination of hospital staff and community clinicians. We have raised this as a concern, and once the guidance documents are released this issue should be resolved.  
    • It is anticipated that Primary Care will not have access to vaccines until after Phase 1. With the exception of those participating in outreach teams for high-risk individuals in congregate settings, the main role of primary care for now is to communicate with patients about the vaccine. Numerous webinars and practice tools are planned to support you.
    • The database being used for vaccination documentation is called COVAX. Plans are starting to get all Primary Care Physicians, Nurse Practitioners and Pharmacists registered and trained on how to use the database. Health cards are not required to enter patient information into the database and the Ministry has indicated additional fields are continuing to be added, including those that address SDOH.
    • Hospitals, Public Health, and the Ministry are working, together with the Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council, to develop protocols for rapidly getting the vaccine into ALL long-term care and retirement homes.
    • There has been a commitment made for Federal and Provincial bodies to work together on vaccination efforts for Indigenous, First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities to reduce the amount of confusion and mixed messages. A separate sub-table was created by Indigenous Affairs Ontario for this purpose and the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council participates on the table.
    • There has been some confusion about who can administer the vaccine. It has been confirmed that all primary care clinicians, including Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and Pharmacists will be providing vaccinations. It was also confirmed that only regulated health providers will be administering the vaccine unless they are already able to vaccinate as per their scope of practice (e.g., EMS, PAs).  
    • Updated clinical guidance for special populations was released this morning. In short, benefits of the vaccine are felt to outweigh risks for most people that are pregnant, or that have auto-immune conditions or compromised immune systems.

    This week we are seeking the following:

    • Role clarity between hospitals, public health, and primary care, with emphasis on primary care partnership in PHU vaccine plan.
    • Weekly communication that is clear, transparent, and consistent to health organizations with specifics around forthcoming vaccine supply and distribution at provincial and regional levels.
    • A standardized approach, while taking into account local rollout, PHUs need transparent and consistent approaches across the province using a health equity framework.

    Resources:

    The primary care associations are committed to communicating with you on a weekly basis to keep you informed. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association/Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine
  • Bits & Pieces: Mobilizing for vaccination in LTC, COVID vaccine updates, and more

    Bits & Pieces: Mobilizing for vaccination in LTC, COVID vaccine updates, and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Mobilizing for vaccination in Long Term Care
    • COVID vaccine updates and more
    • Members’ stories
    • Can employers make vaccination mandatory?
    • How are you using virtual care to support the delivery of palliative care?
    • Access to neonatal follow up
    • Upcoming events including Advancing QI in Primary Care and more

    Mobilizing for vaccination in Long Term Care

    Last night we sent an email to the leadership triad in AFHTO member organizations subject Mobilizing Primary Care for Vaccination in Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes and Beyond.

    PHU is leading the vaccination strategy. To provide PHUs with a list of names to help with the phase 1 vaccination effort in Long Term Care (LTC) and Retirement Homes (RH), we are collecting information in case you are called upon to support.

    Please fill out this brief survey to help us understand your willingness and capacity to support Phase 1 efforts, should it be needed, as well as if you are already connected to and supporting residents living in a RH/LTC.

    Please note: strategy for deployment of vaccines in Phase 2 and 3 are still being discussed by the Task Force. As more information becomes available, we will share.

    COVID vaccine updates and more

    We have now added a vaccine page to our COVID section on the site. The Ministry also has a COVID-19 Vaccine-Relevant Information and Planning Resources page. Recent updates include:

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

    Toronto Western FHT staff in PPE holds a tray with vaccine

     

    Members’ stories

    Elliot Lake FHT: Elliot Lake FHT continues to support delivery service for seniors

    UHN Toronto Western FHT: gave some of the first Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to Long-Term Care (LTC) residents in Ontario

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Can employers make vaccination mandatory?

    On December 23, Maria McDonald of McDonald HR Law answered the question for her stakeholders. Find out more here (triad only).

    How are you using virtual care to support the delivery of palliative care?
    The Ontario Palliative Care Network (OPCN) has created a brief online survey to get a better understanding of how providers are using virtual care to support the delivery of palliative care.

    If you are a health care professional who provides palliative care services, you are invited to complete the survey. It will take about 15-20 minutes to complete, and the deadline to complete it is January 20th, 2021.

    If you have any questions about the survey, please contact tara.walton@ontariohealth.ca.

    Access to neonatal follow up
     
    The Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH) has sent us the following: “It has been come to our attention that parents are finding it difficult to schedule routine newborn follow up examination with primary practitioners within the recommended timeframe after discharge from the hospital. Per the Canadian Paedatric Society and PCMCH Standards of Postnatal Care documents, each infant must have an appropriate discharge plan, including identification of the infant’s primary health care provider and assessment by a health care provider 24 hours to 72 hours after discharge.
     
