Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: Health Promotion & CDPM

  • Bits & Pieces: #AFHTO2022 registration open and more

    Bits & Pieces: #AFHTO2022 registration open and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • AFHTO 2022 Conference registration now live
    • Bright Lights education grants now available- deadline this Friday, July 15
    • Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative slides and video available
    • Ontarians aged 18+ eligible for second booster shot and more
    • Reminder- nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 29, 2022
    • Call for content- OLTC 2022 Virtual Conference
    • 2SLGBTQI identity and dementia: an introduction for healthcare and social service professionals
    • Reminder – apply to join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council
    • Upcoming events including Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity, and Accessibility in Research and more

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

     

    AFHTO 2022 Conference registration now live

    Registration now open for the AFHTO 2022 Conference! Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. A code (sent by email to all members who have paid 2022-2023 membership fees in full) will be required to receive the membership rate. If you do not know your organization’s verification code, please contact your administrator.

     

    Bright Lights education grants now available- deadline this Friday, July 15

    All awards now receive an education grant, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, including the award for underrepresented teams! Find out more here.

    Don’t be left out- send in your nominations and supporting documents before the deadline, this Friday, July 15.

    Screenshot of Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar title slide

     

    Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative slides and video available

    On June 23 we heard about the work of the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative as it pertains to identified priorities around fall indicators and falls risk screening and assessment and how we can better align our efforts across the province. Slides and video are available here.

    Ontarians aged 18+ eligible for second booster shot and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Reminder- nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 29, 2022
    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 and with members on your Board. Find out more here.

    Call for content- OLTC 2022 Virtual Conference
    The Ontario Long Term Care Association’s (OLTCA) This is Long Term Care 2022 virtual conference is taking place Oct. 24-26. To submit an abstract or to learn more click here. Abstract deadline Aug. 10.

    2SLGBTQI identity and dementia: an introduction for healthcare and social service professionals
    Egale Canada has a free e-module designed for healthcare providers, social work professionals, and other support personnel specializing in the care of people living with dementia. There’s also another for unpaid carers, and further resources on their site. Find out more here.

    Reminder – apply to join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council!

    Are you interested in advising AFHTO on the top issues facing IHPs in team-based primary care? Would you like to be a leader in working with IHPs in primary care to advocate for and to speak to the critical role of teams? Would you like to share and spread knowledge and learnings? If yes, please apply to join our IHP Advisory Council!

    We invite any IHP in a member team to apply by completing this survey by Friday, July 29.

    More information is here. Please share this opportunity with providers across teams.

    Webinar Series: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity, and Accessibility in Research, July 25- October 19, 2022

    Hosted by the Alliance and the Primary Care Ontario Practice-Based Learning and Research (POPLAR) Network

    Supporting patients amid an opioid epidemic, July 27, 2022
    Session by the Practising Well CoP, an intentional conversation for shared learning hosted by the OCFP and the DFCM Division of Mental Health and Addictions. Register here.

    Integrating Hepatitis C Care with Safer Supply Practice, July 28, 2022

    Co-hosted by National Safer Supply Community of Practice and CATIE on World Hepatitis Day. Register here.

    Demystifying the Cloud for Nonprofits, July 28, 2022
    Hosted by TechSoup with presentation by Amazon Web Services. Register here.

    NPAO 2022 Annual Conference, Sep. 22-23, 2022

    This years’ Conference theme is The NP Experience: Pushing Boundaries Towards Common Goals. Find out more here.

  • 2022 Conference Themes

    2022 Conference Themes

    Tectonic shifts: rebuilding primary care in a new world
    (more…)

  • Bits & Pieces: National Indigenous Peoples Day and more

    Bits & Pieces: National Indigenous Peoples Day and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • National Indigenous Peoples Day
    • Apply to join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council!
    • Bright Lights Awards nominations now open!
    • Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients webinar materials available
    • Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence seeking clinical leads
    • Monkeypox designated a Disease of Public Health Significance, IPAC materials and more
    • BFI Coach – Mentor opportunity
    • for primary care organizations
    • Trans health mentorship call
    • Upcoming events regarding the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative and more

    National Indigenous Peoples Day- narwhal, eagle superimposed over the sun, with a drummer, dancer in regalia and violinist. Background is multicoloured- blue, green, pink and orange.

    National Indigenous Peoples Day

    Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day. We recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures & contributions of First Nations, Inuit & Métis peoples. We are especially grateful for the partnership with our colleagues at IPHCC at advancing culturally safe primary health care, and our member teams who embody culturally safe care.

     

    Apply to join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council!

    Are you interested in advising AFHTO on the top issues facing IHPs in team-based primary care? Would you like to be a leader in working with IHPs in primary care to advocate for and to speak to the critical role of teams? Would you like to share and spread knowledge and learnings? If yes, please apply to join our IHP Advisory Council!

    We invite any IHP in a member team to apply by completing this survey by Friday, July 29.

    More information is here. Please share this opportunity with providers across teams.

    Bright Lights Awards nominations now open!

    Shine a light on your team’s achievements. Nominate an outstanding team or individual for a “Bright Lights” Award by July 15, 2022. AFHTO’s “Bright Lights” Awards recognize AFHTO members’ leadership, outstanding work and the significant progress being made to improve the value interprofessional primary care teams across Ontario deliver. There’s no better time to show what you can do. Find out more here.

    Plus, reviewers needed
    We just need a couple more people on the review committee. If you’d like to learn more about your peers’ contributions and get a $35 discount on your registration fee, please apply here. Deadline June 22, 2022.

    Webinar title screenshot

     

    Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients webinar materials available

    On June 17 we cohosted a webinar focused on new, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. Slides and video are available here.

     

    Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence seeking clinical leads

    The Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence is recruiting provincial clinical leads to support their priority clinical areas of focus:

    The call for expressions of interest for these positions can be found at the specific links above, as well as on a general page here. The deadline to apply is 11:59 on July 14, 2022. If you have questions about the roles for Depression and Anxiety-Related Disorders or Eating Disorders, please contact Amanda Wong (Amanda.Wong@OntarioHealth.ca); if you have questions about the roles for Substance Use Disorders or Schizophrenia and Psychosis, please contact Monisha Patel (Monisha.Patel@OntarioHealth.ca).

    The posting for the Clinical Lead, Indigenous, Depression & Anxiety-Related Disorders can also be found on the website here. The posting will be live until June 30, 2022. For more information or questions about the role, please review the expression of interest in the link above or email Danyal Martin (Danyal.Martin@OntarioHealth.ca).

