Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: COVID-19

  • Renfrew County FHTs & Partners providing virtual mental health and addiction walk-in counselling clinic

    The Recorder and Times article published March 2, 2021

    By Pembroke Observer and News

    Renfrew County residents often face a long wait time when they need to access mental health and addiction counselling. In response, the Renfrew County Collaborative E-Walk-In Counselling Clinic (WICC) has launched to provide children, youth, adults, and families with free, same-day access to single-session therapy by video or phone.

    The WICC is the expansion of a service model started in Ottawa under the leadership of Jewish Family Services and funded by the Ontario government through the Champlain Local Health Integration Network. The Renfrew County expansion has been partially funded by United Way East Ontario and is a regional collaboration bringing together multiple Renfrew County healthcare providers and agencies that are sharing mental health and addictions resources to better support the immediate needs of residents.

    “Collectively, we are helping to address the mental health and addiction service gap for Renfrew County adults, kids, teens and families by offering more immediate, convenient single- session counselling that provides many individuals with the initial support and coping strategies they need,” said Karen Simpson, WICC co-lead and executive director, Arnprior and District Family Health Team. “The timeliness of the WICC’s counselling access is a major benefit for our communities.”

    Although the WICC is focused on single-session therapy, individuals may return to access the services at any time, even while they are on a wait list for other mental health and addiction services.

    “We have found that walk-in clinics have created a simple, very accessible resource for anyone needing to connect to a mental health or addiction clinician to provide support, guidance and/or navigation to appropriate service systems,” explained Greg Lubimiv, WICC co-lead and executive director, The Phoenix Centre for Children and Families. “With COVID and the closure of most in-person walk-in clinics, the creation of a virtual walk-in is a timely and necessary solution. Not only are we now able to reopen walk-in virtually, but we are doing so within a large partnership, led by Jewish Family Services, so that we can offer not only child and youth mental health services, but adult and addiction services through the same access point.”

    As part of the gradual launch, the WICC is currently open every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Individuals who need same-day support, can call 1-844-441-0981. The receptionist will go through a series of questions to help match the person with the right counsellor and book a session time for that day by video or phone (based on the client’s preference). To ensure immediate access to mental health and addiction services outside of the WICC’s operating hours, clients can access Counselling Connect online at www.counsellingconnect.org.

    “I feel this will be seen as a valuable service that is being offered,” said Sandi Wright, supervisor of mental health, Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. “It will be a great way to reach people without a wait and get immediate service. We are looking forward to working with the entire mainstream community — it has been one of our goals to be seen as a collective within the community.”

    The WICC recognizes, welcomes and accepts the diversity of our clients and their families with respect to race, national or ethnic background, place of origin, religion, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, mental or physical disability, or language.

    “The Renfrew County Collaborative E-Walk-In Counselling Clinic is an exciting initiative for our area,” said Lise Laframboise, executive director, Pathways Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services. “Residents suffering from addiction issues and/or their family members now have an opportunity to connect with an addiction counsellor for immediate support to address their concerns in the moment.”

    Kim MacLeod, service director of Addictions Treatment Service, added the ability for people to link with this new service, for example, from the safety of their homes is key; especially for clients living with addiction who are reaching out to someone for what might be the first time to get help.

    The WICC partners include: Arnprior and District Family Health Team, Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, Deep River and District Hospital, Madawaska Valley Family Health Team, Mental Health Services of Renfrew County (Pembroke Regional Hospital), Pathways Alcohol and Drug Treatment Services, Petawawa Family Health Centre, The Phoenix Centre for Children and Families, West Champlain Family Health Team, White Water Bromley Community Health Centre, and the Renfrew Victoria Hospital.

    Residents can access the Renfrew Collaborative E-Walk-In Counselling Clinic every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. by calling 1-844-441-0981.

    Read the full article here

  • Akausivik Inuit FHT offering vaccinations for Inuit in Ottawa

    Nunavut  News article published March 1, 2021

    By Trevor Wright

    The Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team (AIFHT) is hosting ongoing clinics that started Feb. 17 to deliver Covid-19 vaccines to Inuit in Ottawa, one of Canada’s southern cities with the largest population of Inuit.

    About 200 people within the first few days of the clinic were vaccinated.

    “We’re working through the initial start-up hiccups and glitches and smoothing out our processes,” said Conne Siedule, executive director of the Akausivik Inuit Family Health Team.

    “We’re looking to step up the rollout in the upcoming days. Everyone is really happy to receive the vaccine today and to see each other. I’ve never seen people so happy to receive an immunization before.”

    The vaccination clinic has also seen some unexpected reunions between people.

    “We’ve had two patients in the other day who had not seen each other for 50 years,” said
    Siedule. “They happened to have their appointments around the same time, they were so happy to see each other and they were just catching up and doing all that stuff.”

    The mood among the Family Health Team and it’s patients has continued to be positive.

    “All of our vaccine staff have said how happy everybody is and how cheerful it is, it’s been very exciting for us to be able to provide this for all Inuit here.”