    We recognize this may be challenging with the current pressures in our health care system. We anticipate this situation will be more difficult with the upcoming holidays and would like to remind clinicians of the importance of this timeframe for adequate follow up which can ultimately reduce newborns readmission rates to hospitals and emergency room visits.  
     
    We kindly ask all primary care providers (pediatricians, family doctors, nurse practitioners) to accommodate requests for newborn exams at their earliest feasible time or direct families to nearest facility where they can be seen. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact info@pcmch.on.ca. “

    Now is the Time to Choose Wisely: Advancing Quality Improvement in Primary Care, Jan. 27, 2021

    Engaging primary care providers in QI is particularly relevant now, as the pandemic has further emphasized the importance of resource stewardship given the urgent care needs and constraints related to COVID-19. Learn more and register here.

    COVID-19 Community of Practice for Ontario Family Physicians, Jan. 8, 2021
    “Update on Covid-19 vaccines”. Register here.

    Indigenous governance and self-determination in planning and responding to COVID-19, Jan. 13, 2021
    The first of four in the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and COVID-19 series hosted by the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health (NCCIH). Register here.

    ECHO Pain, Liver and Rheumatology, Jan. 2021 to Dec. 2021
    These project ECHOs, hosted by UHN, begin this week! Be sure to register for today.  Register here.

    Family Medicine Summit, Jan. 30- Feb. 27, 2021
    Registration is now open for the OCFP’s Family Medicine Summit (the former Annual Scientific Assembly – ASA). Find out more.

    ECHO Sessions: Supporting Parents/Caregivers During a Pandemic: Information for Primary Care, Jan. 27 & Feb. 3, 2021
    Offered at no cost to participants. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: details on shutdown, COVID vaccine resources and more

    Bits & Pieces: details on shutdown, COVID vaccine resources and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Details on provincial shutdown
    • COVID-19 safety and planning
    • COVID vaccine foundation webinar video and more
    • Members’ stories
    • Additional funding for mental health and addictions services
    • HPCO continues virtual activity wellness hub
    • Upcoming events including Advancing Quality Improvement in Primary Care and more

    Details on provincial shutdown

    Yesterday the Ontario government imposed a provincial shutdown to go into effect on Dec. 26. They released details here.

    We have contacted the Ministry and it has been confirmed- there has been no change to the guidance for primary care services. Please continue to deliver care to your patients virtually or in person based on clinical judgment. The OCFP has updated their guidance document on considerations for in person visits that you may find helpful.

    COVID-19 safety and planning
    Teams may receive inspections as part of a multi-ministry COVID-19 enforcement blitz coordinated with local public health and other provincial officers to promote education and compliance with the Reopening Ontario Act in efforts to tighten public health and workplace safety measures to limit the transmission of COVID-19.

    Depending on the part of the province teams are in – and more specifically the “colour zones” under the COVID-19 response framework that have been assigned based on COVID transmission in the community, teams may be required to provide a ‘safety plan’ as part of these inspections and we are  encouraging all teams to have one in place. Here are a sample template and policy that teams can use to build their own plans. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

    COVID vaccine foundation webinar video and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Members’ stories

    Rural Lambton COVID Testing Centre

    Central Lambton FHT: Central Lambton FHT and partners increase access to testing

    City of Kawartha Lakes FHT: ensuring its team has increased knowledge and skills in providing health care for questioning, transitioning and transgender patients and their families and caregivers.

    Elliott Lake and Wawa FHTs: Algoma Public Health has officially named this year’s Public Health Champions

    Additional funding for mental health and addictions services

    On Dec. 17, Ontario’s government announced increased funding for mental health and addictions services, meant to address the increasing demand for services due to COVID-19.
    Per the announcement, this includes:

    • Over $62.2 million in community-based mental health and addictions services and inter-professional primary care teams, including $30 million in targeted funding for child and youth mental health services. Services include local in-person and virtual community mental health and addictions services, housing and accommodation supports, capacity-building for front-line workers, peer supports and resources, and enhanced services through interprofessional primary care including Family Health Teams, Indigenous governed supports and Community Health Centres.

    Funding to interprofessional teams was already announced in our November 24th Leadership Triad email so this is not new money. However, according to our contacts, progress is being made on the funding packages so teams should hopefully get further details, including funding flow, within a couple of weeks.

    HPCO virtual activity wellness hub flyer

     

    HPCO continues virtual activity wellness hub

    HPCO is continuing the Virtual Activity Wellness Hub beginning Tuesday, January 12th due to high interest from participants. They’re piloting virtual activities via Zoom meetings for seniors, people isolated at home, caregivers, and hospice volunteers. Activities will be run by facilitators in a fun and interactive group setting to increase social connection. See the flyer.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Now is the Time to Choose Wisely: Advancing Quality Improvement in Primary Care, Jan. 27, 2021

    Engaging primary care providers in QI can play an important role in improving practice, enhancing patient experiences, and reducing unnecessary tests and treatments.

