Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: COVID-19

  • Bits & Pieces: tomorrow #AFHTO2022 early bird deadline and more

    Bits & Pieces: tomorrow #AFHTO2022 early bird deadline and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Tomorrow is the #AFHTO2022 early bird deadline
    • AFHTO annual report featuring your stories
    • OurCare national survey launched
    • School immunization programs
    • Wellness check: dealing with transitions and managing stress materials
    • Bill 7 implementation memo and more
    • Reminder- UpToDate price changes coming in October
    • Next B&P after #AFHTO2022
    • Feedback requested on new quality standards – surgical site infections and eating disorder
    • Upcoming events including IPAC and more

     

    Tomorrow is the #AFHTO2022 early bird deadline

    AFHTO 2022 Conference logo- background is multicoloured streaks going towards an abstract event horizon

     

    After tomorrow, registration fees increase for both in-person and virtual.

    2021-2022 annual report with afhto logo. Title is reconnect & reimagine: moving forward together. The background colour is a yellow gradient and there are member submitted pictures.

     

     

    AFHTO annual report featuring your stories

    We released our 2022 annual report in the notice for our annual general meeting sent to the triad yesterday. Read for a reflection on the ways primary care teams have continued to rise to current challenges and lead the way in future health and social care delivery.

     

     

     

     

    OurCare national survey launched

    Dr. Tara Kiran, a researcher from MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions (Unity Health Toronto), and St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT physician, is leading an important project on the future of primary care. As part of the project, she is conducting a research survey to hear from people across Canada about their experiences and priorities. Study findings will be shared with policymakers and used to shape a blueprint for the future of primary care in Canada.

    Help the study team hear from as many people as possible. Use these materials to encourage patients and the public to take the 15-minute research survey.

    School immunization programs

    Due to the pandemic, there have been disruptions to school-based vaccine programs in Ontario. The Ministry of Health put out a guidance document to communicate the extended eligibility for publicly funded vaccines for school-based programs and there are informational webinars coming up to learn more about the issue.

    Click here to register for upcoming events and to view resources regarding vaccines for school-aged children.

    Wellness check: dealing with transitions and managing stress materials

    We cohosted this webinar with CMHA on Sep. 15. Due to the sensitive and interactive nature, no recording is available, but you can access the worksheet and other resources here.

    Bill 7 implementation memo and more

    Recent updates include:

    • RE: Bill 7 Implementation to Support Ontario’s Plan to Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery- EN and FR– MLTC, MOH and OH, Sep. 14, 2022
    • Appendix: Summary of ALC Regulation Changes- EN and FR– Sep. 14, 2022
    • LTCH Admissions for ALC Patients Field Guidance for Placement Co-ordinators – EN and FR– Sep. 14, 2022

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

    Reminder- UpToDate price changes coming in October

    AFHTO members are able to save on an individual subscription to UpToDate® and optional add-on products. (*Savings on annual and longer subscriptions only and based on subscription type).

    WoltersKluwer has informed us a price increase will go into effect October 1 for members, so now would be a good time to subscribe.

    EDs and Admin leads, if you need additional information to access these discounts, please email info@afhto.ca.

    Next B&P after #AFHTO2022

    Staff will be busy preparing to welcome you to the conference next week, so the next newsletter will be sent Oct. 18-19, the week after the conference.

    Feedback requested on new quality standards – surgical site infections and eating disorder

    AFHTO 2022 Conference, Oct. 12, 2022

    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. Register with your verification code here.

    Community of Practice: Infection Prevention and Control in Primary Care, Oct. 4- 31, 2022

    Quarterly (CoP) meetings hosted by Public Health Ontario to support Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) programs in Primary Care settings.  

    Sessions will be held on several dates and times for different regions. Find out more here.

    Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, Oct. 14, 2022

    In-person at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Find out more here.

    Social Prescribing Conference: Current Practices & Community Conversations, Oct. 20, 2022
    Virtual conference hosted by the Alliance. Find out more here.

    Practical Evidence for Informed Practice, Oct. 21-22, 2022
    Family medicine rapid fire conference. Find out more here.

  • School Immunization Programs

    Resources

     

    Past Events

    Routine Immunizations For Children And Teens In School: The Current Landscape In Primary Care And Public Health (May 16, 2022)- Click here

    School Immunization Program Crisis: Role of Advocacy and Collaboration 

    Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 7 pm- Click here

    Thursday, September 29, 2022 at 12:00 pm- Click here        

    Objectives:

    • Increase understanding of how you can play a role in eliminating HPV-related cancers in Canada 
    • Understand what is happening with school-based programs across the country 
    • Identify solutions to increasing coverage rates 

    Longwoods Event: Missed Vaccines are Putting our Kids at Increased Risk of Cancer and Meningitis 

    Monday, October 3, 2022, from 1:30-2:30pm  

    The COVID-19 pandemic created a crisis in delivering routine and school-based vaccinations to school-age children, resulting in delayed and missed vaccinations for many children across the country. Join us for a discussion with clinicians and public health experts about how this issue has particularly impacted Ontario and what they think needs to be done to address the problem. Moderated by Kelly Grant, The Globe and Mail. 

