Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: Members Only

  • CORE Back Tool- now updated

    In 2012, the Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) was engaged by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care as part of their provincial Low Back Pain Strategy. To address the healthcare provider education component of this strategy, CEP developed a toolkit for primary care providers, provided in-person education sessions as well as an online education module. The Clinically Organized Relevant Exam (CORE) Back Tool was one tool included in the toolkit. It was developed in response to the needs identified by primary care providers and was designed to assist with the assessment and management of patients with low back pain in primary care settings. As a result of the overwhelmingly positive feedback received from health care providers using the tool, CEP decided to undertake an update to the tool. The purpose is to increase awareness and knowledge of evidence-based, best practice for the assessment and management of low back pain. This tool was developed under the clinical leadership of Dr. Julia Alleyne (M.D., Toronto Rehabilitation Institute) and was designed for day-to-day use in a typical primary care setting. Relevant Links

     

  • Provincial Guidelines for Epilepsy Surgery Referrals in Ontario

    Critical Care Services Ontario has recently released the Provincial Guidelines for Epilepsy Surgery Referrals in Ontario. This provides recommendations to referring physicians on appropriate evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic referrals for patients who are determined to have medically-refractory epilepsy. It defines evidence-based indications for epilepsy surgery with careful consideration given to the paediatric population. This document was produced by Critical Care Services Ontario (CCSO), in collaboration with Provincial Neurosurgery Ontario (PNO), and the Epilepsy Implementation Task Force (EITF), a provincial initiative to implement an integrated system for epilepsy care in Ontario.

  • Data to Decisions eBulletin #30: Higher quality and lower cost

    News Flash: Patients of higher quality teams have lower healthcare costs! From D2D 3.0 comes concrete evidence that the work you put into quality does make a difference! Early notice that D2D 4.0 is now scheduled for Fall 2016. Watch this space for emerging details. Focus Groups with IHPs – looking beyond measurement to improvement in interprofessional care: IHPs will be sharing their clinical perspectives on how AFHTO can help teams move from measurement to improvement. Some focus groups have already been scheduled, and we are still seeking participants for others. How is D2D working for you? We are currently scheduling interviews between Dan Wagner (MSc student) and EDs/Admin Leads to find out what teams have to say about D2D. Contact Carol Mulder for more information. Quality Improvement Toolkits from Cancer Care Ontario: Toolkits are now available for advance care planning and improving cancer screening for quality improvement planning. Program Planning Tools available online: Program Planning & Evaluation Tools and a newly developed Indicator Catalogue are now available to support teams in completing Schedule A requirements.

    Help spread the word about D2D – invite others to sign up for the e-Bulletin online.  Getting too many emails? Scroll to the bottom of the original email for the unsubscribe link.

  • Higher quality care linked to lower healthcare costs

    The biggest news coming out of D2D 3.0 is the concrete data that higher quality comprehensive, patient-centered care is related to lower healthcare costs.

    Data to Decisions (D2D) is making an impact well beyond what it means to individual teams. 

    In addition to showing teams how they compare to their peers, D2D is making it easier for AFHTO to advocate for how team-based primary care could be measured across the province.  With all the data submitted by members, we can show that measuring in a way that is meaningful and manageable for front-line providers makes a difference.

    What difference does this make to your team?

    Perhaps you and your team will be encouraged to hear the good news that high quality care is related to lower health system costs. The work you put into quality improvement does make a difference. You may also be encouraged by the early evidence from D2D (consistent with other published literature[1] ) that AFHTO members deliver better quality than the rest of the province on average.  The comparison is not totally valid (because of differences in data sources and patient demographics) but it IS a comparison that many are interested in making.  AFHTO is using D2D data to support arguments for a provincial solution for consistent capture of patient experience data as well as easier, more timely access to other important data sources.  Finally, you and your team may also be encouraged that AFHTO now has an even more compelling argument for aligning performance in primary care with what really matters to patients and primary care teams. In the meantime, you may find the quality roll-up indicator useful at the local level (select the “Roll-up” tab at the top of the display).  We have put together some tips for using your results to focus improvement efforts. And if you’d like to spread the good news around, consider sharing this handout with your colleagues. [1] Kiran, T., Victor, J., Kopp, A., Shah, B., & Glazier, R. 2014. The Relationship between Primary Care Models and Processes of Diabetes Care in Ontario. Canadian Journal Of Diabetes, 38(3), 172-178.

  • Re: Update on Compensation Commitment Announced in 2016-17 Provincial Budget 2016-17

    Dear Colleagues

     

    As we all now know, the Government announced in their budget funding for compensation related to interprofessional primary care teams. Specifically, the commitment stated: “To ensure these clinics (CHCs, NPLCs, FHTs, AHACs and nursing stations) can effectively recruit and retain qualified interprofessional staff in primary care settings, Ontario will invest an additional $85 million over three years.”

