Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: governance

  • Compensation Planning & Administration: Guidance Document for Primary Care Organizations

    Shared by AFHTO

    August 2016

    ** This article is for Triad users only **

    Compensation Planning & Administration: Guidance Document for Primary Care Organizations (PDF)

    The purpose of this document is to support executive directors of primary care organizations (PCOs) in their development of compensation plans and policies. The term “compensation” refers to the combination of salaries, pension, benefits, vacation allotment and other incentives an employee may receive in exchange for work. At a minimum, organizations need to ensure that their compensation policies adhere to employment legislation. Elements of compensation that are regulated by provincial employment standards acts include:

    • Vacation pay
    • Overtime pay
    • Equal pay
    • How often employees receive their pay
    • How payment is made
    • Deductions
    • Contents of pay stub (information must be reported to employees)
    • Payroll records (information that must be tracked and documented)

    Resource includes:

    • Recruitment & Retention
    • Compensation Planning
      • Ministry Funding Rate vs. the Organization’s Pay Rate: what is the difference?
      • Establish Internal Equity through Salary Bands
      • Identify Salary Ranges for each Salary Band, in light of Market Competition and Available Funding
    • Compensation Administration: Framework for determining pay rates for each staff member
    • Additional Considerations
      • Collective Agreements
      • Conflict of Interest
      • Guidance for the Compensation of Executive Directors

  • Planning document – Recruitment and Retention Initiative 2018-2021

    Shared by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care

    May 2018

    ** This article is for Triad users only **

    In an effort to ensure transparency and predictability, the ministry is providing multi-year funding for 2018-21. This planning document will provide recipient organizations with the information necessary to undertake multi-year compensation planning.
    In allocating the recruitment and retention funding for 2018-21 the ministry continues to build on the approach adopted in close collaboration with sector associations. The ministry is, once again, looking to provide employers with the flexibility to approve a compensation plan that best addresses the need of the recipient to deliver on its mandate and address recruitment and retention.

    This document provides information on the principles and approach applied to arrive at your organization’s budgetary increase to improve recruitment and retention. As a funding recipient, you are encouraged to consider this methodology when approving a revised compensation plan for your organization in addition to other factors that may be impacting the ability of your organization to recruit and retain skilled health care and administrative professionals. Organizations will be required to report on how the increase is allocated within the organization

    If you have any questions, please contact info@afhto.ca

    Resource includes:

    • Principles
      • Removal of Barriers; Enhanced equity in Compensation; Broad Application; Accountability and Transparency
    • Methodology
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Appendex: Rates used to Calculate Funding Allocation

    Return to: Compensation Funding Webinar – Recruitment & Retention Webinar

  • Risk Management Toolkit

    Shared by AFHTO & Collaborative Solutions

    Created March 2019

    Purpose of This Document
    This document is designed for use by AFHTO member Boards to support learning and fulfillment of the Board’s role in overseeing the effective management of risk in their organization.
    The document includes the following:

    • definition of risk management and other key terms;
    • a list of requirements related to risk management in the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Ministry)-Family Health Team (FHT) contract and attestation document;
    • an overview of risk management including domains of risk, the key components that make up a risk management approach, and the steps in a standard risk management process;
    • a description of the Board’s role in risk management and common governance practices for the Board to fulfill this role; and,
    • sample tools and links to other refer

    Access the tools:

    Resource includes: 

    1. Introduction
    2. Overview
    3. MOHLTC-FHT Contract Requirements
    4. Overview of Risk Management
      1. Domains of Risk
      2. Essential Components of Risk Management
      3. Typical Risk Management Process
    5. Risk Management and the Board
      1. Role of the Board in Risk Management
      2. Establishing Management Accountability
      3. Effective Governance is Essential to Managing Risk
      4. Organizing for Board Leadership on Risk
    6. Appendix
      1. Sample Risk Framework

     

  • Strategic Planning Toolkit

    Shared by AFHTO & Collaborative Solutions

    Created January 2019

    Purpose of This Document
    This document is designed for use by Primary Health Care Teams as a guide for developing your own strategic planning process and strategic plan. 