    Click here to register.

  • Bits & Pieces: UpToDate price change and more

    Bits & Pieces: UpToDate price change and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • UpToDate price changes coming in October
    • Welcome to Veronica Jiang
    • Member stories
    • #AFHTO2022 updates- ED networking sessions and more
    • Long COVID materials and more
    • WSIB health and safety rebates are available – and they’re doubled for 2022!
    • Ministry and Ontario Health updates- MH data and substance use treatment
    • Toronto Geriatrics Update Course, Nov. 4, 2022
    • Upcoming events including Indigenous Cultural Safety and more

    UpToDate price changes coming in October

    AFHTO members are able to save on an individual subscription to UpToDate® and optional add-on products. (*Savings on annual and longer subscriptions only and based on subscription type).

    WoltersKluwer has informed us a price increase will go into effect October 1 for members, so now would be a good time to subscribe.

    EDs and Admin leads, if you need additional information to access these discounts, please email info@afhto.ca.

    Veronica

    Welcome to Veronica Jiang

    We’re happy to introduce Veronica Jiang, our new Manager, Finance and Corporate Affairs.
    After graduating from the University of Windsor, Veronica worked in both not-for-profit and financial service industries. She gained experience in reporting and compliance requirements for not-for-profit organizations in the Association of Ontario Midwives and Junior Achievement of Canada.

    Veronica takes pride in providing the best fund valuation, investment information reporting, and revenue governance services to institutional investors through her employment at CIBCMellon. Over the years, Veronica expanded her expertise to the areas of corporate finance, budgeting and forecasting, financial investment instruments, and data management. She is a lifelong learner, and her career ambition is to eliminate redundancy and manual input with the most cost-efficient technology.

    Welcome, Veronica to the team!

    Member stories

    Arnprior and District FHT and Ottawa Valley FHT – Family health team expansion in the works for Carleton Place

    Queen’s FHT – how system navigator Valerie Dewal, RN, helps high-needs patients through their health-care journeys (article in FLA OHT newsletter)

    #AFHTO2022 updates- ED networking sessions and more

    Reconnect and Reimagine: moving forward together

    Long COVID materials and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    WSIB health and safety rebates are available – and they’re doubled for 2022!

    To help smaller businesses (businesses with 1-99 full-time employees) recover from the pandemic, the WSIB is doubling the rebates through their Health and Safety Excellence program this year – and they’re giving businesses $1,000 towards their health and safety plan!

    EDs/Admin Leads, lead clinicians and board chairs can join for a webinar on Thursday, September 22 from 12-1pm to learn more about the program benefits and how investing in health and safety keeps your employees safe and can boost your bottom line. Check out WSIB’s website for more information and click here to register for the webinar.

    Ministry and Ontario Health updates- MH data and substance use treatment

    Toronto Geriatrics Update Course, Nov. 4, 2022

    Content provided by Sinai Health and University Health Network and Dr. Samir K. Sinha (edited for length)

    You are invited to attend our 10th Annual CME Course, which has been designed to provide primary care providers and health care professionals with the latest practical and evidence-based knowledge in providing geriatric care. We are bringing back the highly requested Top 10 Geriatric Medicine Articles, as well as providing you with Updates on MAID, tools on how to Navigate a Cognitive Assessment, and lots of other surprises from well renowned professionals! You don’t want to miss this one.

    This year’s course will once again be delivered virtually. Just note that the day will run from 8:40 AM – 3:30 PM EDT.

    Registration is Open! Scholarships are also available to ensure this can be an accessible event. Please contact us if you need assistance.

    For further information, please visit our website. View the agenda here.

    Introduction to ICS: What It Is and Why It’s Important, Sep. 22, 2022
    First of a three-part webinar series, which will aim to provide OHTs with the knowledge and skills necessary to meaningfully engage and include Indigenous organizations and communities in the planning, design, delivery, and evaluation of health services. The first webinar will focus on the foundations of Indigenous Cultural Safety, in recognition that learning to apply culturally safe care is lifelong. Register here.

    Community of Practice: Infection Prevention and Control in Primary Care, Oct. 4- 31, 2022

    Quarterly (CoP) meetings hosted by Public Health Ontario to support Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) programs in Primary Care settings.  

    Sessions will be held on several dates and times for different regions. Find out more here.

    AFHTO 2022 Conference, Oct. 12, 2022

    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. Register with your verification code here.

    Social Prescribing Conference: Current Practices & Community Conversations, Oct. 20, 2022
    Virtual conference hosted by the Alliance. Find out more here.