    Monkeypox designated a Disease of Public Health Significance, IPAC materials and more

    Recent updates include:

    IPAC Strategies to Ensure a Safe Environment in Primary Care Clinics materials:

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

    BFI Coach – Mentor invite

     

     

    BFI Coach – Mentor opportunity for primary care organizations

    The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada is upscaling the Baby-Friendly Initiative across all health sectors. Several skilled coaches have been hired to work with organizations who want to take a deliberate, quality improvement approach to implementing best practice in terms of infant feeding advice and support. Read the invitation here.

     

     

     

     

     

    Trans health mentorship call

    Rainbow Health Ontario’s Trans Health Mentorship Call is a biweekly teleconference for any Ontario health care professional to connect with peers who have experience caring for trans and non-binary service users. Topics range from specific case-based questions to more general issues. Find more information here.

    Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative, June 23, 2022

    In this webinar, we will hear about the work of the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative as it pertains to identified priorities around fall indicators and falls risk screening and assessment and how we can better align our efforts across the province. Find out more here.

    Online Appointment Booking, June 21, 2022
    Ontario Health webinar featuring a panel of primary care providers to learn about the benefits of using online appointment booking in primary care practices. Register here.

    What’s new with COVID-19 and Monkeypox, June 24, 2022

    46th in the series ‘Changing the way we work’, OCFP & UofT’s COVID-19 CoP for family physicians. Register here.

    BounceBack: Back-to-the-office guide and tips to manage stress and anxiety, June 28 & 29, 2022
    Presented with the Canadian Mental Health Association. You’ll hear about coping strategies to help you better manage life’s stresses. Register for EN (June 28) and FR (June 29).

  • Bits & Pieces: member stories, infant formula shortage and more

    Bits & Pieces: member stories, infant formula shortage and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Member stories
    • Reminder- Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative June 23
    • Evaluating program planning using an equity framework at Queen Square FHT
    • New provincial prenatal screening requisition
    • Reminder- Bright Lights nominations open soon- reviewers needed
    • Shortage of infant formulas for infants with food allergies and certain medical conditions and more
    • ECHO Ontario Mental Health summer applications open
    • Upcoming events including enhancing harm reduction education, advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients and more

    Member stories

    City of Kawartha Lakes FHT– OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network and the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team launch a project with AI platform Goji Voice

    Cottage Country FHT– Cottage Country FHT looking to expand

    Dryden Area FHT– new addictions program introduced in Dryden

    Kirkland District FHT– Blanche River Health transitioning patients to the team’s outpatient collection laboratory

    Mount Forest FHT– Township of Wellington North presents $10,000 cheque to assist with local health care professional recruitment

    Reminder- Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar June 23

    In this webinar, we will hear about the work of the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative as it pertains to identified priorities around fall indicators and falls risk screening and assessment and how we can better align our efforts across the province. Find out more here.

    Evaluating program planning using an equity framework at Queen Square FHT
    Article published in Healthcare Management Forum. Please note that you need to pay for the full article. 

    New provincial prenatal screening requisition

    DNA helix

    The Prenatal Screening Requisition has been updated to reflect recent changes to screening for twin pregnancies as well as to streamline the screening process for pregnancies with confirmed or suspected vanishing twin/co-twin demise.

    The new requisition form (version 3, May 2022) is effective immediately; please discard all old forms. The updated requisition form for all three Ontario Multiple Marker Screening labs (Trillium Health Partners-Credit Valley Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, and North York General Hospital) and accompanying step-by-step guides for ordering multiple marker screening (such as enhanced First Trimester Screening) can be found on the PSO website.

    Reminder- Bright Lights nominations open soon- reviewers needed
    Bright Lights nominations open soon. If you didn’t get a chance to submit an abstract or would just like to raise your profile at the conference and beyond, consider nominating your team for an award.

    We just need a couple more people on the review committee. If you’d like to learn more about your peers’ contributions and get a $35 discount on your registration fee, please apply here. Deadline June 22, 2022.

    Shortage of infant formulas for infants with food allergies and certain medical conditions and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Administrative update: we will still provide COVID updates as necessary using this section but will also include MOH and stakeholder updates and memos on other topics.

    Reminder – impacts of transitioning cancer survivors to primary care

    Ontario Health has developed a short survey to better understand your practice, your comfort level providing care to cancer survivors, the challenges you face, and your experiences in providing care for cancer survivors. Their goal is to use the results to develop tools and resources to support you in providing care to survivors and improving patient care across the care continuum. 

    The survey will take about 5-10 minutes to complete, and your input by Friday, June 17th, 2022, would be greatly appreciated. For any questions, please contact Meaghan Wright (Meaghan.Wright@ontariohealth.ca).

    ECHO Ontario Mental Health summer applications open

    Summer programs include:

    • ECHO Ontario Addiction Medicine and Psychosocial Interventions: Hospital-Based Addictions Care (6 sessions – Mondays from 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. EST, July 11 – August 15, 2022)
    • ECHO Ontario Integrated Mental and Physical Health (12 sessions – Fridays from 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. EST, June 3 – August 26, 2022)

    Apply here.

    Enhancing harm reduction education for service providers, June 14, 2022
    This webinar will share CATIE’s new Harm Reduction Fundamentals toolkit and how it can be used by frontline organizations, along with examples of how organizations are training their workers and community partners. Register here.

    Spirometry Testing for Diagnosing Asthma and COPD in Primary Care – The Why and the How, June 16, 2022

    The Lung Health Foundation is hosting sessions to explore the why and the how of spirometry testing for the diagnosis of asthma and COPD in primary care. Register here.

    Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients, June 17

    New, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines have been developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. These groups often have lower screening rates than their peers due to outreach that misses eligible clients and screening practices that can trigger gender dysphoria. Register here.

    Online Appointment Booking, June 21, 2022
    Ontario Health webinar featuring a panel of primary care providers to learn about the benefits of using online appointment booking in primary care practices. Register here.

    BounceBack: Back-to-the-office guide and tips to manage stress and anxiety, June 28 & 29, 2022
    Presented with the Canadian Mental Health Association. You’ll hear about coping strategies to help you better manage life’s stresses. Register for EN (June 28) and FR (June 29).

    Data To Action: Making Your Data Visible and Useful, Sep. 28, 2022

    Hosted by TechSoup Connect’s Ontario chapter. Register here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #118: Cancer Screening Program Updates and Team Initiatives

    In this Issue:

    • Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Changes
    • Ontario Cervical Screening Program Recommendations
    • Screening Activity Report
    • Continuing Professional Development Modules
    • Cancer Screening Initiatives in Teams
    • Upcoming Webinar

     

    Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Changes
    Content below developed by Ontario Health

    The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) and the Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) are pleased about amendments to Regulation 543 under the Healing Arts Radiation and Protection Act and Regulation 107/96 under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, which will allow nurse practitioners (NPs) to order computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans as of July 1, 2022.
     
