Tag: Members Only News

  • Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report, Provincial Antigen Screening Program and Last Chance to Order Oxygen Saturation Monitors

    Dear Triad Members,

    Please see below for some important information from Ontario Health.

    Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report
    Together with their stakeholders, Ontario Health will be providing family physicians with a new report to help you identify patients in your panel that have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Additional supports will help you to identify who in your practice has not yet been vaccinated.

    This Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report will be available for all primary care providers who practice as part of a patient enrollment model (FHO, FHG, FHN, or CCM).  A OneID account is required to access the report. Please see the attached memo from Ontario Health about this important initiative. This report is not yet available to NPLCs and CHCs and we are seeking clarity for the BSM model as well.  

    Just a reminder that Health Report Manager (HRM) has been pushing data prospectively to primary care providers when their name has been collected through COVaxON at point of vaccination. Further information around HRM COVaxON Vaccination Reports can be found on the OntarioMD website here.

    COVID vaccination data is also available through the provincial clinical viewers, Connecting Ontario and Clinical Connect. Access to the viewers can be requested via Ontario Health’s Digital Health Service’s website.

    Provincial Antigen Screening Program
    Led by the Ministry of Health, with support from partner ministries, Public Health Ontario and Ontario Health, the Provincial Antigen Screening Program (PASP) provides free rapid antigen test kits to any organization that is open and requires individuals to be on-site, including primary care practices. The PASP allows employers in priority settings to add an additional safety measure in high-risk and essential workplaces, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

    Through the program, rapid antigen point-of-care tests (POCTs) can be distributed to primary care settings to enhance existing routine screening measures for asymptomatic employees and other identified groups. Please see attached memo for more information about the PASP and how you can order test kits for your clinics.

    Oxygen saturation of COVID home monitoring
    The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unexpected surges in demand on the provincial healthcare system, and healthcare settings across the province face patient capacity constraints, potentially affecting care for all patients. To help ease these constraints, Ontario Health is providing tools and resources for COVID@Home to help primary care providers who wish to remotely monitor people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 in the community.

    Oxygen saturation monitors are still available to be ordered by primary care clinics and interprofessional primary care team offices through the provincial pandemic stockpile until June 30th. Thank you to all the teams that are also participating in the COVID@Home or other programs that support patients with mild to moderate in their homes – if you are interested in the clinical pathways to help support the development of a program in your team please click here.

    As always please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

    Yours in good health,
    The AFHTO Team

  • Bits & Pieces: PTSD, relationships & accessible supports, farewell to Rachel and more

    Bits & Pieces: PTSD, relationships & accessible supports, farewell to Rachel and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates


    In This Issue  
    • PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support, July 14
    • Farewell to Rachel So
    • Attn: Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk only available live
    • Call for applications to Indigenous and expanded midwifery programs
    • Member stories
    • Q&A for mixed COVID-19 mRNA vaccine schedules and more
    • COVID@Home: winding down of distribution pathways for oxygen saturation monitors
    • Mental health of northern Ontario nurses working during COVID-19 study
    • Upcoming events regarding providing care to 2SLGBTQ persons and more

    PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support, July 14

    Co-hosted with Couple HOPES, join this webinar with Dr. Candice Monson, Professor of Psychology at Ryerson University, Director of the IMPACT psychology research lab, and Registered Clinical Psychologist as she discusses posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and relationships.

    During this webinar, you will learn about:

    • PTSD and its symptoms;
    • how PTSD impacts relationships;
    • and how relationships impact PTSD.

    Register here.


    Rachel So headshot

    Farewell to Rachel So

    It is with genuinely mixed feelings we announce that Rachel So will be leaving AFHTO for a new role in the non-profit sector.

    Rachel has been with AFHTO for nearly three years, starting first as our conference assistant before becoming our Programs & Operations Coordinator, so many have you had the pleasure of working with her over the last few years.

    We’re going to miss Rachel but know she will bring so much to her new team. Please join us in giving her our sincerest best wishes. Her last day with AFHTO will be Friday, June 25th – any questions related to her work can be directed to info@afhto.ca.

     


    GeriMedrisk title slide

    Attn: Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk only available live

    In Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk: drug safety for older adults beyond “Start Low, Go Slow” on June 24, Dr. Ho will review the pharmacology of aging and its impact on adverse drug events among seniors. We’ll also explore tools and services for primary care providers to use to optimize drug safety. Unlike most of our webinars, this will NOT be recorded, and slides will NOT be available afterwards. So register today.


    Call for applications to Indigenous and expanded midwifery programs

    The Ministry of Health is inviting applications for two programs with a special focus on improving access, choice, and care that is responsive to the needs of the community. These are:

    • Indigenous Midwifery Programs (IMP)- one of these models works within Interprofessional Primary Health Care Teams
    • Expanded Midwifery Care Models (EMCM)- could include, but are not limited to, interprofessional primary care teams in areas of demonstrated need.

    The Primary Health Care Branch is hosting a webinar about this initiative on June 28, 2021. To participate, please send an email to midwifery@ontario.ca by Friday, June 25, 2021, noting contact information for interested participants and the ministry will reach out to those individuals with the webinar details. The Indigenous midwifery team at the AOM is also offering a webinar on Wednesday, July 14 12:00pm-1:30pm. Get more information here.


    Member stories
    Markham FHT – our president and chair Dr. Allan Grill on CTV on protecting immunocompromised individuals and vaccine interchangeability

    Municipality of Assiginack FHTGwekwaadziwin Miikan success leads to new pilot project for adults over 30

    Norfolk FHTwins Transformative Change Award with Grand River CHC for providing primary and COVID-19 support to seasonal agricultural workers.


    Q&A for mixed COVID-19 mRNA vaccine schedules and more

    Recent updates include:

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


    COVID@Home: winding down of distribution pathways for oxygen saturation monitors

    The COVID@Home initiative was designed to help primary care providers to remotely monitor patients who have mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms in the community. As the third wave of the pandemic subsides and health care capacity constraints gradually abate, Ontario Health will begin to wind down the distribution program for oxygen saturation monitors. Primary care professionals and teams who are still in need of oxygen saturation monitors should place orders by June 30th. Find out more here. 


    Mental health of northern Ontario nurses working during COVID-19 studyResearchers from Laurentian University’s Centre of Research in Occupational Health and Safety (CROSH) and the Public Services Health & Safety Association are conducting a study to explore the mental health of Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) in northern Ontario working during the COVID-19 global pandemic. This study aims to understand the perspective and experiences of nurses, their support needs to cope with the COVID-19 crisis, and its consequences. For more information visit their site.


    COVID@Home Community of Practice, June 23, 2021

    Learn how to monitor your COVID-19 patients in the community through this CoP.
    Learn more here.


    Providing Care to 2SLGBTQ Persons, June 24, 2021

    Discuss cultural safety and humility, clinical competencies, and interdisciplinary care for cisgender and transgender patients with speakers with the Ontario Caregiver Organization.
    Register here.


    OHT Learnings through COVID-19, June 28, 2021

    The Ministry of Health (ministry) and Ontario Health are hosting the third OHT Virtual Engagement Series webinar Register here.


    Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP, June 17 & July 8, 2021
    Join PCPs, EDs & clinical managers from AFHTO, AHC & NPLCA to share learnings, tools and strategies to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario.
    Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: 2022 election priorities, free bot to document vaccines and more

    Bits & Pieces: 2022 election priorities, free bot to document vaccines and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates


    In This Issue  
    • 2022 Election Priorities: seeking members’ input
    • AFHTO statement on racism and hate
    • Reminder- Cancer screening during the pandemic and onwards, June 21
    • Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 30
    • Free bot to help document vaccinations and more
    • Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program slides and video
    • COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky webinar materials
    • New regulation to streamline reporting requirements under OHSA
    • Oxygen saturation monitors still available
    • Seeking dietitians’ input -nutrition screening in primary and community care
    • Upcoming events regarding geriatric clinical pharmacology and more

    2022 Election Priorities: seeking members’ input

    The provincial election is fast approaching! Election day will be on or before June 2, 2022 – less than a year away.

    We will continue to be strongly advocating for expansion of team-based primary care, and we want your input to ensure we are effectively advocating for you and with you.

    We ask all members complete this survey to share your priorities. We want to hear from you all: executive directors/admin leads, board members, physicians, nurse practitioners, IHPs, QIDSS, admin staff! This will only take about 5-10 minutes of your time, and the results will be kept confidential.

    Please click here to complete the survey!

    Please complete this by tomorrow, June 16. We will be taking the feedback to our board of directors at their board meeting next week. 


    AFHTO statement on racism and hate
    We want to start by expressing our grief and sorrow about the tragic and horrifying events of the last few weeks, recognizing that racism and hate has been part of Canada since its inception. We are committed to working with our partners and allies to listen, learn, grow, and do better at creating a more equitable and safer country for all. You can read AFHTO’s statement here.


    Reminder – Cancer screening during the pandemic and onwards, June 21

    In collaboration with our primary care partners and Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), we will be hosting a webinar to further explore guidance for resuming breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening and share stories from teams that have already resumed cancer screening.

    Register here.


    Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 30
    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. Please share this call for nominations with all who work in your team and with members on your Board. Given the composition of the continuing board members, priority for the directors to be elected will be given to candidates who are:

    • Executive Directors, especially those actively involved in their Ontario Health Team (OHT) development and supporting integrated care in their community;
    • Interprofessional Health Care Providers, especially those actively involved in OHT development;
    • Members from Central Ontario Health Region;
    • 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);

    Learn more about how you can take on a leadership role here. Deadline July 30.


    Free bot to help document vaccinations and more

    Recent updates include:

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


    Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program title slide

    Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program slides and video

    The Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence at Ontario Health invited primary care organizations to a webinar on June 10 to learn more about the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) Program’s background, the vision of OSP as a provincial program, and next steps with the expansion. Slides and video now available on our site.

     


    COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky webinar slide

    COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky webinar materials
    On June 9th Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health covered key questions, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and mixing of vaccines, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, discussed why Indigenous people were prioritized to receive vaccines. Resources include:


    New regulation to streamline reporting requirements under OHSA
    A new regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) will come into effect on July 1, 2021: Ontario Regulation 420 / 21 – Notices and Reports under Sections 51 to 53.1 of the Act – Fatalities, Critical Injuries, Occupational Illnesses and Other IncidentsEN and FR.

    The new regulation incorporates the critical injury definition and streamlines reporting requirements into a single regulation that applies to all workplaces covered under the OHSA. The amending regulations include:

    • O. Reg. 427/21: HEALTH CARE AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES –EN and FR

    Oxygen saturation monitors still available

    Oxygen saturation monitors are still available free of charge for primary care providers. Please be sure to order yours before the end of June!  Every primary care provider can benefit from having these in their practice and for distribution to patients you may be monitoring with COVID, but also for other conditions (e.g., COPD).  These monitors will then belong to your practice – you do not need to return them to the Ministry of Health. Link to ordering survey HERE. Monitors usually arrive within 2-3 days after requesting. For questions, please contact OH_COVIDatHome@ontariohealth.ca. For a link to the one-pager with all the resource you need for monitoring COVID patients visit HERE.


    Seeking dietitians’ input -nutrition screening in primary and community care
    Professor Heather Keller (University of Waterloo), Marg Alfieri (Primary Care Dietitians Association) and the Primary Care working group of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force are conducting a survey to determine what models of nutrition screening have been implemented in primary and community care, the reach of these efforts and for those who have yet to start screening, the challenges they are experiencing. This data will be used to launch further research on the outcomes and benefits of different nutrition screening models and further investigate how to support implementation of nutrition screening in the community. Get additional information and complete survey here.


    Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk: drug safety for older adults beyond “Start Low, Go Slow”, June 24

    Co-hosted with GeriMedRisk, in this webinar, Dr. Ho will review the pharmacology of aging and its impact on adverse drug events among seniors. We’ll also explore tools and services for primary care providers to use to optimize drug safety. Register here.


    NACI Recommendations On COVID-19 Vaccine Interchangeability, June 21, 2021 *NEW DATE*
    Join PHAC as they discuss evidence around interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as NACI recommendations for interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines.
    Learn more here.


    Applying an Equity Lens when Caring for your Population, June 17, 2021

    This RISE OHT webinar will be based on a PHM approach, deep diving into co-designing care models for different priority populations.
    Learn more here.


    Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP, June 17 & July 8, 2021
    Join PCPs, EDs & clinical managers from AFHTO, AHC & NPLCA to share learnings, tools and strategies to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario.
    Find out more here.


    COVID-19 CoP, June 18, 2021
    Join the OCFP’s COVID-19 CoP where they will be discussing “Getting to herd immunity: addressing children, confidence, and complacency”.
    Find out more here.


    Evaluating Integrated Care: How should we be evaluating integrated care? June 22, 2021
    Join the HSPN, IFIC Canada and Emerald Publishing as they discuss evaluation of integrated care both at a local and health system level.
    Register here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #108: COVID-19 Vaccination Data & GeriMedRisk

    QI in Action eBulletin #108: COVID-19 Vaccination Data & GeriMedRisk

    In this Issue:

    • COVID-19 Vaccination Data Workflow Updates
    • COVID-19 Vaccination Information Available via the Digital Health Drug Repository (DHDR)
    • Digital Health OHT Community of Practice (CoP)
    • GeriMedRisk
    • Upcoming Webinars

    COVID-19 Vaccination Data Workflow Updates
    As of May 18, 2021, and onwards, Health Report Manager (HRM) has been pushing data prospectively to physicians/nurse practitioners when their name has been collected through COVaxON at point of vaccination. Further information around HRM COVaxON Vaccination Reports can be found on the OntarioMD website here.

    COVaxON is now up to date to allow for documentation of mixed vaccines for those who received the AZ vaccine as their first dose. When adding the second dose vaccine a pop up will appear to remind you that this is not the same vaccine as the first dose. To proceed to the next step, you can write “guideline update” within the text box.

    COVID vaccination data is now also available through the provincial clinical viewers, Connecting Ontario and Clinical Connect. Access to the viewers can be requested via Ontario Health’s Digital Health Service’s website. In the upcoming weeks, you will also see curated lists of enrolled patients that have been vaccinated made available on a monthly basis to physicians through the eReport tool which is available to any patient enrollment model (PEM) physicians in Ontario.

    Any PEM physician with an Ontario Health ONE ID account will have access to their reports. Physicians without a One ID account can get one through the CPSO website or by making a request at Ontario Health’s Digital Health Service’s website.

    Please click here for the COVID-19 vaccination toolbar created by Guelph FHT to help support providers in vaccine data documentation. In addition, please click here for a HRM workflow document, thanks to Dr. Scott Laing of Ottawa. As the vaccination reports are sent via HRM, some issues have been flagged and OntarioMD is working to resolve these issues as they become aware of them. Please check out the OntarioMD website for up-to-date notes on any issues identified and fixed. Below is a list of updates as of June 8, 2021:

    Content below developed by Ontario Health
    COVID-19 Vaccination Information Available via the Digital Health Drug Repository (DHDR)

    The DHDR is a provincial repository of publicly funded drugs and pharmacy services, and all monitored drugs (regardless of payor). Ontarians’ COVID-19 vaccination information from COVaxON (the ministry’s provincial solution for COVID-19 vaccination information) is being made available through the DHDR as a quick solution to enable secure and easy access to authorized health care practitioners throughout the province.

    Similar to existing DHDR records, COVID-19 vaccination information available through the DHDR is limited to patients with a valid Ontario Health Number (HN).

    More information can be found within this document here.

    Content below developed by Ontario Health (Population Health and Digital Excellence) and the Ministry of Health

    Digital Health OHT Community of Practice

    Ontario Health (Population Health and Digital Excellence) and the Ministry of Health are proposing that a province-wide Digital Health OHT Community of Practice (COP) be established that would provide a framework for OHTs to collaborate and share at a provincial level related to their digital and virtual needs and programs. This group would be a sub-component of the broader OHT Learning Collaboratives and Communities of Practice and supported by the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health.

     
    The COP will be co-facilitated by OH regional digital leads and OHTs would be invited to showcase their best practices and lessons learned related to digital needs/programs for mutual learning across the province on a given topic. This collaborative should make it easier for OHTs to work on their requirements.

    This group will meet quarterly but the COP would serve as a forum for engagement more broadly in between the meetings. This will include ongoing collaboration, on-line sharing, webinars, and workshops on key subjects. Importantly, the group will have an online collaboration space on the OHT Collaborative platform called the Digital Health OHT Community of Practice that can help support these activities. The COP will be used to facilitate sharing of leading practices, enabling scale of successful initiatives and standardization across OHTs/regions.   

    To learn more, please check out the Digital Health OHT Community of Practice Quorum group.

    Content below developed by GeriMedRisk
    A Geriatric Specialist Resource for Primary Care Providers: GeriMedRisk

    GeriMedRisk is an Ontario Ministry of Health-funded clinical consultation and education service for doctors, nurse practitioners and pharmacists practicing in Ontario.

    GeriMedRisk provides virtual access to an interdisciplinary specialist team from geriatric psychiatry, clinical pharmacology, geriatric pharmacy, and geriatric medicine who collaborate to answer clinical questions regarding your older patients’ medications, physical and mental health conditions.

    Within approximately 5 business days, GeriMedRisk provides a coordinated response and educational materials back to the primary care provider for use with their patient.

     

    How to consult GeriMedRisk
    Ontario Telemedicine Network or Champlain BASE™ eConsult: select “GeriMedRisk”
     
    Fax: (519) 279-2959
     
    Call toll-free 1 (855) 261-0508 (Mon-Fri 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET)
     
    Specialized Geriatric Services (SGS) Intake Forms

     

    GeriMedRisk Consultation Process:

    Shows lifecycle of gerimedrisk process

    1. Prescriber (doctor, nurse practitioner, specialist) or allied health care professional* identifies medication, mental health or physical concern in their patient.
    2. Clinician sends consult question and patient medical records to GeriMedRisk via eConsult, phone, fax, or central intake referral.
    3. GeriMedRisk team reviews question, medical records, and conducts a best possible medication history with patient/caregiver.
    4. Clinician receives a single, integrated consult note and relevant educational materials typically within 5 business days.

    *Includes pharmacists, nurses, physician assistants or other clinicians in partnership and with the consent of the prescriber.

    Example of Gerimedrisk resource

    Educational Resources for Primary Care Providers

    • Drug information: GeriMedRisk creates geriatric drug information summaries and infographics on safe prescribing for older adults.
      • Browse the library here and request at no cost.
    • GeriMedRisk- Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology rounds:
    • Monthly online accredited rounds on topics in safe prescribing.
    • COVID-19 Drug Information Resources

    Upcoming Event: Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology And GeriMedRisk: Drug Safety For Older Adults Beyond “Start Low, Go Slow”

    On June 24, 2021 at 12 pm, join Dr. Joanne Ho (geriatrician, clinical pharmacologist and co-executive director of GeriMedRisk) to learn more about how GeriMedRisk can support your patients’ care. Click here to register.

    For more information: www.GeriMedRisk.com |1 (855) 261-0508| info@GeriMedRisk.com | @GeriMedRisk

    Upcoming Webinars:

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #107 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

  • Bits & Pieces: cancer screening during the pandemic and more

    Bits & Pieces: cancer screening during the pandemic and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates


    In This Issue  
    • Cancer screening during the pandemic and onwards, June 21
    • Reminder- COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, June 9
    • Reminder- Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program, June 10
    • Member stories
    • AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD second dose Q&A, reports of myocarditis/pericarditis after vaccination and more
    • You could have over 22,619 pairs of eyes on your team’s initiative!
    • COVID@Home update
    • Upcoming events regarding geriatric clinical pharmacology and more

    Cancer screening during the pandemic and onwards, June 21

    In collaboration with our primary care partners and Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), we will be hosting a webinar to further explore guidance for resuming breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening and share stories from teams that have already resumed cancer screening.

    Objectives:

    • To understand the guidance for resuming breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening resumption midst the many waves of the pandemic.
    • To explore how to use data to understand and address health inequities in screening/tailoring service delivery as well as tools to improve screening rates.
    • To learn from practices the creative approaches such as EMR queries, clinics and much more.

    Register here.


    Reminder- COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9
    This session with Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Associate Medical Officer of Health at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health will cover key questions, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and mixing of vaccines, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council will talk about why Indigenous people are prioritized to receive vaccines. Register here.


    Reminder- Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program, June 10

    The Ministry of Health has recently approved six health service providers to serve as new lead organizations of regional psychotherapy networks for the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) Program, one of which is AFHTO member CarePoint Health.

    The Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence at Ontario Health would like to invite primary care organizations to a webinar on June 10 to learn more about the program’s background, the vision of OSP as a provincial program, and next steps with the expansion.

    Register here.


    Member stories

    Barrie and Community FHT- Barrie & Area launched their COVID@Home monitoring program

    East Wellington FHTLions Club donates $4,000 to East Wellington Family Health Team

    North Perth-North Huron FHTNorth Perth Family Health Team, It Takes A Village start vaccine awareness partnership

    STAR and Stratford FHTsPerth County primary care providers partnered together to offer about 500 COVID-19 vaccine doses


    AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD second dose Q&A, reports of myocarditis/pericarditis after vaccination and more

    Recent updates include:

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


    You could have up to 22,619 pairs of eyes on your team’s initiative!

    This week we’re asking for your teams’ stories on:

    AFHTO wants to feature your stories!

    –    COVID Vaccine education (myth-busting, Q&As, etc)
    –    Providing COVID-19 vaccines or supporting vaccine rollout beyond your team
    Be sure to share before Tuesday, June 15th so we can feature it on AFHTO’s social media!

    @AFHTO | info@afhto.ca| Webform submission


    COVID@Home update

    Per Ontario Health:
    “If you monitored COVID+ patients in April and May please consider entering your data on that  specific timeframe in our new easy to use DATA FORM.  For those that have already done so thank you!  For questions on this e -mail OH_COVIDatHome@ontariohealth.ca.  We will use this information to show the value of primary care in such initiatives and for quality improvement purposes. Thank you for your continued participation in this initiative.”


    Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk: drug safety for older adults beyond “Start Low, Go Slow”, June 24

    Co-hosted with GeriMedRisk, in this webinar, Dr. Ho will review the pharmacology of aging and its impact on adverse drug events among seniors. We’ll also explore tools and services for primary care providers to use to optimize drug safety. Register here.


    COVID@Home Community of Practice, June 9 & 23, 2021
    Learn how to monitor your COVID-19 patients in the community through this CoP.
    Learn more here.


    A Morning with the Lung Experts: What’s Trending in Primary Care? June 12, 2021

    Join Dr. Tony D’Urzo and the Lung Health Foundation Experts as they explore emerging respiratory care issues.
    Find out more here.


    Applying an Equity Lens when Caring for your Population, June 17, 2021

    This RISE OHT webinar will be based on a PHM approach, deep diving into co-designing care models for different priority populations.
    Learn more here.


    Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP, June 17 & July 8, 2021
    Join PCPs, EDs & clinical managers from AFHTO, AHC & NPLCA to share learnings, tools and strategies to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario.
    Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: structured psychotherapy webinar, mixing and matching and more

    Bits & Pieces: structured psychotherapy webinar, mixing and matching and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates


    In This Issue  
    • Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program, June 10
    • Reminder- COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9
    • Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk: drug safety for older adults beyond “Start Low, Go Slow”
    • Mixing and matching to be recommended and more
    • Update on Health Report Manager and COVaxON
    • Reminder- member renewal deadline June 30
    • Perkopolis mobile app
    • Dietitian input requested
    • Attn QIDSS, QIIMS and similar: consultation for how provincial government should use AI, deadline June 4
    • Upcoming events including Primary Care Vaccine Quality Improvement Support Group Webinar Series featuring members and more

    Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program, June 10

    The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) Program provides access to publicly funded, evidence-based, short-term, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and related approaches to patients with depression, anxiety, and anxiety-related conditions.

    Originally launched as a pilot at four sites in 2017, the Ministry of Health has recently approved six health service providers to serve as new lead organizations of regional psychotherapy networks, one of which is AFHTO member CarePoint Health.

    The Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence at Ontario Health would like to invite primary care organizations to a webinar on June 10 to learn more about the program’s background, the vision of OSP as a provincial program, and next steps with the expansion. Register here.


    Reminder- COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9
    This session with Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Associate Medical Officer of Health at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health will cover key questions, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and mixing of vaccines, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council will talk about why Indigenous people are prioritized to receive vaccines. Register here.


    Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk: drug safety for older adults beyond “Start Low, Go Slow”

    Co-hosted with GeriMedRisk, in this webinar, Dr. Ho will review the pharmacology of aging and its impact on adverse drug events among seniors. We’ll also explore tools and services for primary care providers to use to optimize drug safety. Register here.


    Mixing and matching to be recommended and more

    Recent updates include:

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


    Update on Health Report Manager and COVaxON

    As of May 18, 2021, and onwards, Health Report Manager (HRM) has been pushing data prospectively to physicians when their name has been collected through COVaxON at point of vaccination. Further information around HRM COVaxON Vaccination Reports can be found on the OntarioMD website here.

    COVID vaccination data is now also available through the provincial clinical viewers, Connecting Ontario and Clinical Connect. Access to the viewers can be requested via Ontario Health’s Digital Health Service’s website. In the coming weeks, you will also see curated lists of enrolled patients that have been vaccinated made available on a monthly basis to physicians through the eReport tool which is available to any patient enrollment model (PEM) physicians in Ontario. Any PEM physician with an Ontario Health ONE ID account will have access to their reports. Physicians without a ONE ID account can get one through the CPSO website or by making a request at Ontario Health’s Digital Health Service’s website.


    Reminder- member renewal deadline June 30

    Thank you to our members who have renewed for 2021-22 fiscal year. Only a small number of teams haven’t gotten around to this yet, but we’d like to remind you the deadline for renewal is June 30. Unconfirmed and unpaid memberships will be cut off after this date. Don’t lose access to our resources, webinars and updates!


    Perkopolis app flyer

     

     

    Perkopolis mobile app

    One of the benefits includes access to Perkopolis as an AFHTO member. You can get these perks through their mobile app as well.

    Download it here.

    If you don’t have access yet, EDs can email info@afhto.ca to get started. It’s free to join.

     

     

     


    Dietitian input requested

    The School of Public Health and Health Systems at the University of Waterloo is seeking dietitians to evaluate questions to assess changes in food acquisition and eating practices as a result of the pandemic. The questions were administered to participants from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project.  

    If you decide to participate, you will be asked to review the questions and complete an anonymous 10- minute online survey. Participation is voluntary. This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through a University of Waterloo Research Ethics Committee (ORE#42709). To learn more, please visit the study website.


    Attn QIDSS, QIIMS and similar: consultation for how provincial government should use AI, deadline June 4
    The Ontario government is accepting submissions, until June 4, on its Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework which will guide the way it uses the new technology. This could have implications for primary care. Deadline to take the survey June 4. Find out more here.


    Virtual wellness workshop series for patients, starting June 1, 2021
    New Vision FHT is opening their upcoming Anxiety during COVID and Emotional First Aid virtual workshop series to non-FHT patients and would like to invite you to share this with your team/patients to register. Registration is limited, so please encourage patients to register as soon as they can. Find out more.


    The Path to an Effective Vaccine – Lessons Learned in Real Time, June 2, 2021
    Free panel by Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Register here.


    Primary Care Vaccine Quality Improvement Support Group Webinar Series, June 3, 2021
    Join this week’s Ontario Health CoP meeting to hear about the experiences of:

    • Janine van den Heuvel, Algonquin FHT
    • Lorraine Johnston, Cottage Country FHT
    • Dave Courtemanche, City of Lakes FHT

    Followed by Dr. Tara Kiran on Building Vaccine Confidence. Register here.


    Evolving evidence on COVID-19 transmission & vaccination & implications for primary care, June 4, 2021

    Join the OCFP’s CoP where they’ll talk about new evidence on COVID-19 transmissions and discuss IPAC implications for primary care offices. This week’s panelists include:

    • Dr. Peter Juni, Director of the Applied Health Research Centre (AHRC), St. Michael’s Hospital, and Scientific Director of Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table
    • Dr. Allison McGeer, Infectious Disease Specialist, Mount Sinai Hospital.

    Register here.


    Applying an Equity Lens when Caring for your Population, June 17, 2021

    This RISE OHT webinar will be based on a PHM approach, deep diving into co-designing care models for different priority populations.
    Learn more here.


    A Morning with the Lung Experts: What’s Trending in Primary Care? June 12, 2021

    Join Dr. Tony D’Urzo and the Lung Health Foundation Experts as they explore emerging respiratory care issues.
    Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: vaccine consent and information for youth, physiotherapy month and more

    Bits & Pieces: vaccine consent and information for youth, physiotherapy month and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates


    In This Issue  
    • Vaccine consent and information for youth and more updates
    • National Physiotherapy Month
    • Member stories
    • Ontario is creating a roadmap to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030
    • Important information about AstraZeneca second doses and more
    • MindWell for Healthcare Workers
    • Support reminder- BounceBack
    • Call for applications for FASD support groups-deadline May 26
    • Public Health 2021– call for submissions
    • DYK- board postings on AFHTO site
    • NPAO Patient Choice Award
    • Upcoming events including virtual wellness workshop series for patients and more

    Vaccine consent and information for youth and more updates

    There were so many updates in Friday’s situation report from the Ministry, this had to be separate from our COVID-19 section below. Documents include:

    Three COVID-19 vaccine documents have been developed for youth and/or parents/legal guardians:

    Two COVID-19 vaccine documents have been updated:

    The following documents have been updated and are available on the Ministry’s website:

    These documents and links will be updated on our site shortly.


    National Physiotherapy Month
    Primary care takes care of patients for a lifetime, which is why physiotherapists are an integral part of the team. For National Physiotherapy Month, we’d like to say THANK YOU to the amazing PTs in primary care teams.


    Member stories
    Northumberland FHTradio interview on facilitating vaccinations

    Rideau FHTVaccines on wheels: organizing a drive-through vaccination clinic in your practice


    Text= We're building Ontario's roadmap to eliminate hepatitis C. Background= illustration of the profiles of people of different colours with different hairstyles and head coverings

     

    Ontario is creating a roadmap to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030

    Ontario is creating a roadmap to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. Over 110,000 Ontarians are living with hepatitis C. With a diagnosis that is simple, an effective cure, and proven prevention strategies, eliminating hepatitis C is within our reach. Building upon a 2019 national strategy, multiple stakeholders are coming together to chart the path to elimination in Ontario.

    AFHTO is an advisor on this project. To find out more, visit the Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap website.

     


    Important information about AstraZeneca second doses and more

    Recent updates include:

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


    MindWell for Healthcare Workers
    MindWell for Healthcare Workers is designed for healthcare workers by healthcare workers to give you the tools you need to feel confident and capable, remain calm amidst chaos and build overall resilience and well-being so you can perform at your best no matter what is happening around you.
     
    Short, simple, and effective lessons are provided in 4 weekly modules designed to give you maximum results in the least amount of time.  Sign up today to see positive change.
     
    MindWell for Healthcare Workers is a 4-week self-paced online learning experience accessible from any device. Each week includes approximately 10-15 minutes of learning content plus one 50-minute live session offered several times a week to fit most schedules.


    I miss my friends. I miss my social life. I'm lonely. Superimposed over a man's downcast face.

    Support reminder- BounceBack

    Bounceback’s latest campaign targets different demographic groups and highlights the struggles their coaches and clinicians have been hearing about from program participants during the pandemic. This includes concerns from middle-aged moms, men, parents of young children, people working from home, front-line workers, and students.

    If you’re interested, please feel free to share on your social channels and broadly with your networks.


    Call for applications for FASD support groups-deadline May 26
    Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a neuro-developmental, permanent disability that affects 4% of the population in Ontario. Support groups for individuals with FASD or their parents/caregivers provide information, support, and reduce isolation and loneliness.

    Health Nexus has launched its application process for FASD Support Groups. Apply to receive up to $4,500 to run a virtual support group for individuals with FASD or their caregivers (and in person when COVID-19 permits). Candidates will be able to reapply for projects annually. To learn more, visit their site.


    Public Health 2021– call for submissions
    The Canadian Public Health Association is now accepting submissions for presentation at Public Health 2021. Submissions will be accepted for oral and poster abstracts, didactic symposiums or interactive workshops that are focused on one of their conference keywords. Deadline June 3, 2021.


    DYK- board postings on AFHTO site
    You know the AFHTO careers section as the best place to advertise job openings for staff, but did you know you can also post volunteer board positions there as well? Now you do. Feel free to post here.  And for any of your partners, as non-members they can post for a nominal fee.


    NPAO Patient Choice Award
    The NPAO NP Patient Choice Award is presented at the NPAO annual conference in September. Please share with your patients, colleagues and friends. How has your NP made a difference in your life or that of your family or friend? Deadline June 18, 2021.


    COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9

    This session with Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Senior Medical Consultant at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health will cover key questions, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and potential mixing of vaccine, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council will talk about why Indigenous people are prioritized to receive vaccines. Register here.


    The Path to an Effective Vaccine – Lessons Learned in Real Time, June 2, 2021
    Free panel by Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Register here.


    Virtual wellness workshop series for patients, starting June 1, 2021
    New Vision FHT is opening their upcoming Anxiety during COVID and Emotional First Aid virtual workshop series to non-FHT patients and would like to invite you to share this with your team/patients to register. Registration is limited, so please encourage patients to register as soon as they can. Find out more.


    Child & Youth Eating Disorders: Information for Primary Care, June 1 – 15, 2021
    This special interest ECHO session series will cover:

    • Understanding Medical Implications and Monitoring for Children and Youth with Eating Disorders, June 1, 2021
    • Supporting a Young Person with an Eating Disorder in Primary Care – Tips and Tricks for the Primary Care Provider, June 15, 2021

    For more information, click here.


    Project ECHO: Ontario Bariatric Network, Starting June 2, 2021
    Join these OBN Project ECHO Series held by Guelph General Hospital BCOE & The Ottawa Hospital BCOE.
    Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: Astra-Zeneca pause supporting documentation, CMOH webinar and more

    Bits & Pieces: Astra-Zeneca pause supporting documentation, CMOH webinar and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates


    In This Issue  
    • Supporting documentation for Astra-Zeneca pause
    • COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9
    • Happy Foot Health Month- plus article on initial diabetic foot screening
    • COVID-19 vaccination clinic workflow update
    • Provincial Antigen Screening Program – Intake Portal and more
    • Relevant reports and studies- patient perspectives on quality of care for depression and anxiety and need for team-based primary care in the US
    • ECHO Ontario Integrated Mental and Physical Health
    • OHT Impact Fellows- deadline May 25
    • 1st North American Conference on Integrated Care– call for submissions
    • Upcoming events including Measuring Patient and Provider Experience: Completing the Quadruple Aim and more

     

    Supporting documentation for Astra-Zeneca pause

    As we noted last week the Ontario government announced on May 11 that primary care and pharmacy are to pause on the further use of the AstraZeneca (AZ)/COVISHIELD COVID-19 vaccines as first doses to eligible individuals.

    On May 14, the Ministry released related supporting documentation for healthcare workers:


    COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9

    From variants of concern to changing directives on vaccines, understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve rapidly. The Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, the Alliance for Healthier Communities, and the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario are pleased to invite Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Senior Medical Consultant at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health to speak with our members on the latest findings and considerations related to COVID-19, so that you can be better equipped to answer your patients’ questions.

    This session will cover key questions that we have heard from you, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and potential mixing of vaccine, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council will talk about why Indigenous people are prioritized to receive vaccines. Register here.


    Happy Foot Health Month- plus article on initial diabetic foot screening

    This month chiropodists and podiatrists all over Ontario will be promoting awareness and education on the importance of good foot health. Everyone involved in foot health, including physicians, chiropodists, nurses, diabetes teams, and other IHPs, can provide better outcomes for their patients by sharing important weekly tips and information about good foot health, common conditions, and preventative measures. Some useful sources include:

    In recognition of Foot Health Month, we would also like to celebrate a recent peer reviewed publication from Dufferin Area FHT’s chiropodists in The Foot journal. Conducted at the DAFHT, the study explains how the 60-second diabetes foot screens that many diabetes teams and nurses use (to refer) could be enhanced with a use of the Manchester Scale visual tool. The purpose was to emphasize a primary care and inter-collaborative approach to diabetes foot screens.


    COVID-19 vaccination clinic workflow cover data & emr edition tips & tricks

     

    COVID-19 vaccination clinic workflow update
    We have just updated the document geared towards the Super User, with some tips and tricks for teams, their mass vaccination clinics, drive-thru vaccination clinics and in-clinic vaccinations.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


    Provincial Antigen Screening Program – Intake Portal and more

    Recent updates include:

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


    Relevant reports and studies- patient perspectives on quality of care for depression and anxiety and need for team-based primary care in the US


    View frome behind of people in a meeting room with more light on those at the back

    ECHO Ontario Integrated Mental and Physical Health

    Are you looking for support managing your most complex patients?  Apply for ECHO Ontario Integrated Mental and Physical Health.  The FREE and virtual interactive sessions will take place on Fridays from 12:00-1:15 PM EST from June 4-August 27, 2021. 

    Identifying the most effective mental and physical health interventions can be challenging.  Our program connects you with the expertise of leading clinicians and a panel of your peers.  By learning together, you will not be alone in finding the best path ahead for your patients.  Apply here.


    OHT Impact Fellows- deadline May 25
    The OHT Impact Fellows program offers recent Master’s and PhD graduates a one-year embedded fellowship opportunity in Ontario Health Teams, where they will support local projects and contribute to rapid learning.

    The program provides Fellows with advanced training in implementation and evaluation while enabling them to apply their skills in an exciting work environment and be a catalyst for health systems change. Deadline May 25. Find out more here.


    1st North American Conference on Integrated Care– call for submissions

    The 1st North American Conference on Integrated Care in association with the 6th World Congress on Integrated Care will be run as a virtual conference in partnership with the University of Toronto, KPMG Canada, HSPN and iCOACH from October 4 – 7,  2021. With the overarching theme ‘Co-designing for health and wellbeing with individuals and communities’, deadline to submit is May 31. Find out more here.


    Input needed today on the curriculum for a new mentoring program on occupational and environmental medicine
    How confident do you feel about identifying a work-related illness, completing a WSIB Form 8, or doing a functional abilities assessment with injured patients?  You can get support on these topics and more through the new Project ECHO Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) for Ontario healthcare providers.  Help tailor the program curriculum by completing this short needs assessment.  It takes less than 10 minutes, and you could win a $50 gift card. The (free) ECHO OEM program launches this fall. Deadline extended to today, May 18.


    Addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in clinical practice, May 19 & 20, 2021
    The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID) is hosting a webinar to inform health care providers on addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in clinical practice.  


    COVID-19 CoP: Mobilizing community, administering Moderna in the office, evolving guidance and more, May 21, 2021
    Join the OCFP for their 23rd CoP to see how primary care is vaccinating communities and more.
    Find out more here.


    Measuring Patient and Provider Experience: Completing the Quadruple Aim, May 25, 2021
    HSPN will be discussing the measures of provider experience they recommend for use in OHTs. Patient & provider experiences will be shared from their own perspective.
    Register here.


    McMaster University Review Course in Psychiatry, May 27-28, 2021
    Hosted by Continuing Professional Development, McMaster University and accredited. Find out more here.


    Child & Youth Eating Disorders: Information for Primary Care, June 1 – 15, 2021
    This special interest ECHO session series will cover:

    • Understanding Medical Implications and Monitoring for Children and Youth with Eating Disorders, June 1, 2021
    • Supporting a Young Person with an Eating Disorder in Primary Care – Tips and Tricks for the Primary Care Provider, June 15, 2021

    For more information, click here.


    Project ECHO: Ontario Bariatric Network, Starting June 2, 2021
    Join these OBN Project ECHO Series held by Guelph General Hospital BCOE & The Ottawa Hospital BCOE.
    Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: nursing week, EMR audit materials, vaccination workflow and more

    Bits & Pieces: nursing week, EMR audit materials, vaccination workflow and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates


    In This Issue  
    • Nursing Week
    • EMR/EHR Auditing Obligations video and materials
    • COVID-19 vaccination clinic workflow and mass upload tips & tricks
    • Member stories
    • High-risk healthcare workers to get second dose sooner, VITT guidance and more
    • IPHCC youth-produced social media and video series on vaccine promotion
    • Message for pregnant individuals about the COVID-19 vaccine
    • KTE webinars on hold
    • Respiratory Health Forum – call for expression of interest
    • Upcoming events including primary care vaccine QI support and more

     

    Thank You Nurses with red chocolate hearts and red paper hearts

    Nursing Week

    It’s Nursing Week so we’re extending a heartfelt THANK-YOU to nurses in primary care teams. This week, we’re recognizing your dedication to your patients, your teams and your community during the pandemic and beyond. You can join with #NursingWeek2021.

     

     

     


    Privacy audits webinar title slide

     

    EMR/EHR Auditing Obligations video and materials
    On May 7 we held an hour and a half webinar with Kate Dewhirst Law to better understand the obligations to audit EMR and EHRs. Video, slides, and an audit report sample are now available here.

     

     


    COVID-19 vaccination clinic workflow and mass upload tips & tricks

    COVID-19 vaccination clinic workflow cover data & emr edition tips & tricks

    COVID-19 vaccination mass client upload workflow

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    As teams move from pilot COVID-19 vaccination clinics to mass vaccination clinics, drive-thru vaccination clinics and in-clinic vaccinations, we have put together a document geared towards the Super User, with some tips and tricks. Learning from the experience of Windsor FHT, Hamilton FHT, Upper Grand FHT, London FHT and many more we have summarized the key learnings for you!

    We have also put together a Mass Client Upload Workflow document in collaboration with the QI in PC Council, with tips and tricks for data extraction, manipulation, and upload. Read more in last week’s eBulletin.


    Member stories

    Elliot Lake FHTElliott Lake FHT to get Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

    Guelph FHT “I got my COVID-19 vaccine to keep my community safe”: Health Care Providers addressing vaccine hesitancy

    Hamilton FHTHamilton opens AstraZeneca vaccine walk-in for ages 40 and up

    Owen Sound FHT Grey Bruce – COVID-19 Vaccines for Homebound Residents

    Prime Care FHTMilton clinic offers COVID-19 vaccine for Ontarians 40 and up

    You can share your own stories with our member initiative webform. If you have any questions, please email us at info@afhto.ca.


    High-risk healthcare workers to get second dose sooner, VITT guidance and more

    Recent updates include:

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


    IPHCC youth-produced social media and video series on vaccine promotion

    The Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, in partnership with the National Reconciliation Program at Save the Children, has been leading an Indigenous youth vaccine advocacy program. As part of the program, each of the 20 youth participants has created a 30-40 second video “story” which they will be sharing on social media. Each of the videos includes a brief story explaining how COVID has affected their life, a COVID fact and finishes with their reason for getting vaccinated.
     
    As this is a youth run program, they have created their own social media strategy. The videos are being shared through Facebook stories, Instagram (both as stories and reels), TikTok and other platforms that the youth may choose beginning on Monday May 3. Each participant will be sharing a different video for 20 days to maximize their reach. IPHCC is also sharing the videos on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. The youth also chose several hashtags to use for the campaign- #SmudgeCOVID #4MyRelations #BrighterFuture and #IndigenousYouth4Vaccine. If you choose to share the content, please use these hashtags so they can monitor the campaigns reach.

    Social media handles are:

    Facebook: @IPHCC.ca
    Instagram: @iphcc.ca
    Twitter: @iphcc_ca
    TikTok: @iphcc


    Message for pregnant individuals about the COVID-19 vaccine

    BORN Ontario Video Collage Language Logo

    Pregnant individuals are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario, and now have a decision to make about getting vaccinated while pregnant. Making sense of information from various sources can be difficult. There is an urgent need to deliver COVID-19 messages from reliable sources of information and empower individuals to make an informed choice.
    To this end, pregnancy care providers in Ontario are sharing a unified video message for pregnant individuals, aimed at highlighting the risks of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy (notably the increased likelihood of ICU admission), and at increasing vaccine confidence.

    The message is currently available in English, French and numerous other languages, such as Arabic, Cantonese, Farsi, Mandarin, Spanish, Tamil, Vietnamese, and Yoruba. Please share the link to the video collection with the pregnant people in your care, and the public.


    KTE webinars on hold
    We have had so many great webinars so far this year, but right now we will have a brief pause for May and possibly June as vaccination efforts are expedited. Of course, things can change quickly so please keep up to date by checking our emails. In the meantime, you can catch up with these webinars from the past few months.


    Respiratory Health Forum – call for expression of interest
    The Lung Health Foundation invites those working in primary or community care programs and initiatives related to lung health to submit an expression of interest to present a virtual and interactive presentation at the Respiratory Health Forum on Oct. 13, 2021. Deadline May 28, 2021.


    Choosing Wisely Canada’s Virtual National Meeting, May 12 – 13, 2021
    Remember to register for Choosing Wisely’s 2-day national meeting, in collaboration with the CMA.
    Learn more here.


    Primary Care Vaccine QI Support Group Webinar, May 13, 2021
    Join Ontario Health to learn valuable lessons from pilot sites, gain access to resources, information, and quality improvement tips to assist you in moving forward with your vaccine plans.
    Register here.


    Child & Youth Eating Disorders: Information for Primary Care, May 18 – Jun. 15, 2021
    This special interest ECHO session series will cover:

    • Understanding Eating Disorders and Assessment of Children and Youth with Eating Disorders, May 18, 2021
    • Understanding Medical Implications and Monitoring for Children and Youth with Eating Disorders, June 1, 2021
    • Supporting a Young Person with an Eating Disorder in Primary Care – Tips and Tricks for the Primary Care Provider, June 15, 2021

    For more information, click here.


    CFPC Pivots: May & June 2021

    • The Art And Science Of Medication Optimization For Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction, May 18, 2021
    • At A Loss For Weight Loss? Scaling Down The Evidence For Primary Care, June 8, 2021

    To access the webinar links, click here.


    Project ECHO: Ontario Bariatric Network, Starting June 2, 2021
    Join these OBN Project ECHO Series held by Guelph General Hospital BCOE & The Ottawa Hospital BCOE.
    Find out more here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #107: COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Workflow and Mass Upload Tips & Tricks

    QI in Action eBulletin #107: COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Workflow and Mass Upload Tips & Tricks

    In this Issue:

    • COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Workflow and Mass Upload Tips & Tricks
    • Ontario Health Updates: Quality Standards (QS)
    • Recent Research Publications
    • Upcoming Webinars

     

    COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Workflow and Mass Upload Tips & Tricks

    COVID-19 vaccination clinic workflow cover data & emr edition tips & tricks

     

    As teams move from pilot COVID-19 vaccination clinics to mass vaccination clinics, drive-thru vaccination clinics and in-clinic vaccinations, we have put together a document geared towards the Super User, with some tips and tricks. Learning from the experience of Windsor FHT, Hamilton FHT, Upper Grand FHT, London FHT and many more we have summarized the key learnings for you!

    OntarioMD continues to provide live and recorded series of webinars for the COVaxON system. In addition, it’s recommended to keep an eye on their website for any updates on End to End sessions, EMR Tools and Queries, Job Aids and much more!

     

     

    COVID-19 vaccination mass client upload workflow

     

     

    In collaboration with the QI in PC Council, we have put together a Mass Client Upload Workflow document with tips and tricks for data extraction, manipulation, and upload.

    In addition, to these tips and tricks it is highly recommended to keep an eye on the OntarioMD and eHealth Centre of Excellence Community Portal for up-to-date queries to help identify patient lists for vaccinations.

     

     

     

     

    Ontario Health Updates: Quality Standards (QS)

    Recognizing World Asthma Day (May 5th)

    Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions in Canada. Two million Ontarians have asthma and an estimated 90% of them have uncontrolled asthma that could be improved by optimizing medication. It’s more important than ever for people with asthma to get the best treatments to prevent emergency room visits for asthma flare-up during the pandemic.

    Ontario Health has also developed placemats based on the Asthma quality standards to support you and your patients living with asthma. The placemat is a quick-reference tool that concisely summarizes key information from the quality standard and can be used by primary care providers to facilitate patient-centered discussions. See the links below to access the asthma placemats:

    EMR Resources for primary care providers
    Ontario Health is making the QS placemats more accessible by supporting their use within electronic medical record (EMR) systems. They have developed EMR user guides to help you access the QS placemats in Accuro and Practice Solutions Suite EMR systems. A step-by-step guide to support OSCAR EMR users will be available soon.

    OH encourages you to share these resources with your colleagues and networks. Please let them know how these resources are being used in the field and in your EMR systems. To share your feedback, please email qualitystandards@hqontario.ca.  

    Research Publications

    Upcoming Webinars:

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #106 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.