    The toolkit includes the following content: 

    • why strategic planning is important;
    • current Family Health Team (FHT) contract requirements related to strategic planning;
    • key roles in strategic planning and why a strategic plan is essential for the Board’s strategic leadership of the FHT/NPLC;
    • essential steps and components of a strategic planning process;
    • typical contents of a strategic plan, and,
    • tips on developing your strategic plan and integrating it into ongoing strategic decision-making and performance oversight. 
       

    Access the tools:

    Resource includes: 

    1. Introduction
    2. Overview
      1. What is Strategic planning and why we do it
      2. MOHLTC-FHT Contract Requirements
    3. Organizing for Strategic Planning
      1. Setting strategic direction is a key board responsibility
      2. Clarifying roles is the planning process
      3. Strategic planning committees
      4. Board retreats
    4. The Strategic Plan and Planning Process
      1. Standard Strategic Planning Process
    5. Appendix
      1. Environmental Scan List of Contents
      2. SWOT Analysis template
      3. Standard Strategic Planning Process
      4. Sample Board-Level Strategic Planning Questions

     

    Sample Strategic Plan

  • Follow-up on ED check-in calls – and additional tools and resources

    Dear triad members,

    We had our regional ED check-in calls on November 17 and 18. This is a follow-up communique with the material promised on the calls, and some additional reminders, tools, and resources.

    Mental health and wellbeing

    • We are pleased to share that the federal government is providing one-time mental health and addictions funding to help alleviate the increase in demand and a backlog of services due to COVID-19. Approximately $3 million will be distributed to interprofessional primary care teams, including AHACs, CHCs, FHTs, and NPLCs, to increase access to mental health and addictions supports for patients in Q4.
      • All FHTs will receive a minimum of $5,000, with a top-up based on roster size, to be used in Q4. Funding distribution is in the final stages of approval, and we expect teams to receive it by end of year. Teams can choose to pool this funding within regions to target areas in greatest need.
    • We continue to post resources on our mental health and wellbeing page. Please check them out and encourage your staff do so as well. These are very challenging times, and we hope these resources give a bit of guidance and support.

    AFHTO’s OHT and KTE supports

    • AFHTO conducted seven polls on the calls to get a sense of work on the ground and where supports are needed or should focus. The results of the polls can be seen here.
    • AFHTO heard loud and clear that a webinar series on OHTs would be helpful! We will organize these now and kick them off in the new year. Please email topic suggestions to Bryn Hamilton.
    • We will also begin organizing KTE webinars based on your poll feedback. The top four areas of interest were patient/caregiver engagement, mental health, digital equity, and social determinants of health. If you have ideas for KTE topics, please send them to Sandeep Gill.

    #PrimaryCareAlwaysThere

    • We are speaking up against the narrative that primary care was or is closed during the pandemic. This includes communicating the benefits of virtual and in-person care – and that virtual care is care.
    • The Twitter campaign is #PrimaryCareAlwaysThere. We encourage you share stories about how your teams supported your patients and communities and use the hashtag. Let us also know so we can share your examples with our ministry and OH colleagues during our discussions.
    • Thank you to all who participated in our summer research about how primary care stepped up. Taking what we learned, we created Crossing Chasms: Primary Care Teams’ Response to COVID-19 to show the great work done by our teams. We also created a video. Please share this widely, and keep letting us know how you are supporting your communities so we can continue to highlight how pivotal primary care is in the pandemic response.

    Microsoft Teams discount

    • AFHTO has been exploring a group purchase of Microsoft Teams for a member discount. We have learned that the summer survey AFHTO conducted has indicated that the number of users was not enough for us to qualify for Microsoft Canada’s affiliate program.
    • Ontario Health, as part of their digital strategy, is in negotiations with Microsoft Canada on an agreement to offer Microsoft 365 (which includes Teams) at a discount to healthcare providers and organizations. The discount will be extended to the broader healthcare sector, and AFHTO has initiated conversations with Ontario Health about offering this discount to AFHTO members. An update will be provided in January.