    Practical Evidence for Informed Practice, Oct. 21-22, 2022
    Family medicine rapid fire conference. Find out more here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #121: Primary Care Ontario Practice-Based Learning and Research Network (POPLAR)

    QI in Action eBulletin #121: Primary Care Ontario Practice-Based Learning and Research Network (POPLAR)

    In this Issue:

    • What is POPLAR and How to Join
    • Examining the Work Done by Interprofessional Healthcare Providers
    • Pan-Canadian Study on Outpatient Interventions for Mild to Moderate COVID-19
    • CareCanvas: A New Tool to Support Practice Improvement
    • Upcoming Events

     

    What is POPLAR and How to Join
    Content below developed by POPLAR

    The Primary Care Ontario Practice-based Learning and Research Network (POPLAR) is an initiative of Ontario’s six University Departments/Sections of Family Medicine and the Alliance for Healthier Communities. POPLAR works with clinicians, researchers, and policy makers, providing information on the vital work primary care does, while supporting practices in delivering optimal care across Ontario.

    POPLAR securely collects and de-identifies electronic medical record (EMR) data. Currently, over 1,000 primary care providers are contributing EMR data for over 1.5 million patients to the POPLAR database. The time and effort it takes to safely and securely contribute is minimal. All you need do is fill out a consent form and a brief survey; POPLAR staff will coordinate data extraction at your practice, with all safeguards in place.

    If you are interested in registering, or if you would like to find out more information about POPLAR, please visit www.poplarnetwork.ca or contact info@poplarnetwork.ca.

    Collectively, primary care’s voice can be heard by providing safe and secure access to real-world data; this is possible with your help!  

    Examining the Work Done by Interprofessional Healthcare Providers in Primary Care Teams
    Content below developed by AFHTO & POPLAR

    Interprofessional Healthcare Providers (IHPs) are key members of interprofessional teams.  Disciplines include nursing, social work, clinical pharmacy, dietetics, chiropody and more. IHPs run programs that include, amongst others, diabetes education, mental health supports, and smoking cessation. However, the impact of patient encounters by IHPs and through IHP-led programs on health outcomes at a larger scale is challenging to capture.  

    Billing data are often used to measure and monitor services to patients provided by physicians on a provincial scale. Since IHPs do not bill OHIP, these data are of limited value for examining their work. AFHTO has been working on finding ways to show the value of interprofessional healthcare providers for many years and the standardized, cleaned, and curated provincial-level EMR data for analytics available through POPLAR provides an avenue to do this work.

    Currently, AFHTO is working with POPLAR on a project that involves developing methods to determine which encounters involved IHPs from which discipline, and what types of encounters these were. Larger scale information on IHP work can then be used to correlate patient outcomes and IHP activity. Knowing more about what IHPs do and their impact on patient care and outcomes is a key aspect of planning for team-based care across Ontario.

    To learn more about this project, visit us at the AFHTO Conference during Concurrent Session A: The Value of IHPs In Team-Based Primary Care: Large Scale Measurement and Effects on Outcomes.

    POPLAR to Help Lead Pan-Canadian Study of Outpatient Interventions for Mild to Moderate COVID-19

    Content below developed by CanTreatCOVID Team & POPLAR

    CanTreatCOVID Canadian Adaptive Platform Trial of Treatments for COVID in Community Settings To the left is a graphic of stylised molecule with pills at the center

    While public health measures and vaccines have reduced the impact of COVID-19, most scientists predict that new variants will continue to emerge, and that the virus will become endemic. The Canadian Adaptive Platform Trial of Treatments for COVID in Community Settings (CanTreatCOVID) spans 6 provinces across Canada and aims to identify effective and affordable out-patient medications for COVID-19 so that they can be made readily available in community settings, including for those at a higher risk for hospitalization and death.

    Currently, the evidence supporting existing medications is weak and provincial guidelines are complex, making decision-making by health care providers, provincial decision-makers, public health leaders, and patients extremely difficult. Adaptive platform trials (APTs) are designed to concurrently compare multiple interventions and allow the inclusion, exclusion, and removal of treatment arms over time-based on a decision algorithm. This makes APTs uniquely suited to studying medications for this novel and dynamic virus.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, APTs have been crucial in identifying what does and does not work in the treatment of COVID-19 among in-patients, and CanTreatCOVID hopes to replicate this success at the community level. The trial is open to Canadian residents aged 50 years and older, or between the ages of 18 and 49 with 1 or more chronic high-risk medical condition or immunosuppression. Eligible patients must also be within the first 5 days of experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19 and test positive for the condition.

    In Ontario, building on work done in the past 10+ years, POPLAR will be supporting CanTreatCOVID’s multi-faceted recruitment strategy through prospective recruitment of patients using EMR data from its primary care research and learning networks.

    Recruitment of patients is set to launch in late 2022. To find out how you and your patients can participate, follow the project through their webpage and newsletter, or on Twitter using #CanTreatCOVID.

    CareCanvas: A New Tool to Support Practice Improvement

    Content below developed by the University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine & POPLAR

    The University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine and the POPLAR network are launching a new tool to support practice improvement. CareCanvas is an interactive web-based dashboard that summarizes clinical information from your practice EMR to make it easier to care for your patients. Three types of dashboards are available: one for physicians, one for clinics, and one for Ontario Health Teams.