    The AIFHT has maintained its hours during Covid to help with culturally sensitive care for Inuit living in Ottawa.

    “We’ve been open throughout the pandemic, we’ve been open everyday and being able to see patients if they needed to, we were also able to provide virtual appointments if that was possible,” said Siedule.

    Inuit have also been able to get tested for Covid-19 with the AIFHT clinic being a designated Covid-19 centre.

    “Every day it (number vaccinated) goes up, we’re stepping up our vaccine doses everyday.” She adds that this is important as Inuit are generally more vulnerable to the virus.

    “Our activities throughout the pandemic have been important because the risk among Inuit for Covid-19 complications and rapid decline is extreme.”

    “Once it hits it can be very rapid.”

    Inuit in Ottawa can book an appointment to get vaccinated with Akausivik by calling 613-740-0999, the clinic hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

    All Inuit adults are able to receive it, however those aged 55 or older will be given priority for the vaccine.

    Read the full article here

  • Joint Letter on Ensuring Equity in Ontario’s Vaccination Campaign

    March 1, 2021

    To: Premier Doug Ford
    Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier, Minister of Health

    Cc: General (Ret.) Rick Hillier, COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force
    Dr. Dirk Huyer, Coordinator, Provincial Outbreak Response
    Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health
    Alison Blair, Associate Deputy Minister, Pandemic Response and Recovery
    Patrick Dicerni, Assistant Deputy Minister
    Nadia Surani, Acting Director, Primary Care Branch
    Loretta Ryan, Executive Director, Association of Local Public Health Agencies

    Re: Ensuring Equity in Ontario’s Vaccination Campaign

    Dear Premier Ford and Minister Elliott,

    We are writing today as your partners in Ontario’s vaccination rollout plan. We have appreciated the opportunity to consult with the vaccine task force regularly over the last several months, and the recent meetings with Ret. General Hillier. We are encouraged by the leadership role of Public Health Units in the vaccine rollout, and know that health equity is a key consideration in General Hillier’s communications and in regional plans to ensure an efficient, equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Our health professionals and teams stand ready to support #TeamVaccine in Ontario.

    As has been seen and talked about for some time among public health units, in media stories, and among community providers at the front lines of testing and community supports, COVID-19’s effects have not been felt equally in Ontario. We know that communities who’ve seen the highest rates of infections during the pandemic, the highest impacts on health and wellbeing, have been communities already marginalized before the pandemic hit, and for whom health and social services can be more difficult to access. We also know that it’s many of these people who will have difficulty accessing online or phone system booking, are home bound, or are otherwise hesitant or unable to visit mass vaccination clinics or pharmacies. Premier and Minister, we believe it is critical to have a plan to ensure that the people facing the most barriers and risks due to COVID-19 are given particular attention in vaccine plans.

    The good news is that throughout the pandemic, community health leaders and their partners have worked hard to build lines of trust, and to work with other community leaders, local ambassadors and others to ensure that their services, including testing and isolation supports, could reach people marginalized due to a variety of factors.

    From the experience of implementing COVID-19 testing, we know that one-size-fit-all mass vaccination clinics, even if accessibly located within priority neighbourhoods, will not be effective by themselves. Mobile testing clinics that deliver testing to the door, and smaller testing sites located in trusted community spaces, performed by trusted organizations, have been the keys to success. These lessons can be applied to ensure a successful and equitable rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

    Premier and Minister, we ask for your leadership in supporting all Public Health Units across Ontario to work with primary care to include and implement the following in the regional vaccination rollout:

    1. A comprehensive, multilingual, and culturally safe approach to addressing vaccine hesitancy and building vaccine confidence in communities where distrust and marginalization, as well as language and social barriers can play a role in vaccine uptake, by partnering with and resourcing community organizations that have existing lines with trust and have already been supporting COVID-19 response in these priority neighbourhoods. This might mean flyers in building lobbies, door-to-door visits, local language radios, leveraging faith leaders, and other high touch strategies that have already been used during testing and isolation campaigns in the hardest hit communities.
    2. A multi-pronged approach that builds access to the vaccine into existing partnerships, mobile units, community testing sites, and pop-up community campaigns with priority populations. This may include innovative solutions that were successful for testing, such as repurposing public buses to set up vaccination clinics outside of seniors’ residences, social housing, and isolated areas within the hardest hit postal codes.
    3. Collection, review, and reporting of race-based and socio-demographic data as the rollout takes place across marginalized communities to ensure that the people who are at the highest risk are being helped first by the vaccine, and to prevent future outbreaks. This type of collection and reporting will enable healthcare and community providers to know which of their clients require additional outreach immediately, and inform a more just and equitable system going forward.

    We have come this far together, building on the strength of individual, tailored community outreach and supports to help reduce the risk of further outbreaks in the hardest hit areas of Ontario’s most marginalized communities. To get Ontario back on its feet, and begin the recovery we all so desperately want to see, we have to start with those who’ve been pushed the furthest down by this pandemic. Mass vaccination sites alone, however well placed or advertised using social media and traditional advertising buys will only take us so far.