    QSC patient advisor application

    • AFHTO is recruiting a patient advisor representative for the AFHTO quality steering committee (QSC). Our hope is for the advisor to be a patient of one of our teams!
    • More information is here. Please consider speaking with patients who you think may be interested and circulating this across your team.

    Primary care patient/client and provider virtual care experience surveys

    • In August, we launched the Primary Care Patient/Client Virtual Care Experience Survey for teams to capture the patient experience with virtual care. AFHTO is collecting teams’ aggregate responses to create a narrative of how virtual care could be permanently included in the patient care journey – click here to submit your data!
    • There is also a patient/client survey created by Women’s College Hospital Institute of Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), who is conducting a third-party evaluation of virtual care in the COVID-19 era on behalf of the ministry. You can provide the survey link to patients.
    • WIHV is also conducting a third-party evaluation of virtual care in the COVID-19 era on behalf of the ministry to measure the provider experience on virtual care. Please share this short 10-15 minute online survey with all providers on your team.
    • Both WIHV surveys include the opportunity to enter a draw to win one of four $50 gift cards to the Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, or Amazon. Your participation will remain anonymous and confidential.
      • If you have any questions or would like to share your current virtual patient/client survey results with WIHV, please email rebecca.liu@wchospital.ca.
      • Please reach out to jamie.fujioka@wchospital.ca if you have any questions or concerns about the provider experience survey.
    • This research is important as the ministry looks at the future of virtual care – please spread the word, and we encourage you to participate!

    Friendly reminders

    • A new agency called Supply Ontario has been created to centralize government procurement, including stabilizing access to PPE for the long term. The goal is to have the inaugural board in place early in the new year. In the meantime, a reminder that primary care can access the provincial stockpile. Even if you have more than 7 days of stock, you can access the pandemic PPE transitional support and send any questions to your regional supply chain lead.
    • The Physiotherapy Clinical Education Team at Queen’s is coordinating clinical placements for 2021. If any teams have a PT in place and would be able to supervise a student, please email Melanie Law at lawm@queensu.ca.
    • Please send your AOP to the ministry as soon as able. While there is no set deadline on it, we encourage teams aim to submit in before the end of the year.

    This was our last round of ED check-in calls for 2020, and we look forward to connecting in the new year.

    We thank and applaud you for your persistence and commitment to delivering the best quality primary care during very trying times. We hope you, your staff, and your friends and families find some down time next month to rest.

    Please reach any time with questions or suggestions on how we can continue to support you.

    Stay well,

    Your AFHTO team 

  • Thirteen New Ontario Health Teams Announced

    Congratulations to the thirteen new Ontario Health Teams and to our member teams that are engaged and participating in the development of OHTs. This list may be updated as more information becomes available.

    Ontario Health Team

    		 AFHTO Members
     Brantford Brant OHT PrimaCare FHT
    Downtown East Toronto OHT

    Inner City FHT

    Sherbourne Health Centre FHT

    St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT
    Frontenac, Lennox & Addington OHT

    Kingston FHT
    Lakelands FHT
    Loyalist FHT
    Maple FHT
    Queen’s FHT
    Sharbot Lake FHT
    Kawartha Lakes OHT

    City of Kawartha Lakes FHT
    Kawartha North FHT
    Kitchener, Waterloo, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich OHT

    Centre for Family Medicine FHT
    New Vision FHT
    Lanark, Leeds and Grenville OHT Leeds & Grenville Community FHT
    Mid-West Toronto OHT

    Inner City FHT
    Mount Sinai Academic FHT
    Taddle Creek FHT

    Toronto Western FHT

    Women’s College Academic FHT
    Oxford and Area OHT

    Ingersoll NPLC

    Thames Valley FHT
    Rainy River OHT

    Atikokan FHT

    Fort Frances FHT
    Sarnia Lambton OHT

    Central Lambton FHT
    Rapids FHT
    Scarborough OHT

    Carefirst FHT

    Inner City FHT

    Scarborough Academic FHT
    South Georgian Bay OHT Georgian Bay FHT
    West Toronto OHT