    CareCanvas summarizes more than 15 quality of care measures including information on diabetes, hypertension, prescribing, and immunizations. You can see trends in your practice over time and can compare your practice to your peers. For some measures, you can see differences in care by age, gender, and neighbourhood income. Click here to view the dashboard.

    CareCanvas makes it easier for you to catch up on chronic disease and preventative care. Physicians can download a list of at-risk patients who would benefit from follow-up.

    CareCanvas is private, secure, and available at no cost. Physicians will be able to use their OneID account to sign-in. Data will be updated approximately every 6 months.

    To access CareCanvas, physicians need to use Telus Practice Solutions, Accuro, or Oscar and contribute their data to one of the seven Practice Based Research Networks that make up the POPLAR network.

    Starting in November, CareCanvas will be available to existing UTOPIAN contributors, with plans to expand the program to all of POPLAR in early 2023.  There is no limit to the number of physicians that can sign up and the value of CareCanvas will grow as more physicians participate and contribute data to POPLAR.

     

    Upcoming Events

    POPLAR Webinar Series: EDIIA in Research
    Equitably improving primary health care requires research and practice-based learning that are thoroughly grounded in the principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity, and Accessibility (EDIIA). POPLAR, Ontario’s provincial primary healthcare Practice-Based Learning and Research Network has the vision to advance equitable primary healthcare delivery and health outcomes for everyone in Ontario, and is hosting the following webinars for anyone who wants to learn more about building these principles into their work:

     
    Part 3: Embedding Equity in Leadership and Teams- Measuring EDIIA
    Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 12-1 pm | Dr. Nicole Kaniki, University of Toronto
    Learn more and register here.

    Part 4: EDIIA and Data – Building Capacity
    Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 12-1 pm | Dr. Andrew Pinto, Upstream Labs
    Learn more and register here.

    NPAO 2022 Annual Conference
    Thursday, September 22 to Friday September 23, 2022
    This year’s theme is The NP Experience: Pushing Boundaries Towards Common Goals. Find out more here.

    HSPN OHT Webinar: Leadership Survey Results
    Tuesday, September 27, 2022, 12-1:30 pm
    This webinar will provide new findings from the HSPN Organizing for Ontario Health Teams’ Survey comparing and contrasting current state with results from the same surveys undertaken in 2020 and 2021. Register here.

    OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Conference
    Thursday, September 29 to Friday, September 30, 2022
    Learn how to take advantage of innovative technologies to realize more of their benefits and integrate them with your EMR workflows. Find out more here.
     
    AFHTO 2022 Conference
    Wednesday, October 12, 2022
    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together. Members get more than 50% off registration. Register here.

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #120 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

  • Bits & Pieces: bivalent COVID-19 booster dose and more

    Bits & Pieces: bivalent COVID-19 booster dose and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Ontarians aged 18+ eligible for bivalent COVID-19 booster dose
    • Reminder- Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress, Sep. 15
    • New resources- Cannabis and Older Adults
    • Reminder- submit questions for the fireside chat with the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health by Sep. 23
    • OHT and PHU fall vaccine collaboration and more
    • Program extensions to 2023 for publicly funded vaccines
    • Upcoming events including Long COVID and more

     

     

    Ontarians aged 18+ eligible for bivalent COVID-19 booster dose

    Bivalent COVID-19 boosters are available to vulnerable populations immediately. All Ontarians aged 18+ will be eligible as of September 26 and can book through the provincial booking line or call 1-833-943-3900. Vaccines also will be available to primary care clinics who wish to provide them – please contact your PHU for more details.

    Read the full news release here.

    Reminder- Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress, Sep. 15

    Hosted in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario, participants will have the opportunity to gain insight into change processes and their impact on workplace mental health. Learn more and register here.

    Cannabis and Older Adults infographic

     

     

    New resources- Cannabis and Older Adults

    The Cannabis and Older Adults eLearning modules by CCSMH Canadian Coalition for Seniors Mental Health are still available, and new resources are available in both English and French. New material will be added over the next few months. Current titles include:

    • Assessing Appropriateness of Medical Cannabis for Older Adults
    • Optimizing Communication with Older Adults About Cannabis
    • Monitoring for Potential Adverse Effects of Cannabis Among Older Adults

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Reminder- submit questions for the fireside chat with the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health by Sep. 23

    We are pleased to welcome Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Catherine Zahn, and Ontario Health CEO, Matt Anderson, to the AFHTO conference this year at our pre-conference fireside chat on Oct. 11! Together, we will have an informal conversation about the current state of health care in Ontario, including their reflection on the role of primary care during the pandemic and in the build back of the health care system in the province.

    Moderated by AFHTO’s past president, Dr. Allan Grill, this session will be an important opportunity to hear about the work the government is doing. We encourage members to join and to submit questions by Sep. 23, 2022. Register with your verification code here.

