AFHTO is very pleased to announce the availability of approximately $95,000 in Quality Improvement Decision Support (QIDS) Innovation Funding. It is anticipated that three to five innovative projects will be supported through this fund. Every effort is being made to maintain a simple, yet transparent and open process for the allocation of these funds to make this opportunity serve as a catalyst for collaboration and sector capacity building. All interested members, regardless of current Quality Improvement or EMR sophistication or prior involvement with the QIDS initiative are encouraged to consider applying or joining with peers to submit an application. Please refer to the QIDS Innovation Submission Process and Guidelines on the AFHTO members-only web-site for more detail. Note that this one-time opportunity is very time sensitive! Interested applicants will need to notify Tim Burns, Provincial Lead, QIDS Program (tim.burns@afhto.ca) of their intent to apply by December 6, 2013.
Tag: Library
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Update on 2014-15 operating plan and budget process
In the course of a meeting of with the Ministry’s FHT Unit yesterday, we learned the target distribution date for the 2014-15 operating plan packages is in early January. FHTs would have two months to complete their plans for submission in early March. This meeting was the next step in our work toward achieving greater flexibility in FHT budgets, as agreed in the most recent quarterly meeting of AFHTO, AOHC and the Ministry’s FHT Unit. (Click here for meeting report.) The purpose was to review:
- Draft criteria to assess readiness to govern and manage a more flexible budget, developed through AFHTO’s ED Advisory Council, and
- The FHT Unit’s initial ideas to move toward more meaningful accountability reporting.
The FHT Unit will do further work on a number of questions raised in the course of the meeting. Over the next number of weeks AFHTO and AOHC will receive drafts of templates for readiness assessment, quarterly reporting and the annual operating plan submission for review and comment. Thank you to the FHT EDs who worked on drafting the readiness criteria, the ED Advisory Council for their comments and support. Thank you as well to those who participated in yesterday’s meeting:
- MOHLTC: Phil Graham (Manager, FHTs and Related Programs), Fernando Tavares (Acting Program Manager), and Johlen Jordens (Acting Senior Program Consultant)
- FHT EDs: Randy Belair (Sunset Country FHT in Kenora), Michelle Karker (East Wellington FHT), Keri Selkirk (Thames Valley FHT in London)
- Association staff: Angie Heydon and Clarys Tirel (Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario), Leah Stephenson (Association of Ontario Health Centres)
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Seeking FHT/NPLC board members to serve as advisors and/or peer facilitators for AFHTO’s Governance and Leadership Program
This notice is e-mailed to current board chairs and EDs, please forward to other past and current members of your board who may be interested. AFHTO has received Ministry funding to support strengthened governance and leadership for our members. This results from AFHTO’s advocacy and the Ministry’s interest in sustaining and spreading the work that began through last spring’s Governing for Quality in Primary Care training program. To guide program development and implementation, AFHTO is seeking current and past FHT and NPLC board members with experience in exemplary governance to serve as:
- Members of the Governance and Leadership Program Advisory Committee; AND/ OR
- Peer facilitators for learning programs and discussion groups.
Members of the Governance and Leadership Program Advisory Committee: The advisory committee’s role is to:
- Provide input and direction for the development of the Governance and Leadership Program for interprofessional primary care organizations.
- Ensure all aspects of the program are relevant to organizations within AFHTO’s membership.
- Ensure the overall program builds and supports on-going capacity for effective governance and leadership of interprofessional primary care organizations, on behalf of the organization’s patients, community and Ontarians.