    Crosstown FHT
    Village FHT

    Relevant Link:

  • Bits & Pieces: member stories in AFHTO annual report, call for stricter measures to address COVID-19 & more

    Bits & Pieces: member stories in AFHTO annual report, call for stricter measures to address COVID-19 & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • AFHTO annual report featuring your stories
    • Letter to the Premier for stricter measures to address COVID-19
    • Two days to the #AFHTO2020 early bird deadline
    • Indigenous relationship and cultural safety (IRCS) courses
    • COVID-19 testing guidance update and more
    • Survey of IHPs in FHTs during the COVID-19 pandemic
    • OMA flu vaccination administration survey
    • Guelph FHT annual report
    • Reminder- research participant recruitment – concussion telerehabilitation study
    • Reminder-engagement of patients with diabetes via virtual health apps survey
    • Upcoming events regarding Arts on Prescription and more

    2020 annual report

     

    AFHTO annual report featuring your stories

    We released our 2020 annual report in the notice for our annual general meeting sent to the triad yesterday. Read for a reflection on a tumultuous year, including ways primary care teams have risen to the challenge.

     

     

    Letter to the Premier for stricter measures to address COVID-19

    “The measures announced on September 25th are not sufficient. Protecting the most vulnerable in the province and conserving the limited health care resources we have should be our number one priority.”

    Today AFHTO, NPAO and OCFP sent a letter to the Premier calling for stricter measures to address escalating numbers of COVID-19 cases before the situation becomes unmanageable. Read the full letter here.

    Two days to the #AFHTO2020 early bird deadline

    AFHTO 2020 Conference logo-cropped

    We’re connecting with our speakers including Helen Bevan, editing the Bright Lights video, and preparing for a memorable conference next week. Don’t forget to do your part and register by this Thursday, Oct. 1 for the early bird discount. Group discount now available!

    In previous years we have sometimes extended the deadline, but this is the closest to the conference we’ve ever had, so there will be no extension this year.

    Indigenous relationship and cultural safety (IRCS) courses
    Primary care can pick from 13 e-learning courses on Indigenous Relationship and Cultural Safety by Cancer Care Ontario and earn certified credits. Find out more here.

    COVID-19 testing guidance update and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

    Survey of IHPs in FHTs during the COVID-19 pandemic

    We are now six months since the initial restrictions of COVID-19 and Queen’s University researchers are interested in hearing about your experiences working in FHTs during this time. You’re invited to participate in a brief web-based survey to understand the evolving experiences of interprofessional health care providers in Family Health Teams in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    This research is being led by Drs. Catherine Donnelly (Associate Professor, Queen’s University) and Jordan Miller (Assistant Professor, Queen’s University). If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Catherine Donnelly by email at catherine.donnelly@queensu.ca.

    OMA flu vaccination administration survey

    Many primary care providers will have difficulty conducting their usual flu vaccine clinics due to limits on physical space, PPE supply and office cleaning requirements, among other challenges. OMA has developed a survey to find out the barriers you’re anticipating, what supports might be helpful and the innovative ideas you are leading or participating in as you prepare for flu vaccine administration. They would greatly value your input through this five-to-seven-minute survey. Please respond by Oct. 7.

    If the survey is being done as a group, please note as such and do not complete the survey more than once.

    Guelph FHT annual report

    The Guelph Family Health Team 2019-2020 Annual Report is available to read online. Learn about the work they do to provide patient-guided quality focused care.

    Reminder- research participant recruitment – concussion telerehabilitation study

    Researchers in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto are currently recruiting youth with concussion to participate in a study exploring the use of telerehabilitation for concussion management. Youth will participate in a 6-week rehabilitation program consisting of education, support and low-intensity exercise delivered by a kinesiologist or occupational therapist through weekly videoconferencing appointments.

