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Tag: governance

  • Bits & Pieces: Focus on City of Lakes FHT, members in the media & more

    Bits & Pieces: Focus on City of Lakes FHT, members in the media & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • Focus on City of Lakes FHT
    • Youth Opportunities Fund registration deadline Oct. 9
    • Executive Director OHT Mentorship Program
    • Members in the media
    • Collaborative Governance workshop slides
    • Ontario Health Team digital supports
    • Call to create transition fund to support patient medical homes in primary care
    • Call for applications – TUTOR-PHC 2020
    • ECHO Concussion pilot
    • Upcoming events focused on physiotherapists, social workers and more

    Focus on City of Lakes FHT

    City of Lakes video

     

    City of Lakes FHT has shared a video that covers their mission, vision and introduces their interdisciplinary healthcare team and services. Watch it on our site.

     

     

     

    Youth Opportunities Fund registration deadline Oct. 9
    Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) announced the deadlines for three grant streams.

    AFHTO members may be eligible for the System Innovations Stream, which supports collaboratives that are strengthening the quality and responsiveness of systems so they work better for youth facing systemic barriers.

    Organization Registration Deadline: Oct. 9, 2019
    Grant Application Deadline: Nov. 6, 2019
    Up to $250,000 per year
    2 to 6 years

    Executive Director OHT Mentorship Program
    Many changes are happening across the health care sector, and teams are at varying levels of planning and participation in the development of an OHT.

    If you’re an executive director who’s part of a team that’s ‘in development’ or ‘in discovery,’ and would benefit from guidance or support from an ED who’s in full application, please complete this short survey by Friday, October 18. You’ll be connected with an ED who can offer insight on successes, challenges and lessons that they’ve been learning along the way!

    Members in the media

    Belleville NPLC: holding a “Pap Party” during Cervical Cancer Awareness week

    East Wellington and Guelph FHTs: feature on the Guelph and Area OHT

    Minto Mapleton, Mount Forest and Upper Grand FHTs: Minto council receives report on Rural Wellington Ontario Health Team

    North Durham FHT: Durham continues to push for an Ontario Health Team

    Windsor FHT: feature on their Bright Lights award-winning team care centre

    Collaborative governance workshop

     

    Collaborative Governance workshop slides

    The slides from this Sep. 17 preconference workshop, Collaborative Governance: Moving at the Speed of Trust, which explored different ways of approaching the initial governance structure of an OHT, are now available on our site.

     

     

    Ontario Health Team digital supports
    The eHealth Centre of Excellence (eCE) is committed to supporting the OHTs throughout the application and selection process. To understand exactly how the eCE can support OHTs with the digital health components outlined in the full application, read eCE’s Role in the Full OHT Application.  

    Call to create transition fund to support patient medical homes in primary care

    On Oct. 3 leaders from the Canadian Association of Social Workers, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Nurses Association and the College of Family Physicians of Canada called on federal party leaders to commit to establishing a targeted $1.2 billion Primary Health Care Transition Fund. Read the news release here.

    Call for applications – TUTOR-PHC 2020
    Transdisciplinary Understandings and Training on Research – Primary Health Care, is a one-year, pan-Canadian interdisciplinary research capacity building program that has been training primary and integrated health care researchers and decision-makers from family medicine, nursing, psychology, epidemiology, social work, occupational therapy, education, policy and many other disciplines since 2003.

    The call for applications is open to graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, mid-career clinicians, and decision makers in primary health care. For more information, please go to the website. Please contact Project Coordinator, Rob Van Hoorn (tutor@uwo.ca) if you’re interested in applying. Deadline is Dec. 2, 2019.

    ECHO Concussion pilot
    Starting Nov. 13, ECHO at UHN will be launching a NEW 10-session pilot on Concussion. The series will focus on diagnosing and managing patients with concussions and applying the current guidelines.

    This is online interactive case-based learning fully funded by the Ministry, where you will connect with an inter-professional team of experts including physiatry, neurology, neuropsychiatry and family medicine. To register or find out more, visit their site.

    Essential Skills For Social Work With Groups, Oct. 14- Dec. 10, 2019
    A 4-part modular course to expand existing social work knowledge and refine group work skills, held by the OASW. Learn more here.