    As of July 1, 2022, NPs will be able to:

    • Refer individuals to the High Risk OBSP. The updated referral form will be available on July 1st and can be found here.
    • Manage unattached OBSP participants with abnormal results.
    • Authorize OBSP sites to arrange all assessment tests required for OBSP participants.  
    • Refer individuals to the OLSP. The updated referral form can be found here.

     
    NPs are still able to provide colonoscopy referrals for the ColonCancerCheck program. Ontario Health helps people with an abnormal fecal immunochemical test (FIT) result who don’t have a primary care provider find a provider to refer them for a follow up colonoscopy. If an NP would like to put their name on the Ontario Health list to support unattached patients with abnormal FIT results, they can complete the CCC Attachment form found here.  
     
    Further information about the OBSP can be found here in English and French.
    Further information about the OLSP can be found here in English and French.

    Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP) Recommendations
    Content below developed by Ontario Health

    The OCSP now formally recommends that people with the following cervical screening results repeat their cytology test in 12 months instead of in 6 months:

    • A first time low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) or atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) result
    • An LSIL or ASCUS result followed by a normal result

     
    The OCSP originally released these evidence-based recommendations to support the gradual resumption of cervical screening services during COVID-19. We are now formalizing the change to our screening recommendations. Please see the fulsome screening recommendation summary that can be found here. For evidence to support this recommendation, please see: www.cancercareontario.ca/repeatcytologyinterval
     
    Ontario Health is working with Ontario labs that provide cervical screening testing to update the relevant cytology result reports, so they reflect this recommendation change. Please reach out to cancerinfo@ontariohealth.ca if you have any questions.

    Screening Activity Report
    Content below developed by Ontario Health

    The Screening Activity Report (SAR) is an electronic audit and feedback tool for patient enrolment model (PEM) physicians. The SAR supports PEM physicians with improving screening participation and follow-up rates for Ontario’s three organized screening programs:

    • Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP)
    • Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP)
    • ColonCancerCheck (CCC)

    Information and tools to support using the SAR can be found on: cancercareontario.ca/SAR

    Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Modules
    Content below developed by Ontario Health

    The following cancer screening Continuing Professional Development (CPD) modules are available for providers:

    • Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT): A Non-Invasive Test for Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening
    • Abnormal Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) Follow-Up and Surveillance
    • Lung Cancer Screening for People at High Risk (for applicable providers)

     
    Each module has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for 1 Mainpro+ Group Learning credit. If you are interested in a presentation of these new modules, please contact your Regional Cancer Program or your Regional Primary Care Lead.  Information about the Regional Cancer Programs can be found here.

    Cancer Screening Initiatives in Teams

    Preventative Care Text Reminders at Marathon Family Health Team
    Content below developed by Marathon Family Health Team

    Text reminders have been used for over 2 years at Marathon FHT to remind consenting patients the day before a scheduled clinic appointment. Aside from a small percentage of cell phone numbers being no longer valid when reminders are sent, the process has been going smoothly and reduced the administrative time needed to make reminder calls.  

    Given the success with general appointment reminders, in 2021 the team looked to expand the text reminder system to preventative care recall. In the fall of 2021, it was used first to notify patients aged 65+ of flu shot clinics.  Then in December 2021, the first set of text reminders was sent out to 31 patients due or overdue for Pap testing.  While the uptake from flu shot reminders has not been tracked, 7 (22.6%) of the patients receiving Pap reminders contacted the clinic within 2 weeks to book a Pap. Text reminders have also been successful in encouraging patients due for mammograms to book appointments with the Screen for Life Coach; last spring the booking staff for the coach confirmed that several patients called for appointments following the text reminder notifications of upcoming visits of the coach to our rural northern community.

    In all cases, the reminders are short and offer the option to opt out of preventative care reminders while retaining the usual clinic appointment reminders. Staff ensure that patient cell phone numbers are recorded in the cell phone field in the EMR (OSCAR) and consent for reminders is recorded in a previously unused demographic field now named “SMS consent”.  Patients opting out of specific preventative care reminders have that recorded under the specific prevention as “never remind”.

    Sample messages are as follows:
    MFHT Pap reminder: Email appointments@mfht.org or call 807-229-3243 to book a Pap. To opt out of Pap reminders CALL the clinic 807-229-3243
    MFHT reminder: Screen for Life Coach in Marathon June/Sep call 1-800-461-7031 to book a mammogram.  To opt out of mammogram reminders CALL the clinic 807-229-3243

    To learn more about this initiative please contact Margaret Cousins at mcousins@mfht.ca.

    Portal Messages at West Carleton Family Health Team
    Content below developed by West Carleton Family Health Team

    West Carleton FHT utilizes population health methods, namely EMR reminders, the newsletter and portal messages (note that 72% of patients at this FHT are registered on the portal) to inform patients that they are (or may be) (over)due and how to book/request the test. For the portal specifically, the health promoter runs a search to pull the list of eligible patients that are due then sends a mass portal message. Here is the response rate by cancer screening program:

    • For the FIT, over the last 2 times the portal messages were sent, 20.7% of the patients receiving those messages requested the test (370 requests out of 1,791 messages).
    • For Paps, the portal messages are staggered until the pap clinic slots are filled. During the latest pap clinic, 20.8% of the patients that received a message booked an appointment on the portal (49 appointments booked online out of 236 messages).
    • For mammography, over the last 2 times the portal messages were sent, the rate of messages read was 78.7% after 3 weeks and 52.4% after 2 weeks respectively (708 and 418 messages sent respectively).

    To learn more about this initiative please contact Charles Bruntz at charles.bruntz@esfam.ca.

    Email Communications to Engage Patients
    Content below developed by Southlake Academic Family Health Team

    Southlake Academic Family Health Team has made tremendous strides in the digital era produced by COVID-19. They have seen that email communication has been a very effective strategy to engage patients and provide them with important updates related to their health. Adapting successes from their vaccination clinics, the team is emailing education materials and newsletters to patients who are overdue for cervical cancer screening using resources from CognisantMD Ocean portal, AFHTO, Cancer Care Ontario, clinicians, and peers. These emails include a direct link to book appointments online with their providers for a Pap test. Based on past experiences, the team expects about 50% engagement from the email campaign, with 10-30% of these patients self-initiating an appointment with the team.

    To learn more about this initiative please contact Peter Nguyen at pnguyen@southlakeregional.org.  

    Content below developed by New Vision Family Health Team

    New Vision Family Health Team is actively emailing patients who have email addresses that they are due and providing them a link to book online with the NP during NP clinics. During Pap visits the team ensures that patients due for mammograms or FIT/colonoscopies are being provided requisitions or requisitions are being sent at that time. The team is actively tracking these conversations within the Pap stamp and utilizing the patient newsletter to remind patients of these screenings, letting them know they will receive a letter in the mail and need to contact the clinic to set up their appointment.