    This is particularly relevant now, as the pandemic has further emphasized the importance of resource stewardship given the urgent care needs and constraints related to COVID-19. Learn more and register here.

    COVID-19 Community of Practice for Ontario Family Physicians, Jan. 8, 2021
    “Update on Covid-19 vaccines”. Register here.

    Family Medicine Summit, Jan. 30- Feb. 27, 2021
    Registration is now open for the OCFP’s Family Medicine Summit (the former Annual Scientific Assembly – ASA). Find out more.

    ECHO Sessions: Supporting Parents/Caregivers During a Pandemic: Information for Primary Care, Jan. 27 & Feb. 3, 2021
    Offered at no cost to participants. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: new COVID vaccine information, Min. Patty Hajdu and more

    Bits & Pieces: new COVID vaccine information, Min. Patty Hajdu and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Appreciation event for health care, Dec. 16, 2020
    • MOH updates on COVID vaccine and more
    • Results of draw for Legal Issues webinar series
    • Senior friendly care learning series for clinicians now available in French
    • Call for abstracts- Choosing Wisely Canada
    • Find an OT search tool
    • Upcoming events including Q& A with CMHA and more

     

    Appreciation event for health care, Dec. 16, 2020

    On behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health for the Government of Canada, you are invited to an appreciation event on Wednesday, December 16, 2020.
    RSVP: Nada Nasri nada.nasri2@canada.ca
    Click here to learn more

    MOH updates on COVID vaccine and more

    Recent updates include:

    • Ontario Delivers First COVID-19 Vaccine in the Country– Office of the Premier, Dec. 14, 2020
    • Memo from General Rick Hillier- EN and FR
    • Ontario’s Vaccine Distribution Implementation Plan – EN and FR
    • Ministry of Health:
      • COVID-19 About Vaccines- EN and FR
      • Guidance for Vaccinated Health Care Workers- EN and FR
      • COVID-19 Vaccine Information Sheet – EN and FR
      • COVID-19 Vaccine Approval Process and Safety- EN and FR
      • COVID-19 Vaccine Availability and Rollout- EN and FR
      • COVID-19 Vaccine Administration- EN and FR

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

    draw for Legal Issues webinar series - wheel of names

     

    Results of draw for Legal Issues webinar series

    AFHTO members had the chance to win one (1) free registration to the 2021 Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams series, with Kate Dewhirst and Maria McDonald. The deadline to enter was Nov. 27, 2020. A winner was randomly drawn Dec. 2, 2020. See the results here.

     

    Senior friendly care learning series for clinicians now available in French

    A critical factor in improving outcomes for older adults living with complex health concerns (e.g. frailty) during the second wave of the pandemic and beyond is ensuring that all healthcare providers are knowledgeable and skilled in addressing the unique needs of older adults.

    To support the knowledge needs in Francophone communities, the RGP and the Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Office have launched the senior friendly care (sfCare) Learning Series for clinicians in French.

    The series comprises nine educational modules for clinicians, along with supporting posters and patient handouts on the following clinical topics: delirium, mobility, polypharmacy, pain, loneliness, nutrition, and urinary incontinence. Access the sfCare Learning Series – French

    Call for abstracts- Choosing Wisely Canada

    Choosing Wisely Canada’s Sixth Annual National Meeting will be offered virtually on May 12 and May 13, 2021. You can submit an abstract by February 1, 2021. Find out more.

    Find an OT search tool

    Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists’ Find an OT search tool can aid Ontarians attempting to access private OT services. It allows the public, heath care professionals, referral agents and others to access a directory of licensed occupational therapists who provide private OT services. Searches can be made based on location, practice area, services, and age group.

    Q& A with CMHA, Dec. 18, 2020

    At the end of the COVID-19 wellness series: building your team’s psychological PPE, there will be a Q&A session on Dec. 18. This will be a wrap up of the previous sessions and an opportunity for a live Q&A with CMHA staff around resources, supports and questions for staff mental health. Register here.

    Other sessions:

    Isolation and Loneliness, Dec 15, 2020 02:00 PM EDT

    Register: Click here

    Mindfulness at Work, Dec 17, 2020 1:00 PM EDT

    Register: Click here  

    Learn more here.

    Family Medicine Summit, Jan. 30- Feb. 27, 2021
    Registration is now open for the OCFP’s Family Medicine Summit (the former Annual Scientific Assembly – ASA). Find out more.

