Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: Leadership Development

  • Bits & Pieces: improving IHP networking and more

    Bits & Pieces: improving IHP networking and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • AFHTO’s IHP Directory: Improving IHP networking and communication
    • Farewell to Raveen Bahniwal
    • Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing webinar materials available
    • Consultations with physicians on PHIPA changes
    • Community Services Recovery Fund
    • IMPaCT survey
    • Updated recommendations on the use of Paxlovid and Evusheld
    • Reminder- join AFHTO’s Executive Director Mentorship Program!
    • CareCanvas: Better Care, Made Easier
    • OH updates- early psychosis intervention and Provincial Primary Care Lead, Cancer Screening
    • Upcoming events including Virtual Care and Pandemic Reflections and more

    AFHTO’s IHP Directory: Improving IHP networking and communication

    IHPs in AFHTO member teams are encouraged to sign up to AFHTO’s IHP Directory! This directory will help improve AFHTO’s communication to IHPs, and it will support IHP networking, information sharing, and collaboration.

    After you sign up, you will be emailed a link to a spreadsheet with the names, professions, team names, and work emails of all IHPs who have signed up for open communication. You may sort by profession to see the names of those in the same discipline as you.

    AFHTO will be checking the directory and emailing links to new registrants every 1-2 weeks. We look forward to improved communication from AFHTO to IHPs, and across IHPs in AFHTO-member teams!

    ravninder bahniwal headshot

    Farewell to Raveen Bahniwal

    We must announce that Raveen Bahniwal will be leaving AFHTO for a literal dream come true- we hate to see her go, but we’re happy say it’s for a great opportunity as she has been accepted to medical school.

    Raveen has only been with AFHTO for a short time as our Quality and Knowledge Translation Specialist, but so many of you had the pleasure of working with her, attended the webinars she has organized or the QIDSS session at the conference. She has also helped AFHTO with our growing research portfolio.

    We’re going to miss Raveen but know she will bring so much to her future endeavours, and we look forward to her return to Ontario as Dr. Bahniwal. Please join us in giving her our sincerest best wishes. Her last day with AFHTO will be Friday, December 30 – any questions related to her work can be directed to info@afhto.ca.

     

     

    video screenshot- 100 doses equivalent to a 290 km car journey

    Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing webinar materials available

    On Dec. 8. CASCADES and the Primary Care Collaborative hosted a webinar exploring the carbon footprint of healthcare systems and how inhalers contribute to it, and imagining practice change that results in “high value, low carbon care”. Slides and video are now available.

     

     

    Consultations with physicians on PHIPA changes

    The Ministry of Health is seeking physicians interested in participating in a focus group to talk about their experiences with the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). This work is part of the Ministry’s Dialogue on Data engagement strategy. Your knowledge and experience will inform the development of a data strategy report to the Ontario Health Data Council that will be seen by the Minister of Health, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, and many other important stakeholders. Learn more here.

    Focus groups will take place January 17 to 19, from 12-1 pm and we are looking for 20 physician volunteers spread over the three days. If you are interested in participating, please email info@afhto.ca. Please share this opportunity with physicians on your team.
     
    NOTE: at the moment they are only interested in talking to physicians affiliated with Family Health Teams

    Community Services Recovery Fund
    Members and/or their partners may be eligible for this fund, which is a $400 million investment from the Government of Canada to support nonprofits and charities as they focus on how to adapt their organizations for pandemic recovery. Find resources here or sign up for January webinar here.

    IMPaCT survey

    IMproving performance in Primary Care Teams (IMPaCT) Survey is a survey of primary care physicians working in Ontario to understand what influences how physicians interact with data about their patients and their practice. You can find the survey and additional details about the study here. If you have any questions, please contact, Braeden Terpeu (braeden.terpou@thp.ca).