    We have to help those at the greatest risk through community approaches that have proven to be successful. We have seen in other jurisdictions, particularly in the United States, that without a coordinated plan to reach the hardest hit communities, vaccination rates in postal codes with the highest number of outbreaks are often the ones with the lowest vaccination rates. We have a chance to write a different story here in Ontario. Together, we can do it.

    Sincerely,
    Sarah Hobbs, CEO, Alliance for Healthier Communities
    Kavita Mehta, CEO, Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    Dana Cooper, Executive Director, Nurse Practitioners Association of Ontario
    Jennifer Clement, CEO, Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association
    Leanne Clark, CEO, Ontario College of Family Physicians
    Anthony Dale, CEO, Ontario Hospital Association
    Dr. Samantha Hill, President, Ontario Medical Association
    Dr. Alykhan Abdulla, Chair, Section on General and Family Practice, Ontario Medical Association

    See the pdf version here.

  • Bits & Pieces: vaccine learnings webinar, 2021 conference and more

    Bits & Pieces: vaccine learnings webinar, 2021 conference and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Supporting older persons at home webinar March 25
    • Reminder – Saegis Cybersecurity Clinic Update 2021, Mar. 4
    • Reminder – AFHTO 2021 Conference: tell us what YOU want, what you really, really want
    • Happy Social Work Week
    • Learnings from primary care: vaccine roll-out slides and video
    • Engaging and supporting caregivers slides and video
    • Video profile of Akausivik Inuit FHT COVID rollout, OECD report and more
    • Supply Ontario appoints first CEO and needs primary care voices
    • OpenNotes study seeking clinician participants- tomorrow deadline to respond
    • Study invitation – characterizing the impact of primary care pharmacists’ consultation notes on health care decisions
    • Healthy Professional Worker study
    • RISE updates
    • Upcoming events including COVID@Home Monitoring for Primary Care Providers, Practising Well CoP and more

    Supporting older persons at home webinar March 25

    Supporting Older Persons at Home – Learning and Collaboration During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
     

    COVID-19 highlighted numerous barriers and challenges to providing integrated care for older persons living in the community. Join Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario in a discussion on how to better support older persons in the community using lessons learned during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    We will discuss needs in primary care – focusing on the role of interprofessional teams – and offer some resources and tools to better support team-based care for older persons. We will also discuss how specialized geriatric service programs in your area can provide support to primary care clinicians.

    Reminder – Saegis Cybersecurity Clinic Update 2021, Mar. 4

    Cohosted with Saegis, this webinar:

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

    Learn more here.

    Reminder- AFHTO 2021 Conference: tell us what YOU want, what you really, really want

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

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

    Recognizing social workers. Social Work Week 2021. #YouAreNotAlone. OASW

    Happy Social Work Week

    The first week of March marks the beginning of Social Work Week in Ontario (#SWW2021). The current environment we find ourselves in is truly unlike any other. Please consider this year’s Social Work Week theme, “You are Not Alone” and explore the resources being shared as part of Social Work Week, at: www.oasw.org/socialworkweek. 

    Join us as we recognize our fellow social work colleagues by celebrating Social Work Week and their many contributions to teams and their patients.

    learnings from pc vaccine webinar

    Learnings from primary care: Vaccine roll-out across Ontario

    Last Friday, February 26 we heard from teams who have stepped up to provide leadership for vaccine distribution in their communities. Ministry of Health officials, including Daniel Warshafsky (Senior Medical Consultant, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health) was also there to provide an update on vaccine roll-out and to take questions. Slides and video are now on our site.

     

    Engaging and supporting caregivers slides and video

    OCO Webinar Title Slide

    On Feb. 25, the Ontario Caregiver Organization highlighted resources and opportunities for primary care teams to support and engage caregivers. Attendees learned about:

    • The Ontario Caregiver Organization and their key programs, services, and resources
    • Three key caregiver-related strategies that can positively impact health outcomes and the patient/family/caregiver experience
    • Resources, programs, and actions that primary care teams can take to help advance these strategies

    Slides and video are now available.

    Video profile of Akausivik Inuit FHT COVID rollout, OECD report and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Supply Ontario appoints first CEO and needs primary care voices

    Supply Ontario is a single integrated supply chain across the public sector that will leverage the province’s purchasing power to provide greater value and consistent access to high-quality products and services. The agency has appointed Frank Rochon as their first CEO, effective March 1, 2021.

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

    OpenNotes study seeking clinician participants- tomorrow deadline to respond

    Researchers at CAMH are looking to recruit mental health care providers across Ontario who document patient notes within an electronic health record, to participate in the “The OpeN Study”. This study is looking to understand and explore the needs of clinicians who are providing patients and their family members access to their clinical notes.

    The study is recruiting participants to take part in a 60–90-minute interview to share their experiences. More information about the project can be found in this poster.

    If you are interested in participating in this study, please email Strudwick.research@camh.ca by Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021.