    To learn more about this initiative please contact Desirée DeMelo at desiree@newvisionhealth.ca.  

    Cancer Screening Queries
    To assist teams in pulling a list of up-to-date screening-eligible patients, the QI in PC Council members have put together a few queries. Please note, these queries are designed as a starter point to be customized according to your team’s EMR and needs. They can be found here.

    Upcoming Webinar

    Advancing Equity in Cancer Screening for Gender-Diverse Clients
    June 17 from 12:30-1:30 pm
    New, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines have been developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. Research shows that these populations have lower than average screening rates because outreach efforts often miss eligible clients; screening practices that can trigger gender dysphoria; and many clinicians experience confusion about who is eligible for cervical and breast screening. Join us on Friday, June 17, from 12:30-1:30pm for a special lunch ‘n’ learn webinar with guests from Ontario Health and Alliance member organizations to learn about the new guidelines and how the Alliance is helping to update data standards. Register here.

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #117 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #117: Caregiver Well-Being and Supporting Older Adults

    QI in Action eBulletin #117: Caregiver Well-Being and Supporting Older Adults

    In this Issue:

    • Caregiver Well-Being and Achieving Better Health Outcomes
    • Engaging and Supporting Caregivers in Primary Care Teams
    • Transforming Primary Care for Older Canadians Living with Frailty
    • Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative
    • Upcoming Events

     

    Caregiver Well-Being and Achieving Better Health Outcomes

    Content below developed by the Ontario Caregiver Organization

    Four million caregivers across Ontario provide an estimated 75% of the care in the system, caring for family, friends, and neighbours. Caregivers are critical to our healthcare system. Reducing the risk of caregiver burn-out and supporting caregiver well-being is crucial now, more than ever. In Ontario, Covid-19 has increased caregiver burn-out, and 61% of caregivers find caregiving stressful overall, up from 49% the year before1.

    As Ontario Health Teams strive to transform health care in the province, it is critical that plans for enhanced care delivery include strategies to ensure that caregivers are recognized, included and supported in care delivery.

    There is growing evidence that caregiver well-being is an important factor in achieving the Quadruple Aim of better healthcare outcomes, better patient/caregiver experience, better staff/provider experience, and improved value/efficiencies. Well-supported caregivers are more likely to provider better care.2 Evidence shows that caregiver distress can impact patient clinical and mental health outcomes and that caregiver burnout can lead to patients requiring greater hospital usage.3

    Caregiver distress impacts the health outcomes of caregivers themselves, with evidence pointing to higher rates of stress and depression among caregivers, greater loneliness and caregivers being 16% more likely than non-caregivers to live with 2 or more long-term health conditions.4,5 Organizations and front-line providers are well positioned to engage and partner with caregivers and connect them to support for their own well-being.
    For more information about the impact of COVID-19 on caregivers in Ontario, read the OCO’s Spotlight Report
    ________
    1 Spotlight Report – The Impact of Covid-19 on Caregivers, Ontario Caregiver Organization, November 2021. https://ontariocaregiver.ca/publications/oco-spotlight-report/  
    2 Canada, a Caring Society: Action Table on Family Caregivers Informed dialogue, leading to concrete action for all Canadians NOV 2013 http://www.ccanceraction.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Family-Caregivers-Meeting-Report.pdf   
    3 Shin, J. Y., & Choi, S. W. (2020). Online interventions geared toward increasing resilience and reducing distress in family caregivers. Current opinion in supportive and palliative care, 14(1), 60–66. https://doi.org/10.1097/SPC.0000000000000481
    4 Claire K. Ankuda MD, MPH,Donovan T. Maust MD, MS,Mohammed U. Kabeto MS,Ryan J. McCammon MA,Kenneth M. Langa MD, PhD,Deborah A. Levine MD, MPH (August 2017). Association Between Spousal Caregiver Well-Being and Care Recipient Healthcare Expenditures. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15039    
    5 Public Health England. (March 2021) Caring as a social determinant of health Findings from a rapid review of reviews and analysis of the GP Patient Survey. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/971115/Caring_as_a_social_determinant_report.pdf

     

    Engaging and Supporting Caregivers in Primary Care Teams

    Screenshot of title slide

    Last February we cohosted a webinar with OCO, “Engaging and Supporting Caregivers in Primary Care Teams: Working together to improve outcomes and enhance the patient, caregiver, and family experience”. Visit our site for the video and slide deck.

     

     

     

    Transforming Primary Care for Older Canadians Living with Frailty

    Content below developed by the Geriatric Health Systems Research Group

    Members of the Geriatric Health Systems Research Group (University of Waterloo) collaborated with investigators across Canada to submit a grant to the Canadian Frailty Network. The grant focused on supporting primary care through the implementation of tools to enhance risk screening, shared decision-making, and care coordination for older adults. Situated as the patient’s medical ‘Home’, and supporting older adults throughout the whole care journey, primary care is well positioned to address frailty in a proactive, preventive, coordinated and integrated manner, reaching the most people, as early as possible.

    A key output of this grant is an implementation guide, which supports interested primary care practices with implementation at their site. See here for more information, and the step-by-step implementation guide.

    Correspondence to Dr Paul Stolee: stolee@uwaterloo.ca

    Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative

    Content below developed by the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative

    The Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative is a diverse group of health and social service practitioners and clinicians from across Ontario who come together to share information, analyze trends, and respond collectively to the need for change and innovation in fall prevention among older adults.

    In Ontario, fall prevention initiatives for older adults vary in their scope, approach, implementation, and measurement of outcomes. The heterogeneous, fragmented nature of fall prevention efforts make it difficult to ascertain what interventions are working, how interventions can be improved and where a greater investment of resources or an increased level of co-ordination and collaboration between key stakeholders is required to maximize impact (Dr. Brian Hyndman, 2018).

    The Collaborative advances excellence in fall prevention practice by carrying out applied research and practice development activities that individual practitioners do not have the time/ capacity to address on their own. The work of the Collaborative aligns with the vision for health care in Ontario by prioritizing fall prevention among older adults and emphasizing integrated approaches.

    Current Work:
    The Collaborative completed the second phase of its work by contributing to a prioritized list of falls indicators led by Public Health Ontario as well as a review of clinical practice guidelines for falls risk screening and assessment including recommendations for action in 2022-2023. This report should be coming in the next few weeks and will be posted on the Public Health Ontario website.

    See here for Environmental Scan of Older Adult Fall Prevention Indicators.
    See here for Screening and Assessment Tools for Falls in Older Adults in Ontario.

     

    Upcoming Events
    Practical Technologies that can Enable Ageing in Place
    May 19 from 9:00-10:00 am

    Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health, and University Health Network (UHN) and Director of Health Policy Research at the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) will be presenting on Practical Technologies that can Enable Ageing in Place on May 19, from 9:00 – 10:00am EDT. This webinar is presented by Sinai Health, in partnership with the NIA, UHN, and the Primary Care Collaborative.

    The webinar will aim to give health care professionals a better understanding of:

    1. The risks and impacts of at-home medical emergencies
    2. Why older Canadians want to age in place, now more than ever
    3. Practical technologies that can enable ageing in place

    This program has been accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) for 1 Mainpro+ credit for those who are interested.
    Register here.

    Transforming Primary Care for Older Adults Living with Frailty
    June 1 from 12:00-1:00 pm

    Investigators from the CFN funded study, “Transforming primary care for older adults living with frailty”, will share key highlights, reflections and developed resources from their implementation work in team-based primary care sites. This national project aimed to improve care for at-risk older adults across Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. The project was designed to address the following areas: consistent risk screening and assessment; care coordination and system navigation; and patient/caregiver engagement and shared decision making.
    Register here.

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #116 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

  • Bits & Pieces: Practical technologies that can enable ageing in place webinar and more

    Bits & Pieces: Practical technologies that can enable ageing in place webinar and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Practical technologies that can enable ageing in place webinar May 19
    • ONCA webinar materials available
    • Financial management training series materials available
    • Reminder – deadline to join #AFHTO22 working group today
    • Seeking input on the structure of social work practice in primary care
    • Memo regarding tools for identifying high-risk patients eligible for Paxlovid and more

     
    • Interview on the diagnosis and management of concussion in adolescents
    • Survey for a national framework for diabetes in Canada
    • FAQ: MOH “Axe the Fax” survey. Deadline May 4
    • PHO Primary Care IPAC Community of Practice
    • Upcoming events including antibiotic prescribing and your CPSO QI Requirements and more

     

    Practical technologies that can enable ageing in place webinar May 19

    Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health and University Health Network (UHN) and Director of Health Policy Research at the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) will be presenting on Practical Technologies that can Enable Ageing in Place on May 19, from 9:00 – 10:00am EDT.

    Presented by Sinai Health, in partnership with the NIA, UHN, and the Primary Care Collaborative, the webinar will aim to give health care professionals a better understanding of:

    • The risks and impacts of at-home medical emergencies
    • Why older Canadians want to age in place, now more than ever
    • Practical technologies that can enable ageing in place

    Register here.

    Title slide screenshot

     

    ONCA webinar materials available

    Kathy O’Brien and Simmie Palter from INQ Law reviewed the new tools and Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA)’s impact on FHTs on Tuesday, April 26. Slides and video are now available on our site.

     

     

    Screenshot of slide titled 'what is the problem we're trying to solve?'

     

    Financial management training series materials available

    Hosted by AFHTO, a two-part series on financial reporting and forecasting was held with Dr. Silvie MacLean, Executive Strategic Performance and Finance Educational Leader. Materials are now available.

     

    Reminder – deadline to join #AFHTO22 working group today
     

    The deadline to join a working group and/or Bright Lights review committee is today. Come behind the scenes of our first hybrid conference and be the first to learn about new developments in the field, influence conference programming and discover the latest innovators in areas directly relevant to your work. Working group members also receive a discount off their registration fee.

    Seeking input on the structure of social work practice in primary care

    Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft, an Assistant Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, is the lead investigator for this research study titled The Structure of Social Work Practice in Ontario Family Health Teams: A Mixed-Methods Study. It involves a provincial-wide survey and semi-structured focus groups with discussions focused on examining the daily practice of social workers in FHTs during the pandemic. Participants will be social workers working in primary care teams located across Ontario.

    Participants will be asked to complete a survey asking about the role of social work, the current and optimal state of practice, and social work leadership. At the end, participants can express their interest in taking part of a focus group. Each focus group will last 60 minutes and consist of social workers working in various team-based, primary care settings. Should you have any questions, please contact Rachelle Ashcroft at rachelle.ashcroft@utoronto.ca.

    Memo regarding tools for identifying high-risk patients eligible for Paxlovid and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Interview on the diagnosis and management of concussion in adolescents

    Graduate students are researching the perspectives of community-based primary care providers in Toronto on the diagnosis and management of concussion in adolescents. They’re interested in connecting with a few family physicians, pediatricians, and nurse practitioners working in Toronto for a half-hour interview to participate in their capstone project.

    If you’re interested in participating or have any questions, please send them an email at concussion.trp@utoronto.ca. Deadline June 3.

    Survey for a national framework for diabetes in Canada

    The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is undertaking a virtual engagement process to support Bill C-237 – An Act to Establish a National Framework for Diabetes, which received Royal Assent in June 2021.

    As part of this process, they invite you to provide your input via an online survey platform- EN and FR. Deadline May 9.

    FAQ: MOH “Axe the Fax” survey. Deadline May 4
    The Ministry of Health has initiated an analysis of the current state and drivers of fax use to identify potential options for phasing out fax use in Ontario’s health system. As part of their first phase, there is an assessment survey with a purpose to obtain input from a variety of stakeholders about their use of traditional paper-based fax and electronic fax. Only one survey needs to be submitted from each organization. For more information, an FAQ and the survey link, click here.

    PHO Primary Care IPAC Community of Practice

    Public Health Ontario is hosting a community of practice series that will review key concepts and support resources for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) in Primary Care settings. Intended for those who oversee or implement IPAC in Primary Care settings, the series will be held over four sessions starting late May. Find your regions and more here.

    • Register here for the West Primary Care Series.
    • Register here for the Central West Primary Care Series.
    • Register here for the Central Primary Care Series.
    • Register here for the East Primary Care Series.
    • Register here for the North Primary Care Series.

    Choosing Wisely in Primary Care Series: Antibiotic Prescribing and your CPSO QI Requirements, May 4, 2022
    First in OCFP series “Choosing Wisely in Primary Care” on Wednesday, May 4, at 8:00-9:00am. Register here.

    Mental Health Week, May 2-8, 2022
    This year’s CMHA Mental Health Week is all about empathy! You can download the toolkit here

    New Horizons: Navigating towards the future of family medicine, starting May 6, 2022
    Speaker series hosted by Dr. Danielle Martin, Chair of the University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine. The first session is a conversation with epidemiologist Dr. Sandro Galea. Find out more here.

    3rd Annual McMaster University Review Course in Psychiatry, May 26-27, 2022
    Virtual CPD Conference. Find out more here.