    Updated recommendations on the use of Paxlovid and Evusheld

    Recent updates include:

    • Updated recommendation on the use of Evusheld-EN and FR– OH, Dec. 12, 2022
    • Updated recommendation on the use of Paxlovid- EN and FR – OH, Dec. 8, 2022

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

    Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates– the original page, with news and updates. You can find links to related pages here as well.

    Reminder- join AFHTO’s Executive Director Mentorship Program!

    Are you a leader with 3+ years of experience in team-based primary care? Are you interested in supporting new EDs as they develop in their role? If YES, AFHTO is looking for executive directors to join our ED Mentorship Program, and we want to hear from you!

    Please fill out this brief survey, and we will be in touch.

    More information about the program is here.

    CareCanvas: Better Care, Made Easier

    The University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine and the POPLAR network have launched a new tool to support practice improvement.

    CareCanvas is an interactive online dashboard that that summarizes clinical information from a physician’s practice EMR to make it easier to care for patients. Three types of dashboards are available: one for physicians, one for clinics, and one for Ontario Health Teams.

    CareCanvas summarizes more than 15 quality of care measures including information on diabetes, hypertension, prescribing, and immunizations. You can see trends in your practice over time and can compare your practice to that of your peers. For some measures, you can see differences in care by age, gender, and neighbourhood income.

    CareCanvas is available to existing UTOPIAN contributors, with plans to expand the program to all of POPLAR in early 2023. Register here to access the dashboard. Sign up before December 31, 2022 to receive a dashboard with the next release.

    OH updates- early psychosis intervention and Provincial Primary Care Lead, Cancer Screening

    Virtual Care and Pandemic Reflections, Dec. 16, 2022
    54th in OCFP and UofT’s series “Changing the way we work” on Friday, December 16, 2022, at 7:55-9:15 am. Register here.

    ADVANCE Special Topics series – Balancing Task and Process in Leading Integrated Care Systems, Jan. 9, 2023

    Hosted by RISE. Professor Robin Miller, University of Birmingham in the UK, will discuss the promise and pitfalls of collaborative leadership within integrated care systems and how attending to process can support inter-sectoral teams to achieve the aim of collaborative governance. Register here.

    Healthcare Decision-Making in Ontario, Jan. 10-31, 2023
    Four-part webinar series hosted by Hospice Palliative Care Ontario. Facilitated by Jane Meadus, the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE), you can join to learn what you need to know about consent, capacity and healthcare decision making in Ontario. Register here.

    Primary Care and COVID-19 Support CoP Monthly Call, Jan. to Jul. 2023
    The Community of Practice hosted by Ontario Health to support Primary Care and Covid-19, holds monthly calls, and the new registration link for the first 7 months in 2023 is available. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: join the ED mentorship program and more

    Bits & Pieces: join the ED mentorship program and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Join AFHTO’s Executive Director Mentorship Program!
    • Farewell to Beth MacKinnon
    • Reminder- Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing, Dec. 8
    • Member stories
    • Radon- the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers
    • Guidance for clinical assessment centres and more
    • BORN Health Equity Advisory Group – call for interest
    • Get Mainpro+® credits for reading quality standards
    • Upcoming events including Highlights and implications of the Ontario Science Table’s brief on primary care and more

    Join AFHTO’s Executive Director Mentorship Program!

    Are you a leader with 3+ years of experience in team-based primary care? Are you interested in supporting new EDs as they develop in their role? If YES, AFHTO is looking for executive directors to join our ED Mentorship Program, and we want to hear from you!

    Please fill out this brief survey, and we will be in touch.

    More information about the program is here.

    Beth MacKinnon Oct 2022

     

    Farewell to Beth MacKinnon

    It is with genuinely mixed feelings we announce that Beth MacKinnon will be leaving AFHTO for new opportunities.

    Beth has been with AFHTO for nearly 5 years, most recently as Senior Associate, Policy and Advocacy. Many have you had the pleasure of working with her as she has supported the Governance and Leadership program and our advocacy efforts.

    We’re going to miss Beth but know she will bring so much to her future endeavours. Please join us in giving her our sincerest best wishes. Her last day with AFHTO will be Friday, December 30 – any questions related to her work can be directed to info@afhto.ca.