(Click here for full terms of reference.) Peer facilitators within the Governance and Leadership Program: AFHTO is looking to develop a cadre of experienced board members to become trained peer facilitators who can be called upon from time to time to support governance and leadership development in FHTs and NPLCs. Between January and March 2014, AFHTO will offer the “Effective Governance for Quality and Patient Safety” workshops developed by the Canadian Patient and Safety Institute (CPSI). In partnership with CPSI, peer facilitators will be trained and supported to lead these learning programs. The peer facilitators will have a unique opportunity to explore evidence-informed approaches to governance and leadership and to share innovative health governance practices, resources and tools. The peer facilitators will be expected to attend a one day “train the trainer session” in January and to support two 1 day workshops (one in February and a second one in March). The peer facilitators will also be expected to meet with the Advisory Committee for one to two teleconferences. An honorarium will be provided to the peer facilitators in recognition of their time and all travel and accommodation expenses will be reimbursed. As AFHTO develops additional components of the Governance and Leadership Program, we hope to have a sufficiently large cadre of trained peer facilitators to draw from to support other learning programs. We would hope that peer leaders be prepared to invest at least 2 days per year to support learning events, discussion groups or other developmental activities. If you are interested in getting involved in the advisory committee and/or as a peer facilitator, please complete the following survey monkey by November 18: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GovAdvisory_Peerfacilitator_application If you have any questions, please contact Clarys Tirel at clarys.tirel@afhto.ca
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AFHTO’s input to OMA’s Negotiations Committee
Just before the AFHTO 2013 Conference, the OMA Negotiations Committee requested input from AFHTO “to identify potential topics or areas of focus that might warrant consideration during Ministry negotiations.” Their deadline for response was November 1, 2013. While the turnaround period was tight, the timing was ideal – two valuable opportunities to solicit membership input were taking place immediately before the AFHTO conference: the FHT Physician Networking Session and the Executive Director Advisory Committee. AFHTO’s response is based on the input received from these groups and approved by the AFHTO board. We are sharing AFHTO’s letter to the OMA’s Negotiations Committee with the board chairs, lead physicians and EDs of our member organizations, as well as about 50 physicians who had signed up for the pre-conference FHT Physician Networking Session. Click here to see AFHTO’s letter to the OMA Negotiations Committee.
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Additions to Interprofessional Health Care Providers in FHTs
Memo to: Executive Directors, Ontario’s Family Health Teams From: Phil Graham, Manager, Family Health Teams & Related Programs, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Click below for print versions of the memo in English and in French:
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AFHTO 2013 Conference – EMR Users Meetings
EMR Vendors hosted information and knowledge sharing sessions for AFHTO member users with the aim of working towards responding to evolving measurement and reporting requirements. The EMR User Meetings give FHTs the opportunity to develop their skills, knowledge and share best practices for maximizing their use of the EMR system. AFHTO –TELUS Health: PS Suite working group presentations The spreadsheet posted below presents the details of the responses from TELUS Health to the priority items identified by the working group and outlined in the presentation.
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AFHTO 2013 Conference – Meaningful Use of EMRs
Theme Description: “Meaningful use” goes beyond storing patient information in an electronic version of a paper chart. It includes using the data and functionality of the EMR to advance the clinical process of care and improve outcomes. The US Centres for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS) has defined “meaningful use” as using EHR/EMR technology to:
- Improve quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce health disparities
- Engage patients and families in their health care
- Improve care coordination
- Improve population and public health
- All the while maintaining privacy and security
Presentations in this stream will focus on what can be done in the FHT environment to develop a greater degree of “meaningful use” to achieve these ends. C8 – Guelph HealthLink: Resurfacing an integrated Electronic Health Record (IEHR) The long promised integrated Electronic Health Record (IEHR)is developing a new energy through the HealthLink initiative. A Guelph FHT IT team explains their approach to providing tools to patients and HealthLink partners that shares useful information supporting coordinating community assessment and ongoing care. D8 – How can I remember what FHT programs are offered? – How the EMR can help! This presentation will describe an effective collaboration for integrated quality improvements across partner agencies through joint LEAN training to develop skills and enrich the understanding of the organizations for future teamwork, integrated process enhancements and change. E8 – Personal Health Records – not so scary after all The purpose of this panel will be to explore several clinics’ experiences with a PHR, including benefits to patients and providers, implementation tips, and potential challenges. Through these clinics’ stories, attendees will gain valuable knowledge regarding the current state and future vision of PHRs and how they can get started in their own teams.
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AFHTO 2013 Conference – Innovation in Interprofessional Collaborative Team Implementation
Theme Description: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts – this is the goal of interprofessional teams. Interprofessional collaboration is the process of communication and decision making that enables the separate and shared knowledge and skills of care providers – and the patient – to create synergy in patient care. It involves the concepts of mutual respect, maximum use of collective resources, and awareness of individual accountabilities, and competence and capabilities within respective scopes of practice. Presentations in this stream will focus on innovative methods to develop evolving, dynamic teams focused on the value of collaboration and inclusiveness. A7-A – Unhealthy FHOs Equals an Underperforming FHT: Common Problems in FHO’s and How they can be Corrected to Improve FHT Performance A major factor in the success of every Family Health Team is how well the Family Health Organization (FHO) is performing. Cirrus Consulting Group has learned the common problems that exist between FHOs and FHTs and best practices to improve both, the relationship between the two parties and overall FHT performance. A7-B – A focus of health care reform: managing physical disabilities/complex patients in primary care The Centre for Family Medicine in Kitchener has operated an inter-professional clinic for the past 3 years that has broken down the barriers to improve access and quality of care to persons with disabilities. This presentation will review the set up and organization of the clinic and strengths and challenges encountered. A7-C – Collaborating With Physicians Into Mental Health Treatment This presentation will be aimed at demonstrating examples whereby family physicians and their Interdisciplinary Health professionals have collaborated mental health practice. The overview provides ideas on how to motivate physicians to participate in individual or group sessions including viewpoints by a psychometrist/mental health program lead and two physicians to ensure a collaborative approach. B7 – The Obesity Story: Using the Obesity Services Planning Framework to Improve Team Practice This session aims to familiarize participants with the key features and possible uses of a flexible population-based planning framework for managing obesity in team-based primary care. C7 – Nurturing Collaboration in a Large, Geographically Dispersed FHT Strategies look to respect and respond to local differences, while also capitalizing on the advantages of a larger organization to develop FHT-wide policies and programs. This presentation will share some of those strategies and note the successes and challenges. D7 – The System Navigator – the new role in the McMaster Family Health Team At McMaster FHT, the Case Manager/System Navigator was developed in recognition of the many issues, medical and non-medical, a patient faces that affect their health and well-being. This presentation will introduce this new position in the health care team, explore strategies for describing and applying for this role within the inter-professional family health team setting and discuss case scenarios /patient experiences. E7 – A Unique Interprofessional Approach to Delivering Ongoing Care to Patients with Celiac Disease in a Primary Care Setting : A Dietitian, Physician and Chaplain Collaboration A unique team including a dietitian, family physician and chaplain began to look closer at how to better identify and accommodate a vulnerable population with celiac disease, often lost to care in family practice, with the intention to enhance knowledge translation and earlier intervention by clinicians. F7 – Developing Resilience in our FHT’s through Innovative Program in Mindfulness Training Mindfulness based programs have been shown to enhance provider resilience, team functioning and quality of care. This workshop with begin with a definition of mindfulness and review some of the burgeoning evidence of the effectiveness of mindfulness programs for health care providers and teams.
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AFHTO 2013 Conference – Advances in Health Promotions and Chronic Disease Management
Theme Description: Family Health Teams have been focused on health promotion, disease prevention and chronic disease management since the first teams were announced in 2005. What advances have we made? What is the new knowledge that’s emerging? What is the evidence for what works to keep people as healthy as they can be? A5 – Pulmonary Rehabilitation in the Barrie Community Family Health Team – in Primary Care A presentation of patient flow in the BCFHT will demonstrate how a PR program normally hosted in a tertiary care center; can be as effective in the primary care setting, utilizing a team approach. B5 – STOP with FHTs: Building Capacity to deliver Smoking Cessation Programming in Family Health Teams Highlighting FHTs as they integrate smoking cessation interventions into individual and organizational practices, this presentation will show how multi-stakeholder partnerships collaborate to create comprehensive smoking cessation programming in the primary care setting in Ontario. C5 – The “One Stop Shop” Diabetes program: Engaging, Aligning, and Integrating interdisciplinary team to create a patient-focused program This workshop will be divided into two components; a presentation outlining DCG’s program, followed by group discussion related to current challenges and possible solutions at DCG and other similar programs within your FHT in an effort to continue to provide exceptional interdisciplinary care to the diabetes population. D5 – Outcome Measurement: Developing a culture of Measurement, Optimization and Impact at Diabetes Care Guelph The successes and challenges related to tracking patient data in a diabetes education center are presented so other practices may benefit from the experience shared with the goal of reducing the likelihood of repeating similar time-intensive challenges and increasing process efficiency. E5 – Sustainability versus Feasibility: lessons learned from a pilot health coaching project This project titled: ‘Health Coaching in Primary care: a feasibility model” piloted health coaching for patients with diabetes in two Family Health Teams and a Community Health Centre. F5 – Exercise; The missing ingredient in the FHT recipe We will present some background data on the role of exercise therapy for chronic disease management, as well as the successes and challenges with including this type of program in a FHT, as well as a summary of outcome data and future program plans
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AFHTO 2013 Conference – Integration: Building the team beyond the FHT
Theme description: While Health Links are focused on high users of health services, all Ontarians stand to benefit – as patients and citizens – from greater collaboration among healthcare providers, other agencies, community stakeholders and governments. Presentations in this stream will focus on building collaborative relationships and working with community partners towards providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place. This includes improving the patient’s experience during their journey through the health care system, and identifying and addressing gaps in the quality of care and service delivery for individuals with complex chronic illnesses and other needs that compromise health. A4 – CVFHT Lung League – Our journey to decreasing ER visits by 50% This team presentation will describe both internal and external process improvement and outcomes through a variety of measurements and patient/stakeholder case studies including process improvements made to CDM, prevention and business case. B4-A – PATH – Partners Advancing Transitions In Healthcare PATH – “Partners Advancing Transitions in Healthcare” is a community-based partnership between patients, caregivers and providers working together to understand people’s experiences at key transitions between healthcare settings and services. The PATH Partners will work together in teams, using experience based co-design, to re-design transition processes and measure the impact of the improved processes. B4-B – Strategies to address the social determinants of health and health equity in clinical practice The presentation will begin with a brief overview of the impact of the social determinants of health on overall population health followed by an overview of the study design and methodology. C4 – “Mind the Gap” – Addressing Phlebotomy in Rural Ontario: A Case Study in Partnership, Community Engagement and Grass Roots Initiative-Taking During this presentation, first hand experiences of mobilizing local community stakeholders, advocating with the Ministry of Health, collaborating with partner health service providers, and engaging the private sector will be shared. D4 – Adopting a Network Approach – promoting skills and preventing duplication in multi-provider areas via networks that work (presentation to follow) Participants will see concrete examples of a network approach to successful stakeholder partnerships and its impact on access to care as well as benefits for providers. Successes, challenges and lessons learned will be shared, as will specific information on best practices in smoking cessation and falls prevention program delivery. E4 – Integrated Hospice Palliative Care: Bringing Family Physicians Back into the Team Recognizing the critical role played by Family Physicians in caring for patients at the end-of-life, local stakeholders collaborated to re-integrate primary care in the provision of HPC care in Guelph. This integrated approach being implemented in Guelph respects patients’ end-of-life care wishes while supporting families into bereavement all while maintaining the trusted patient – family physician relationship. F4 – Innovative Partnerships to improve patient care and address social determinants of health This presentation discussed two key points: to help reduce ER visits and support complex patients; and to support patients with social determinants of health barriers.