     

    Yesterday, AOHC, AFHTO and NPAO met with the Ministry primary care team to get a better understanding of the implications of this announcement and to discuss an implementation plan.

     

    This is what we learned:

    • The organizations included in this announcement are AHACs, CHCs, NPLCs, FHTs as well as other primary care organizations and team members such as nursing stations, providers such as social workers hired by family health groups and other funded independent Primary Care NPs.
    •  The funding for year one is effective April 1 2016.
    • The plan is to rollout these funds over 2 years.
    • The $85M is a cumulative amount but the annualized amount is to base and is permanent.

     

    The AFHTO-AOHC-NPAO proposal remains our goal – we continue to advocate to achieve the 2012 recommended salary rates for all staff (IHP and admin) in primary care teams, to be implemented over 4 years. The Ministry recognizes that this $85M commitment is the first step in a process and is committed to working with us to achieve our overall goal. Two years from now, the opportunity for further increases is likely to open up.   The Government is committed to eliminating the deficit by the end of 2017-18 and some of the compensation constraints may be lifted for the following fiscal year. This will provide opportunities to address the remaining gaps.

     

    Given this context, in the first 2 years of this rollout (the $85M), AOHC, AFHTO and NPAO continue to be guided by the principles that our members agreed to in 2012, specifically:

    •  Increasing benefits from 20% to 22.5% to enable HOOPP
    •  Placing all professions in the correct salary band, i.e. band corrections for health promoters, registered dietitians, and nurse practitioners
    • Funding allocations that would equitably close the gap between current rates for each salary band and the 2012 recommended rates for those bands. These salary bands apply to all members of primary care teams.

     

    Next Steps:

    1. Given these principles, the MOHLTC is doing some calculations and developing options.   They have the full information they need for FHTs and NPLCs and are collecting additional information from CHCs and AHACs – specifically the number of FTEs per band.
    2. Once these calculations are completed, the MOHLTC will reconvene with the three associations to discuss next steps.

    The MOHLTC and the three associations are committed to getting you this information as soon as possible; but we need to ensure that we collectively take time to get this right and to ensure the equitable outcomes for all your staff. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any further questions or concerns at this time.
    Adrianna Tetley Association of Ontario Health Centres of Ontario Angie Heydon Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario Theresa Agnew Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario

     

  • ED Mentor Resources

    AFHTO’s Executive Director mentorship program, developed in response to member requests, aims to  provide peer support for any member EDs or Administrative Leads who feel they could benefit from it. We strive to match mentors and mentees whose teams work in similar environments, taking into consideration geography, size, governance structure, academic or Francophone status, and other characteristics that reflect the diversity of our membership.

    ED Mentorship Orientation

    The mentorship program was launched in February 2016 with an orientation webinar for ED mentors, presented in partnership with the Centre for Effective Practice (CEP).

    Mentors have been matched with mentees and will be reaching out to them over the coming weeks.

    Additional Resources for ED Mentors

    The following supplemental materials are available to assist our ED mentors in fulfilling this role:

    As the program evolves, more materials will be made available.

    ED Mentorship Program Overview

    Mentoring is about supporting people to develop more effectively. It is a relationship based on trust, designed to build confidence and to help a mentee take increasing initiative. Mentoring occurs when two individuals decide to work together to achieve specific objectives for skills, growth and development. One individual has the skill, knowledge and experience that the other individual aims to acquire.  

    Benefits of AFHTO’s Executive director (ED) Mentoring Program

    Benefits to Mentors

    Benefits to Mentees
    • Being part of a solution to build capacity for leadership in primary care
    • Pleasure of giving back and passing on skills, knowledge and wisdom
    • Satisfaction of enhancing a mentee’s understanding of the FHT/NPLC workplace
    • Heightened profile within their workplace
    • Coaching practice and leadership skills
    • Heightened self-awareness
    • Access to wisdom and expertise in a confidential safe relationship
    • Opportunities for self-assessment
    • Greater understanding of current business practices
    • Introduction to business networks and related supports

    The Program So Far

    Since the launch of the mentorship program in February 2016, we have matched 15 mentor-mentee pairs. All of them have connected, and most have had a face-to-face meeting followed by ongoing email support. What we have heard from them is very encouraging and a testament to the strong leaders in our membership. Mentees overwhelmingly agree that their mentors are well-suited to support them, knowledgeable, and able to provide needed support. Mentors are telling us that their mentees are receptive and open to receiving it. Here is a sample of what the program participants are saying:

    • “My mentor is awesome, very helpful! She provides amazing support.”
    • “My mentor is very knowledgeable and easy to work with. She always makes time to answer questions and provide guidance when required.”
    • “I would suggest having a mentor work with all new EDs when they come onboard.”
    • “I can learn as much from my mentee as she can from me. Seems to be working for both of us.”