    Feeding Children – Success is in the Details, starting May 18, 2022
    Hosted by Nutrition Connection at the Ontario Public Health Association and Ellyn Satter Institute. Find out more here.

    Action Now! Building Equitable Futures Together, June 8-9, 2022
    Alliance for Healthier Communities conference. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: IPAC & advocacy webinars and more

    Bits & Pieces: IPAC & advocacy webinars and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • IPAC strategies to ensure a safe environment in primary care clinics Apr. 14
    • We need you. Provincial election campaign training with Enterprise Canada, tomorrow, Apr. 6, 2022
    • Welcome to Raveen Bahniwal
    • Member stories
    • Ontario Health and Primary Care, MHA CoE, and HCNS slides and video available
    • Strategies for an equitable recovery and the latest on 4th doses, immunity and more
    • Change to Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP)’s guidelines
    • Upcoming events including diabetes care and more

     

    IPAC strategies to ensure a safe environment in primary care clinics Apr. 14

    In partnership with the members of the Primary Care Collaborative, Public Health Ontario (PHO) will provide infection prevention and control (IPAC) information to those working in clinical office settings.

    In this webinar, practical IPAC strategies for ensuring a safe environment for patients, clinicians, and staff will be reviewed and evidence-based resources will be introduced to support the ongoing development of a complete IPAC program for this practice setting.

    The information presented in this webinar will be of interest to clinicians as well as those designated to lead IPAC activities in the clinical office setting.

    Register here.

    We need you. Provincial election campaign training with Enterprise Canada, tomorrow, Apr. 6, 2022

    AFHTO Executive Committee and CEO meet with Minister Elliott on Zoom mar 2022

    The provincial election is just over two months away. Now is the time for local candidates to hear from you. Anyone on the team can join and we highly encourage you to do so! It’s going to take all of us to make an impact across Ontario.

    If you have any questions or need support, please email advocacy@afhto.ca.

    ravninder bahniwal headshot

     

    Welcome to Raveen Bahniwal
    We’re happy to introduce Raveen Bahniwal, our new Quality and Knowledge Translation Specialist.

    Ravninder (Raveen) completed her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at McMaster University where she has experience in quantitative research, mainly running randomized controlled trials with the Exercise Metabolism Research Group. She received her master’s in public health from Western University where she worked on a research project within the Department of Family Medicine investigating the connection between artificial intelligence and primary care challenges.

    During the pandemic, Ravninder has been working as a Community Health Ambassador to provide wraparound COVID-19 supports to high-risk neighbourhoods and support community members in getting vaccinated for COVID-19. Welcome to the team!

    Member stories

    Parry Sound FHT– ‘It’s unbelievable’: Parry Sound FHT uses virtual reality to help seniors to explore the world

    Peninsula FHT– Physician buy-in a prescription for high vaccination rates

    Screenshot of Ontario Health and Primary Care webinar april 1

    Ontario Health and Primary Care, MHA CoE, and HCNS slides and video available

    On Friday, April 1 we had an update and conversation with Ontario Health on its role in supporting primary care, the work being led through the Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence (MHA CoE), and the vision for OH’s Healthcare Navigation Service (HCNS). Slides and video are now available.

    Strategies for an equitable recovery and the latest on 4th doses, immunity and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Change to Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP)’s guidelines

    There will be a change to Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP)’s Guidelines, specifically pertaining to recommendations for repeating cytology after an abnormal result. The OCSP now formally recommends that people with the following cervical screening results repeat their cytology test in 12 months instead of in 6 months:

    • A first time low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) or atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) result
    • An LSIL or ASCUS result followed by a normal result

    The OCSP originally released these evidence-based recommendations to support the gradual resumption of cervical screening services during COVID-19. Ontario Health is now formalizing the change to their screening recommendations. Please see the fulsome screening recommendation summary that can be found here. For evidence to support this recommendation, please see here.

    Ontario Health is working with Ontario labs that provide cervical screening testing to update the relevant cytology result reports, so they reflect this recommendation change.

    Please reach out to cancerinfo@ontariohealth.ca, if you have any questions.

    The 3R’s – Relief, Recovery & Renewal: A Prescription for Self-Care, Apr. 6, 2022

    Hosted by Instincts at Work.Find out more here.

    Diabetes Care: Tools and Resources to Support Mental Health Needs, Apr. 8, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Health and moderated by Dr. David Kaplan. Find out more here.

    ECHO Care of the Elderly: Long-Term Care, starting Apr. 12, 2022
    Hosted by Baycrest, in collaboration with North East Specialized Geriatric Centre and the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI), this free series runs on Tuesdays from April 12 – July 12, 2022. Apply here.

    QI Innovations: Better Data, Better Decisions, Better Outcomes, Apr. 12, 2022
    Free conference hosted by Excellence through Quality Improvement Project (E-QIP). Learn more here.

    IPAC Central West: IPAC Primary Care CoP, Apr. 20, 2022
    Hosted by Public Health Ontario, IPAC Implementation and Support Team. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: member stories, farewell to Sandeep and more

    Bits & Pieces: member stories, farewell to Sandeep and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Member stories
    • Farewell to Sandeep Gill
    • Seeking Director of Policy and Stakeholder Relations- deadline Mar. 25
    • Reminder – Ontario Health and Primary Care, MHA CoE, and HCNS, April 1
    • Reminder- Your Voice is Important: Election Campaign Training with Enterprise Canada, Apr. 6, 2022
    • The second anniversary and more
    • Ontario government seeking input on Anti-Racism Strategic Plan
    • Launch of QIP Navigator for 2022/23- drop-in sessions available
    • Upcoming events regarding COVID Recovery and more

    Member stories

    City of Lakes FHT– has developed a new Strategic Plan for 2022-25- EN and FR

    Lakehead NPLC– Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-led Clinic plans to take on 1,600 more patients

    Haldimand FHT– Haldimand FHT receives over $900k from province. Press release here.

    These last two are part of the Ontario government investment of $6.2 million across 32 primary care teams. Further details are coming, but if you are one of these teams, please send us any press releases, articles, etc. so we can spread the good news.

    Sandeep perches on edge of desk with her hands in her lap wearing a suit

     

    Farewell to Sandeep Gill

    It is with genuinely mixed feelings we announce that Sandeep Gill will be leaving AFHTO for a new role in the acute sector.

    Sandeep has been with AFHTO for nearly three years, most recently as Manager, Quality and Knowledge Translation.  So many have you had the pleasure of working with her or attended the webinars she has organized over the last few years. She has also helped AFHTO grow its research portfolio by securing several research opportunities which have also led to a few publications.

    We’re going to miss Sandeep but know she will bring so much to her new team. Please join us in giving her our sincerest best wishes. Her last day with AFHTO will be Friday, April 8th – any questions related to her work can be directed to info@afhto.ca.

    If anyone is interested in joining our team in a similar role, you can find details here. Deadline April 1, 2022.

     

     

    Seeking Director of Policy and Stakeholder Relations- deadline Mar. 25

    We’re growing! The Director of Policy and Stakeholder Relations will monitor and respond to relevant government activity, analyze government legislation and regulations that impacts primary care, health system restructuring and team-based care ensuring that AFHTO and its member voices are considered in the development and implementation of policy and advocacy by aligning with AFHTO’s strategic directions and delivering messaging that is consistent with AFHTO and the primary care sector’s public policy agenda, by positioning comprehensive team-based primary care as the foundation of the health care system.

    Learn more and apply by Mar. 25, 2022, for this two year position.

    Reminder – Ontario Health and Primary Care, MHA CoE, and HCNS, April 1

    AFHTO has arranged for an update and conversation with Ontario Health on its role in supporting primary care, the work being led through the Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence (MHA CoE), and the vision for OH’s Healthcare Navigation Service (HCNS). Register here to hear from senior decision makers at OH talk about how they are planning to support primary care through the pandemic recovery.

    Reminder- Your Voice is Important: Election Campaign Training with Enterprise Canada, Apr. 6, 2022

    AFHTO Executive Committee members and CEO meet with NDP MPP France Gélinas

    The provincial election is just over three months away. Now is the time for local candidates to hear from you!

    If you have any questions or need support, please email advocacy@afhto.ca.

    The second anniversary and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Ontario government seeking input on Anti-Racism Strategic Plan

    The Ontario government is seeking input as it launches a review of the province’s Anti-Racism Strategic Plan. You can find more details and submit feedback here (FR). Deadline May 4, 2022.

    Launch of QIP Navigator for 2022/23- drop-in sessions available

    The Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) online submission platform, QIP Navigator, has opened for 2022/23 QIP submissions. It will remain open until June 30, 2022. To support the process, Ontario Health will be hosting drop-in sessions on Zoom. Register here.

    If you have any questions, please contact QIP@ontariohealth.ca.

    COVID Recovery, Mar. 25, 2022

    41st in the series ‘Changing the way we work’ for OCFP’s COVID-19 CoP for Family Physicians. Register here.

    COVID-19 and indoor air quality – how community spaces can reduce transmission using ventilation, filtration, and ultra-violet disinfection

    Hosted by the Alliance and IPHCC, this April 5 webinar features two experts in indoor air quality from the University of Toronto. Want to get started now? Dr. Siegel and Dr. Li have shared five great things you can do to improve air quality and reduce airborne transmission of COVID-19.

    Diabetes Care: Tools and Resources to Support Mental Health Needs, Apr. 8, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Health and moderated by Dr. David Kaplan. Find out more here.

    Cannabis and Older Adults
    Free, asynchronous, accredited eLearning modules by Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) (English version) are now available. The French modules will be available Spring 2022. Find out more here.

    QI Innovations: Better Data, Better Decisions, Better Outcomes, Apr. 12, 2022
    Free conference hosted by Excellence through Quality Improvement Project (E-QIP). Learn more here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #116: Role of Primary Care in Vaccine Distribution, QIPs 2022-2023

    In this Issue:

    • Understanding the Role of Primary Care in Vaccine Distribution
    • Quality Improvement Plans 2022/23
    • COVID-19 and Respiratory Virus Test Requisition Form
    • Did You Agree to Be Listed On Online Appointment Booking Platform Bleen?
    • Quality Standard on Transitions from Youth to Adult Health Care Services
    • Recognizing World Delirium Awareness Day
    • Developing A Practice Tool for Prescribing Cascades in Primary Care
    • Upcoming Webinars

     

    The Role of Primary Care in Vaccine Distribution – Currently recruiting MDs and IHPs!

    AFHTO has partnered with Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft on a study focused on understanding how and in what ways primary care contributes to vaccine distribution, challenges experienced by primary care in the transition of vaccine distribution, as well as generating recommendations about primary care’s ongoing and future roles in vaccine distribution, including COVID-19 boosters.

    This study will be in the format of focus groups with EDs, MDs, NPs, nurses, QIDSS and IHPs.

    • We are actively recruiting MDs. If you are a physician interested in participating, please complete this poll.
    • We are also currently recruiting IHPs. If you are an IHP interested in participating, please complete this poll.

    For any questions, please connect with Sandeep Gill: sandeep.gill@afhto.ca.

    Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) 2022/23
    Content below developed by Ontario Health (Health Quality Ontario)

    For the past two years, Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) submissions have been on pause while organizations did the necessary work to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in their communities and regions. It has been a difficult time. While we know focused commitment to quality is vital, we also know that our system is facing unprecedented health human resource challenges and instability related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, we want to clearly convey to you our expectations regarding your Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) for 2022/23: This year submission of your QIP to Ontario Health will be considered voluntary.  Please e-mail QIP@OntarioHealth.ca if you have any questions.  As always, the team is here to support you.

    This year’s QIPs will focus on a small number of quality issues that are important to the health care system—issues that have been particularly impacted by COVID-19 and need our attention to help support health system recovery. The small number of priority indicators in this year’s QIPs have been developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Long-Term Care, other teams across Ontario Health, and organizational leaders like yourselves. Organizations may also choose to integrate other local issues that are of importance to their communities.  

    Priority indicators by sector are provided in the Appendix below. Supporting documents, including a QIP guidance document, technical specifications for the indicators, and a snapshot of quality priorities in brief for 2022/23, are also available. QIP Navigator, our online QIP development and submission platform, has been updated in preparation for voluntary submission. As usual, organizations can download pre-populated templates from QIP Navigator to support their QIP development process.  

    Individual organizations who choose to submit their QIPs to Ontario Health are encouraged to do so by April 1, 2022. However, in consideration of the current pressures on the health care system, there will be flexibility with timing of submissions and QIP Navigator will be kept open until June 30, 2022.  

    This is the first year that organizations that are part of an OHT will work to submit their organizational-level QIP while also contributing to their OHT’s cQIP. For that reason, and because organizations are continuing to respond to COVID-19, we have limited the number of focus areas for both the cQIP and the organizational-level QIP. Organizations that wish to reflect their cQIP work in their QIP may also include the cQIP indicators in their organizational QIP.

    Annual Planning Materials:

    Please see below for further clarifications by the Ministry of Health, on behalf of Fernando Tavares, A/ Program Manager Primary Health Care Branch

    In follow up to the enclosed distribution from Ontario Health regarding the submission of this year’s Quality Improvement Plans.  We wanted to confirm that the Ministry is supportive of Ontario Health’s plan to make this year’s submission voluntary and confirm that teams are not contractually required to submit this report for 2022-23.