    Study invitation – characterizing the impact of primary care pharmacists’ consultation notes on health care decisions

    Dr. Nicole Domanski is a clinical pharmacist at the UBC Pharmacists Clinic. Her research project is designed to characterize the impact of pharmacists’ consultation notes on healthcare decisions made by prescribers. As a physician or nurse practitioner working in FHTs, you have likely received a consultation note written by a primary care pharmacist.

    She invites you to complete the following anonymous survey: to share your perspectives on pharmacist consultation notes. The survey consists of ranking and multiple-choice questions that should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

    Click here complete survey.

    Healthy Professional Worker study

    An interdisciplinary, multi-university research team led by Dr. Bourgeault at the University of Ottawa is exploring the mental health experiences of professional workers, and how these experiences are affected by their personal, work and family life. They are particularly interested in the role that gender has on these experiences. There will also be some questions about how COVID-19 has impacted these experiences.

    If you are interested in taking part in this study, please follow this link to the online survey in English or in French. The survey will take about 15-20 minutes to complete. If you would prefer to participate in an interview, please contact the study project coordinator, Audrey Kruisselbrink, at HPW@uottawa.ca. The interview will take 40-60 minutes, for which there will be a $20 honorarium.

    To learn more, you can see the flyer.

    RISE updates

    You can also sign up for their monthly newsletter here.

    Personal Resilience for Hospice Palliative Care, Mar. 3, 2021
    Learn how to enhance personal resilience during even the most challenging times.
    Find out more here.

    Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health, Mar. 4, 2021
    The aim of this conference is to bridge this gap and provide information and resources to better equip Nurse Practitioners providing care to Gender Diverse individuals. The highlight is hearing the patient perspective. Find out more.

    COVID@Home Monitoring for Primary Care Providers webinar, Mar. 4, 2021
    Ontario Health webinar with speakers:

    • Moderator: David Kaplan, Chief Clinical Quality, Clinical Institutes and Quality Programs, Ontario Health
    • Dr. Dee Mangin and Dr. Cathy Risdon, McMaster University Department of Family Medicine
    • Georgian Bay FHT – Gaynor Edwards, RN, Clinic Director
    • Marathon FHT – Jodi Osborne, Physician Assistant

    Register here.

    Practising Well Community of Practice, Mar. 5, 2021
    A space created by family physicians, for family physicians. Connect in real time with, and learn from, others who are working with patients to address their mental health, substance use disorders and chronic pain. The first session focuses on the challenges for family doctors in managing their own mental health/substance use during the pandemic. Join in on the discussion. Register here.

    OHT evaluation webinars, Feb. 23 recording & Mar. 23 registration
    The recording and slides for Health System Performance Network’s Population Health Management & Applying Population Segmentation from Feb. 23, and OHT Improvement Measures from Health Administrative Data: Where are OHTs Starting From? on Mar. 23 registration are available here.

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

  • March 1st Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out

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

    The Collaborative has been working closely together and is meeting regularly with representatives from the Provincial Vaccine Task Force, public health, home care, hospitals, and other stakeholders. The provincial vaccine strategy is continuously evolving, and despite the close collaboration, we are often not privy to government decisions prior to their announcement. We are committed, however, to providing you with the most up to date information that is available to us and advocating on behalf of our colleagues and the patients that we serve.

    Even as information is uncertain there are four things that primary care can do: educate, communicate, collaborate, and vaccinate:

    • Educate: we have built trusting therapeutic relationships with our patients and can help answer questions about vaccine hesitancy and consent
    • Communicate: we have rosters of patients and can reach out easily through EMR, secure email, websites as well as our office voicemail messaging.
    • Collaborate: we have long standing relationships with public health and can be a huge help in supporting their vaccine rollout plans. Please consult your PHU’s vaccination plan for how you can best support your 80+ and other priority clients to be vaccinated. You can also reach out to the primary care liaisons for your local PHU.
    • Vaccinate: it’s at the core of what primary care providers do. Prevention is our specialty. The rollout will be faster with us helping out as part of mass vaccination clinics, mobile teams and in our own offices.

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

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

    Updates:

    COVAXON update
    OntarioMD is working on sending the vaccine report through HRM (source: MOH COVAX app) and the target is to have this live by the end of April. No additional information at this point as they are in the early design stage. They will have communications and an FAQ ready once they know more.

    COVID@Home  

    The Ministry of Health is working to procure oxygen saturation monitors for use by primary care professionals wishing to provide enhanced monitoring of their COVID+ patients. These devices can be requested via provincial stockpile, similar to how you request PPE, and more details on ordering will soon be available.

    Please reach out to your regional digital leads to learn more about existing remote monitoring programs in your region and how you can assist or leverage these programs for your patients. In the meantime, Ontario Health will be hosting a webinar on March 4th from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. on COVID@Home Monitoring for Primary Care: Clinical Pathways and Resources so please register for more information.

    Ontario Community Support Program
    Since the start of the pandemic, the Ontario Community Support Program (OCSP), funded by the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, has provided funds to help vulnerable clients stay home safely.