    OHT and PHU fall vaccine collaboration and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Program extensions to 2023 for publicly funded vaccines

    Content below provided by Ministry of Health

    The Ministry of Health put out a guidance document to communicate the extended eligibility for publicly funded vaccines for high risk and school-based programs (see here for English and French). Since several vaccines have age- or grade-based eligibility, some individuals may have missed their opportunity to receive the recommended vaccines under the publicly funded program as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This document indicates the applicable vaccines for continued access for missed doses beyond the age or grade-based eligibility criteria and outlines eligible cohorts, and the timeframe individuals must receive their missed vaccine doses.

    Primary Care & Covid-19 Support CoP, Sep. 14, 2022
    Hosted by OH, there are updates on Covid-19 trends and impacts from a provincial perspective; Covid-19 Clinical Pathways/resources; Ontario Health’s Guidance for the Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care in Primary Care. Register here.

    Long COVID, Sep. 16, 2022

    49th in the series ‘Changing the way we work’- OCF and UofT DFCM COVID-19 CoP. Register here.

    NPAO 2022 Annual Conference, Sep. 22-23, 2022
    This years’ Conference theme is The NP Experience: Pushing Boundaries Towards Common Goals. Find out more here.

    OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Conference, Sep. 29-30, 2022
    Virtual conference hosted by OntarioMD. Find out more here.

    Community of Practice: Infection Prevention and Control in Primary Care, Oct. 4- 31, 2022

    Quarterly (CoP) meetings hosted by Public Health Ontario to support Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) programs in Primary Care settings.  

    Sessions will be held on several dates and times for different regions. Find out more here.

    AFHTO 2022 Conference, Oct. 12, 2022

    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. Register with your verification code here.

  • Bits & Pieces: aconitine poisoning memo and more

    Bits & Pieces: aconitine poisoning memo and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • CMOH memo re aconitine poisoning
    • Reminder- Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress, Sep. 15
    • Member stories
    • Submit questions for the fireside chat with the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health by Sep. 23
    • First boosters open for children 5- to 11-years-old and more
    • Reminder – deadline to email re social worker focus groups at #AFHTO2022 is Sep. 9
    • Upcoming events including Immunizations Across the Lifespan and more

     

    CMOH memo re aconitine poisoning

    “I am writing to notify all healthcare providers and local public health units that the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation concerning aconitine poisoning cases reported in Ontario this week. I am urging all healthcare providers to be alert for patients presenting with symptoms that are consistent with aconitine poisoning.”

    Read the full memo here.

    Reminder- Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress, Sep. 15

    Hosted in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario, participants will have the opportunity to gain insight into change processes and their impact on workplace mental health. Learn more and register here.

    Member stories

    Central Lambton FHT- Health team among the few accepting patients

    Peninsula FHT – Health unit commends Peninsula FHT for COVID-19 efforts

    Queens FHT – Nine new family doctors to practice in the City of Kingston

    Submit questions for the fireside chat with the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health by Sep. 23

    Dr. Catherine Zahn profile picture shows her smiling with a closed mouth. She has a silver haired pixie cut and is wearing a dark grey top with black polka dots, grey pearl earrings and a statement necklace Matt Anderson

    We are pleased to welcome Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Catherine Zahn, and Ontario Health CEO, Matt Anderson, to the AFHTO conference this year at our pre-conference fireside chat on Oct. 11! Together, we will have an informal conversation about the current state of health care in Ontario, including their reflection on the role of primary care during the pandemic and in the build back of the health care system in the province.

    Moderated by AFHTO’s past president, Dr. Allan Grill, this session will be an important opportunity to hear about the work the government is doing. We encourage members to join and to submit questions by Sep. 23, 2022.

    First boosters open for children 5- to 11-years-old and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Reminder – deadline to email re social worker focus groups at #AFHTO2022 is Sep. 9

    Content below provided by University of Toronto
    We want to hear your thoughts on how social work practice is organized and supported in primary care! Take part in a 60-minute focus groups with other social workers to discuss how social work practice has shifted during the pandemic. We’ll be hosting focus groups in-person at the AFHTO 2022 Conference and invite you to join the discussion. Please note the in-person focus groups are for conference attendees but we’ll also host online focus groups for social workers who are not attending the conference.

    To participate, please email Simon at sck.lam@utoronto.ca by Friday, September 9 and let us know if you will be attending the conference.

    This study from the University of Toronto is led by Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft, Associate Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and supported by the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

    Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: A Three-Part Series, starting Sep. 15, 2022
    Hosted by ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health. Register here.

    Immunizations Across the Lifespan, Sep. 17, 2022

    Hosted by Canadian Collaborative Research Network for family physicians and pharmacists. Register here.

    OMGMA Conference 2022: Together Again, Sep. 21- 23, 2022
    In-person event in Mississauga. Register here.

    OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Conference, Sep. 29-30, 2022
    Virtual conference hosted by OntarioMD. Find out more here.

    NPAO 2022 Annual Conference, Sep. 22-23, 2022
    This years’ Conference theme is The NP Experience: Pushing Boundaries Towards Common Goals. Find out more here.