     

     

     

    Reminder- Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing, Dec. 8

    Metered dose inhalers produce significant carbon emissions. Ironically, these contribute to changes to the climate that can exacerbate respiratory conditions. Simple practice changes can help disrupt this cycle and lessen the health sector’s contributions to climate change.

    Register here.

    Member stories

    Belleville NPLC – Rotary honours NPLC board member

    Wawa FHT – Dr. Anjali Oberai recognized with the 2022 Ontario Family Physician of the Year award

    Radon- the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers
    Across Canada, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. In persons who do smoke, the risks of developing lung cancer when exposed to radon are further compounded. Learn how and why you should speak to your patients about radon in machealth’s free and certified online program.

    Guidance for clinical assessment centres and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates– the original page, with news and updates. You can find links to related pages here as well.

    BORN Health Equity Advisory Group – call for interest

    The Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario is looking for community members to join their Health Equity Advisory Group (HEAG). To learn more, please see the terms of reference.
    If you have questions, please email Alana Esty and Danna Hull, Health Equity Advisory Group Co-Chairs at equity@bornontario.ca.

    Get Mainpro+® credits for reading quality standards

    Attention, family physicians! Do you need additional CME credits for end-of-year? Through Ontario Health’s no-cost Understanding Quality Standards in Primary Care Program, you can earn Mainpro+® credits for the quality standards you read. Just read a quality standard, complete a simple self-reflection exercise, and submit for your credits. This one-credit-per-hour Self-Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 54.5 credits. Learn more here.

    Highlights and implications of the Ontario Science Table’s brief on primary care, Nov. 30, 2022

    On October 3, 2022, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) released its final brief, a 3-part exploration of how primary care responded to and was affected by the pandemic, and implications for ongoing health system planning and policy. In this webinar, you will hear from a panel of primary healthcare experts who contributed to that brief, as they share some of the most significant findings and implications. Register here.

    The latest on COVID, Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, Dec. 2, 2022
    53rd in the series “Changing the way we work” by OCFP and UofT. Register here.

    NEW Patient Safety Learning Community of Practice, Dec. 6, 2022

    The Quality and Patient Safety Team at Ontario Health kicks off the new community of practice focused on developing robust processes to track, prevent and learn from patient safety incidents. Register here.

    Ontario Health’s Mental Health and Addictions Provincial Data and Digital Initiative Webinar, Dec. 12, 2022
    Part of a quarterly series designed to share regular updates and gather feedback on the initiative. Register here.

    Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams, starting Jan 2023
    Tenth annual ‘Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams’ series will launch in January 2023, by Kate Dewhirst and Maria McDonald. Register here.

  • Join our ED Mentorship Program!

    Are you a leader in your team with 3+ years of experience? Are you interested in supporting new leaders in primary care teams? We are looking for some amazing executive directors and admin leads to join our ED Mentorship Program as mentors! 

    Mentoring is about supporting people to develop more effectively. It is a relationship based on trust that is designed to help a mentee take on increasing initiative, build confidence, and excel as a leader. New EDs can learn from others who have experience and who are willing to help them in developing their skills and expanding their knowledge.

    You can read more about the program here.

    AFHTO is looking for volunteer mentors for the ED Mentorship Program from different demographics and funding models. We recognize how busy all EDs are as we navigate uncertain times, but we hope you will consider this small investment of your time for a positive and rewarding experience.

    If you’re interested, please fill out this brief survey, and we’ll be in touch. 

