Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: government

  • 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: apply for messaging pilots, free registration for legal webinars and more

    Bits & Pieces: apply for messaging pilots, free registration for legal webinars and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Teams can apply for messaging pilots
    • Enter to win free registration to Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams series
    • Mental Health Works modules available from CMHA Ontario
    • Urgent need for physio student placement
    • Quality standard placemats- low back pain and osteoarthritis
    • Recommendations for resuming spirometry, Supply Ontario & PPE, and more
    • Registered Respiratory Therapist job descriptions
    • Upcoming events on increasing older adults’ access to care and more

    Sustaining virtual care-Dr. Ed Brown

    Teams can apply for messaging pilots

    Primary care teams are eligible to apply for funding for tech licenses and fee-for-service messaging as part of Ontario Health’s COVID‐19 funded projects. If you are interested, please contact Vivian Henderson – vhenderson@otn.ca. As a bonus, you can also see Dr. Ed Brown’s recent presentation on sustaining virtual care here.

     

    Enter to win free registration to Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams series

    AFHTO members have the chance to win one (1) free registration to the 2021 Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams series, with Kate Dewhirst and Maria McDonald. Topics include employment law, OHTs, employees as patients and more. The deadline to enter is Nov. 27, 2020. A winner will be randomly drawn and announced Dec. 1, 2020. Enter today!

    Mental Health Works modules available from CMHA Ontario

    Mental Health Works is a nationwide social enterprise of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division. It offers 13 individual ‘essentials’ training modules that provide workplaces tools to foster mental wellness. Topics range from depression and anxiety, to substance use and addictions, to trauma, to psychological health and safety.

    Urgent need for physio student placement –request from Dr. Jane Philpott

    The Physiotherapy Clinical Education Team at Queen’s is in the process of coordinating clinical placements for 2021. Learning opportunities have been hit hard by the impact of COVID-19 and they are now reaching out for support from clinical partners across the province.

    Does your team have a PT who could supervise a student? Read here to find out what’s required.

    Quality standard placemats- low back pain and osteoarthritis

    In response to feedback from primary care, Ontario Health (Quality) has shared a newly developed tool called the Quality Standard (QS) Placemat. The placemat is a quick-reference tool that concisely summarizes key information from its corresponding quality standard in an at-a-glance format.

    Since acute low back pain and osteoarthritis represent two of the most common clinical conditions in the primary care setting, their first placemats have focused on these. They’re posted on Quorum.

    They also have a list of tools and resources that support the implementation of quality standards related to pain and associated symptoms, including chronic pain, low back pain, and osteoarthritis.

    Recommendations for resuming spirometry, Supply Ontario & PPE, and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

    Registered Respiratory Therapist job descriptions
    Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario has recently released RRT job descriptions across multiple settings. They are now listed as a resource in our library of organizational policies & procedures page -Staff roles, recruitment and development.

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

    Increasing older adults’ access to care: Lessons learned from the pandemic response, Nov. 25, 2020
    In this webinar hosted by CAMH, Sara Bhatti , Alliance for Healthier Communities and Alvis Choi, Yet Keen Seniors’ Day Centre describe specific responses taken by CHCs to address the needs of older adults during the pandemic. Register here.

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

    End of Life with ALS and assisted non-invasive ventilation, Dec. 1, 2020
    This webinar is the first of a 3-part webinar series on End-of-Life. Learn more alongside the HPCO and Proresp starting on Dec. 1. Find out more here.

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

     

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

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

    Your Weekly News & Updates

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

    We may be working differently, but we never stopped working

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

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

    Essex County NPLC

    Celebrating Nurse Practitioner Week

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

     

     

     

    Designing integrated care and indicators for older persons’ health services

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

    QSC patient advisor needed

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Updated primary care guidance and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Bits & Pieces: conference videos and posters and more

    Bits & Pieces: conference videos and posters and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • AFHTO 2020 conference videos and posters
    • Hybrid model of pharmacist services in a large multisite FHT
    • Blast from the past: Data to Decisions article
    • COVID-19 response framework and more
    • Upcoming events regarding health promotion, diabetes and more

     

    Helen Bevan presenting at AFHTO 2020 conference

    AFHTO 2020 conference videos and posters

    Recordings from special sessions at the AFHTO 2020 Conference are now available for members, including Helen Bevan, Jane Philpott, Minister Elliott, and Matt Anderson on our site here.