    AFHTO 2022 Conference, Oct. 12, 2022

    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. Register with your verification code here.

  • First boosters open for children 5- to 11-years-old, updated public health guidance going into the fall

    September 1, 2022

    Dear members,

    Yesterday, the government announced that first boosters for children 5- to 11-years-old would be available as of today through the provincial COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.

    Primary care plays a huge role in the delivery of paediatric vaccines, including with counselling and educating parents and family members. If you haven’t yet done so or haven’t heard about the distribution of the paediatric vaccines, please contact your public health unit or the COVID-19 delegated vaccine lead.

    COVID-19 Paediatric Vaccination in Primary Care
    The ministry has shared the primary care update for vaccine implementation for the week of August 29.

    Vaccination uptake for children 0-4 years old is very low with first dose sitting at only 4.4% in Ontario. As of today, children 5- to 11-years-old qualify for their first booster, with a recommended interval of 6 months since the second dose (minimal of 3 months). Though the discretionary NACI recommendation is that this should be available to any child aged 5 to 11, the priority population is those with an underlying medical condition that places them at high risk of severe illness due to COVID-19.

    A reminder that the following resources are available:

    Updated Public Health Guidance
    In yesterday’s announcement, CMOH Dr. Moore presented updated public health guidance to manage COVID-19 during the respiratory illness season this fall. Some of the key highlights include:

    • If you are in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, continue to self- monitor for symptoms. There is no longer a need to isolate but you should wear a mask for 10 days when in public.
    • If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, or runny nose, stay home from school, work, and social events until your fever is gone and symptoms are improving, get a rapid antigen test or, if eligible, a PCR test. Wear a mask for 10 days after and avoid non-essential visits to high-risk individuals and settings.

    A reminder that you can still access PPE and RATs through the provincial stockpile, along with oxygen saturation monitors that are available to order for the COVID@Home program.

    Additional resources

    • Memo – Paxlovid prescribing in primary care – Testing and tools – EN and FR– OH, Aug. 30, 2022
    • Addendum: Guidelines for Pandemic Stockpile Use- EN and FR – MOH, Aug. 24, 2022
    • COVID-19 Vaccine Administration (version 7.0) –  EN – MOH, Aug. 31, 2022
    • COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Recommendations (version 9.0) – EN – MOH, Aug. 31, 2022
    • Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 in Ontario –  EN and FR – MOH, Aug. 31, 2022

    We know this fall will be challenging with the backlog you are trying to manage and bracing for the release of the influenza and the highly anticipated bivalent vaccines. As always, we’ll provide you with information as it becomes available, but please always feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

    In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the last few days of summer and continue to stay healthy and safe.

    Yours in good health,

    Your AFHTO Team

  • Bits & Pieces: deadline to come to #AFHTO2022 for free and more

    Bits & Pieces: deadline to come to #AFHTO2022 for free and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Deadline to come to #AFHTO2022 for free is today
    • Reminder- Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress, Sep. 15
    • Member stories
    • Paxlovid memo, addendum to COVID-19 PPE guidance and more

     
    • Integrate early literacy into your practice with Early Words/Premiers mots
    • Ontario Health seeking feedback on a new quality standard: sickle cell disease
    • Upcoming events including Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and more

    Deadline to come to #AFHTO2022 for free is today
    We have several openings for program hosts. These volunteers help keep our sessions on track and get complimentary registration in return. See the role description here and email paula.myers@afhto.ca if you’re interested. Deadline Aug. 31, 2022.

    Reminder- Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress, Sep. 15

    Hosted in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario, participants will have the opportunity to gain insight into change processes and their impact on workplace mental health. Learn more and register here.

    Member stories

    A large group of CarePoint Health staff stand in front of their logo in thier building

    CarePoint Health – PMH Success Story: CarePoint Health

    Credit Valley FHT – Canada experiencing shortage of family doctors

    Paxlovid memo, addendum to COVID-19 PPE guidance and more

    Recent updates include:

    • Memo – Paxlovid prescribing in primary care – Testing and tools – EN and FR– OH, Aug. 30, 2022
    • Addendum: Guidelines for Pandemic Stockpile Use- EN and FR – MOH, Aug. 24, 2022

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

    Integrate early literacy into your practice with Early Words/Premiers mots

    The Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation is inviting clinics and hospitals across Canada to apply to join its Early Words/Premier mots program. Early Words provides healthcare professionals with resources, training, and books to deliver early literacy support to families with babies and young children.

    If your team serves children from newborn to age five who face barriers to literacy, you can learn more here, and apply to join here. Expressions of interest are due by Sep. 30. For more information please email earlywords@childrensliteracy.ca.

    Ontario Health seeking feedback on a new quality standard: sickle cell disease
    Ontario Health is developing a new quality standard for sickle cell disease and invite you to review the draft and offer feedback. Primary care providers can play a key role in monitoring of symptoms and management of chronic complications for people with sickle cell disease. The quality standard and patient guide will be available for review here from September 2 to 23.

    Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: A Three-Part Series, starting Sep. 15, 2022
    Hosted by ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health. Register here.

    Immunizations Across the Lifespan, Sep. 17, 2022

    Hosted by Canadian Collaborative Research Network for family physicians and pharmacists. Register here.

    OMGMA Conference 2022: Together Again, Sep. 21- 23, 2022
    In-person event in Mississauga. Register here.

    OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Conference, Sep. 29-30, 2022
    Virtual conference hosted by OntarioMD. Find out more here.

    AFHTO 2022 Conference, Oct. 12, 2022

    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. Register with your verification code here.

  • Bits & Pieces: social worker focus groups and more

    Bits & Pieces: social worker focus groups and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Social worker focus groups at #AFHTO2022
    • Resources needed for library refresh
    • Hamilton FHT Green Initiative
    • Member stories
    • Want to come to #AFHTO2022 for free?
    • COVID-19 vaccination for kids under 5 materials and more
    • Free online module- Management of Transient lschemic Attack (TIA) and Minor Stroke
    • ECHO Ontario Mental Health Fall 2022
    • Call for abstracts- Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day
    • Upcoming events including Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress and more

    Social worker focus groups at #AFHTO2022

    Content below provided by University of Toronto

    We want to hear your thoughts on how social work practice is organized and supported in primary care! Take part in a 60-minute focus groups with other social workers to discuss how social work practice has shifted during the pandemic. We’ll be hosting focus groups in-person at the AFHTO 2022 Conference and invite you to join the discussion. Please note the in-person focus groups are for conference attendees but we’ll also host online focus groups for social workers who are not attending the conference.

    To participate, please email Simon at sck.lam@utoronto.ca by Friday, September 9 and let us know if you will be attending the conference.

    This study from the University of Toronto is led by Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft, Associate Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and supported by the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

    Resources needed for library refresh

    We’re hoping you can help us update our members’ resource library! As you know, AFHTO maintains an extensive web-based library of resources for our members. This includes sample policies, agreements, and resources that have been contributed by members for members and/or developed by third-party affiliates. We’re reviewing and refining the resources to ensure the website layout is simple, intuitive, and helpful, as well as current and accurate.

    We’re asking you assist in the collection of sample documents that would be shared on our website such as:

    • Finance Policy Manuals
    • Operations Policy Manuals
    • HR Policy Manuals
    • Strategic Plans

    Please forward any sample resources to Alexander Christy at alexander.christy@afhto.ca. Members with any questions are welcome to contact Bryn Hamilton.

    Hamilton FHT Green Initiative

    Screenshot of video- Hamilton FHT logo with 'Green Initiative' underneath

    The HFHT Green Initiative is an interprofessional team developing practical solutions to improve patient health care outcomes while simultaneously reducing climate change.

    The initiative provides a free and evidence-based program which includes an action-based checklist, poster orders (1148 so far delivered), a monthly newsletter (17 sent so far), a CFPC Mainpro+ accredited webinar series (212 attendees thus far), an infographic series (31 different topics), 2 waiting room videos, 2 EMR-embedded prescription templates, patient facing group education, resource kits, and project support. For more information, please contact the HFHT Green Team at green.team@hamiltonfht.ca.

    Member stories

    Essex County NPLC – calls to open more nurse practitioner-led clinics in Windsor-Essex

    Georgina NPLC – PORTRAITS OF GIVING: Beth Cowper-Fung

    Hamilton FHT – new family doctors are opening a Hamilton Mountain clinic

    Want to come for free?
    We have several openings for program hosts. These volunteers help keep our sessions on track and get complimentary registration in return. See the role description here and email paula.myers@afhto.ca if you’re interested. Deadline Aug. 31, 2022.

    COVID-19 vaccination for kids under 5 materials and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Free online module- Management of Transient lschemic Attack (TIA) and Minor Stroke

    The West GTA Stroke Network team has developed a Free Online E-Learning Module on the Management of Transient lschemic Attack (TIA) and Minor Stroke: The Latest Best Practice! The target audience is primary care physicians. Learn more here.

    ECHO Ontario Mental Health Fall 2022
    Registration for Fall 2022 programming for ECHO Ontario Mental Health at CAMH and U of T is now open. Find out more and register here.

    Call for abstracts- Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day
    You can submit your research for presentation at the 2022 Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, Oct. 14. Deadline Sep. 30, 2022. Find out more here.

    Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress Sep. 15

    Hosted in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario, participants will have the opportunity to gain insight into change processes and their impact on workplace mental health. Learn more and register here.

    Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: A Three-Part Series, starting Sep. 15, 2022
    Hosted by ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health. Register here.

    Immunizations Across the Lifespan, Sep. 17, 2022

    Hosted by Canadian Collaborative Research Network for family physicians and pharmacists. Register here.

    OMGMA Conference 2022: Together Again, Sep. 21- 23, 2022
    In-person event in Mississauga. Register here.

    OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Conference, Sep. 29-30, 2022
    Virtual conference hosted by OntarioMD. Find out more here.

    AFHTO 2022 Conference, Oct. 12, 2022

    Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. Register with your verification code here.

  • Government’s 5-point Plan to Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery

    To EDs/admin leads, board chairs and lead clinicians of AFHTO member teams

    Dear members,

    This morning the government released its 5-point Plan to Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery.

    With a plan to focus on protecting hospital capacity and supporting long-term care, we are disappointed that there was no tangible supports for primary care as a key component in health system stability and recovery. Other than noting one way to ease emergency pressures on emergency departments- “increased access to the family health organization model of primary care will improve access to primary care and reduce demand for emergency department care”– the plan does not address the considerable backlog of mental health and addiction, chronic disease, cancer screening, and vaccination that is coming through your doors. And while primary care is only notionally addressed, mental health and addiction is not addressed at all.

    AFHTO will continue to advocate with our partners to push the government and Ontario Health to add needed supports in primary care. They have acknowledged primary care is an important part of the healthcare system and know the challenges it faces, so the question remains: why is it forgotten?

    Here are the highlights:

    Preserving our Hospital Capacity

    • Continue to provide access to testing for COVID-19, Paxlovid and Evusheld therapies for treatment for those who are eligible, with plans on expanding eligibility for Evusheld for high-risk populations in the coming weeks.
    • COVID-19 shots and flu shots will continue to be provided to Ontarians.
    • Free rapid antigen tests will continue to be available at participating grocery and pharmacy retailers as well as for workplaces, schools, and congregate settings.
    • Extend temporary COVID-19 physician funding.

    Providing the Right Care in the Right Place

    • Expanding the 9-1-1 models of care to include additional ailments and giving paramedics the flexibility to provide better, more appropriate care to divert patients from ERs.
    • There will be several initiatives to help avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, improve the process for ambulance offloading, and reintroduce respite services in long-term care.
    • Ontario is introducing legislation that, if passed, will support patients whose doctors have said they no longer need hospital treatment and should instead be placed in a long-term care home, while they wait for their preferred home.
    • Continue and expand funding of community paramedicine.

    Further Reducing Surgical Waitlists

    • Invest over $300 million in 2022–23 as part of the province’s surgical recovery strategy.
    • Work with hospitals to identify innovative solutions to reduce wait times for surgeries and procedures, including considering options for further increasing surgical capacity by increasing the number of OHIP-covered surgical procedures performed at independent health facilities.
    • Increase surgeries in paediatric hospitals and existing private clinics covered by OHIP, as well as fund more than 150,000 additional operating hours for hospital-based MRI and CT machines.

    Easing Pressure on our Emergency Departments

    • Increase access to the FHO model of primary care to reduce demand for ERs.
    • Launch a new provincial emergency department peer-to-peer program to provide additional on-demand, real-time support and coaching from experienced emergency physicians to aid in the management of patients presenting to rural emergency departments.
    • Adding 400 physician residents to support the workforce in northern and rural Ontario.
    • Working with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario to expedite the registration of doctors, including those from out-of-province and who may want to work in rural and northern emergency departments, so they can start working and caring for patients sooner.

    Further Expanding Ontario’s Health Workforce

    • Expand funding for the supervised practice experience partnership program which has already supported over 600 international nurses in getting licensed since January. The province anticipates that by the end of the fiscal year another 400 international nurses will gain the practice and language requirements necessary to work in Ontario.
    • Working with the College of Nurses of Ontario to reduce the financial barriers that may be stopping some retired or internationally trained nurses from receiving accreditation to resume or begin practicing by temporarily covering the cost of examination, application, and registration fees, saving them up to $1,500.
    • The province is aware that agency rates have increased significantly, creating instability for hospitals, long-term care homes and emergency departments. In response, Ontario will engage with frontline partners to better understand how to bring stability to hospitals and emergency departments, while protecting quality of care.

    The government notes these actions will “see faster access to health care, including lower wait times in emergency departments, lower wait times for surgical procedures and more care options right in their communities” and that “this will add up to 6,000 more health care workers. Combined with the initiatives included in the first phase of the plan that are adding 13,000 more staff, the two plans together are adding 19,000 more health care workers.” However, the actual number of health care workers that have left the system remains unknown.

    AFHTO will continue to work with the government and encourages local advocacy with MPPs. Many teams have new MPPs, so now is also a good time to reach out for introductions and to provide general info about the care you provide to some of their constituents. Those MPPs can then help inform government about the critical work you do in their communities, and how important it is for a stable, effective healthcare system that provides the best care and reduces demand on hospitals.

    The advocacy material from the campaign is still relevant – the advocacy is simply now to your MPP instead of multiple candidates –  and members can expect more material this fall after the Community Health Compensation Working Group has completed its Ontario Community Health Market Salary Review with our compensation consultant.

    Thank you for the work you all do every day. If you have any questions, please reach out to us any time.

    Yours in good health,
    The AFHTO Team