    This ongoing program helps low-income, isolated seniors and people with physical disabilities get the meals, groceries, medications, and other essentials they need to stay at home safely during COVID-19. This week, the Government extended the program to March 2022, creating more security for people in need. Please help raise awareness of these services so people can continue to isolate safely.

    Below is a short message you can share with your patients, families, and caregivers:

    COVID-19 Support Available for Isolated Seniors and People with Physical Disabilities

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

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

    New Resources:

    • University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Ontario College of Family Physicians has released four e-modules for primary care professionals: why we need the vaccine, the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines, plans for vaccine rollout and how to build vaccine confidence among patients. Updated modules on the viral vector vaccines are coming soon.
    • COVID Learning Series: free 5-part self-paced learning series through CFPC Learn
    • Covid19 Vaccine Facts: Instagram account by Dr. Amanda Adams, Department of Family Medicine, Markham Stouffville Hospital, with answers by Canadian doctors to combat vaccine hesitancy.
    • ‘Onions Don’t Cure COVID-19’: University of Guelph students combatting COVID-19 misinformation through videos and infographics.

    Find resources from previous weeks here.

    We look forward to continually updating you on the provincial vaccination strategy. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas.

     

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council:

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

  • How primary health care helps health systems adapt during the COVID 19 pandemic: OECD report

    OECD Policy Responses to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    Strengthening the frontline: How primary health care helps health systems adapt during the COVID 19 pandemic

    Feb. 10, 2021

    Abstract

    Health systems continue to adapt to cope with the COVID‑19 pandemic. Much focus has been placed on the scaling-up of hospital capacities. However, the pandemic is also deeply affecting the health of many people who are not infected by the virus. People living with chronic conditions are not only highly vulnerable to complications and death from COVID‑19, but they are also suffering from disruptions to their regular care routines.

    The COVID‑19 crisis demonstrates the importance of placing primary health care at the core of health systems, both to manage an unexpected surge of demand and to maintain continuity of care for all. Strong primary health care – organised in multi-disciplinary teams and with innovative roles for health professionals, integrated with community health services, equipped with digital technology, and working with well-designed incentives – helps deliver a successful health system response.

    The innovations introduced in response to the pandemic need to be maintained to make health systems more resilient against future public health emergencies, and able to meet the challenges of ageing societies and the growing burden of chronic conditions.

    Read the full report here.

  • Bits & Pieces: vaccine learnings webinar, 2021 conference and more

    Bits & Pieces: vaccine learnings webinar, 2021 conference and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Learnings from primary care: Vaccine roll-out across Ontario
    • Urgent reminder- Supply Ontario needs primary care voices
    • AFHTO 2021 Conference: tell us what YOU want, what you really, really want
    • Black Health Matters: Building a primary health care system that works
    • Prescribing nature: PaRx launches in Ontario
    • Updated provincial testing guidance, workflow, COVID-19 educational series x 2 and more
    • Member stories
    • Primary care virtual groups slides and video available
    • Humber College Healthcare Management student placements
    • Upcoming events including engaging caregivers, cybersecurity and more

    Learnings from primary care: Vaccine roll-out across Ontario

    Please join us this Friday, February 26, from 1 – 2:30 p.m. to hear from teams who have stepped up to provide leadership for vaccine distribution in their communities. They will speak to work that is underway; offer guidance and advice; speak to challenges faced and how they are resolving them; and answer questions you may have.
     

    Speakers:

    • Jill Berridge (ED, McMaster FHT)
    • Robin Mackie (ED, Delhi FHT)
    • Teri Arany (ED, Toronto Western FHT) and Camille Lemieux (Lead Physician, Toronto Western FHT)
    • Michèle Lajeunesse (Community Health Promotion Coordinator, Marathon FHT)

    Ministry of Health officials, including Daniel Warshafsky (Senior Medical Consultant, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health) and Nadia Surani (Director, Primary Health Care Branch), will be on a portion of the webcast to provide an update on vaccine roll-out and to take questions. Register now.

    Urgent reminder- Supply Ontario needs primary care voices

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

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

    AFHTO 2021 Conference: tell us what YOU want, what you really, really want

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

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

    Note: Yes, we made a Spice Girls reference. If you’d like a trip down memory lane or a dance break (we hear looking away from your screen occasionally is good for you) click here.

    Black Health Matters: Building a primary health care system that works

    BHM panel 2020

    In recognition of Black History Month, we offer this session from our 2020 conference (video link below). Anti-Black racism was already a pre-COVID pandemic, with its roots in history. What does this mean for primary care? For this session there was:

    • An overall focus on Black people’s experience with healthcare in Ontario
    • Context for this at the system/ policy level- including the ways in which seemingly neutral instruments and tools feed an anti-Black narrative
    • Replicable programs addressing these issues as carried out by Black health leaders
    • What primary care teams can do

    Watch the video

    Prescribing nature: PaRx launches in Ontario

    2 people walking through fall foliage

    Nature prescriptions were named one of the top 8 global wellness trends in 2019. And it’s no surprise—research shows that kids and adults who spend more time in nature are happier and healthier. Starting with a BC launch in November 2020 to significant media attention (The Globe & Mail, CBC), PaRx is breaking ground as Canada’s first national, evidence-based nature prescription program.  
     