    If you have any questions, please contact Alex Christy at alexander.christy@afhto.ca or info@afhto.ca

  • Physician Orientation Toolkit

    Shared by AFHTO & the Osborne Group

    This toolkit provides easy access to a comprehensive collection of tools, resources and templates that will help orient new physicians to the FHT. Developed in partnership with The Osborne Group and a small working group comprised of AFHTO member EDs and physician volunteers. The Toolkit can be used:

    • As an orientation guide for physicians who are new to FHTs or FHT leadership
    • As a support for current physician leaders
    • As an educational tool to help explain the role of a FHT physician or lead physician
    • As a resource for FHT boards as they orient and support the lead physician role

    Download the Physician Orientation Toolkit:

    The material is organized as follows:

    1. Family Health Teams: This section describes FHT structure and governance;  the roles of the executive director and lead physician; funding and relationships to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN); and measurement and quality improvement.
    2.  Our Family Health Team: This section can be customized to describe your team’s vision, mission and values; strategic plan; quality improvement plan; organizational structure; patient population; physician/FHT relationship and roles; and community partnerships.
    3. Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Definitions

  • Environmental Scan and Strategy Framework for Primary Care

    Dear board chairs, executive directors, and admin leads,
     
    We have developed a succinct 2-page Environmental Scan and Strategy Framework for Primary Care to support teams with generative discussions and strategy development. This has been done using a common strategy framework known as PEST, which groups factors that are affecting primary care into four categories.
     
    PEST stands for Political, Economic, Socio-cultural, and Technological.
     
    Broken into these four categories, the scan lays out current issues in Ontario that boards should keep in mind when doing strategic planning.
     
    This is a standard support tool for boards of primary care organizations, and we encourage teams to use it to help develop or update strategic priorities. Also in this document are 10 questions that we encourage boards to ask during their strategy development.
     
    We hope this is helpful. We invite you to contact us at info@afhto.ca if you have any questions.
     
    Sincerely,
    Your AFHTO Team

  • Directive 6 Must Apply To Patient-Facing Team-Based Primary Care Providers During COVID-19

    Directive 6 Must Apply To Patient-Facing Team-Based Primary Care Providers During COVID-19

    Picture test

    To: Hon. Doug Ford, Premier
    Hon. Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier, Minister of Health
    Cc: Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Ministry of Health
    Matthew Anderson, CEO, Ontario Health
    Helen Angus, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health (outgoing)
     

    Re: Directive 6 must apply to patient-facing team-based primary care providers during COVID-19

    September 3, 2021

    Dear Premier and Deputy Premier,

    First, we want to take the opportunity to thank your government for the leadership you’ve shown with the
    introduction of the vaccine certificate and Directive #6, which requires the implementation of a mandatory
    vaccine policy for employees, staff, contractors, volunteers and students in certain health care settings. As
    associations representing team-based primary care providers and other front-facing health professionals in every
    community of Ontario, we see Directive #6 as integral to protecting as many people as possible while giving
    options to our providers to mandate policies that work best for their organizations’ environments.
    Directive #6 is also an approach that allows us to take seriously and respond empathically to concerns about
    mistrust in the health system from populations and communities who’ve faced discrimination in the health
    system, while still making it clear to Ontario health care workers that getting vaccinated is a top priority in keeping
    health care settings safe for everyone. Every serious illness and death we can prevent, every outbreak we can
    prevent, every ICU admission we can prevent – will bring us closer to the end of the pandemic.

    So we’re writing to you today to ask you to expand Directive #6 to include team-based primary care settings that
    include our organizations – community health centres, family health teams and nurse practitioner-led clinics.
    Premier, Deputy Premier, as you know, our organizations deliver primary health care and social services to many
    of the populations most vulnerable to COVID-19 and its related impacts. Our members’ staff do outreach, both in
    shelters, urban areas and to isolated seniors; we provide harm reduction services and supports, often meeting
    people where they’re at; and our providers are also on the front lines of testing, community supports and
    vaccination rollout efforts. Simply put, providers at our member organizations are face to face with the virus,
    working with people most vulnerable to it, on a daily basis.

    Our members stand ready to implement Directive #6 and its guidance on how to encourage staff and related
    workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Many are ready to use their authority as laid out by the Chief Medical Officer
    of Health to, like University Health Network, go beyond the minimum requirements of the Directive. Your
    leadership can help enable this vital path of actions to get key Ontario health care settings to the highest levels of
    vaccination possible, and to protect more vulnerable Ontarians.