    More Information

    Follow this link to learn more about AFHTO’s mentorship program, including the ideal qualities for successful mentors and mentees.

  • CCO Cancer Screening & Advance Care Planning QI Toolkits

    Cancer Care Ontario is pleased to share two updated Quality Improvement Toolkits. These resources have been developed to support Ontario’s inter-professional, team-based primary care organizations with their annual Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs), which are due to Health Quality Ontario by April 1st. Cancer Screening Quality Improvement Toolkit

    • This toolkit has been developed to assist primary care providers in planning, implementing, monitoring and reporting on improvements in colorectal, cervical and breast cancer screening
    • Cervical and colorectal cancer screening have been identified as priority indicators for the 2016/2017 QIP cycle
    • The toolkit includes: 1) instructions; 2) a measurement, tracking and evaluation tool; and 3) a patient tracking tool

    Advance Care Planning Quality Improvement Toolkit

    • Family physicians and other primary care providers are ideally positioned to initiate Advance Care Planning (ACP) conversations, and there are numerous benefits to incorporating ACP into primary care practices
    • This updated toolkit reinforces its connection to the Health Care Consent Act and ensures alignment with Ontario’s legal landscape

    Where can I find the Quality Improvement Toolkits? The toolkits and supporting resources are available for downloading at cancercare.on.ca/pcresources. Questions/suggestions? If you have any questions or suggestions about the cancer screening toolkit, please send them to screenforlife@cancercare.on.ca or call 1-866-662-9233. For questions or suggestions about the ACP toolkit, please send them to Tara.Walton@cancercare.on.ca. We encourage you to use these toolkits as part of your quality improvement planning and share these resources with your networks.

  • AFHTO & MOHLTC Joint Webinar: Program Development for FY 2016-17

    AFHTO & the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care have introduced a suite of program planning and evaluation tools, created by AFHTO and the Ministry to assist our member teams in developing programs for the 2016-17 fiscal

    • Program Planning & Evaluation Framework [PDF]: developed jointly between AFHTO member ED Work Group and the Ministry, the framework is intended to be a guide for FHTs and NPLCs to use when developing new or evaluating current programs, and to help promote the delivery of effective programs. The Framework will be a valuable reference to support teams in completing their program reporting requirements.
    • Indicator Catalogue [opens an Excel spreadsheet]: the indicator catalogue is another supportive guide developed for FHTs/NPLCs to use when selecting meaningful measures for their programs that are based on clinical guidelines. The catalogue will enable teams to find sample indicators that can be used to measure progress on specific objectives and select indicators that align most appropriately with the goals of their programs.

    These were presented in a webinar offered in two sessions, Wednesday, February 24, 2016 and Tuesday, March 1, 2016. The March 1 session was recorded and can be found here, along with the presentation slide deck and a number of other resources which were designed for use with the Framework and Catalogue.

  • Data to Decisions eBulletin #29: Quality Improvement focus groups with IHPs

    Moving beyond measurement to improvement in interprofessional care – Focus groups with IHPs are being set up now – please visit our site for more information and pass this on to your IHPs. How is D2D working for you? AFHTO is partnering with Dan Wagner (MSc student) and Dr. Noah Ivers to find out so invitations for interviews will be sent in the coming weeks. Contact Carol Mulder for more information. Questions about “time spent delivering care”? See the videos featuring comments by FHT doctors Rob Annis and Sean Blaine. Sean is AFHTO President and Rob serves as AFHTO Treasurer and Chair of the Physician Leadership Council. More QIP webinars from HQO – ‘Beginners Education on submitting QIPS’ and ‘QIP Conversations’ will be held on various dates in February and March. Webinars on Program Planning, Indicator Catalogue and Schedule A reporting requirements– Register and pick the session you wish to attend: February 24th 2:00-3:30 pm OR March 1st 12:00-1:30pm. Join a mental health and addictions community of practice– deadline to join ECHO Ontario Mental Health (a partnership between CAMH and University of Toronto) is February 26th, 2016.

    Help spread the word about D2D – invite others to sign up for the e-Bulletin online.  Getting too many emails? Scroll to the bottom of the original email for the unsubscribe link.

  • Rules of Engagement: Meaningful patient engagement initiatives

    Rules of Engagement: Lessons from PANORAMA [PDF] serves as a resource for health providers and professionals, outlining key moments in the engagement process that require extra thought and preparation. These recommendations can help ensure that patient engagement initiatives deliver results for organizations, and also make participants feel valued and respected in the process. The PANORAMA Panel was a ground-breaking patient engagement project undertaken by The Change Foundation. Over the course of two years, 31 panelists from across Ontario met to share their lived experiences and insights as patients and family caregivers on a range of issues related to improving people’s healthcare experience. This project consolidated the essential points to consider when starting or running a patient engagement initiative. Report and Related Products