    We continue to encourage all organizations who choose to complete this work to develop and post your 2022/23 QIP on your website and share it with your administrative staff, clinicians, and patients/residents and their family members.

    Further Supports:

    COVID-19 and Respiratory Virus Test Requisition Form
    Please find the Public Health Ontario COVID-19 and Respiratory Form Virus Test Requisition Form adapted to Telus PSS and OSCAR EMRs here.

    If your team has this form implemented within Accuro, please reach out to Sandeep Gill: Sandeep.gill@afhto.ca.

    Did You Agree to Be Listed on Online Appointment Booking Platform Bleen?
    Recently it has come to our attention that many AFHTO member organizations are listed as clinics for patients to book an appointment online on the Bleen platform. We strongly advise you to review the list of clinics here to see if your team is on the list, as this solution is not aligned to the service standard.

    For any associated privacy concerns, please reach out to the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC). If your team did not agree to be listed on this website and would like to be removed, please directly reach out to Bleen via phone: 1-866-943-9480 and via an online form here. We have brought this issue to Ontario Health’s attention, and they are working with OntarioMD and the Ministry to bring a resolution to the issue.

    We also encourage you to take this opportunity for patient education if you receive any appointment requests through this platform and advise patients on approved appointment booking practices for your team. If you are interested in exploring funding opportunities for online booking, please click here. For any questions, please connect with Sandeep Gill: sandeep.gill@afhto.ca.

    Content below developed by Ontario Health (Health Quality Ontario)

    New! Quality Standard on Transitions From Youth to Adult Health Care Services
    In February 2022, Ontario Health released the Transitions From Youth to Adult Health Care Services quality standard, developed in partnership with the Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health.
    When young people transition from youth to adult health care, they are at increased risk for negative health outcomes as they adapt to new services, people, and processes.

    The quality standard is an evidence-based resource that outlines what high-quality care looks like during this critical time. It can be used to help young people, families, and caregivers know what to ask for in their care; to help health care professionals know what care they should be offering; and to help health care organizations measure, assess, and improve their performance in caring for patients.   

    Please share this quality standard within your network and stay tuned for information on an upcoming webinar on this topic. For more information, contact qualitystandards@ontariohealth.ca.

    Recognizing World Delirium Awareness Day
    Delirium is often a complication of respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia, in older adults. It is a sudden change in how someone thinks, acts, or understands what’s happening to them. See the quality standard addressing what quality care looks like for delirium and accompanied patient guide, from Ontario Health and Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario and more resources here.

    Developing A Practice Tool for Prescribing Cascades in Primary Care

    Are you an Ontario physician, nurse practitioner or pharmacist who provides primary care as part of an interprofessional team?

    Are you interested in reducing medication-related harm?

    A University of Toronto research team wants to learn from clinicians working in interprofessional teams about your experiences and thoughts on interventions that may help to address prescribing cascades.

    What is a prescribing cascade?
    Prescribing cascades occur when a new medication is prescribed to treat the side effects of another medication. These often arise when prescribers attribute patients’ new signs or symptoms to a medical condition rather than a medication side effect. Prescribing cascades are important sources of potentially unnecessary medication use.

    What is being asked of me?
    –    Complete a brief questionnaire (< 10 minutes) and then participate in a up to 1.5-hour discussion group or interview to share your perspectives. You will be invited to participate in a second discussion group or interview (also up to 1.5-hours) if interested.
    –    A $100 gift card will be provided for each discussion group or interview that is attended.

    Do you have questions or want to get involved?
    Please email the team at rx.cascades@utoronto.ca or contact them at (416) 978-4838. This study has been reviewed by the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board (#42135).

    Upcoming Webinars

    Stories from the Ivory Tower, Mar 22, 2022, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
    Register here

    In March 2022, HSPN is presenting stories from the ivory tower of university-based evaluation of Ontario Health Teams (OHTs). Evaluators from the HSPN have spent the better part of the past year observing the development of OHTs with an aim to understand:

    1. What factors contribute to the successful implementation and sustainability of OHTs?
    2. What adaptations are OHTs making to improve function/performance/outcomes?
    3. What are the barriers to OHTs’ successful implementation?

    MyPractice: Primary Care Report: Using Data for Improvement – a focus on using the cancer screening indicators to drive improvements in patient care, Thursday March 31st, 2022, 12–1 p.m.

    Ontario Health is hosting a webinar for primary care providers on using the cancer screening indicators in the MyPractice: Primary Care report to drive improvements in patient care. This is the third of an ongoing accredited series that will focus on using data from the MyPractice: Primary Care report for quality improvement. This 1-credit-per-hour Group Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1.0 Mainpro+Ⓡ credits. The program is part of a series that has been certified for up to 4 Mainpro+ credits.
    Register here

    AFHTO Webinar – Ontario Health And Primary Care, MHA CoE And HCNS
    Friday, April 1, from 11 AM to 12:30 PM
    Register here

    AFHTO has arranged a members’ update and conversation on primary care with Ontario Health, the Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence (MHA CoE), and Healthcare Navigation Service (HCNS). Five speakers will be joining us on Friday, April 1, from 11 AM to 12:30 PM.

    We will be joined by the following speakers:

    • Sacha Bhatia, Population Health and Value Based Health Systems Executive, Ontario Health
    • Zahra Ismail, Senior Director, Primary Care and Social Determinants, Ontario Health
    • Danyal Martin, Director, Clinical Programs, Mental Health & Addictions Centre of Excellence, Ontario Health
    • Graham Woodward, VP, Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence, Ontario Health
    • Mala Shastri, Lead, Co-Design, Patient Populations and Discovery, Ontario Health

    Members are encouraged to join the webinar and are welcome to submit questions by March 21. However, the floor will also be open for Q&As with all speakers, and any we do not get to during the webinar will be followed up on.

    This webinar is open to all members.

    Diabetes Care: Tools and Resources to Support Mental Health Needs, Friday April 8, 2022, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
    Ontario Health is hosting a webinar for endocrinologists, primary care providers, and diabetes educators on screening for mental health needs among people with diabetes, and new, provincially-funded resources available to support them. This is the first of an ongoing series that will highlight Ontario Health’s three diabetes quality standards. Register here.

    Moderator: Dr. David Kaplan

    Panelists:  

    • Marcia Ross, Lived Experience Advisor
    •  Nina Hoyt, Nurse Practitioner, Health Sciences North
    • Dr. Geetha Mukerji, Endocrinologist, Women’s College Hospital
    • Leslie Johnson, Regional Director Mental Health and Addictions, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences

    The links to the diabetes quality standards can be accessed here: Type 1 Diabetes, Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes, and Diabetes in Pregnancy.

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #115 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.