    Who can participate?

    • Youth (ages 13-18 years) experiencing concussion symptoms
    • At least 2 weeks post-concussion

    For more information click here. To help with participant recruitment, please contact the research team at oaktelerehab@utoronto.ca or 416-946-3273.

    Reminder-engagement of patients with diabetes via virtual health apps survey
    A York University researcher is seeking input from family physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners. The aim of their research is to improve practice and policy about the potential of Virtual Health Apps use in primary care settings with a special focus on vulnerable and marginalized patient populations. To provide your input, please fill out this survey. Updated deadline Oct. 30.

    Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary disease diagnosis and management: An overview for general practitioners, Sept. 30, 2020

    Recognize clinical factors and learn to treat NTM pulmonary disease.
    Learn more here.

    Arts on Prescription: Improving health and wellbeing through arts participation, Oct. 6, 2020

    Explore considerations from experts working with diverse youth on considerations for health and service providers.
    Learn more here.

    AFHTO 2020 Conference, Oct. 8-9, 2020

    Registration has opened for Tectonic shifts: rebuilding primary care in a new world, our 2020 virtual conference! Members receive a significant discount so contact your administrator for your member access code. Early bird deadline Oct. 1. Find out more here.

    Respiratory Health Forum, Oct. 21, 2020.

    This year’s forum will be held virtually and is completely free! Learn more about lung health alongside other primary care professionals.
    Learn more here.

    COVID-19 Community of Practice for Ontario Family Physicians, October 16, 2020

    Join the OCFP and Department of Family and Community Medicine at UofT for their 10th CoP meeting in their series ‘Changing the way we work”, focusing on rising case counts, respiratory assessment centres, flue shots and more during COVID-19.
    Learn more here.

  • Notice of the Annual General Meeting- Oct. 8, 2020

    Dear AFHTO Members:
     
    This Notice of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) is being e-mailed to the Board Chair, Executive Director, Lead Physician or Clinic Director Nurse Practitioner, of each organization who, according to the AFHTO by-law, is eligible to vote. The AGM will be held just before the official opening of the AFHTO 2020 Conference with our annual AFHTO Bright Lights Award winners.
     

    The Virtual Annual General Meeting takes place:

    Thursday, October 8, 2020
    9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

    Register here: https://events.myconferencesuite.com/AFHTO_2020_Registration/reg/landing
     
    Each AFHTO member team-based model of care is entitled to designate one voting representative for the AGM. The member Board Chair has the right to appoint any person associated with their organization as the voting delegate.
     
     Please e-mail sombo.saviye@afhto.ca to indicate who will be voting as representative of your organization before the Annual General Meeting as soon as possible. The AGM will take place as part of the virtual conference and voting delegates must register before the meeting to receive their package and log-in information. Conference registration is available hereand for those not attending the full conference, a free Thursday morning registration is offered. Please be sure to check the box to indicate attendance at the AGM.

    For individuals not able to attend the AGM, you will also find a proxy ballot which you can submit 48 hours before the meeting with your vote.
     
    The agenda and accompanying reports for this AGM are below. The AFHTO Board will present:

    • The Annual Report to the members;
    • AFHTO’s financial report including the audited statements for the fiscal year 2019/2020; and
    • The proposed acclamation of six Board of Directors.

    There will be an opportunity for you to ask questions and share ideas. You are also most welcome to send me your comments, questions, or ideas in advance.
     
    On behalf of the AFHTO Board, we look forward to virtually seeing you at the meeting.
     