    Posters are also uploaded here.

    Other session videos are also available for those who registered for the conference so please stay tuned for an email later today. If you don’t see it, please check your junk mail.

    Hybrid model of pharmacist services in a large multisite FHT

    NYFHT pharmacist hybrid graphs

    “Hybrid model of pharmacist services in a large multisite family health team” details the experience of North York FHT’s pharmacist team as published in The Canadian Pharmacists Journal (CPJ).

    Blast from the past: Data to Decisions article

    “The data reinforce the need to consider differences between rural and urban settings. They also suggest that further analysis is needed to identify characteristics that teams can change to improve the quality of care their patients experience.”

    “High and Sustained Participation in a Multi-year Voluntary Performance Measurement Initiative Among Primary Care Teams”, authored by Carol Mulder and Jennifer Rayner, was recently published in the International Journal of Health Policy and Management.

    COVID-19 response framework and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

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

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

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

    SGFP semi-annual general meeting, Nov. 9, 2020
    Taking place from 5 to 7 p.m., there will be updates on negotiations, public health policies, elections and sharing of mid-year financials. Please share with your family physician colleagues. Register here.

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

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

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

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

  • Bits & Pieces: your COVID-19 survey results at Trillium Research Day & more

    Bits & Pieces: your COVID-19 survey results at Trillium Research Day & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Trillium Research Day – AFHTO posters and presentation
    • Primary care patient/client virtual care experience survey
    • #StopTheSpread communications toolkit
    • Provider virtual care experience survey
    • IHP experience during COVID-19
    • Fecal immunochemical test kit update and reminder regarding breast cancer and cervical screening
    • Top ten flu Q & A and more
    • HPCO 2021 conference call for abstracts
    • CEP type 2 diabetes tools and academic detailing
    • Upcoming events regarding processing trauma experiences and more

     

    Responding to COVID- primary care teams

    Trillium Research Day – AFHTO posters and presentation

    On Friday, Oct. 23, AFHTO along with our research partners presented at Trillium Research Day demonstrating the value of primary care teams’ response to COVID-19 and patients’ experience with virtual care. Posters and presentations are now on our site. A special thank you to our teams to participating in this very important work!

     

    Primary care patient/client virtual care experience survey

    In August, we launched the Primary Care Patient/Client Virtual Care Experience Survey, for teams to implement. As a reminder, we will be collecting aggregate responses from your team to this survey the week of November 1st, here.
    Another option of patient experience data collection is to provide the survey link created by Women’s College Hospital Institute of Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV). WIHV is conducting a third-party evaluation of virtual care in the COVID-19 era on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Health.

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

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

    #StopTheSpread

    #StopTheSpread communications toolkit

    The Ontario Hospital Association launched a social media campaign that we encourage members participate in. The #StopTheSpread of COVID-19 campaign is targeting three audience groups: (1) ages 20-30, (2) broad audience 40s+, and (3) health care workers. Find a communications toolkit on our site.

     

    Provider virtual care experience survey

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

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

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

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

    IHP experience during COVID-19

    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 Family Health Teams during this time. You are invited to participate in a brief web-based survey to understand the evolving experiences of interprofessional health care providers in Family Health Teams in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click on the link here to complete the web-based survey.

    And here’s the earlier survey results for your review as well.

    Fecal immunochemical test kit update and reminder regarding breast cancer and cervical screening

    As of October 20, 2020, primary care providers can expand screening with the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to all eligible people at average risk for colorectal cancer.  