    We hope to hear back from you as soon as possible about the inclusion patient-facing primary care providers in Directive #6, and we are ready to meet to address any concerns or questions.

    Sincerely,
    Sarah Hobbs, CEO, Alliance for Healthier Communities
    Katie Hogue, President Elect, Nurse Practitioner-led Clinic Association
    Kavita Mehta, CEO, Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO)

    See Full PDF Here

  • Bits & Pieces: members win Future Innovator Awards, AFHTO directors needed & more

    Bits & Pieces: members win Future Innovator Awards, AFHTO directors needed & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Members win Future Innovator Awards
    • Reminder – nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 3, 2020
    • Governance and leadership tools, resources and supports
    • Updated memo from OH, free phone outreach support for older adults and other updates
    • AFHTO’s Submission on Bill 175 – Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020
    • Discounts for CIHI Education Sessions
    • OCFP seeking Physician Connector
    • Upcoming events regarding shared governance and more

     

     

    Members win Future Innovator Awards

    The Change Foundation’s Future Innovator Awards

    The Change Foundation’s Future Innovator Awards recognizes six people, teams and/or organizations who have a strong vision for positive change for patients and caregivers and have the potential to make notable impact going forward. Members and member-affiliated organizations and individuals were recipients, including:

    Find out more about the awards here.

    Reminder – nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 3, 2020

    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. Priority for the directors to be elected will be given to candidates who are:

    • Interprofessional health care providers (IHPs), especially those working in mental health and addiction;
    • Board members, especially community members in the position of Chair of the Board; or
    • Experienced in finance, including accreditation as a financial professional (e.g. CA, CPA, CMA).

    Deadline is July 3, 2020. Find out more here.

    Governance and leadership tools, resources and supports

    Library

    Recently we reminded you about all the QI resources available on our site. Now we’re doing the same for governance and leadership. We know you’re exposed to so much information every day we thought a refresher would be welcome. Apart from recent examples like the Business Continuity Toolkit, they include tools, resources and training.

    See the list here.

    Updated memo from OH, free phone outreach support for older adults and other updates

    Resources and updates released within the last week include:

    • Update #5_Health System COVID-19 Response-from Matt Anderson, CEO, Ontario Health
    • TALK2NICE- poster and bulletin– free, nationwide over the phone outreach support service connecting older adults and disabled persons with social workers and social work students from the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly

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

    AFHTO’s Submission on Bill 175 – Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020

    On June 17 AFHTO presented its submission to the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly on Bill 175: Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020. Our key recommendations are:

    1. Delay the passage of Bill 175, Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020
    2. Embed care coordination in primary care
    3. Supporting the patient’s journey through the health and social system with one patient record

    Read more here.

    Discounts for CIHI education sessions

    AFHTO members may be eligible for Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) Non-Core Plan: Price A education sessions. Potential users can request assessment for eligibility by contacting help@cihi.ca before creating their profile on CIHI’s site.

    OCFP seeking Physician Connector

    In preparation for launching their Mentoring Program for Mental Health, Addictions and Pain, the OCFP is recruiting a Physician Connector. Deadline July 6, 2020.

    Health Care of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disability during the COVID-19 Pandemic: What Are We Learning and What’s Next? June 23, 2020

    Includes Dr. William F. Sullivan, St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT today at noon. Register here.

    Lunch & Learn: Social Prescribing in Research, June 24, 2020

    Hosted by the Alliance for Healthier Communities. Register here.

