Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: key issue

  • Championing Innovation in Quality Improvement Decision Support

    The Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO) is pleased to announce the six recipients of Quality Improvement Decision Support (QIDS) Innovation Funds. Ontario Family Health Teams (FHTs) are committed to measuring and improving comprehensive primary care performance; the QIDS program is a provincial initiative to support AFHTO members in their quality improvement (QI) efforts.

    More than 25 FHTs are involved in these six member-led projects. The projects will serve as catalysts for sector-wide capacity building in advanced measurement and improvement capability. The grant recipients are accelerating progress in the use of data management tools and techniques, implementation of multi-practice performance measurement and feedback, and other QI strategic priorities.

    AFHTO is excited to support this cutting edge QI innovation in primary care, and will facilitate knowledge sharing and dissemination of award winners’ lessons learned and best practices among all members. The six grant recipients are as follows; scroll below for more detailed information:

    • Building QIDS capacity through pilot testing of the Starfield Model
      • Leads: Dr. Rick Glazier, St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team and ICES and Dr. George Southey, Dorval Medical FHT
    • Readiness and prioritization assessment for adoption and implementation of a minimal clinical data set
      • Lead:  Mary Keith, Executive Director, Garden City Family Health Team
    • Performance Management Framework and Dashboard- A data storybook and performance song sheet!
      • Lead: Heba Sadek, Executive Director, Queen’s Square Family Health Team
    • Patient Encounter and Reporting Tracking System for primary care quality improvement reporting
      • Lead: Michelle Karker, Executive Director, East Wellington Family Health Team
    • QIDS based information management clusters:  leveraging privacy infrastructure, standardized EMR data and scalable analytic tools for groups of Family Health Teams
      • Lead: Dr. Michelle Griever, North York Family Health Team
    • Creating the tools for fostering a culture of quality improvement in Family Health Teams
      • Lead: Dr. Sanjeev Goel, Wise Elephant Downtown Brampton Family Health Team

    Background The QIDS Innovation Fund is intended to advance measurement and improvement capacity to enable all members to benefit from better tools, knowledge and capability. An invitation to apply for the QIDS Innovation Fund was extended in December 2013, and members responded with 18 proposals that addressed these goals and then some! This impressive response by members signifies the widespread commitment to quality improvement by the sector.  

    Given the wealth of proposal submissions, the selection process was very difficult. Once again, the AFHTO Board would like to thank and congratulate all those who took the time to submit proposals. A special thanks goes to the review panel, which was chaired by Ross Kirkconnell, Executive Director, Guelph FHT and included Brenda Fraser, Central West Local Health Integration Network (well known to many from her work at the Quality Improvement and Innovation Partnership) and Dr. Darren Larsen of OntarioMD and the Ontario Medical Association.

    AFHTO would also like to acknowledge and express its sincere thanks to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for the flexibility and support that permitted the provincial QIDS program funding to be allocated in this novel and creative way.

    Grant recipients

    Building QIDS capacity through pilot testing of the Starfield Model

    Leads: Dr. Rick Glazier, St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT and ICES and Dr. George Southey, Dorval Medical FHT

    The goal of this project is to pilot the Starfield Model, a measurement framework for comprehensive primary care based on the principles enunciated by Barbara Starfield and endorsed by AFHTO. The project will directly support AFHTO’s strategic goals by building capacity to measure key elements of comprehensive primary care. Many of the required measures are only beginning to become available and few are in routine use across FHTs or other models of primary care in Ontario. Pilot testing will identify areas of commonalities and differences in measures and approaches and will contribute to further development and standardization.

    Readiness and prioritization assessment for adoption and implementation of a minimal clinical data set

    Lead:  Mary Keith, Executive Director, Garden City FHT

    This is a project aimed at determining both the readiness and priorities of the various FHTs in LHIN 4 regarding a minimum measurable set of data items needed to track specific chronic conditions. Data collection will occur through an online questionnaire. Results of the MDS project should be ready by mid April 2014 and will provide our group with metrics for care management that will assist in the planning and implementation of projects for quality improvement in patient care.This project is being led by Mary Keith, with the assistance of Urslin Fevrier-Thomas and Karl Langton, both from the Hamilton FHT.

    Performance Management Framework and Dashboard- A data storybook and performance song sheet!

    Lead: Heba Sadek, Executive Director, Queen’s Square FHT

    In the absence of a structural tool that enables organizations to organize and understand their accountability requirements, the response to quality initiatives can be frustrating and ad hoc. Through this initiative Queen Square and its partners: Dufferin Area, Halton Hills and North Peel FHTs will identify a common framework for data mapping that will show how different indicators are used to meet different accountability requirements. Clinicians’ input will also be sought in indicator development and standardization that meets their needs and aligns with the Primary Care Performance Framework.