    On February 22nd PaRx officially launched in Ontario. Featuring practical resources like quick tips and patient handouts, its goal is to make prescribing time in nature simple, fun and effective.

    As part of the Ontario launch, and out of gratitude to health-care workers, the BC Parks Foundation is offering free remote nature therapy sessions led by certified nature therapy guides to all prescribers in March so they can experience the stress-relieving benefits of nature themselves.
     
    Check out www.parkprescriptions.ca for more information on nature prescriptions and to register to become a prescriber.

    Member stories

    Guelph FHT – 98 doctors write letter encouraging community to get vaccinated

    Markham FHT – AFHTO president and Markham FHT Lead MD Dr. Allan Grill on vaccine rollout to 80+ with CP24 and Global News

    Six Nations of the Grand River FHT- Six Nations band members can soon preregister for COVID-19 vaccine

    Updated provincial testing guidance, workflow, COVID-19 educational series x 2 and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Transitiong to virtual title slide screenshot

    Primary care virtual groups slides and video available

    On Feb. 17 we hosted the webinar Primary Care Virtual Groups – Transitioning a CBT Program & Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab Program to Virtual with Arnprior and District FHT and Scarborough Academic FHT. Video and slides are now available. 

     

     

    Humber College Healthcare Management student placements

    The Honours Degree, Healthcare Management Bachelor of Commerce program takes the best of business management practices – business law, marketing, microeconomics, financial management, and business research methods- then add the edges: an in-depth study of healthcare issues and systems. Key courses including Population Health, Health Data and Analysis, Health Economics Health Policy and Evaluation and Healthcare Financial Management.    
     
    This program equips third year students with the skills required to contribute to your organization with good understanding of the best management practices through the Healthcare Management lens. Additional key courses include Health Informatics, Healthcare Strategy and Markets, Healthcare Systems and Health Services Organization and Management. See their flyer.

    Engaging and supporting caregivers in primary care teams: working together to improve outcomes and enhance the patient, caregiver, and family experience, Feb. 25, 2021

    Cohosted with Ontario Caregiver Organization, this webinar will highlight resources and opportunities for teams to support and engage caregivers.

    Register today.

    Saegis Cybersecurity Clinic Update 2021, Mar. 4, 2021
    Cohosted with Saegis, this webinar discusses the top security threats facing your team and explores best practices to decrease the risk of breaches in the clinic setting. Learn more here.

    Atopic dermatitis seminar for healthcare professionals, Mar. 1, 2021

    The Eczema Society of Canada and University of Ottawa is hosting this webinar aimed towards primary care providers.
    Find out more here.

    Personal Resilience for Hospice Palliative Care, Mar. 3, 2021
    Learn how to enhance personal resilience during even the most challenging times.
    Find out more here.

    Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health, Mar. 4, 2021
    The aim of this conference is to bridge this gap and provide information and resources to better equip Nurse Practitioners providing care to Gender Diverse individuals. The highlight is hearing the patient perspective. Find out more.

  • Guelph FHT rallies 98 doctors to write letter encouraging community to get vaccinated

    Guelph Today article published February 18, 2021

    By Guelph Today Staff

    When your opportunity comes to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, take it. That’s the message from nearly 100 doctors with the Guelph Family Health Team who signed an open letter to the community.

    “It’s to protect yourself and protect others,” said Ross Kirkconnell, the health team’s executive director, explaining the letter was recommended by the team’s patient and family council that suggested people want to know what their family doctor thinks about the vaccine.

    “We thought the best way to do it was to just put it out there. … The doctors, as a group, said ‘Please get your vaccine’

    “Hopefully our community will feel a bit more confident in getting vaccinated by knowing that the family doctors … totally believe in the vaccine for their patients and are looking forward to getting the vaccine themselves.”

    People have incorporated wearing masks, washing their hands and social distancing into the general culture, he said, adding it’s time for people to “get their heads around” taking the vaccine when their turn comes in the priority rankings.

    “I think there are a lot of questions still people have around the vaccine,” he added, pointing specifically to social media posts he’s seen. 

    “If everyone gets vaccinated, we will be able to come out the other side and have a much more normal life again … return to some sense of normalcy.”

    The letter, dated Feb. 18, is signed by 98 doctors who are members of the family health team, as well as Kirkconnell.

    For a full list of the doctors who signed the letter, click here.

    Here’s the letter in full:

    Dear Guelph and Area Residents,

    Thank you for everything you are doing to protect yourself and others from getting COVID-19.

    Vaccine is coming very soon! Over the next few weeks, you will be hearing more specific details about our local vaccination plan as we continue our work with Public Health and other community partners to develop the plan.

    We are writing at this time to ask that when it is your turn, we encourage and urge everyone to please get vaccinated, SAY YES! Making sure you get vaccinated helps to save your life and protect the lives of others.

    We understand you may have questions about the vaccine. We believe the vaccines are very safe: we all plan to get vaccinated ourselves! As with all vaccines, people may experience side effects after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. These are normal signs that your body is building protection. The most common side effects are pain at the injection site, fever, and chills. These side effects tend to be mild to moderate and go away on their own within 1–2 days.

    If you would like more information about vaccine, we recommend the following websites:

    canada.ca/en [click on Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Vaccines]

    covid-19.ontario.ca [click on Learn about vaccines]

    wdgpublichealth.ca [click on COVID-19 Vaccines in WDG]

    Finally, just a reminder – COVID-19 vaccines are one important tool to help stop the pandemic. But in the meantime and even after vaccination, everyone needs to continue following all the current guidance to protect themselves and others, including wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from other people and washing your hands thoroughly and often.

    Thank you again for all you are doing to stay safe.

    On behalf of our staff, we the doctors of the Guelph Family Health Team thank you.

    Read the full article here

  • February 17th Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out

    Dear Members,

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

    We are mindful that the news regarding vaccines is evolving daily, and we will have to continue to be prepared for changes and uncertainties in the coming months as a sector. Along with our partners in primary care, we are committed to sharing regular updates, usually weekly, except on weeks where there are no significant new developments to share.

    Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health released updated sequencing of Phase One priority populations for vaccination which sets out the provincial direction for the vaccination program over the coming weeks.

    Engaging Primary Care in Vaccine Rollout – a Practical Guide for Public Health

    Key messages:

    • Public health leadership is committed to strong primary care partnerships in all phases and in all regions. These relationships are key enablers of an effective, efficient, and equitable rollout.
    • To ensure successful partnership with primary care, 1) invite primary care professionals and teams in planning and co-design, 2) involve them in feedback and rollout, and 3) inform them of local opportunities, uncertainties, and changes.
    • The enclosed partnership checklist can inform and validate existing strategies from health leaders involved in local COVID-19 vaccine planning in engaging primary care.

    Collaborating with Others:

    • Over the last two weeks, the collaborative of primary care organizations met with General (retired) Rick Hillier, Chair, COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Taskforce, who emphasized the importance of an ongoing partnership with primary care provincially and locally.
    • We were pleased to see the addition of Dr. Kieran Moore, the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health, join the Ontario Ministers’ COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force. Dr. Moore is a passionate advocate for public health, and as a trained family physician he will ensure that the primary care voice is added to the conversation. PC-VAC is now meeting weekly with Dr. Moore, in addition to Dr. Isaac Bogoch, to provide updates on issues arising from the field.
    • Health and primary care leaders from throughout the country led a virtual roundtable with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. During the roundtable, the Prime Minister and other participants affirmed what we know to be true: family doctors and primary care professionals are “most knowledgeable and most trusted” and “a core part of getting everyone vaccinated.”
    • Listen to the Evan Solomon Show speak to Dr. Isaac Bogoch about the importance of family physicians and primary care providers in the COVID vaccine rollout. Leveraging the existing relationships primary care has with their patients, based in trust, will accelerate vaccination in the community.

    COVAXON

    • As we had mentioned in our last update, the Ministry of Health has introduced an electronic central repository to input the vaccine information for individuals and manage site inventory called COVAXON. This web-based application will allow for ease in checking people in for their vaccination appointment, capture the consent and personal data information, as well as which health unit region they are in and their vaccination clinic site. While clinics will be required to submit names of the staff (along with user names and email addresses) to request access to the system, the mechanism to apply is not yet finalized however we will advise once we know the information. Please note however that once you get an email from the system, you must reply within 24 hours in order to complete the authentication process.
    • Access for primary care users will fall within phase two and three of the vaccine rollout and training webinars will be available prior to the on-boarding schedule to ensure that everyone is prepared. While it likely won’t be fully integrated into your EMR, we understand COVAXON system will be able to send reports of your vaccinated patients to your EMR.  
    • More on COVAXON will be shared when it becomes available.

    New Resources:

    Reminder of resources from previous weeks

    We look forward to continually updating you on the provincial vaccination strategy. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas.

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association/Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine
  • Bits & Pieces: cultural safety toolkit, many vaccine resources and more

    Bits & Pieces: cultural safety toolkit, many vaccine resources and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Creating a safer environment for Indigenous Peoples
    • Reminder- Supply Ontario survey
    • Reminder- primary care virtual groups webinar tomorrow
    • Saegis cybersecurity clinic update webinar Mar 4
    • PHAC COVID-19 vaccination toolkit for HCWs, many Ministry resources, and more
    • Wellness Together Canada
    • OCFP Awards – call for nominations
    • CPSO policy consultations including MAID
    • Noninvasive Fetal RhD Blood Group Genotyping Task Force
    • Upcoming events including engaging and supporting caregivers and more

    Creating a safer environment for Indigenous Peoples

    The Indigenous Primary Health Care Council has just released Ne’ iikaanigaana Toolkit: Creating Safer Environments for Indigenous Peoples. Ne’ iikaanigaana is the Anishinaabe word for ‘All Our Relations’.