    Shared Governance: Working together to enable people-centred Integrated Care, June 24, 2020

    Integrated Care Virtual Community session. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: Updated COVID-19 case definitions, RISE update, member renewal & more

    Bits & Pieces: Updated COVID-19 case definitions, RISE update, member renewal & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • COVID-19 updates including updated case definitions
    • RISE update
    • Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine – newsletter updates
    • Home and community care modernization
    • Member renewal emails
    • March is Pharmacist Awareness Month
    • Social Work Week
    • Nutrition Month
    • New webinars in LeaderShift Applied Leadership E-Learning Series – How to Build Resiliency During Times of Change
    • Upcoming events including The Art of Doing More with Less

    COVID-19 updates including updated case definitions
    We continue to update the relevant page on the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), including the latest situation reports, updated case definitions, self-isolation fact sheets, and more. If you have any questions, you can also email EOCOperations.moh@ontario.ca.

    The Ministry has also implemented a number of governance structures to respond to the specifics of COVID-19, which may also include engaging our members at the five regional planning tables in the province.

    Health care providers facing immediate challenges with their personal protective equipment supply levels can email the ministry at EOCLogistics.MOH@ontario.ca.

    RISE update
    The latest update from Rapid-Improvement Support and Exchange (RISE) is now available. It includes reflections on the Ontario Health Teams (OHT) Provincial Learning and Improvement Collaborative Forum that occurred on Feb. 18 and 19, upcoming webinars on priority topics, and our latest resources:

    Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine – newsletter updates
    The Premier’s Council has provided an update on their work as well as an overview of what to expect from the Council this year with the release of their February newsletter. Highlights from the past year include the release of two reports:

    Home and community care modernization
    Last week the Minister announced changes to the delivery of home and community care. More details on how this modernization impacts our members will be shared once we read through the legislation and regulations.

    Member renewal emails
    Last week we sent out member renewal emails to lead physicians/NPs, EDs/Administrative leads and board chairs of all current AFHTO members. We look forward to your renewal!

    If you didn’t receive an email, please contact us at info@afhto.ca.

    http://www.ontarioprimarycareteampharmacists.ca/

    March is Pharmacist Awareness Month

    Family Health Teams, Nurse-Practitioner-Led Clinics and Community Health Centres include different healthcare professionals to help address many kinds of healthcare needs.

    Celebrate with primary care team pharmacists this month as we recognize the expertise and services they offer interprofessional primary care teams and patients! Thank you for all you do to support patients, families and the team!

    Learn more about how primary care team pharmacists embedded in primary care teams work to ensure medications are necessary, safe and effective by visiting visiting their site.

    Social Work Week

    Social Work Week

    It’s also Social Work Week. We recognise the valuable contributions social workers make with programs like our 2019 conference presentations:

    Their role was also explored in “The Emerging Role of Social Work in Primary Health Care: A Survey of Social Workers in Ontario Family Health Teams”, published in 2018.

    You can celebrate with OASW too. Digital posters and social media images can be downloaded here.

    Nutrition Month
    Please join our Registered Dietitians in celebrating the impact of good nutrition on our patients’ health outcomes. Examples successfully integrating this focus in primary care teams include:

    New webinars in LeaderShift Applied Leadership E-Learning Series – How to Build Resiliency During Times of Change

    There are new webinars being offered through LeaderShift’s Applied Leadership E-Learning Series. The next topic, How to Build Resiliency During Times of Change, is now open for registration.

    Organizational change—resulting from both internal and external factors—is no longer an “event”. We all know that change has become an ever-present reality in our organizations that has defined our new normal. Now that our work environments are always in flux, teams are experiencing what is called change resistance and change fatigue. The research tells us that part of the solution to these challenges is to bring an adaptive (vs. technical) leadership approach to managing change. It through adaptive leadership that we will find the role and importance of resiliency. Multiple timeslots are available in March.

    To learn more, register for free or view previous recordings in this series, visit their website today.

    Optimizing Your EMR For Safer Opioid Prescribing and Pain Management (Part 1), March 5, 2020
    This webinar is targeted towards family physicians and nurse practitioners in northern Ontario. Hosted by Ontario Health Quality and Ontario Pain Management Resource Partners. Learn more here.

