Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: key issue

  • Registration for the AFHTO 2013 Conference is now live!

    The AFHTO 2013 Conference to be held on Tuesday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 23 at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto.

    We look forward to seeing you!

  • AFHTO 2013 Conference: Call for “Bright Light” Award Nominations

    The deadline for AFHTO “Bright Light” nominations has been

    extended to August 6, 2013.

    Nominations are open for the second annual AFHTO “Bright Light” Awards program recognizing leadership, outstanding work and significant progress being made to improve the value delivered by Family Health Teams across Ontario. Awards will be presented at the AFHTO 2013 Conference Awards Dinner, on October 22, 2013.

    Nominate an outstanding team or individual for an award in one of eight award categories. Winners in three of these categories will receive an education grant*.

    Make a nomination

    Nominations for “Bright Light” awards will be reviewed and selected by the “Bright Light” Review Committee.

    “Bright Light” Award Categories

    1. Leadership and governance for quality
    2. Using data to improve care*
    3. Improving care for “the 5%”
    4. Integration: building the team beyond the FHT
    5. Advances in health promotion and chronic disease management*
    6. Improving care for seniors
    7. Innovation in interprofessional collaborative team implementation
    8. Meaningful use of EMRs*

    * Thank you to our generous sponsors for providing education grants to award winners in the categories marked above:

    • Merck Canada Inc. for providing a $3,000 education grant for the “Bright Light” award recipient in the Using data to improve care category.
    • Boehringer Ingelheim for providing four award recipients in the Advances in health promotion and chronic disease management category with the opportunity to attend the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Conference on March 9-11, 2014, in Washington, DC.
    • QHR Technologies (Accuro EMR by Optimed) for providing a $3,000 education grant for the award recipient in the Meaningful Use of EMRs category.

    Please note: Sponsors have no role in establishment of award criteria, call for nominations, judging or selection of the program winners.

  • Nominations to the AFHTO Board are open until August 1

    Are you interested in serving on the AFHTO board of directors? The Governance Committee of AFHTO’s board invites anyone associated with an AFHTO-member teams to apply. Click here to see the Governance Committee letter to members and role descriptions. (Please note member login information is required to see this page, contact info@afhto.ca for assistance.)

  • Report from quarterly meeting with MOHLTC FHT Unit, June 3, 2013

    FHT Executive Directors representing AFHTO and AOHC members met with the FHT Unit on Monday.  Topics covered included:

    • QIDSS implementation: how the allocations have been made and what to expect in their implementation
    • Physiotherapy in FHTs: timing and process to apply for positions
    • Health Links: staffing implications for FHTs that are coordinating and/or taking on care for more patients
    • Changes in Ministry reporting: ensuring FHTs have adequate training and lead time
    • Flexibility and accountability in FHT budgets: finding the way toward greater budget flexibility while enabling the Ministry to ensure good value and appropriate oversight for public funds
    • A number of specific budget pressures:  recognizing that 2013-14 budget packages are already in the approval process, these were noted with the view to improving the situation for the 2014-15 budget cycle
    • Transfer of rostered patients within a group: FHTs are seeking clarification of Ministry policy and application
    • As well as quick updates on other issues.

    These topics zeroed in on the priority issues identified and developed by AFHTO’s ED Advisory Council and Board of Directors, with input from the AOHC CFHT ED Executive group. Please click here for the full report from the meeting. This report details the background, updates from the meeting and next steps on each of these items. Understanding the financial constraints within which the FHT Unit must operate, the AFHTO and AOHC group appreciated their openness to involving FHTs, through their associations, to find ways to optimize these scarce resources to deliver the best outcomes possible for patients.  The specific next steps include:

    • Consulting with AFHTO, AOHC and NPAO on implementation of physiotherapy positions in the interprofessional primary care models.
    • Convening a joint working group in the fall, with the aim to implement some initial improvements in the accountability reporting for the 2014-15 fiscal year, and thereby set the stage to enable greater flexibility in use of budgets.
    • Receiving evaluation and recommendations on the QIDSS roll-out from AFHTO’s QIDSS Steering Committee.
    • Giving the opportunity for FHTs, through their association structures, to give input into priorities for funding.

    The meeting participants were:

    • MOHLTC: Phil Graham (Manager, FHTs and Related Programs), Richard Yampolsky (Program Manager, FHT Implementation), Fernando Tavares (Senior Program Consultant).
    • FHT EDs: Randy Belair (Sunset Country FHT in Kenora), John Golanch (Owen Sound and Sauble FHTs), Lynne Poff (North Hastings FHT in Bancroft), Keri Selkirk (Thames Valley FHT in London)
    • Association staff:  Angie Heydon and ClarysTirel (Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario), Sophie Bart and Tara Galitz (Association of Ontario Health Centres).