    Patient Encounter and Reporting Tracking System for primary care quality improvement reporting

    Lead: Michelle Karker, Executive Director, East Wellington FHT

    The East Wellington FHT (EWFHT) has been a leader in the development of tools to extract data from its EMR, including data that is now required for Quality Improvement Plans and Ministry reporting. Advanced prototypes are already in existence. This project funding will enable EWFHT to further refine the programming and respond to the requests to share these tools across with its QIDS partners and potentially across the province.

    QIDS based information management clusters:  leveraging privacy infrastructure, standardized EMR data and scalable analytic tools for groups of FHTs

    Lead: Dr. Michelle Griever, North York FHT

    This project will collaboratively develop methods to implement centralized information management for each cluster within a partnership that includes Kingston, Hamilton and North York FHT clusters. The aim is to allow the QIDS Specialist to manage data for several affiliated FHTs from a single secure location, while respecting privacy. The project will develop a customizable, agreed-upon memorandum of understanding for data use, a privacy and security manual compliant with legislation, and secure processes for rolling out reporting software controlled through each cluster’s governance policies.

    Creating the tools for fostering a culture of quality improvement in FHTs

    Lead: Dr. Sanjeev Goel, Wise Elephant Downtown Brampton FHT

    The goal of this project is to enhance a current reporting dashboard platform to enable all FHTs from across the province, irrespective of their EMRs, to contribute their data on a set of defined, extractable core indicators. The project will use these core indicators, create innovative solutions for FHTs to contribute this data securely, and then present this data back to FHTs for their consumption.  Access to their own data along with aggregate data from other FHTs will stimulate groups to advance their quality improvement plans. Aggregate data from FHTs will also enable global reporting on FHT performance on these indicators, allowing AFHTO to evaluate current team-based models of care and advocate for scale up of models that are leading to improved health outcomes and health care system sustainability.

    For more information on any of these projects, please contact improve@afhto.ca.

  • RNAO-MOHLTC Primary Care Fund to augment the Nursing Education Initiative

    The Ministry has provided additional one-time funding to augment the Nursing Education Initiative (NEI) to support Ontario’s primary care registered nurses to refine their knowledge, skills and competencies; as a step towards enabling full scope of practice. Full rules are online; however, if a primary care RN has completed an educational program within the past 90 days they are encouraged to apply. Primary Care RNs could be eligible for up to $1500 in reimbursement and do not need to be an RNAO member to apply. Note that this is only for 2013/14, so applications submitted after March 15, 2014 may not be considered for the special funding. For complete details on the NEI and to apply, visit: www.rnao.ca/NEI

  • AFHTO 2013 Conference: wrap-up and links to valuable resources

    Close to 900 people took part in the AFHTO 2013 Conference – Leadership in Healthcare for Ontarians. This theme ran through the conference from Lance Secretan’s inspiring opening to the closing panel debate — “Be it resolved that health system transformation must be led by Primary Care.’” Leadership shone through in the pre-conference activities – the first meeting of the provincial Quality Improvement Decision Support (QIDS) Steering Committee, Executive Director Advisory Council, networking sessions for the various types of health professionals working in FHTs and the FHT leadership session. Leadership was also demonstrated by our AFHTO members as they unanimously ratified a bylaw that opens AFHTO membership to nurse practitioner-led clinics and any organization that provides interprofessional, team-based comprehensive primary care in Ontario. The AFHTO annual conference continues to be THE best learning and networking opportunity for people who work in and with family health teams, nurse practitioner-led clinics and others providing comprehensive, interprofessional primary care. Please help us to continue:

    • Submit your evaluation survey: If you didn’t fill in the evaluation form at the conference, please take a moment to do so now.
    • Book your calendar NOW for the next AFHTO conference on October 15-16, 2014, once again at the Westin Harbour Castle.

    The value of the AFHTO 2013 Conference continues.  Click on the links below to access:

    Thanks once again to the volunteers who contributed to the success of the AFHTO 2013 Conference – speakers, working group members, program hosts, networking hosts, registration desk volunteers. Thank you as well to our sponsors and exhibitors. It’s truly an honour and pleasure to work with so many highly talented, enthusiastic and committed people across the FHT community. We look forward to seeing you next year!

  • AFHTO Annual Meeting takes place Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 11:30 AM

    All who work within an AFHTO member organization or serve on its board are welcome to attend the AFHTO Annual Meeting. It takes place just before the official opening of the AFHTO 2013 Conference, on: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 11:30 AM Harbour Ballroom B+C, Westin Harbour Castle One Harbour Square, Toronto, Ontario. At this Annual Meeting, the AFHTO board will present:

    • AFHTO’s Annual Report to the Members
    • An amendment to the bylaw concerning eligibility for AFHTO membership. With the on-going evolution of team-based primary care in Ontario, together with the absence of a policy definition of the term “family health team,” the AFHTO board of directors considered the question of how to define who is eligible to become an AFHTO member.
    • A report on AFHTO’s financial outlook, in addition to the annual Audited Financial Statements
    • The board’s Nominations Report for the election of board directors.