    Sincerely,
    Kavita Mehta
    Chief Executive Officer
     
    AGM documents:

  • Bits & Pieces: OHT partners & #AFHTO2020, updated symptom reference & more

    Bits & Pieces: OHT partners & #AFHTO2020, updated symptom reference & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Just over 2 wks to the conference- invite your OHT partners
    • Electronic Asthma Management System demo slides and video available
    • BEACON iCBT provincial program – resources & demonstration Sep. 24
    • Updated symptoms reference and more
    • Member access to conference recordings
    • Learning and improvement collaboratives for Ontario Health Teams
    • Ontario Health survey on equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism
    • New quality standard for problematic alcohol use and alcohol use disorder
    • Submit a nomination for 2020 Canada’s volunteer awards
    • Upcoming events regarding the OTF Resilient Communities Fund and more

    Just over 2 wks to the conference- invite your OHT partners

    The AFHTO 2020 conference is an invaluable opportunity for all OHT partners to gain greater insight into your contributions to healthcare, so invite them to take part.

    With sessions like:

    There’s so much for them to learn.

     Don’t forget to register before Oct.1-use the member access code to get your discounted rate (sent to your team’s leadership)!

    Electronic Asthma Management System demo

     

    Electronic Asthma Management System demo slides and video available

    On Sep. 15 we held a live demonstration of the Electronic Asthma Management System (eAMS) tool. Video and slides for that demonstration are now available.

     

     

    BEACON iCBT provincial program – resources & demonstration Sep. 24

    BEACON is accessible and effective online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, guided by a registered Mental Health professional, and now funded by the Government of Ontario during COVID-19. Over 80% of participants have experienced symptom reduction and two-thirds have experienced clinically significant improvement.

    If you have any questions about BEACON, please feel free to contact colin.andersen@mindbeacon.com

    We will have a demonstration of BEACON, along with Togetherall and Bounceback Sep. 24.

    Togetherall (previously known as Big White Wall) is endorsed and paid for by the Government of Ontario and Ministry of Health. Bounceback is an evidence-based, skill-building program grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association and is FREE to all Ontarians aged 15+.Register here.

    Updated symptoms reference and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

    Member access to conference recordings

    After our in-person conference, available presentation slides are typically posted for members. This year, to help cover associated costs, we’re taking a somewhat different approach.

    Members will get access to individual session recordings and/or slides for a nominal fee of $15 compared to non-members for $25.

    In addition, all AFHTO members will get free access to recordings of keynote sessions, previously unavailable with our in-person event. Free member access includes:

    • Helen Bevan
    • Matt Anderson
    • Minister Elliott
    • Dr. Jane Philpott
    • And poster pdfs

    Presenters who decline to participate need to do so by contacting conference@afhto.ca by this Friday, Sep. 25.

    Learning and improvement collaboratives for Ontario Health Teams

    RISE & OH(Q) have created chat rooms/CoPs per priority population, patients & caregivers and digital health. Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) learning and improvement collaboratives bring together those actively participating in the development of OHTs with experts drawn from across the province, including system leaders, people with lived experience, and researchers.

    Learn more about how you can participate.

    Ontario Health survey on equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism
    With a lens towards health equity, OH has also initiated a project to complete an equity assessment and develop an action plan to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion, and to address anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism. Although FHT and NPLC contracts are currently not managed by OH, we encourage members to fill in the Survey on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism for Health Service Providers.

    This will help advance the vision of a more integrated health system that eliminates health disparities, addresses the social determinants of health, and delivers excellent and equitable access, experience, and outcomes for all Ontarians.

    New quality standard for problematic alcohol use and alcohol use disorder

    Ontario Health (Quality) has released a new quality standard for problematic alcohol use and alcohol use disorder.

    For more information contact OH-HQO_QualityStandards@ontariohealth.ca.

    Submit a nomination for 2020 Canada’s volunteer awards
    Nominate a not-for-profit organization, an individual, a group of volunteers, a social enterprise or a business that is making a difference in your community. Deadline Sep. 30.

    OTF Resilient Communities Fund Webinar with Optimus, Sep. 29, 2020
    Learn more about the supports your team can receive to rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 through the Ontario Trillium Fund. Hosted by AFHTO.
    Register today!

    Youth and Cannabis Use Speaker Series: Part 2: Panel Discussion: Cannabis use amongst Diverse Youth, Sept. 29, 2020

    Explore considerations from experts working with diverse youth on considerations for health and service providers.
    Learn more here.