    Morning Rounds and Lunch & Learns with ECHO Child Youth Mental Health, Jan. 12 – Jan. 14, 2021
    From depression, anxiety and parent-child relationships in toddlers, children or adolescents- join the CHEO as they cover it all in these sessions.
    Learn more here.

    ECHO Ontario Conference, Jan. 29, 2021
    Registration is open for Improving Access and Equity in Healthcare through the ECHO Model. See agenda and details here.

  • Bits & Pieces: COVID-19 vaccine, wellness series for members and more

    Bits & Pieces: COVID-19 vaccine, wellness series for members and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Changing the way we work – COVID-19 vaccine, public health collaboration, and supporting our teams
    • COVID-19 wellness series: building your team’s psychological PPE
    • Members’ stories including 12 days of Christmas
    • Addition of FluMist to the universal influenza immunization program and more
    • Reminder- The CONCEPT study survey
    • 2021 Alliance Conference call for proposals
    • Upcoming events on pediatric asthma and more

    Changing the way we work – COVID-19 vaccine, public health collaboration, and supporting our teams

    The next meeting of the COVID-19 CoP of Ontario Family Physicians on Dec. 11 will focus on the COVID vaccine. Learn more here.

    COVID-19 wellness series: building your team’s psychological PPE

    We recognize that the pandemic has impacted our teams and continues to impact you in many ways. PPE has been critical during the pandemic to help protect teams’ physical wellbeing; however, the “psychological PPE” is crucial to protect teams’ mental well being.

    Coping with the stress in a healthy manner will allow for you to take care of yourself and in return take care of patients. To support your mental well being, AFHTO has partnered with CMHA’s Mental Health Works program to provide 4 workshops to help build your “psychological PPE”.

    Health Anxiety, Dec 7, 2020 11:00 AM EDT

    Register: Click here

    Mental Health and Telecommuting, Dec 10, 2020 11:00 AM EDT

    Register: Click here

    Isolation and Loneliness, Dec 15, 2020 02:00 PM EDT

    Register: Click here

    Mindfulness at Work, Dec 17, 2020 1:00 PM EDT

    Register: Click here  

    Please share the workshop registration information with your team! For more information on the webinar series please click here.

    12 days of Christmas PSFHT

    Members’ stories including 12 days of Christmas

    Cochrane FHT– making Christmas merry for LTC residents

    Parry Sound FHT– since the usual Christmas parties are cancelled, Parry Sound FHT is trying something else – 12 Days of Christmas

    Starting on Dec 9th, Staff/MD participating in the “theme of the day”, are eligible to win prizes. Details will be on posters around the clinic. This staff/MD appreciation initiative is funded by the PSFHT, and two FHOs, and will be supporting 24 local Parry Sound businesses.

    Just a thought if you’d like to celebrate with your teams and foster community spirit as we go into an unusual holiday season.

     

     

     

     

    Addition of FluMist to the universal influenza immunization program and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    The CONCEPT study survey

    Reminder- The CONCEPT study survey

    Coordinating Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Evaluation of Providers’ Perspectives of their Practices

    You are invited to participate in an exciting research endeavour evaluating existing care coordination practices in Ontario and how

    they have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CONCEPT study will evaluate providers’ perspectives on current care coordination practices for patients with multiple comorbidities, and modifications made during the COVID-19 pandemic.  
     
    If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete a 10-minute survey. You are asked to answer each question based on your opinion of the care coordination provided at your FHT or community-based primary care health centre before and during COVID-19.

    If you have any questions, please contact  Joanne Permaul, Study Coordinator, at jpermaul@msh.on.ca or Dr. Donatus Mutasingwa, Principal Investigator, at dmutasingwa@msh.on.ca.

    2021 Alliance Conference call for proposals

    For the first time ever, the Alliance for Healthier Communities will host their conference online. Join on June 16-17, 2021 for Power in Community.

    The call for workshop proposals is open. Visit their website to review the conference criteria, priority topics, formats and terms and conditions. Deadline for submissions is January 8, 2021.

    CMHO Burnout webinars, Nov. 27-Dec. 4, 2020

    Pediatric Asthma Webinar Series, Dec. 2, 2020
    Register for the final webinar in the series, titled Managing a Child with Severe Chronic Asthma. Click here to register and access the link to past webinar recordings in the series.

    COPD Update 2020: Primary Care Perspective, Dec. 8, 2020

    Discuss COPD management in primary care with Dr. Anthony D’Urzo and the Lung Health Foundation.
    Register here.

    PHO Rounds: COVID-19 and Mental Health of Children and Adolescents
    Understand children’s mental health in a global to local through the pandemic, and the potential impacts that public health measures may lead to. Find out more here.

    ECHO Ontario Mental Health- Winter Programs, Jan. 11 – Mar 30, 2021

    CAMH has released their winter programming schedule. Deadline Dec. 4.
    Learn more here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #101: Primary Care Team Lessons and Patient & Provider Virtual Experience During COVID-19

    QI in Action eBulletin #101: Primary Care Team Lessons and Patient & Provider Virtual Experience During COVID-19

    In collaboration with the Alliance for Healthier Communities

    In this Issue:

    • Crossing Chasms: Primary Care Teams’ Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
    • Thank You for Sharing Your Teams’ Experiences During The COVID-19 Pandemic
    • Primary Care Patient/Client Virtual Care Experience Survey  
    • Primary Care Experience Surveys – Updated Version for OH QIPs
    • Provider virtual care experience survey
    • IHP experience during COVID-19
    • Coordinating Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Evaluation of Providers’ Perspectives of their Practices (The CONCEPT Study)
    • Survivors of Homicide Victims and Mental Health Project FOCUS GROUPS WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS
    • Upcoming Events

    Crossing Chasms: Primary Care Teams’ Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

    Crossing Chasms

    In July we asked teams to participate in an AFHTO Research Project to look at how teams stepped up during the pandemic and we received an overwhelming response. A special thank you to our teams for participating in this very important work!

    Click here to see a recap of how teams stepped up during the first wave of the pandemic and continue to do so. We have also recorded your experiences within a video!

    trillium day presentation 2020

    Thank You for Sharing Your Teams’ Experiences During The COVID-19 Pandemic

    We are sharing your experience! AFHTO along with our research partners presented at Trillium Research Day demonstrating the value of primary care teams’ response to COVID-19 and patients’ experience with virtual care. Please see the video for the poster presentation and visit our site to see the other research we presented!

     

    Primary Care Patient_Client Virtual Care Experience Survey

    Primary Care Patient/Client Virtual Care Experience Survey  
    In August, we launched the Primary Care Patient/Client Virtual Care Experience Survey for teams to implement in order to capture the patient experience with virtual care. Moving ahead we are collecting teams’ aggregate responses as we create a narrative of how virtual care could be permanently included in the patient care journey – submit your data here!

    Another option of patient experience data collection is to provide the survey link created by Women’s College Hospital Institute of Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV). WIHV is conducting a third-party evaluation of virtual care in the COVID-19 era on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Health. If you would like to share your current virtual survey and results, please email Rebecca Liu – Rebecca.Liu@wchospital.ca.

    NOTE: Participation in this survey should only take 10-15 minutes and includes the option to enter a draw for one of four $50 gift cards to Amazon, the Bay or Shoppers Drug Mart. This data will go directly with WIHV and you will not have access to the data.  

    This research will be important as the Ministry looks at the future of virtual care – please spread the word and encourage your patients to participate!

    Primary Care Experience Surveys – Updated Version for OH QIPs
    We have heard from multiple teams that they would like to see an updated version of the Patient Experience Survey. We have had conversations with our partners about next steps as many of the questions within are aligned with QIPs. To do this update, there will be a thorough review of all current teams’ surveys. Please share your current survey with Sandeep Gill at Sandeep.gill@afhto.ca, to help support this important initiative!

    Provider virtual care experience survey
    Women’s College Hospital Institute of Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV) is conducting a third-party evaluation of virtual care in the COVID-19 era on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Health, measuring the provider experience on virtual care. The objectives are to provide the Ontario Ministry of Health anonymous feedback on:

    • Health care Provider experiences with and preferences for virtual care during the pandemic;
    • The types and features of virtual services which provide the most value for health care providers;  
    • The clinical utility and appropriate uses of virtual services in Primary Care; and
    • Policy recommendations related to virtual care services in Primary Care for the provincial government.  

    You can participate in providing feedback by filling this short 10-15 mins online survey, which includes the opportunity to enter a draw to win one of four $50 electronic gift cares to the Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart or Amazon. Your participation will remain completely anonymous and confidential. Feel free to reach out to Jamie Fujioka (Jamie.fujioka@wchospital.ca) if you have any questions or concerns.

    This research will be important as the Ministry looks at the future of virtual care – please spread the word and we really encourage you to participate!

    IHP experience during COVID-19

    IHP experience during COVID-19

    At the beginning of COVID-19, Dr. Catherine Donnelly reached out to IHPs to hear their experience during the pandemic. You can review the findings from the earlier survey here. We are now seven months since the initial restrictions of COVID-19 and Queen’s University researchers are interested in hearing about your experiences working in Family Health Teams during this time. You are invited to participate in a brief web-based survey to understand the evolving experiences of interprofessional health care providers in Family Health Teams in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. Complete the web-based survey here.

    Coordinating Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Evaluation of Providers’ Perspectives of their Practices (The CONCEPT Study)
    Researchers are writing to invite you to participate in an exciting research endeavour evaluating existing complex care programs within team-based care models, and how these programs have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study will evaluate providers’ perspectives on existing care coordination practices for patients with multiple comorbidities and adaptations made during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

    If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete an electronic survey which should take about 10 minutes to complete. You are asked to answer each question based on your opinion of the care coordination provided in your team before and during COVID-19. You may also seek clarification from your physicians, NPs or IHPs within your team in order to answer some of the questions.
     
    Your participation in this study is voluntary. You may decide not to be in this study, or to be in the study and then change your mind later. You may refuse to answer any question you do not want to answer. You may choose to end your participation at any time without having to provide a reason.

    Responses will be kept strictly confidential. No identifying information is being collected and only aggregate data will be presented or published.

    The survey can be accessed using this link:  The CONCEPT Study Survey
                                     
    Thank you for considering this request.  If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Joanne Permaul, Study Coordinator, at jpermaul@msh.on.ca or Dr. Donatus Mutasingwa, Principal Investigator, at dmutasingwa@msh.on.ca.

    Survivors of Homicide Victims and Mental Health Project FOCUS GROUPS WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS

    Led by The Centre for Research and Innovation for Black Survivors of Homicide Victims (The CRIB), the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, and the Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario (CMHA Ontario), the Survivors of Homicide Victims and Mental Health Project is exploring the impact of supporting surviving family members and friends of murdered victims (survivors), and the service providers (i.e. clinicians, law enforcement, legal services, medical professionals, etc.) that support them. They are recruiting for providers from the Brantford, Toronto, Thunder Bay, Ottawa, and Windsor regions.

    LINK TO REGISTER: SERVICE PROVIDER FOCUS GROUPS Or visit:https://serviceprovfocusgroups.eventbrite.ca

    If you have any questions, please contact Megan McPolland at megan.mcpolland@mail.utoronto.ca.

    Upcoming Events:
    Health Promotion Ontario conference
    Nov. 5- 26, 2020
    The Annual Health Promotion Ontario conference will be a free virtual experience this year. There will be a four-part webinar series on Health Promotion in a Global Pandemic in November. Find out more here.

    Employing Digital Health Tools During COVID-19 – and Beyond
    November 16, 2020 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm EST
    As part of Digital Health Week, eHealth Centre of Excellenc will be hosting a webcast/webinar that provides a comprehensive overview of how their suite of digital health tools can be used during COVID-19 and beyond.
    You’ll have an opportunity to learn more about their innovative EMR decision support tools, virtual visit platforms, Ontario eServices Program (eReferral & eConsult), eCE Automates “bots”, tablets, and ePrescribing, as well as hear from a primary care physician on how these tools have impacted his practice.
    Please join Ted Alexander, VP of Partnerships and Clinical Innovation, for this webinar (with an interactive Q&A session to follow). Register here.

    2020 CMHO Virtual Conference
    Nov 23-Dec 4
    Register today for 2020 CMHO Virtual Conference sessions. They’re covering the latest in innovating and advancing child and youth mental health, with short, engaging sessions and leading speakers spread over two weeks. Click here to find out more.

    Virtual Learning Exchange in Virtual Primary Care
    The virtual learning exchange will be delivered in three 90-minute webinars and will focus on the following identified priority topics within the overarching theme of virtual primary care:

    • Cultural Safety and Indigenous Partnership (November 27, 2020, 1:30-3:00pm ET)
    • Enhancing Equity and Access (January 29, 2021, 1:30-3:00pm ET)
    • Patient and Family Centred Care (March 5, 2021, 1:30-3:00pm ET)

    To find out more information please click here.

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

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #100 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

     

  • Bits & Pieces: always open, updated primary care guidance and more

    Bits & Pieces: always open, updated primary care guidance and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • We may be working differently, but we never stopped working
    • Celebrating Nurse Practitioner Week
    • Designing integrated care and indicators for older persons’ health services
    • QSC patient advisor needed
    • 2020 Ontario Budget overview
    • Updated primary care guidance and more
    • Diabetes Awareness Month
    • Upcoming events on advancing diversity and inclusion and more

    We may be working differently, but we never stopped working

    As part of our ongoing efforts to promote primary care stepping up during the pandemic, we have partnered with OCFP and SGFP on their latest campaign to your availability in your communities. Here’s the information sheet, which partners have already started sharing on social media. Please share widely with your own patients and communities.

    We are also collecting your flu vaccine success stories as well as any fall COVID Wave 2 initiatives your teams are doing so please share those (with pictures if you have them) so we can use them in our advocacy work with the government.  #PrimaryCareAlwaysThere

    Essex County NPLC

    Celebrating Nurse Practitioner Week

    This week, we’d like to recognize the important work of NPs in primary care teams. No matter the team, whether it be FHTs, NPLCs, CHCs or other, nurse practitioners are truly invaluable in providing comprehensive care to Ontarians. Thank you to our NP team members!

     

     

     

    Designing integrated care and indicators for older persons’ health services

    The Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Office has recently provided two important updates:

    QSC patient advisor needed

    Involving patients as partners on our Quality Steering Committee (QSC) is integral to advance best practice and optimize performance measurement capacity across team based primary care and ensuring we meet the needs of patients, caregivers, and their families.

    We are seeking individuals who can see beyond their personal experience and share insights around quality improvement for team-based primary care. If you have a patient that you believe would be interested, please read here.

    2020 Ontario Budget overview
    On Thursday, Nov. 5 the PC government released their 2020 Ontario Budget entitled “Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover”.

    Investments in health mainly centred on the Long-Term Care and hospital sectors and focused mainly on strengthening the Ontario healthcare system’s pandemic response. Here is a brief prepared by AFHTO on the budget and the announcements and investments being committed.

    Unfortunately, there were no announcements made to support primary care, team-based primary care or any additional supports to mental health and addictions beyond what was already announced.

    We will continue to work with our partners and advocating around the importance of primary care in the pandemic response and the integral role the sector plays in supporting the most vulnerable populations.

    Updated primary care guidance and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

    Diabetes Awareness Month
    November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and Wounds Canada has organised a national social media campaign to #EndDiabetes and #PreventAmputations. Teams can get engaged by use pre-made posts created by Wounds Canada or create your own using the hashtags provided. A campaign activation kit, social media content, and infographics can be seen here.  You could also send a jpeg of your logo to katie.bassett@woundscanada.ca to be included on their website and in other communications.

    Governance Master Class: Advancing Diversity and Inclusion, Nov. 12, 2020
    Miller Thomson Health Industry Group is holding a Special Edition of their Health Industry Directors Series. It’s also free! Find out more here.

    COVID-19 Community of Practice for Ontario Family Physicians, Nov. 13, 2020

    The eleventh in the series on “Supporting patients with COVID-19, evolving guidance, fatigue and more”. Register here.

    Diabetes Care and Management for Ontario, Nov. 12, 2020

    This HeathcareRounds virtual event will be a discussion with leaders devoted to the health and care of those living with diabetes to discuss next steps and action items.
    Find out more here.

    COVID-19 Preparedness and Management in Primary Care, Nov. 13, 2020
    Public Health Ontario (PHO) is holding a webinar to introduce primary care stakeholders to the new PHO Checklist: COVID-19: Infection Prevention and Control Assessment for Primary Care Facilities. Register here.

    Cultural Safety and Indigenous Partnership, Nov. 27, 2020
    Join the first webinar of this Virtual Learning Exchange in Primary Care series held by the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement. Learn more here.

    Race, Racism, And COVID-19: The Institute For Pandemics Inaugural Lecture, Nov. 24, 2020
    This panel will explore evidence and examine the implications for using policy and other strategies to dismantle structural racism.
    Learn more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: address from incoming president Dr. Allan Grill, COVID checklist for primary care & more

    Bits & Pieces: address from incoming president Dr. Allan Grill, COVID checklist for primary care & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Address from incoming president Dr. Allan Grill
    • #AFHTO2020: following up
    • Immediate need for case and contact management
    • Member stories- COVID-19 EMR screening, virtual clinic and SDOH
    • New BounceBack client resources available
    • OMA’s OHT white paper
    • Togetherall social media content and mini videos
    • COVID-19 checklist for primary care and more
    • Upcoming events regarding processing trauma experiences and more

     

    Allan Grill

     

    Address from incoming president Dr. Allan Grill

    Our new president and chair Dr. Allan Grill shares his perspective as he starts his new term after our annual conference. Find out about his goals here.

     

     

     

     

     

    #AFHTO2020: following up

    Now that the conference is over, we’re in the process of editing the recordings and compiling the materials. We hope to make these available soon. If you were a presenter and you haven’t sent in your slides or poster, please email them to conference@afhto.ca.

    Immediate need for case and contact management

    On Oct. 19 we sent an email on behalf of the Ministry of Health to EDs and Admin Leads regarding the immediate need for case and contact management. Read it here, along with a new FAQ (available at the triad level only).

    Member stories- COVID-19 EMR screening, virtual clinic and SDOH

    COVID-19 EMR screening tool

    City of Lakes FHT: case study on efficiently screening for COVID 19 in Northern Ontario

    Elliott Lake FHT: ELFHT marks first anniversary of Virtual Clinic

    St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT: how the pandemic inspired a primary care model for addressing social needs

    New BounceBack client resources available
    To help your patients manage their heightened anxiety, stress and worry related to the pandemic or other long-term stressors, the BounceBack team has developed some new resources, available in English and French.

    This includes handouts for: new parents, youth 15-18, caregivers, and individuals experiencing chronic pain. You can also download their tip sheet for managing your mental health during COVID-19.

    You can find all the resources on the Care Providers section of their website.

    As a reminder, you can now easily refer your clients to BounceBack in three ways, including directly on the website using the online referral form, through your EMR, or by sending an eReferral in your EMR through the Ocean eReferral Network.

    And finally, to ensure that the BounceBack program is meeting your needs and the needs of your patients, they invite you to take their survey. The survey should only take 5 minutes, and your responses are completely anonymous.

    Please reach out to the BounceBack marketing and communications team if you have any questions.

    OMA’s OHT white paper
    The Ontario Medical Association has just released its Ontario Health Teams White Paper: Early Learnings and Recommendations for the Evolution of OHTs. Read it here.

    Togetherall social media content and mini videos
    This month’s themes include staying connected, combating seasonal changes and balancing your thinking (they have a free course on this topic):

    COVID-19 checklist for primary care and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

    Choosing Wisely Webinars, Oct. 22, 2020
    Choose from 3 webinars that will explore how you can choose wisely when using antibiotics
    More details can be found here.

    Advanced Privacy Officer Training, Nov. 3, 2020

    Get your privacy officer certificate in health law using this training module offered by Kate Dewhirst Health Law. Find out more here.

    Processing Trauma Experiences With Palliative Care Clients And Their Families, Nov. 4 – Dec. 2, 2020

    Join the HPCO in this 5-part series intended for all sectors of hospice palliative care. Focuses for sessions include work with veterans, refugees and first nations.
    Learn more here.

    Strengthening Families Together Virtual Series, Nov. 5 – 26, 2020

    Caregivers providing support to someone living with schizophrenia or a psychosis related illness are invited to this 4-session family education group.
    More details can be found here.

    Physician Leadership and the Future of Community Care, Nov. 5, 2020
    Join the Ivey Academy’s panel discussion around the challenges, learnings, and adaptations to the pandemic for primary care providers. Find out more here.

    Osgoode Professional Development, Oct. 5, 2020 – Apr 28, 2021
    AFHTO is partnering with York University’s OPD to provide members 10% off a variety of health law programs for professional development. For discount code and course offerings, click here.

  • Conversations with local public health units – and additional tools and resources

    Dear triad members,

    After a bit of down time this summer, we restarted our regular regional ED check-in calls. At the beginning of the month we connected with EDs across all regions, and we were joined by representatives from local public health units.

    We discussed preparation for wave 2 and flu season and how we can continue to manage having children in school. Below are the resources that were shared by the PHUs, as well as more information on the topics discussed that may be helpful. We have also included information about the Ontario Hospital Association’s #StopTheSpread campaign at the end, which we encourage you to share with your teams.

    Preparation for flu season

    • Flu season is here, and vaccine distribution has started. Managing flu season alongside the pandemic, ensuring adequate access to resources, and ensuring sufficient access to vaccines are top concerns.
    • AFHTO continues to speak to the importance of prioritisation of vaccine distribution for primary care, and the challenges on continuity of care given the larger focus on distribution to pharmacies. We are also flagging the concern about vaccines that were missed in schools in the spring due to closures, and we are asking about the catch-up plan.
    • Building off the questions and input on the ED calls, AFHTO worked with the Centre for Effective Practice and our partners at the OMA, OCFP, and NPAO to develop flu guidelines to assist primary care providers. This flu resource document will be posted tomorrow, October 20, and will include checklists for the following sites: mobile clinics, office-based clinics, offsite indoor clinics, curbside/drive thru clinics, and outdoor walk thru clinics.
    • Teams may also find the following resources helpful:
    • It remains important for all teams to be connecting with their local public health units to help inform and coordinate the regional approach to flu shot clinics and distribution.

    COVID-19 resources and supports

    Guidelines for cleaning/disinfecting in community-based settings

    School Reopenings

    Resources from public health units

    OHA Launches Social Media Campaign to #StoptheSpread of COVID-19

    • The Ontario Hospital Association is launching a social media campaign that we encourage members participate in! The #StopTheSpread of COVID-19 campaign is targeting three audience groups: (1) ages 20-30, (2) broad audience 40s+, and (3) health care workers.
    • There is a special landing page for health care workers and their participation is critical – no one can speak better to the importance of getting everyone to do their part. There can be personal comments, selfies, and team photos, and there is the opportunity to express why it’s important that we all encourage others to do their part. It is a pledge for us all to help #StopTheSpread.
    • We hope you will distribute this across your team and encourage they engage in it!

    We hope you find these resources helpful. Please reach any time with questions, and we will send meeting invites out soon for our ED check-in in November.

    Sincerely,

    Your AFHTO team