    The toolkit was created to support mainstream organizations on their journey towards creating safer environments for Indigenous participation, which is inclusive of participating as both an employee and a client or patient seeking services.

    Reminder- Supply Ontario survey

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

    They’re need your input to help identify opportunities to improve the value they can deliver for your organization and patients, through better supply chain processes. Deadline February 24.

    Reminder- primary care virtual groups webinar tomorrow

    This webinar is in collaboration with two FHTs transitioning in-person programs to virtual. Scarborough Academic FHT will share how they transferred their CBT skills group for depression and anxiety to online along with the benefits and challenges.

    Arnprior FHT is presenting on how they modified an in-person Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab to Virtual in their rural community. In this webinar they will share their patients’ thoughts and feelings on the program adjustment, discussing wins and struggles along the way. Register here.

    Pre-budget submission
    AFHTO submitted recommendations last week to the Ministry of Finance as part of the 2021 Ontario Pre-Budget Consultations. The submission is entitled “The Heart of Health Care: Delivering Better Primary Care for Ontarians.”  This was done in collaboration with the Ontario College of Family Physicians, the OMA Section on General & Family Practice, and the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario. The submission can be read here.

    Saegis cybersecurity clinic update webinar Mar 4

    This webinar on March 4 will explore Canadian data/trends from the Canadian Centre for Cybersecurity, discuss the top security threats facing your team, and explore best practices to decrease the risk of breaches in the clinic setting. We will take a look at what a cyber-attack looks like, and how to respond if one should happen. Register today.

    COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet, cancer screening update and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Woman in pyjamas sits on the floor wth her head resting against a bed

    Wellness Together Canada

    Wellness Together Canada is Canada’s first and only online platform offering immediate mental health support for people of all ages, in every province and territory, and in both official languages.

    It provides a “stepped care” model where Canadians can be instantly connected to virtual mental health services, from a five-minute self-assessment, to extensive support and resources, to live phone, video or text counselling with a mental health professional or crisis responder.

     

    All services and resources are available at no cost to users, ever. This includes:

    • Immediate crisis support
    • Mental health self-assessment and monitoring
    • Access to self-directed virtual programs
    • Moderated community of support
    • Virtual group coached anxiety program
    • E-courses, including drop-in mindfulness class
    • Live one-on-one counselling support by video, phone, or text

    Visit Wellness Together Canada for 24/7 access to free mental health and substance use support at wellnesstogether.ca.

    OCFP Awards – call for nominations

    Nominate your colleagues for an OCFP award. Multiple categories ae open, including regional Family Physician of the Year. Deadline Feb. 28, 2021

    CPSO policy consultations including MAID

    CPSO is conducting policy consultations on the issues below. You can provide your input by March 15 for the first and April 12 for the rest:

    Noninvasive Fetal RhD Blood Group Genotyping Task Force

    The PSO Advisory Committee is looking for representation from the following categories to join the Noninvasive Fetal RhD Blood Group Genotyping Task Force:

    • Primary Care (Family Medicine, Midwifery, Nurse Practitioner)
    • Care for Indigenous Populations and/or Remote Care

    This is a short-term task force that will provide evidence-based and clinical/scientific leadership advice on implementation considerations for noninvasive fetal RhD blood group genotyping in Ontario. The terms of reference are here.

    How to Apply (Deadline: February 24, 2021):

    1. Complete and submit the RhD Task Force Survey
    2. Forward your CV to pso@bornontario.ca

    Engaging and supporting caregivers in primary care teams: working together to improve outcomes and enhance the patient, caregiver, and family experience, Feb. 25, 2021

    Cohosted with Ontario Caregiver Organization, this webinar will highlight resources and opportunities for teams to support and engage caregivers.

    Register today.

    Infection Prevention and Control at Work: Basic Awareness Training

    The PSHSA recently released this free, 30-minute training module for Ontario workers to recognize and prevent infection hazards in the workplace. Learn more here.

    Goal Management Training for Treatment of Executive Dysfunction, Feb. 19, 2021
    Learn more about the intervention, research, and models to deliver Goals Management Training virtually. Learn more here. 

    Changing the way we work: Long COVID and lessons from the UK, Feb. 19, 2021
    The COVID-19 CoP by the OCFP is covering learnings from the Dr. Greenhalgh, a renowned primary care researcher and GP in the UK. Learn more here.

    Atopic dermatitis seminar for healthcare professionals, Mar. 1, 2021

    The Eczema Society of Canada and University of Ottawa is hosting this webinar aimed towards primary care providers.
    Find out more here.

    Personal Resilience for Hospice Palliative Care, Mar. 3, 2021
    Learn how to enhance personal resilience during even the most challenging times.
    Find out more here.

    Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health, Mar. 4, 2021
    The aim of this conference is to bridge this gap and provide information and resources to better equip Nurse Practitioners providing care to Gender Diverse individuals. The highlight is hearing the patient perspective. Find out more.