    BETTER Prevention Practitioner Training, Oct. 1-2, 2020
    Healthcare professionals can learn how to better prevent and screen chronic diseases in primary care through this 2-day workshop held by the Better Program (Women’s College Hospital).
    More details can be found here.

    AFHTO 2020 Conference, Oct. 8-9, 2020

    Registration has opened for Tectonic shifts: rebuilding primary care in a new world, our 2020 virtual conference! Members receive a significant discount so contact your administrator for your member access code. Early bird deadline Oct. 1. Find out more here.

    Special Interest Two-Part Series Infant And Early Childhood Mental Health In Primary Care, Oct. 14 & 21, 2020

    Attend this 2-part series covering infant and early child mental health case studies, held by CHEO (CAMH).
    Find out more here.

    Annual Toronto Geriatrics Update Virtual Course, Oct. 30, 2020
    The UHN’s annual geriatrics CPD course is now being offered online. Join this one day course for lectures and breakout sessions on geriatric issues and syndromes during the pandemic.
    Learn more here.

    Hearing Your Voices: A Virtual Conference on Compassion and Technology for Patients, Family and Caregivers, Nov. 3 and 4, 2020
    Listen to the experiences of patients, families and caregivers during COVID-19 and make recommendations for a more compassionate healthcare system.
    Find out more here

  • Summer Highlights 2020: AFHTO Leadership Council

    The AFHTO Leadership Council met on September 9, 2020. Below are the highlights from the summer 2020 council meeting; updates on last week’s meetings with the Ministry, Minister’s Office, and Ontario Health; and links to useful resources for triad members.

    AFHTO “Summer in Review”

    COVID-19 and OHTs

    • The Fall Preparedness Guidance Document, which includes the Ministry/OH’s strategy for planning for the second wave of COVID-19 and the roll-out of the flu vaccine, is expected at the end of this week/early next week. The Ministry expects to receive the flu vaccines in late September, and the roll-out to the community through Public Health will start in mid-October. This includes high dose vaccines. With a larger demand for the flu vaccine expected this year, shipments will continue into November.
    • Guidance for Ontario Health Teams: Collaborative Decision-Making Arrangements for a Connected Health Care System was released by the Ministry of Health in July 2020. As noted in the document, all approved OHTs must establish and document a collaborative decision-making arrangement between members. Four agreement templates have been posted to assist OHTs. The templates and more information are here.
    • The OHT webinar with the Ministry on August 5, which includes discussion on CDMAs, can be watched here.
    • On September 3, 2020, the government suspended the September 4, 2020, reinstatement date for layoffs and constructive dismissals. The new date is January 2, 2021. This is when the time periods for temporary layoffs will start and constructive dismissal claims under the ESA will be permitted. More information is here.
    • AFHTO has heard loud and clear that many teams need better virtual connectivity, including access to a larger suite of integrated virtual care tools, increased access to better internet, and WiFi and digital equity for all. This is something we will continue to advocate for in collaboration with our primary care partners.

    Moving toward the next ministry contract

    • The FHT-Ministry contracts will expire in 2022, so now is the time to think about what policy or contractual requirements may need to be revisited to effect long-term positive change, taking into account learnings through COVID-19 and OHT developments.
    • The council discussed opportunities to modernize the FHT contract with a focus on contract objectives, population-based primary care, governance, and health equity.
    • This was just the start of this conversation. AFHTO will arrange discussions with physicians, executive directors, governors, and other leaders in primary care. Your input is critical. Please stay tuned!

    Meetings with the Primary Health Care Branch, the Minister’s Office, and Ontario Health
    Last week, AFHTO had the opportunity to meet with the Ministry, the Minister’s Office, and Ontario Health. These were great opportunities to highlight, once again, the great work teams are doing to help with the COVID-19 response.