  • 2013 Ontario Budget: Highlights for FHTs

    When it comes to health care, the key planks in the 2013 Ontario budget are Health Links, the Seniors’ Strategy and the recently announced funding increases for home care. The health care sections of the budget summarize government priorities and commitments in this area.  Click here to read health-related excerpts from the budget. Full text of the budget can be downloaded at http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2013/papers_all.html

  • Primary Care QIPs are off to a great start

    Message to all FHTs forwarded on behalf of Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Negotiations and Accountability Management Division, Assistant Deputy Minister Susan Fitzpatrick:

    From: Potts, Ashley (MOH) On Behalf Of Fitzpatrick, Susan (MOH) Sent: May-01-13 3:48 PM Subject: Quality Improvement Plans

    The memo below is regarding primary care Quality Improvement Plans. Please share it with your members. I want to thank you all for your ongoing support of this initiative and look forward to further collaboration.

     

  • DFCM Open – family medicine resource website launched

    Today, the Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM) at the University of Toronto launched a website called DFCM Open. Inspired by open knowledge and collaboration initiatives, such as the open source software movement, DFCM Open (www.dfcmopen.com) will collect and store clinical, educational and research material that is created, peer-reviewed and voluntarily submitted by its faculty members and their collaborators. Presented in a state-of-the-art website, DFCM Open will provide a wide range of Canadian content focused on family medicine and primary care. DFCM Open is a resource especially for family physicians and primary care health professionals, no matter where they live or practice. It provides community family physicians with a connection to professional resources; and it is free to use. “Much more than an online binder or filing cabinet, DFCM Open is a platform from which family medicine can take flight, starting with our faculty members and extending around the world,” says Dr. Lynn Wilson, Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. “We want those in low resource settings to have access to the best of Canada’s family medicine resources; and our hope is that others will visit, learn and be inspired to take their own innovative work to the next level – and then share it,” she says.

  • Health Minister announces introduction of physiotherapy positions in FHTs

    Today Minister Matthews announced that Ontario is improving access to physiotherapy services for eligible Ontarians by changing how and where these services are provided.  Beginning August 1, 2013, the province will expand availability of community-based physiotherapy, exercise classes and falls prevention services in more locations across Ontario. Steps include integrating physiotherapy positions into primary care settings, including Family Health Teams, Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics, and Community Health Centres. The total number of positions is not yet known. AFHTO will be working closely with the ministry to optimize access and capacity for these physiotherapy services within FHTs. We will update AFHTO members as more information becomes available. For further information, click here to see the ministry’s announcement.

  • AFHTO 2013 Conference: Call for concurrent session and poster submissions

    You are invited to submit an abstract to present a concurrent session or poster in 8 core themes areas that showcase and support FHT Leadership in Healthcare for Ontarians. The AFHTO 2013 Conference takes place October 22-23 in Toronto. Take advantage of this opportunity to share your knowledge, discuss priority issues and identify best practices to advance a culture of leadership within FHTs.

    Due date for all concurrent session and poster abstracts is May 13 at 9:00 AM

    Click here to review submission guidelines

    Click here to submit

    Reduced registration fee for concurrent session presenters: For each approved concurrent session, up to 2 presenters will each be granted a $50 discount off the conference registration fee. (Discount does not apply for poster presentations.)

    Key dates:

    • Deadline for presentation abstracts: May 13, 2013 at 9:00AM (EST)
    • Notification of acceptance for presentation: June 14, 2013
    • Conference registration opens: late June 2013
    • AFHTO 2013 Conference: October 22 & 23, 2013

     

  • Public health guidance regarding Influenza A(H7N9) Virus in China

    Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is informing all health system partners of preparedness activities related to influenza A (H7N9):

    • To date the World Health Organization has announced a total of 60 cases of infection with influenza A (H7N9), and 13 deaths, all in China. WHO is not recommending special screening at points of entry or travel/ trade restrictions with respect to this event.
    • The Public Health Agency of Canada posted a Level 2 travel health notice for Canadians planning travel to China. PHAC’s current assessment of public health risk in Canada is low.
    • MOHLTC activated its Emergency Operations Centre in order to facilitate information sharing and monitoring with other governments and the health care system.
    • MOHLTC continues to work with its partners to develop contingency plans in the event that the risk posed by influenza A(H7N9) increases.
    • Health system partners and health providers who have questions related to influenza A (H7N9) are encouraged to contact the ministry at 1-866-212-2272.
    • Click here to access Influenza A(H7N9) Guidance for Health Workers

    Click here to access the Ministry’s information page, where all future updates will be posted.