    Liver Disease in Primary Care: Approach to Fatty Liver, Oct. 17, 2019
    Part of ECHO Liver quarterly evening series. Find out more here.

    PHC Connect, Nov. 8, 2019
    Physiotherapists working in primary health care organizations across Ontario are invited for an interactive day of networking, professional development, and discussion hosted by the Ontario Physiotherapy Association at Burlington FHT. Attendees will hear from guest speakers about the changing health environment, the impact, and opportunities for primary health care and physiotherapists working in this sector. Click here for more information and to register. For any questions, please contact Maryam Ahmed at mahmed@opa.on.ca.

    Annual Toronto Geriatrics Update Course, November 1 & 2, 2019
    Learn about topics such as osteoporosis updates, capacity assessments, managing dementia and reducing falls among older patients. Hosted by the Sinai Health System and UHN. Coupon code available here.

  • Notice of 2019 Annual General Meeting: Reports attached / Confirm your voting Delegate

     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 Leadership Triad Session and the official opening of the AFHTO 2019 Conference with opening remarks from the Minister of Health, the Hon. Christine Elliott, and the Bright Lights Awards Ceremony. The Meeting takes place:  

     
    Thursday, September 19, 2019
    8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
    Harbour Ballroom A&B, Westin Harbour Castle
    One Harbour Square, Toronto, Ontario
     

    Each AFHTO member FHT, NPLC, MICC and CHC 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. Voting delegates will be required to register before the meeting to receive their package and voting keypad.
     
    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 2018/19; and
    • The proposed acclamation of five 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 seeing you at the meeting.
     
    Sincerely,
     
    Kavita Mehta
    Chief Executive Officer
     
    Documents

  • Bits & Pieces: RISE webinars for OHT full application, AOP, early bird next week & more

    Bits & Pieces: RISE webinars for OHT full application, AOP, early bird next week & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • RISE webinar series to address key topics for teams invited to submit an OHT full application form
    • Tools and resources for the AOP submission
    • What to do before Sep. 4 to enhance your conference experience
    • Check out an example of an OHT website
    • CCO call for expressions of interest: ultrasound reporting working group
    • Upcoming events regarding OHTs and more

    RISE webinar series to address key topics for teams invited to submit an OHT full application

    The RISE regional sessions by McMaster Health Forum are now transitioning to a series on topics for teams invited to submit an Ontario Health Team (OHT) full application. They will build on lessons learned from, and sometimes feature, team members who participated in the regional sessions. Many of the insights will be relevant to teams in development and teams in discovery as well.
     
     Register now for one or more of the sessions:

    • Tuesday, Sep. 3, 2019 12:00-1 PM – Population-health management by OHTs
    • Monday, Sep. 9, 2019 12:00-1 PM – How OHTs can approach their work with an attributed population
    • Thursday, Sep. 19, 2019 12:00-1 PM – Key considerations for OHTs working with Francophone and Indigenous communities [Provisional title]
    • Monday, Sep. 23, 2019 12:00-1 PM – Topic to be confirmed
    • Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019 12:00-1 PM – Topic to be confirmed

    Tools and resources for the AOP submission

    The 2019-20 Annual Operating Plan was distributed on August 16 with a deadline of September 25 at 5 PM. Check out AFHTO’s website for materials and resources:

    to help with the submission. If you have any questions, please reach out to your ministry contact or to Bryn Hamilton.

    What to do before Sep. 4 to enhance your conference experience

    Choice

    1. Register at the early bird rate to save on registration. After Sep. 4, rates increase for both members and non-members.
    2. Confirm your spot in your favourite concurrent sessions. Sessions are filling up fast and you don’t want to miss out on the chance to see a particularly relevant presentation.
    3. Book your hotel room Our room block is now open to the public, but you can still book available rooms at our group rate. September is a busy month for hotels so make sure you’re paying the best rate for the best location. Prices start at $222/night. That’s more than $100 discount on current rates!
    4. Book your tickets with Porter Airlines, Air Canada and/or VIA Rail Canada to get the best rates and times for your schedule.
    5. Volunteer: We have volunteer opportunities onsite for deeply discounted registration, such as registration desk, attendee assistance at breakfast and lunch and wayfinding. Email paula.myers@afhto.ca if you’re interested.

    Referral: We have received entries for our referral program but so far it’s a tie! So we’re extending the deadline until Sep. 12. All non-members have to do is say who recommended them during registration and the organization with the most referrals wins a complimentary registration! Non-members and members alike can win. Any existing registration for the winning team as of Sep. 12 can be refunded as well.

    Check out an example of an OHT website
    Guelph and Area OHT, led by Guelph FHT, has a temporary website for interested partners that’s garnered positive feedback. Check it out, as well as other resources, tools, and supports that are regularly updated on our OHT webpage.

    CCO call for expressions of interest: ultrasound reporting working group

    Cancer Care Ontario’s Ontario Gynecologic Cancers Advisory Committee has identified the need for standardized ultrasound reporting of adnexal masses as a top priority to address a quality gap in ovarian cancer diagnosis and management. They’re seeking members for the Adnexal Masses Standardized Ultrasound Reporting Working Group. Please review the Call for Expressions of Interest. If you’re interested in participating or have any questions, please contact Michelle Zang at Michelle.Zang@cancercare.on.ca by September 3, 2019.

    AFHTO 2019 Conference, September 19- 20, 2019
    The early bird deadline closes next week! Members save 50% off their registration when using the early bird rates. Get your member access code from your administrator and come explore Health System Integration Built on The Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care. Register  now!

    OHT Webcast Series: The Shift To Shared Leadership, September 12, 2019
    AFHTO and the OCSA will review approaches to creating shared leadership tables and/or working groups, and offer practical “OHT Starter Kit” tips and tools. For more information or to register, click here.

    Primary Care Virtual Community, September 25, 2019
    The primary care virtual community, brought together as an AFHTO/OCFP partnership with Change Foundation, will bring together primary care change makers interested in leading in their context and supporting meaningful system change within the Ontario healthcare system.  Find out more here.

    Understanding an evolving opioid crisis, September 11, 2019
    HQO’s next Quality Rounds Ontario webinar, rescheduled. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: OHT handbook for boards, hotel deadline extended, webcasts & more

    Bits & Pieces: OHT handbook for boards, hotel deadline extended, webcasts & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • Ontario Health Team handbook for boards
    • Conference volunteers needed and hotel deadline extended!
    • Reminder: Call tomorrow for teams invited to submit a full application
    • The OHT webcast series – tools and supports for teams!
    • The Nutrition Resource Centre is now Nutrition Connections
    • Upcoming events regarding integrated care and more

    Ontario Health Team handbook for boards

    We’re excited to offer our members AFHTO’s Ontario Health Team Handbook for Boards. This resource has been developed to provide boards of primary care organizations with essential and basic information on OHTs, and to help guide discussions on OHT developments. We hope this will further your understanding of the changing landscape of health care delivery in Ontario, and that it will help equip you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions.

    For further information on OHTs, please visit the AFHTO website for ongoing updates.

    Conference volunteers needed and hotel deadline extended!

    Distillery district westin site

    Volunteer: We have volunteer opportunities onsite for deeply discounted registration, such as registration desk, attendee assistance at breakfast and lunch and wayfinding. Email paula.myers@afhto.ca if you’re interested.

    August 23: Our deadline has now been extended to this Friday, August 23. Book your hotel room today. This ensures you get our group rate. After this date, rooms are released to the public. Prices start at $222/night. That’s more than $100 discount on current rates!

    September 4: Our early bird deadline to register for the AFHTO 2019 Conference, “Health System Integration Built on the Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care”

    Reminder: Call tomorrow for teams invited to submit a full application
    A reminder to EDs whose teams are part of an OHT submitting a full application, that there is a call tomorrow, Wednesday, August 21, from 12 PM to 1:30 PM.

    It’s an opportunity to share information, including approaches and challenges, and to ask each other questions. Ministry officials will be on the call. If you’re proceeding to full application and did not receive the calendar invite, please email bryn.hamilton@afhto.ca.

    The OHT webcast series – tools and supports for teams!
    We’re pleased to announce that AFHTO is collaborating with the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) to provide an OHT webcast series and practical tools, tips, and support for our collective membership.

    Please join us September 12 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM for the first webcast: The Shift to Shared Leadership. Register here.

    The Nutrition Resource Centre is now Nutrition Connections

    The Nutrition Resource Centre, a program hosted by the Ontario Public Health Association, has launched a new centre, website and brand to reflect their direction as a centre for nutrition knowledge and collaboration.

    Rebranded Nutrition Connections, they support health professionals, community organizations, educators, researchers, and others working in food and nutrition to build capacity, connect, and share information. Check out Nutrition Connections’ website for more information about the new centre and services.

    AFHTO 2019 Conference, September 19- 20, 2019
    Members get 50% off registration; plus early bird rates are in effect! Get your member access code from your administrator and come explore Health System Integration Built on The Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care. Register now!

    Transitions From Hospital To Primary Care, August 27, 2019
    Presented by HQO’s Timely and Efficient Transitions Webinar Series, this webinar will touch on QIP indicators in the primary care and hospital sectors. Learn more here.

    Primary Care’s Role within Integrated Care, September 11, 2019
    International Foundation for Integrated Care Canada virtual community webinar. Register here.

    CPA Ontario’s Not-For-Profit Summit, October 8, 2019
    Learn how technology will reshape government and nonprofits at CPA Ontario’s Not-For-Profit Summit 2019. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: AFHTO members & OHTs, last call for LEADS & more

    Bits & Pieces: AFHTO members & OHTs, last call for LEADS & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • AFHTO members & OHTs
    • Last call for LEADS learning series cohorts
    • Tomorrow’s the deadline to join our IHP Advisory Council
    • Seeking input: two draft quality standards for asthma care
    • Advancing frailty care in the community collaborative
    • Primary Care Virtual Community update
    • Seeking your input on patient and team engagement about concussion
    • Get rid of your fax machine: Ontario Privacy Commissioner annual report
    • Upcoming events regarding dementia and more

    AFHTO members & OHTs

    On July 18, 2019, the Minister of Health, Hon. Christine Elliott, hosted a town hall to provide an update on the next steps for becoming an Ontario Health Team (OHT) for those who completed a self-assessment. Of the more than 150 readiness assessments received, 74 teams have demonstrated the core components necessary for the development of the OHT (inclusion of primary care, acute care and community care).

    Thirty-one (31) teams have been invited to proceed to full application phase (which need to be submitted by October) and then forty-three (43) teams are moving to in development.

    After the town hall, multiple announcements for individual applications went out and AFHTO members so far are either leading or actively involved in multiple OHTs who can now proceed to full application.

    Read the full article to find out which teams have been announced so far.

    While AFHTO is working with our partners to determine supports and resources for our members, the Ministry has also engaged the McMaster Health Forum with housing some tools. Visit Rapid-Improvement Support and Exchange (RISE) – an interactive website that provides access to resources, experts and assistance for potential Ontario Health Teams.

    Last call for LEADS learning series cohorts
    As you know, our Ontario health care landscape is currently undergoing major systems transformation. Now more than ever, our leaders need the confidence to lead, the capacity to collaborate and the courage to transform!

    We urge you to take advantage of LeaderShift’s FINAL OPPORTUNITY to attend the 5-day LEADS Learning Series FOR FREE!  
     
    The deadline for North York, Barrie, Ottawa, Toronto, Mississauga and London is today, July 30, 2019.     Travel subsidies are also available.
     
    APPLY TODAY! If you have already attended the series and know of a colleague who could benefit from this experience don’t forget to encourage them to apply!

    Let’s #shapetheshift together.  

    Tomorrow’s the deadline to join our IHP Advisory Council
    There are two vacancies on AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council and we’re inviting all AFHTO-member IHPs to apply. More information and the Terms of Reference are here. One vacancy is a regular two-year term and the other is a one-year term for a maternity leave.
     
    Interested members are asked to complete this application by tomorrow Wednesday, July 31. Any questions, please contact Beth MacKinnon.

    hqo asthma feedbackSeeking input: two draft quality standards for asthma care
    Two quality standards are underway to address asthma care – because about 50% of people with asthma live with uncontrolled symptoms. Please share your thoughts on these draft quality standards by August 8, 2019:

    They’re accompanied by draft patient guides to help patients and caregivers ask informed questions of their health care providers. Both are being developed by Health Quality Ontario.

    Advancing frailty care in the community collaborative
    The Canadian Frailty Network and the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement have launched Advancing Frailty Care in the Community (AFCC) Collaborative and will support teams to implement practice change interventions to improve the care and quality of life of those living with frailty and those who support them.

    The initiative will support up to 20 interdisciplinary teams from across Canada from November 2019 to September 2021. Deadline to apply August 21, 2019.

    Primary Care Virtual Community updatePrimary Care Virtual Community logo
    Did you miss the last Primary Care Virtual Community session?
    Materials from previous sessions are available through the Ontario College of Family Physicians Learning Management System. Please follow the prompts to create an account to view the materials.  

    There is no charge to create an account, and it’s open to all members of the Primary Care Virtual Community (i.e. not only family physicians). For additional information or assistance in logging in, please contact ocfpcme@ocfp.on.ca.

    Our next virtual community meeting will be held on September 25th, 2019.

    Seeking your input on patient and team engagement about concussion
    The Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation is seeking your input on how to best engage primary care teams and patients/families about concussion. The ONF has been working to provide clarity and evidence-informed direction with respect to post-concussion care for healthcare providers by releasing the Standards of Post-Concussion Care and the 3rd Edition Guideline for Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury & Persistent Symptoms for Adults over 18 Years of Age.

    ONF has distributed thousands of hard-copy booklets of the Concussion Information for Patients and Families to teams across Ontario but is looking at being more efficient and strategical in the approach. They would like your assistance on how to best engage your team and patients and which resources and mechanisms could help achieve this goal. You can contact Judy Gargaro, ABI Director at 416-422-2228 x 216 or Judy.gargaro@onf.org.

    Ontario Privacy Commissioner 2018 annual report

    Get rid of your fax machine: Ontario Privacy Commissioner annual report
    The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (OIPC) released its 2018 Annual Report, Privacy and Accountability for a Digital Ontario on July 10, 2019. Per this Bennett Jones LLP blog post, highlights relevant to primary care include:

    • Cyberattacks– there is a rise in the frequency of ransomware incidents, with Ontario municipalities and health care institutions being particular targets.
    • Fax Machines– 6,000 of the reported 11,000 health information privacy breaches in 2018 were the result of misdirected faxes. The OIPC recommends Ontario’s health care organizations “reduce or eliminate dependence on fax machines”.

     

     

     

    AFHTO 2019 Conference, September 19- 20, 2019
    Members get 50% off registration; plus early bird rates are in effect! Get your member access code from your administrator and come explore Health System Integration Built on The Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care. Register now!

    Canadian Conference on Dementia, October 3- 5, 2019
    The 10th annual conference will be held in Quebec City. Find out more here.

    Charting the Future of Primary Care: Leadership, Teams, and Culture, September 11 – 12, 2019
    Ivey Academy partnership program with the Harvard Medical School. Find out more here.

    Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada: Clinical Trials – What you Need to Know, August 6, 2019
    This webcast will provide blood cancer patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals with an overview of clinical trials concepts and processes. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: AFHTO board nominations, call for IHP session leads & more

    Bits & Pieces: AFHTO board nominations, call for IHP session leads & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open
    • IHP session leads needed for AFHTO 2019 conference
    • Ontario Health Teams: a primary care perspective
    • MOHLTC connected care update
    • Call for participation- delirium & toxicity management
    • Integrated heart failure care – enabling development of Ontario Health Teams
    • Examining the healthcare experiences of foreign-born older Canadians: a pilot study – call for participants
    • Upcoming events regarding CHOGIP benefits and more

    Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open
    Are you interested in serving on the AFHTO board of directors? The Governance Committee of AFHTO’s board invites anyone who works within an AFHTO member organization to apply.

    Five (5) positions are to be elected for a 3-year term on the 14-member AFHTO board. The AFHTO by-laws call for balanced representation on the board to include the various forms of governance, the regions of the province, and the mix of the professions working within FHTs, NPLCs and other interprofessional models of primary care. For more details visit our site and to apply click here. Deadline June 28, 2019.

    IHP session leads needed for AFHTO 2019 conference
    attendees talkin at table

    Planning is on track for the AFHTO 2019 Conference and this includes planning for the interprofessional health provider sessions. We’re currently finalising plans for the group session but need volunteers to lead the popular individual professional sessions.

    Each one-hour session with your peers won’t take place without a lead so if you’re interested, please contact Beth MacKinnon by May 28, 2019.

     

    Ontario Health Teams: a primary care perspective
    Primary care has been identified as a key component for Ontario Health Teams and this health system reform will impact all AFHTO members. Please join us for a lunch and learn session hosted in partnership with Karima Kanani (Partner at Miller Thomson LLP) on Wednesday June 5th 12-1pm. This session held specifically for AFHTO members will cover:

    • Key features of the Connecting Care Act, 2019
    • Ontario Health Team requirements
    • The role of primary care in OHTs
    • Tips for proactive planning

    Register here.

    MOHLTC connected care update7 things re OHTs
    Email sent by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on May 10. Includes ‘7 Things You Need to Know About OHTs’, which includes statements like “Teams should have the ability to deliver coordinated services across at least three sectors of care, especially hospital, home and/or community care, and primary care.” See the email here.

    Call for participation- delirium & toxicity management
    Advisory committee- delirium: Health Quality Ontario, in partnership with the Regional Geriatric Programs of Ontario, is developing a new quality standard outlining quality care for adults who have or may have delirium.

    They’re seeking volunteers to help support and drive the development of this work. Apply by May 20, 2019.

    Toxicity management models of care working group: Cancer Care Ontario is seeking GPO, GP and Nursing representation for a Models of Care Working Group to improve the delivery of toxicity management for adult cancer patients currently undergoing systemic and radiation treatment. If you’re interested in participating, please contact Ada Payne, Lead, Models of Care at ada.payne@cancercare.on.ca by May 17, 2019.

    Integrated heart failure care – enabling development of Ontario Health Teams
    Heart failure (HF) has high health system costs, poor patient outcomes, and complex care transitions among primary and community care, and acute care. CorHealth Ontario’s ‘Roadmap for Improving Integrated HF Care in Ontario’, and Implementation Toolkit details how to improve HF care in the community, reduce ‘hallway medicine’ and begin Ontario Health Team (OHT) formation.

    As the OHT submission deadline approaches, CorHealth invites primary care teams to learn more about integrated heart failure care, as an enabler for partnerships in OHT development. For more information, visit www.corhealthontario.ca or email service@corhealthontario.ca.

    Examining the healthcare experiences of foreign-born older Canadians: a pilot study – call for participants
    Although foreign-born older adults (immigrant seniors) are at a higher risk for certain chronic diseases and negative health conditions, limited Canadian studies have examined healthcare experiences of foreign-born older adults (FBOAs), and few have developed or proposed practical solutions to support patient engagement, system navigation, and care coordination.

    The University of Waterloo is reaching out to community organizations and partners to seek their preliminary guidance and perspectives for an exploratory study. For more details visit our site. If you’re interested in participating or if you have any questions please contact Alison Kernoghan (alison.kernoghan@uwaterloo.ca).

    CHOGIP Benefits webinar, May 22, 2019
    Looking to switch dental and health benefit providers? AFHTO is pleased to present CHOGIP choice and voice benefit services to our members. Gallagher Benefit services will be presenting an overview in this webinar. Register here.

    ROI Stories of Entrepreneurship Webinar Series, May 28 – June 20, 2019
    Participate in the conversation around entrepreneurship by rural Ontario community organizations. This 4-part webinar series highlights case studies and are free of charge to attend. Find out more here.

    Wounds Canada: New Perspectives in Diabetic Limb Preservation Symposium, May 31, 2019
    Join the first Diabetic Limb Preservation Symposium held by Wounds Canada in Toronto. This event is aimed at primary care practitioners and specialists working on patients with lower limb complications that can lead to amputation. Learn more here

    Antimicrobial Stewardship in Primary Care
    Register for an online CE course for prescribers & pharmacists to help HCPs optimize antibiotic use in common clinical scenarios. Find out more here.

  • Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors are open until June 28, 2019

    Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors are open until June 28, 2019

    Dear AFHTO members:
     
    Are you interested in serving on the AFHTO board of directors? The Governance Committee of AFHTO’s board invites anyone who works within an AFHTO member organization to apply. Please share this call for nominations with all who work in your team.

    Five (5) positions are to be elected for a 3-year term on the 14-member AFHTO board. The AFHTO by-laws call for balanced representation on the board to include the various forms of governance, the regions of the province, and the mix of the professions working within FHTs, NPLCs and other interprofessional models of primary care.

    Given the composition of the continuing board members, priority for the directors to be elected will be given to candidates who are:

    • Board members, especially community members in the position of Chair of the Board;
    • Interprofessional Health Care Providers (IHPs), especially those working in mental health and addictions;
    • Experienced in finance, including accreditation as a financial professional (e.g. CA, CPA, CMA); or
    • From AFHTO members located in Eastern and Central Ontario.

    To apply:

    The Governance Committee of the AFHTO board will review all applications to assist the AFHTO board to determine the slate of candidates to recommend to the AFHTO membership for ratification at the AFHTO annual general meeting.

    • Nominees will be informed of their status by September 5, 2019.
    • The slate will be presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting in conjunction with the AFHTO annual conference.  This year it will be held:

    Thursday, September 19, 2019
    8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
    The Westin Harbour Castle
    1 Harbour Square
    Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A6

     

    Sincerely,

    beth signature
     

     

     

     

    Beth Cowper-Fung
    Chair, AFHTO Board of Directors
    Clinic Director, Georgina Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic

  • Governance Webcast Series: Risk Management

    On March 27, 2019, a webinar was held to discuss risk management and the board’s role and leading practices. 

    The Risk Management Toolkit is now available for boards to support learning and fulfillment of the board’s role in overseeing the effective management of risk in their organization.

    Also available from the webinar are the following:

     

    Other useful resources:

    21 Questions – Guidance for Health Care Boards on what they should ask senior leaders about risk (HIROC)

    20 Questions Directors Should Ask About Risk by the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants

     

    The recording of the webinar is here:

    Presenters:

    • Catherine Anastakis, Collaborative Solutions
    • Sandy Boucher, Grant Thornton LLP
    • Sandy Scapilatti, ED, Etobicoke Medical Centre FHT

    This is part of the “Raising the Bar on Governance – Webcast Series,” which has been developed in response to new governance requirements, ongoing member feedback and advice from our Board Chair Leadership Council.

     

  • Governance Webcast Series: Strategic Planning

    Strategic planning is key to an organization’s growth and success. How to develop a strategic plan, why this is important, and the board’s role in implementation were reviewed on a webcast on February 20.

    A Strategic Planning Toolkit has been designed for teams as a guide for developing a strategic planning process and a strategic plan:

    This toolkit was reviewed on the same webcast as the public complaints toolkit. The recording of the webcast is below. Strategic planning is the first half:

    Presenter: Catherine Anastakis, Collaborative Solutions

    Below are some resources provided by members to use as templates, if needed:

    This is part of the “Raising the Bar on Governance – Webcast Series,” which has been developed in response to new governance requirements, ongoing member feedback and advice from our Board Chair Leadership Council.

  • Resources for Patient Engagement

    Patient Engagement Surveys  Other Ways to Engage Patients  Tools from Your Peers  Tools from Partner Organizations

    Measuring What Matters to Patients with Patient Experience Surveys

    AFHTO’s measurement initiative, Data to Decisions (D2D), aims to measure quality according to what matters most to patients, according to the Starfield Model of measurement. In 2015, AFHTO and Patients Canada to conducted an online survey, developed with the help of volunteer patients, to determine which indicators of health care quality are most important to patients. Over 200 patients participated. Patients told us that what matters most to them is:

    • Involvement in decisions about their care.
    • Reasonable wait times for appointments.
    • Opportunity to ask questions.
    • Providers who spend enough time with them.
    • Access to their regular care provider
    • Providers who listen to their feelings and concerns.

    Teams who contribute data to D2D have the opportunity to share data about how they are doing in terms of these indicators. One of the easiest ways to obtain this data is through a patient experience survey.

    Once you’ve completed your patient engagement survey, consider sharing the results with your patients. Check out this example from the Centre for Family Medicine FHT in Kitchener! Looking for something NEW to freshen up your patient experience surveys? Try the Patient Perceptions of Patient-Centredness Questionnaire (PPPC) [PDF]

    • The PPPC is a 14-question survey that will let your patients tell you how patient-centered THEY think their care is. Some of the questions are similar to the ones you know from the HQO’s PES, or some of the questions in Data to Decisions – but they dig a little deeper into the relationship between patient and provider, and how that relationship affects the care they receive. It can give you a fresh perspective on the care your team is providing, amplify your patients’ voice, and maybe help relieve some of the “survey fatigue.”
    • But what does it all mean? Once your patients have sent back their surveys, check out the Instructions for Scoring the PPPC [PDF] and enter the data in the PPPC Score Calculator [downloads an Excel workbook]. The calculator will automatically turn your patients’ answers into aggregate scores for the following:
      • Each of the 14 questions
      • Each of the 3 components of patient-centredness
        • How thoroughly their illness experience has been explored
        • Whether they found common ground with their physician
        • Whether they feel understood as a whole person
      • Overall patient-centrednesss.
    • Wondering where the PPPC might fit in with your existing patient experience survey, how the questions relate to D2D indicators, or what to do with the results once you’ve seen them? Check our our FAQ for answers!
    • Consider sharing your results! The more we hear back from teams like yours, the more we can help all teams deliver more patient-centered care. Send your completed calculator worksheet to us at improve@afhto.ca.

    Beyond the Survey: Engaging Your Patients in Quality Improvement

    HQO’s  Insights on Patient Engagement looks at the different ways health care organizations engage their patients. Across the health sector, surveys are the most common way to engage patients: 93% of home care organizations; 79% of interprofessional primary care teams, 74% of long-term care patients, and 66% of hospitals use patient surveys. In addition to surveys, here are some other ways organizations are engaging their patients, and how many interprofessional primary care teams are using them:

    • Focus groups, town halls and community meetings: 23% of iteams
    • Advisory council or similar: 9% of teams
    • Patients on the board: 10% of teams
    • Patient advisors on QI committees: 12% of teams
    • Patients involved in co-design: 9% of teams

    At 10%, interprofessional primary care teams have a small lead when it comes to including patients on their boards. At 23%, interprofessional primary care teams are in the middle of the pack (tied with long-term care) when it comes to engaging patients through focus groups, town halls, and community meetings.  Interprofessional primary care teams lag behind when it comes to including patients in other leadership and planning activities.

    • 80% of  long-term care facilities, 72% of hospitals, and 71% of home care organizations have patient advisory councils.
    • 59% of hospitals, 36% of home care organizations, and 23% of long-term care facilities engage patients in developing their QIP.
    • 43% of home care organizations, 33% of hospitals, and 14% of long-term care facilities include patient advisors in QI committees.
    • 38% of hospitals, 14% of home care organizations, and 14% of long-term care facilities include patients in co-design.

    Health Quality Ontario (2018), Insights on Patient Engagement, p. 2.

    Patient Engagement Tools from Your Peers

    Shared Resources from AFHTO member teams

    These tools were developed by AFHTO member FHTs and NPLCs to facilitate their own patient engagement efforts; the teams have generously agreed to share them with their fellow AFHTO members. Help build our library by sharing your own patient engagement tools and resources.

    AFHTO Conference Presentations on Patient Engagement

    Patient Engagement Tools from Partner Organizations

    Patients Canada

    Patients Canada has pioneered the practice of bringing the authentic patient voice to health care decision-making, ensuring decisions reflect patient priorities.

    Health Quality Ontario

    Health Quality Ontario (HQO) define patient engagement as “patients, families and health providers actively collaborating to improve Ontario’s health system.” They encourage and help providers to work with patients and families to understand and respond to their needs.

    For more information about these tools and resources or other patient engagement best practices, please email Engagement@HQOntario.ca.

    The Change Foundation

    Patient and caregiver engagement is an ongoing focus for The Change Foundation, an independent health policy think-tank that works to inform positive change in Ontario’s health care system.