    The Art of Doing More with Less, March 18, 2020
    This is the final webinar in AFHTO and Grant Thorton’s Financial webinar series! Join Danzel Pinto as we explore how non-profits can improve performance with financial sensibility.
    Register today!

    Rainbow Health Ontario Conference, April 21-23, 2020
    Register for Canada’s forum for LGBT2SQ health, being held in Niagara Falls this year. For more information, click here.

    ECHO Liver, March 12, 2020
    For 2020, ECHO Liver will be offering a quarterly evening series. The first is Liver Disease in Primary Care: Approach to Liver Enzymes. Find out more here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #95: Made-In Ontario High Impact Actions in Primary Care

    In this issue

    • Primary Care Virtual Community
    • High Impact Action Items
    • Local Change Ideas
    • Upcoming Webinars

    Primary Care Virtual Community:

    The primary care virtual community is Ontario’s novel collaborative designed to unleash the power of primary care in health system change. As a community, they have co-defined a list of High Impact Actions that are felt to spark meaningful improvements in primary care, building on lessons learned from the UK’s own transformation efforts. The community has also shared insight on the actions they feel are within their control, in addition to where support is needed. As a community they continue to work collaboratively to refine the list of High Impact Action Items for Ontario. Here is the latest list of 10:

    High Impact Action Items:

    1. Navigate & Coordinate

    • Promote patient navigator role that can enable easier patient/caregiver access to resources including those that go beyond health care resources. This could include linking home care coordination to primary care.

    2. Integrate EMRs

    • Either single or intra-operable EMR/EHR systems that can both push and pull required information. Integration of EMRs can enhance quality of care provided and practice efficiency by promoting easier and better communication.

    3. Access to Mental Health and Addictions

    • Provide mental health and addictions supports in the community, embedding these supports in primary care.

    4. Organizing Primary Care

    • Come together at the local level to organize primary care and move towards more team-based care for more Ontarians, opening up the FHO model for primary care delivery.

    5. Practice Facilitation & Change Management

    • Provide dedicated resources to enable peer -to -peer coaching and uptake by providers. A QI-enabled, evidence-driven health care system, in turn, enables best practices.

    6. Build the Extended Team

    • Identify and provide support to the extended team that wraps around the patient/ family/caregivers and provide supports to enable the team to be high performing.

    7. Streamline & Reduce Administrative Burden

    • Reduce bureaucracy and administrative burden.

    8. Recognize and Support Primary Care Continuity

    • Promote the patient/caregiver and provider relationship, ensuring that the care is provided according to the principles of comprehensiveness and continuity.

    9. Build Connections to Address the Social Determinants of Health

    • Recognize the social determinants of health as factors that influence health and well being outside of access to healthcare services, adopting practices like social prescribing.

    10. Patients as Partners

    • Empower patients to take greater control and ownership over their health.

    Local Change Ideas:

    The Primary Care Virtual Community has given communities the opportunity to identify what’s meaningful to them. What are their pain points, headaches or areas that can be improved? And more importantly what changes can be made at the local level to support providers, their clinical practices and the delivery of patient care. Building on the change ideas identified in the primary care high impact actions for Ontario, this document highlights local challenges and solutions to improve clinical practices and care delivery in your own communities. This document is only the beginning of creating a repository of change ideas. Please complete this survey to provide local change ideas within your community!

    The February 13th and the November 21st Virtual Community focused on Organizing Primary Care – the community learned from a number of primary care leaders about how they are mobilizing the primary care community to self-organize and identify what their needs are. We’re pleased to share their lessons and advice with the release of Primary Care Physicians: Working Together for Change primer which highlights strategies that can be employed for organizing primary care at the local level.

    Resources:

    Upcoming Webinars:

    • Improving cancer screening rates in your practice and reducing related disparities – Feb 20, 2020 – Sign up here

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #94 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

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

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

    Your Weekly News & Updates

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

    AFHTO members & OHTs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Let’s #shapetheshift together.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Ontario Privacy Commissioner 2018 annual report

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

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

     

     

     

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

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

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

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