    Each AFHTO member organization is entitled to designate one voting representative for the meeting.  Voting delegates will be required to register before the meeting to receive their voting card. The Notice of Meeting, agenda and reports for AFHTO’s Annual Meeting have been sent to the e-mail addresses AFHTO has on file for the Board Chair, Executive Director and Lead Physician of these eligible organizations. AFHTO members may request this package from Sombo.Saviye@afhto.ca. Each member organization is asked to contact her in advance to indicate who will be the organization’s voting representative so that a voting package can be prepared in advance for that person.

  • Nov.21 is deadline for applications for Primary Care Low Back Pain pilot

    The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) announced one-time pilot funding to support inter-professional primary care teams to provide better patient care through more effective treatment and management of Low Back Pain (LBP). Funding is available to teams/ organizations that operate in the following primary care settings: Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics, Family Health Teams, Aboriginal Health Access Centres and Community Health Centres. The pilot will provide one-time, time-limited funding for a minimum of 12 months to a maximum of 24 months, to support primary care organizations in the design, planning and implementation of a LBP management program within their organizational context.  Funding can be used to either enhance an existing program or create a new one if one does not exist. For more information and to complete an application please click on the following:

  • Report from quarterly meeting with MOHLTC FHT Unit, Sept.18, 2013

    The main focus of the meeting was on budget flexibility and accountability. FHT representatives presented to MOHLTC the position proposed by the Executive Director Advisory Council at their meeting of August 28 and endorsed by the AFHTO board and the AOHC’s group of CFHT EDs. Other topics covered in the meeting:

    • Process to address current budget pressures
    • Status of the BSM review
    • Sessional fees
    • Transfer of rostered patients
    • Quality Improvement Plans
    • QIDSS Program
    • IHPS in non-FHT models
    • Physiotherapy in FHTs

    AFHTO members can access the full report by logging in then going to the Members Only News page.

  • AFHTO 2013 Conference: Registration is open until Oct. 18

    Tuesday, October, 22 and Wednesday, October 23, 2013. The AFHTO 2013 Conference will be at the Westin Harbour Castle, One Harbour Square, Toronto, Ontario

  • QIDS Program: Links to information

    Links to information from Aug.21 “QIDS Program Town Hall” are posted on AFHTO’s Members-Only website.  The Town Hall gave the opportunity to share information and gather input.  Participants raised questions concerning sharing of QIDS Specialist positions, costs, and lines of accountability among other issues. To access these and other QIDS resources, login to the Members-Only site (top right of your screen — contact info@afhto.ca for assistance if needed) then click on  https://www.afhto.ca/news-events/news/qids-resource-documents/ . Keep in mind the AFHTO Annual Conference, Oct. 22-23, features a number of sessions that will help your FHT in its use of data to improve care, in streams such as Leadership and governance for quality, Using Data to Improve Care, Meaningful use of EMRs and EMR vendor sessions.

  • Sept.13 deadline for proposals targeted to medically complex patients

    The Ministry has issued a call for applications for demonstration projects from general and family practice physicians and groups across the province to provide multidisciplinary care for individuals, who have high medical and functional care needs, may have a high number of interactions with the health care system and may have a high risk of hospital admissions and/or re-admissions. This is another call arising from provisions in the 2012 Physician Services Agreement, following last Friday’s close of the call for applications to expand IHP services in community. The key elements of such a demonstration project should include:

    • A target population of medically complex patients identified using a pre-defined identification method;
    • A core team of providers which can include physicians and inter-professional health providers;
    • Transitional Care Services including bundled evidence based services aimed to stabilize the patient at home and prevent re-admissions, and/or Medical Home Services including a wide range of services tailored to medically complex patients’ needs;
    • Collaborating partnerships.

    Demonstration projects will be funded for a 12 month period starting October 2013. Approved applicants will be expected to track evaluation metrics and to participate in a full project evaluation upon completion of the demonstration project. Funding may be paid directly to the physician or a physician group depending on the specifics within the application. The weblink to the live application is now available at http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/complex/. Physicians will receive mailed information regarding this initiative starting today (Aug.19).

  • AFHTO Members: Invitation to participate in a QIDS program town hall meeting

    Please join AFHTO for an interactive, online “members town hall” on the QIDS program. When: Wednesday, August 21, 2013, 12:00pm to 12:45pm The town hall is open to all members and will provide an opportunity for you to:

    • Hear about work your colleagues are doing to develop QIDS partnerships and QIDS Specialists recruitment
    • Learn more about the status of implementation supports and resource available from AFHTO
    • Contribute your ideas and advice to key elements of the program, such as QIDS Specialist role descriptions, partnership agreements and the provincial steering committee
    • Get answers to Frequently Asked Questions

    Click here for information on how to register for the webinar. (Members Only log-in required, contact info@afhto.ca for assistance).