    Due to ongoing COVID-19 safety precautions and potential delays in FIT kit mailing, people may experience delays in receiving a FIT kit. To avoid longer wait times, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) asks that primary care providers do not batch fax requisitions.

    Reminder regarding breast cancer and cervical screening
    Ontario Health (CCO) is recommending that routine breast and cervical screening tests be resumed in a gradual manner. As a reminder, primary care providers are encouraged to consider initiating cervical screening at age 25, which is aligned to best evidence.

    If you have any questions about resuming cancer screening, please contact cancerinfo@ontariohealth.ca.

    Top ten flu Q & A and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

    HPCO 2021 conference call for abstracts

    Hospice Palliative Care Ontario is now accepting submissions for workshop, poster, and oral paper presentations for their virtual conference, April 18-20, 2021. The 2021 conference theme is The New Normal of Hospice Palliative Care in a Pandemic World. For complete details and to submit visit their site. Deadline Dec. 4.

    CEP type 2 diabetes tools and academic detailing
    CEP has just launched clinical tools and opportunity for one-on-one clinical education (academic detailing) visits on type 2 diabetes: non-insulin pharmacotherapy and providing care during COVID-19.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Your Weekly News & Updates

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

     

    Allan Grill

     

    Address from incoming president Dr. Allan Grill

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

     

     

     

     

     

    #AFHTO2020: following up

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

    Immediate need for case and contact management

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

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

    COVID-19 EMR screening tool

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

    Elliott Lake FHT: ELFHT marks first anniversary of Virtual Clinic

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    COVID-19 checklist for primary care and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

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

    Advanced Privacy Officer Training, Nov. 3, 2020

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Ontario Health News and Updates

    Originally published October 20, 2020. Last updated March 16, 2021.

    This page will provide regular updates and information about Ontario Health Teams (OH), which will impact members the most.

    news

    Releases Other news and updates

     

  • Bits & Pieces: check your junk mail, how to get up to $150,000& more

    Bits & Pieces: check your junk mail, how to get up to $150,000& more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • How to get up to $150K to rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID
    • #AFHTO2020: yes, we’re asking you to check your junk mail
    • Virtual mental health tools demonstration & video testimonial for Mental Health Awareness Day

     
    • Dr. Elizabeth Muggah now President of the Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • COVID-19 screening tool for children in school and childcare and more
    • Upcoming events regarding Arts on Prescription and more

    How to get up to $150K to rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID

    Resilient Communities Fund webinar

    The Ontario government is investing $83 million to provide grants through the Resilient Communities Fund to help eligible non-profit organizations, including family health teams and primary care organizations, recover from COVID-19 and continue the delivery of vital programming in their communities. All teams are eligible to apply for this financial support!

    On September 29, we hosted a webinar about how teams can tap into these funds. The submission deadline is December 2. Slides and video now available.

    #AFHTO2020: yes, we’re asking you to check your junk mail

    AFHTO 2020 Conference logo-cropped

    If you registered for the conference by Oct. 2, your login information was sent by in an email titled “AFHTO 2020 Conference login Information and tips for your conference experience” by Sunday, Oct. 4. Please check your junk mail if you haven’t seen this email.

    If you did not receive the email please contact regAFHTO@mosaicevents.ca.
    And if you haven’t registered yet, you still can- join your peers from Ontario and beyond!

    Virtual mental health tools demonstration

    Virtual mental health tools demonstration & video testimonial for Mental Health Awareness Day

    On Sep. 24 we hosted a demonstration of Togetherall, BounceBack and Beacon, all provided free of charge.

    Slides and video available

    Togetherall also has video testimonial and graphics to be released on Mental Health Awareness Day Oct 10. Find materials here.

    Dr. Elizabeth Muggah now President of the Ontario College of Family Physicians

    Congratulations to Dr. Elizabeth Muggah of Bruyère Academic FHT, who has been installed as the OCFP president.

    COVID-19 screening tool for children in school and childcare and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

    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

    You can still register 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. Find out 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.

    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.

  • 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.