    Meeting with the Primary Health Care Branch, Ministry of Health
    We had our quarterly meeting with the Primary Health Care Branch last Friday and discussed a number of operational issues. Some highlights:

    • FHT contract: The FHT contract is expiring in March 2022 and work has started to reimagine what that contract could look like. As that work is just starting, the Ministry is not entertaining changes to the current FHT contract at the moment. However, for teams interested in integration, there is a formal process that your senior program consultant can walk you through.
    • Governance attestation review: Over the summer, the Ministry reviewed documents that were noted in the teams’ governance attestation, where many teams submitted copies of governance policies and procedures. The Ministry will be sharing results of that review in the fall, and we will be working with them to support teams with governance.
    • AOPs: While AOPs had a soft deadline of mid- to late-September, there is recognition that EDs are busy as we head into flu season and in preparation for a possible second wave. Talk to your senior program consultant if you need more time. If you are a new ED, you may find the webinar on how to complete an AOP and Schedule A helpful: click here for the recording.
    • Operational funding: Although there is not a pool of operational funding to support teams right now, there are COVID-19 related dollars coming from the federal government to the province. If you have operational requests as a result of COVID-19 that you need funded (e.g. upgrades of IT for virtual care, licenses for virtual care modalities, IPAC in your teams), you can include that in your AOP as a request for the next fiscal year.
    • Quarterly financial statements: It is obligatory that you submit your quarterly financial statements. It is crucial to report Q1 and Q2 accurately and to forecast for year-end to capture any COVID-related costs. The ministry will be using this data to understand the additional cost pressures facing teams, which will be the basis used for additional funding requests in the new fiscal year. To help with forecasting the impact of the pandemic on your year-end budget, you can adapt and use the COVID-19 Expense Forecast Checklist.
    • IPAC supports: Conversations have started to see how we can support the development of a robust IPAC suite of supports and tools for primary care. We are exploring what that could look like. We will keep teams posted.

    Meeting with the Minister’s Office

    • Along with the OCFP, NPAO, and SGFP, we met with the Minister’s Director of Policy and Director of Stakeholder Relations. It was a good opportunity to highlight how primary care stepped up during the COVID-19 response and the critical role our teams played in staffing assessment centres, providing virtual care, and continuing to provide in-person care despite challenges getting PPE.
    • As we move towards integration in Ontario Health Teams, we discussed the importance of making primary care the foundation of the health system integration agenda and the need to expand team-based care, so that every Ontarian can get the care they need.

    Meeting with Ontario Health

    • Along with our primary care colleagues, we had our quarterly meeting with Matt Anderson, CEO and President of Ontario Health.
    • As most of primary care is not under Ontario Health’s purview for planning, these meetings are critical in providing updates to OH about the challenges and opportunities in primary care that can be leveraged to support the transformation agenda – both within the agency and external in the health system.
    • Similar to the meeting with the Minister’s Office, it was an opportunity to highlight the sector’s work and the critical role primary care has played in the COVID-19 response.
    • A few highlights:
      • Ontario Health is undergoing significant transformation as it continues its massive integration of 20 organizations. On September 9, the CEO released Ontario Health’s Operating Model: Patient Perspective and Integrated Top-Line Organizational Structure, which speaks the changes that are underway.
      • With a lens towards health equity, OH has also initiated a project to complete an equity assessment and develop an action plan to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion, and to address anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism. Although FHT and NPLC contracts are currently not managed by OH, we encourage members to fill in the Survey on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism for Health Service Providers. This will help advance the vision of a more integrated health system that eliminates health disparities, addresses the social determinants of health, and delivers excellent and equitable access, experience, and outcomes for all Ontarians.
      • For any teams that are interested in starting an assessment centre in their organization, please speak to your local OH regional representatives and start the paperwork to help increase testing capacity in your community. If you need assistance in being connected, please email us at info@afhto.ca so we can help.

    A reminder to register for the webinar on September 29 with Optimus. On the Ontario Trillium Fund Resilient Communities Fund webinar, you’ll learn about supports and funding grants you can get to rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Register today!

    And on a final note, don’t forget to check out the AFHTO website, which is updated regularly with COVID-19 tools and supports: