Tag: Members Only News

QI in Action eBulletin #91: Breast Cancer Screening
In this issue
- What is Breast Cancer?
- Recommendations on Breast Cancer Screening
- Initiatives by Teams
- Resources and Research
- Support Services for Patients and Caregivers
- Upcoming QI Events
- Other Resources
What is Breast Cancer?
- Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast and be described in two ways¹:
  - Invasive: breast cancers that grow past the walls of the milk duct and into the surrounding tissues¹
  - Non-Invasive: breast cancers that remains contained within the walls of the milk duct¹
Recommendations for Breast Cancer Screening
- Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends:
  - The Task Force recommends against screening women aged 40 to 49 years old
  - The Task Force recommends in favour of screening women aged 50 to 74 years with mammography every 2-3 years
- HQO recommends magnetic resonance imaging as an adjunct to mammography for breast cancer screening in women at less than high risk for breast cancer
- HQO recommends ultrasound as an adjunct to mammography for breast cancer screening
Initiatives by Teams
Our teams are doing some great work with breast cancer screening. Below are some initiatives that your team can implement if you’re looking to enhance cancer screening.
- Quarterly Reconciliation between the EMR and SAR reports
- EMR queries to search for patients overdue for their screening
  - With EMRs teams are also documenting whether breast cancer screening was offered and if the patient declined
- Using flags within EMRs generated via queries
- Broadcasting a message via HealthMyself or OCEAN to patients
- Integrating cancer screening promotion into flu shot clinics while patients wait for 10-15 minutes post immunizations
Resources and Research
- Contact eHealth Centre of Excellence for a preventative care toolbar for the Telus PS EMR designed to help identify and flag patients who are due for preventative care screening, created by East Wellington FHT
- Diagnostic Assessment Program Referral Forms for your local region can be used to refer patients for diagnostic assessment programs
- Some patients may be at high risk for breast cancer for whom a OBSP High Risk Form Requisition has to be filled out to refer to the High Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program
- Other general provider resources can be found on the Cancer Care Ontario website
- Family physicians can sign up for Screening Activity Report (SAR) which provides screening data for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers
- Primary Care Quality Improvement Toolkits are a resource for primary care providers to help plan, implement, monitor and report cancer screening quality improvement projects
- Gene Expression Profiling Tests for Early Stage Invasive Breast Cancer is a topic by HQO open for feedback until October 14, 2019
- Toolkit for health care professionals: Improving cancer screening rates in your practice and reducing related disparities – A practical toolkit to help primary care providers to improve cancer screening rates in their practices and reduce related disparities, based on Dr. Aisha Lofters’ and Dr.Tara Kiran’s research and findings from the literature.
Support Services for Patients and Caregivers
- Ontario Breast Screening Program Locations allow for patients to have access to screening sites without a doctor or NP’s referral
- Regional Cancer Centres in Ontario provide cancer prevention, screening, diagnostic, treatment and related services within each LHIN
- Patients, caregivers and health care providers can use the Community Services Locator to find the appropriate services they may need
- Additional supports are available for patients such as a peer match program, community-based support groups and an online community
- Additional Screening Resources for the Public can be found on the Cancer Care Ontario website
Upcoming QI Events:
- Timely and Efficient Transitions Webinar Series: Improving access during transitions – Oct 9, 2019
- Toronto International Conference on Quality in Primary Care – Nov 16, 2019
- North American Primary Care Research Group Conference – Nov 16-20, 2019
- Foundations to QI (IDEAS) – Community Mental Health and Addictions – Nov 18, 2019
- Opioid Use Disorders in Primary Care Conference 2019 – Nov 22, 2019
Other Resources:
- The eHealth Centre of Excellence (eCE) is committed to supporting the OHTs throughout the application and selection process. To understand exactly how the eCE can support OHTs with the digital health components outlined in the full application, read eCE’s Role in the Full OHT Application.
- Speak to a drug information pharmacist for any questions about opioid tapering, switching, interactions and withdrawal through the Opioid Prescribing Hotline.
References
1. Breast Cancer. (2019, June 11). Retrieved from https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/types-of-cancer/breast-cancer .
In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #90 or other back issues here!
Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.
October 3, 2019

Bits & Pieces: Dr. Linda Lee wins Joule grant for MINT Memory clinics & more

Your Weekly News & Updates

In this Issue:
Dr. Linda Lee wins Joule grant for MINT Memory clinics Members in the media OHT Webcast Series: The Shift to Shared Leadership video and slides available	HQO quality standard updates including mental health transitions Ministry of Health news and updates Upcoming events including improving timely access and more

Dr. Linda Lee wins Joule grant for MINT Memory clinics

Dr. Linda Lee, Centre for Family Medicine FHT won a Joule 2019 Innovation grant for access to care on Sep. 10. A $100,000 grant has been allocated to help scale up the MINT memory clinic model beyond their 112 clinics in Ontario.

New resources, including an infographic, are also available at their site.

Members in the media
Couchiching FHT: feature on their Bright Lights award-winning trans health program

Elliot Lake FHT: Virtual Clinic coming to Elliot Lake Family Health Team

OHT Webcast Series: The Shift to Shared Leadership video and slides available

On Sep. 12 we held a webinar reviewing approaches to creating shared leadership tables and/or working groups and offered practical “OHT Starter Kit” tips and tools. We were joined by our partners at the Ontario Community Support Association and Advantage Ontario as co-hosts.

The webcast was facilitated by Karima Kanani, Partner at Miller Thomson LLP, and Keri Selkirk and Maria Sanchez-Keane from the Centre for Organizational Effectiveness.

Slides and video are on our site, along with other resources.

HQO quality standard updates including mental health transitions

Seeking volunteers for quality standard advisory committee on inpatient mental health transitions– This quality standard will outline care for people moving between the hospital and home after a mental health or addictions related stay. Deadline to apply Oct. 8.

Draft diabetes quality standards and patient conversation guides- feedback needed by Oct. 10:

Ministry of Health news and updates

Memo – seasonal influenza update CMOH – overview of actions they’re taking to help partners mitigate and prepare for health system pressures.

Situation report #2: RYUK security incident advisory – a second hospital was hit with RYUK ransomware Wednesday, Sep. 25. As there is a risk of further incidents beyond hospitals, the ministry is issuing a second advisory and is expanding distribution to the broader health system. Read the advisory and the recommendations.

Drug Shortage / Supply Health System Alert: Fresenius Kabi – Oxytocin 1ml vial – due to higher than anticipated demand, their stock of Oxytocin Injection Synthetic 10 USP units/mL SD vial 1mL has been depleted earlier than expected and will be going on backorder effective September 30th, 2019. Read the update here.

Canadian Conference on Dementia, October 3, 2019
Held in Quebec City and featuring plenary and parallel sessions, an exciting debate, interactive workshops, as well as oral and poster presentations. Find out more here.

Palliative and End-of-Life Care & MAiD Educational Opportunities, October 16 – December 11
Take a look at this 5-part webinar series developed by Queen’s University Faculty of Health Sciences, in partnership with the OCFP. Find out more here.

BoneFit, October 5, 2019 to March 28th, 2020
Osteoporosis Canada is holding these evidence-informed exercise training workshops around Ontario at the Basic and Clinical levels. See the locations and dates here.

Improving timely access to primary care, Oct. 9, 2019
HQO webinar to share findings from 2019/20 Quality Improvement Plan indicator measuring timely access to a primary care provider. Register here.

ECHO Chronic Pain/Opioids evening series, Oct. 7- Nov. 4, 2019
A 4-part evening ECHO series on Buprenorphine/Naloxone prescribing in primary care. Register here.

Liver Disease in Primary Care: Approach to Fatty Liver, Oct. 17, 2019
Part of ECHO Liver quarterly evening series. Find out more here.

October 1, 2019

QI in Action eBulletin #90: Dementia
In this issue
- What is dementia?
- What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?
- Programs and Initiatives supporting Primary Care Health
- Support Services for Patients and Caregivers
- Upcoming QI Events
What is dementia?
Dementia isn’t a natural part of aging, as it’s an abnormal degeneration of the brain which causes changes in an individual’s ability to think, speak, socialize and participate in daily activities¹. Dementia is a medical term used to describe a set of symptoms affecting brain function that are caused by neurodegenerative and vascular diseases or injuries such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy Body disease, head trauma and more^2,3.

Symptoms of dementia can include^1,2,3:
- Memory loss
- Difficulty with thinking, problem-solving or language
- Awareness of person, place and time can be impacted
- Loss of understanding and judgement
- Changes in how the individual expresses their emotions
- Changes in personality
- Problems coping with day to day activities
- Problems with socializing
419,000 Canadians of the age 65 years and older are living with a diagnosis of dementia of which almost two thirds are women². Within Ontario, 111,000 individuals live with dementia of which many reside in the community with complex care needs; this number has increased by 46% between 2009/10 and 2015/16⁴.

What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?

The material was created by Dr. Sabina Brennan of Trinity College Dublin and Trinity Brain Health with financial support from GENIO. © 2017 Trinity Brain Health. Permission to use this material was granted by Trinity Brain Health (trinitybrainhealth.com) which reserves all rights in the material.

Programs and Initiatives supporting Primary Care Health

2 out of 5 Canadian doctors feel well-prepared to manage community dementia care; however, with the growing number of individuals being diagnosed with dementia it’s crucial to be aware of the supports available⁵.
- A physician, Nurse Practitioner or any IHP can make a referral to First Link, a program designed to help connect individuals newly diagnosed with dementia and their families/caregivers to Alzheimer Society for services and support
- Multispecialty Interprofessional Team (MINT) Memory Clinics offer clinicians training through a standardized nationally accredited training program. There are over 100 MINT Memory Clinics across Ontario – a special congratulations to AFHTO member Centre for Family Medicine FHT’s Dr. Linda Lee who recently received a 2019 Joule Innovation Grant Award that will allow for the MINT clinics to continue to scale up
- The Rural Dementia and Action Research (RaDAR) Team is a research team from three provinces (Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario) and the United Kingdom with a goal to improve healthcare delivery to people with people with mild cognitive and dementia and their caregivers in rural and remote communities
- Mount Sinai Hospital has also designed a Dementia Toolkit for Primary Care which includes resources specific to primary care such as assessment and screening tools, medication management, driving safety and much more
- Centre of Effective Practice has created the Use of Antipsychotics in Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) Tool
- HQO has previously created Dementia Quality Standard which addresses care for community-dwelling people living with dementia
- A list has been put together by the Alzheimer Society with multiple avenues of professional development in terms of caring for individuals with dementia
- A list of tools to assess pain levels for healthcare professionals have been put together by the Alzheimer society
- eConsult is a secure web-based tool that allows a physician or nurse practitioner timely access to specialist advice, including psychologists, and often eliminates the need for an in-person specialist visit
- SwitchRx is a website that aims to provide healthcare professionals with the most current and useful information to guide their clinical practice when adjusting their patient’s psychotropic treatment regimens
- eHealth centre of excellence community portal always has some tools being released that can be translated into your EMR!
Support Services for Patients and Caregivers
- HQO has developed a Patient Reference Guide with questions patients can ask their caregivers
- Dementia Advocacy and Support Network (DASN) is a worldwide online organization for those diagnosed with dementia working together to improve their quality of life
- There are support groups for families and friends of individuals diagnosed with dementia offered by the Alzheimer Society
- Mount Sinai Hospital has put together a list of caregiver support services available within Ontario
- A range of brochures and publications can be found for both patients and caregivers on the Alzheimer Society website
Upcoming QI Events:
- AFHTO 2019 Conference – Sept 19 & 20, 2019
- OntarioMD EMR Every Step Conference – Sept 26, 2019
- Toronto International Conference on Quality in Primary Care – Nov 16, 2019
- Implementation of Advance Care Planning, Goals of Care and Health Care Consent in Ontario Webinar hosted by HQO – Sept 19, 2019 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- Palliative Care Data Measurement Webinar hosted by HQO – Sept 26, 2019 12:00 pm
References:
1. Dementia in Older Adults. https://camh.ca/en/health-info/guides-and-publications/dementia-in-older-adults.
2. “What Is Dementia?” Alzheimer Society of Canada, https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/About-dementia/What-is-dementia.
3. Let’s make our health system healthier. “Evidence to Improve Care.” Behavioural Symptoms of Dementia – Health Quality Ontario (HQO), https://www.hqontario.ca/Evidence-to-Improve-Care/Quality-Standards/View-all-Quality-Standards/Behavioural-Symptoms-of-Dementia.
4. Spotlight on Dementia Issues | CIHI. https://www.cihi.ca/en/dementia-in-canada/spotlight-on-dementia-issues.
In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #89 or other back issues here!
Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.
September 12, 2019

Bits & Pieces: Faces of Caring, conference registration & more

Your Weekly News & Updates

In this Issue:
Faces of Caring AFHTO 2019 Conference registration still open New ECHO launching in support of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities	Reminder- primary care virtual community meeting Sep. 25 Upcoming events including our OHT webcast series and more

Faces of Caring

“What I can only describe as being sucked into a very fast-moving tornado has changed my life forever.”

Faces of Caring is an online community launched to share stories, advice, and resources for facing serious illness. You can share this with patients and caregivers just starting their caring journey who may find the advice of those with lived experience helpful.

AFHTO 2019 Conference registration still open

You can still register for the AFHTO 2019 conference! Email us if you haven’t gotten your access code.

With Ministry speakers, primary care team leaders discussing the latest innovations and programs, and multiple sessions focused on Ontario Health Teams, could this content BE any more relevant really?

We also have volunteer opportunities onsite for deeply discounted registration, such as registration desk, attendee assistance at breakfast and lunch and wayfinding. Email us for more information.

New ECHO launching in support of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

In January 2020, ECHO Ontario Adult Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at CAMH, University of Toronto, and Surrey Place will be launching a new ECHO (i.e. a free educational program). The focus will be on helping healthcare or developmental service professionals in their work with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

They’re looking for individuals in this area of work who might be able to help them to define a curriculum that would matter most. The responses to our short survey will help create the curriculum for the weekly learning sessions. To complete the survey, click here. For more information on ECHO Ontario Mental Health, please visit their site.

Reminder- primary care virtual community meeting Sep. 25

The primary care virtual community, brought together as an AFHTO/OCFP partnership with Change Foundation, will next meet on Sep. 25 from 8:00 a.m.- 9:30 a.m. This session builds on the conversation and feedback you shared in prior sessions to further develop the concept of the 10 High Impact Actions implemented within the UK and what our own made-in Ontario High Impact Actions could be.

As we come together to share these ideas, we are focused on how the high impact actions can shape all 4 elements of the quadruple aim, and how we improve both the provider and patient experience. Register here.

AFHTO 2019 Conference, September 19- 20, 2019
The conference is just over a week away! It’s not too late to register- join over 800 primary care professionals to explore Health System Integration Built on The Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care. Register now!

Understanding The Caregiver Experience: Regional Insights to Inform Ontario Health Teams, Sep. 12, 2019
Join The Change Foundation on
Thursday, September 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (EST) as they share their insights on the patient and caregiver experience in Ontario’s health care system and the opportunities for change and improvement. Register here.

OHT Webcast Series: The Shift To Shared Leadership, September 12, 2019
AFHTO and the OCSA will review approaches to creating shared leadership tables and/or working groups and offer practical “OHT Starter Kit” tips and tools. For more information or to register, click here.

EMR: Every Step Conference, September 26, 2019
Attend the annual OntarioMD conference to enroll or learn more about Health Report Manager (HRM) and eNotifications, ONE® ID, eConsult, Insight4Care Dashboard and many other services. Find out more here.

September 10, 2019

Bits & Pieces: OHT webcast series reminder, early bird tomorrow & more

Your Weekly News & Updates

In this Issue:
Reminder- OHT Webcast Series: The Shift To Shared Leadership AFHTO 2019 Conference early bird deadline tomorrow 2019 Bright Lights Hall of Fame Project ECHO Ontario bariatric network update	Dorset Hub featured on CBC podcast Reminder- RISE webinar series to address key topics for teams invited to submit an OHT full application Upcoming events including regional insights into the caregiver experience and more

Reminder- OHT Webcast Series: The Shift To Shared Leadership
On Thursday, September 12, 2019 AFHTO and the OCSA will review approaches to creating shared leadership tables and/or working groups and offer practical “OHT Starter Kit” tips and tools. For more information or to register, click here.

AFHTO 2019 Conference early bird deadline tomorrow
Register at the early bird rate to save on registration! After tomorrow, rates increase. The registration site is separate, so your member access code is different from your individual login to our regular site. Email us if you haven’t gotten your access code.

We also have volunteer opportunities onsite for deeply discounted registration, such as registration desk, attendee assistance at breakfast and lunch and wayfinding. Email us for more information.

2019 Bright Lights Hall of Fame

Find out more about the Bright Lights 2019 nominations! Winners will be announced at the Bright Lights Ceremony, with the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott.

Project ECHO Ontario bariatric network update
Spots are still available to register for ECHO OBN sessions starting on the following dates:

September 9, 2019 from 2:30 – 4 pm hosted by Kingston Health Sciences Centre Bariatric Centre of Excellence
September 12, 2019 from 11 am – 12:30 pm hosted by Guelph General Hospital Bariatric Centre of Excellence
October 2, 2019 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm hosted by The Ottawa Hospital Bariatric Centre of Excellence

Don’t miss this opportunity to update your knowledge on post bariatric care and obesity management. Register here.

Dorset Hub featured on CBC podcast
On Aug. 14, the CBC Ontario Today podcast addressed the topic “Can’t Find a Family Doctor”. The Dorset Community Health Hub, a partnership between the Algonquin Family Health Team, Lake of Bays Township, Dorset Canada and the Township of Algonquin Highlands, was featured as one solution to this issue. You can find a transcript of the relevant portion on our site.

Reminder- RISE webinar series addresses key topics for teams invited to submit an OHT full application
The RISE regional sessions by McMaster Health Forum are now transitioning to a series on topics for teams invited to submit an Ontario Health Team (OHT) full application. They will build on lessons learned from, and sometimes feature, team members who participated in the regional sessions. Many of the insights will be relevant to teams in development and teams in discovery as well.

Register now for one or more of the sessions:

Thursday, Sep. 19, 2019 12:00-1 PM – Key considerations for OHTs working with Francophone and Indigenous communities [Provisional title]
Monday, Sep. 23, 2019 12:00-1 PM – Topic to be confirmed
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019 12:00-1 PM – Topic to be confirmed

AFHTO 2019 Conference, September 19- 20, 2019
The early bird deadline closes tomorrow! Members save 50% off their registration when using the early bird rates. Get your member access code from your administrator and come explore Health System Integration Built on The Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care. Register now!

Understanding an evolving opioid crisis, September 11, 2019
HQO’s next Quality Rounds Ontario webinar, rescheduled. Find out more here.

Primary Care Virtual Community, September 25, 2019
The primary care virtual community, brought together as an AFHTO/OCFP partnership with Change Foundation, will bring together primary care change makers interested in leading in their context and supporting meaningful system change within the Ontario healthcare system. Find out more here.

September 3, 2019

Bits & Pieces: OHT handbook for boards, hotel deadline extended, webcasts & more

Your Weekly News & Updates

In this Issue:
Ontario Health Team handbook for boards Conference volunteers needed and hotel deadline extended! Reminder: Call tomorrow for teams invited to submit a full application	The OHT webcast series – tools and supports for teams! The Nutrition Resource Centre is now Nutrition Connections Upcoming events regarding integrated care and more

Ontario Health Team handbook for boards

We’re excited to offer our members AFHTO’s Ontario Health Team Handbook for Boards. This resource has been developed to provide boards of primary care organizations with essential and basic information on OHTs, and to help guide discussions on OHT developments. We hope this will further your understanding of the changing landscape of health care delivery in Ontario, and that it will help equip you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions.

For further information on OHTs, please visit the AFHTO website for ongoing updates.

Conference volunteers needed and hotel deadline extended!

Volunteer: We have volunteer opportunities onsite for deeply discounted registration, such as registration desk, attendee assistance at breakfast and lunch and wayfinding. Email paula.myers@afhto.ca if you’re interested.

August 23: Our deadline has now been extended to this Friday, August 23. Book your hotel room today. This ensures you get our group rate. After this date, rooms are released to the public. Prices start at $222/night. That’s more than $100 discount on current rates!

September 4: Our early bird deadline to register for the AFHTO 2019 Conference, “Health System Integration Built on the Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care”

Reminder: Call tomorrow for teams invited to submit a full application
A reminder to EDs whose teams are part of an OHT submitting a full application, that there is a call tomorrow, Wednesday, August 21, from 12 PM to 1:30 PM.

It’s an opportunity to share information, including approaches and challenges, and to ask each other questions. Ministry officials will be on the call. If you’re proceeding to full application and did not receive the calendar invite, please email bryn.hamilton@afhto.ca.

The OHT webcast series – tools and supports for teams!
We’re pleased to announce that AFHTO is collaborating with the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) to provide an OHT webcast series and practical tools, tips, and support for our collective membership.

Please join us September 12 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM for the first webcast: The Shift to Shared Leadership. Register here.

The Nutrition Resource Centre is now Nutrition Connections

The Nutrition Resource Centre, a program hosted by the Ontario Public Health Association, has launched a new centre, website and brand to reflect their direction as a centre for nutrition knowledge and collaboration.

Rebranded Nutrition Connections, they support health professionals, community organizations, educators, researchers, and others working in food and nutrition to build capacity, connect, and share information. Check out Nutrition Connections’ website for more information about the new centre and services.

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

Transitions From Hospital To Primary Care, August 27, 2019
Presented by HQO’s Timely and Efficient Transitions Webinar Series, this webinar will touch on QIP indicators in the primary care and hospital sectors. Learn more here.

Primary Care’s Role within Integrated Care, September 11, 2019
International Foundation for Integrated Care Canada virtual community webinar. Register here.

CPA Ontario’s Not-For-Profit Summit, October 8, 2019
Learn how technology will reshape government and nonprofits at CPA Ontario’s Not-For-Profit Summit 2019. Find out more here.

August 20, 2019

Bits & Pieces: Patient Digital IAA deadline extended, free conference registration & more

Your Weekly News & Updates

In this Issue:
Patient digital IAA application deadline extended Free conference registration and deadlines starting Aug. 19	Project ECHO Ontario Mental Health: free professional development opportunity Upcoming events regarding governance and more

Patient digital IAA application deadline extended
On July 16, we shared the Ministry of Health’s call to submit applications for establishing a public-facing digital identity, authentication and authorization (IAA) service for patients in Ontario’s health system.

The application deadline has been extended to August 16, 2019 at 12pm EST, and there is now an FAQ.

The Assessment phase ends in mid-October 2019.

Free conference registration and deadlines starting Aug. 19

Free registration: Due to another staffing change, we have an opening for a program host. These volunteers help keep our sessions on track and get complimentary registration in return. See the role description here and email paula.myers@afhto.ca if you’re interested.

August 19: Book your hotel room before August 19. This ensures you get our group rate. After this date, rooms are released to the public. Prices start at $222/night. That’s more than $100 discount on current rates!

August 19: IHP Sessions– we still need leads for the Administrative and Social workers
individual sessions. If no leads are confirmed by August 19, we may have to cancel these sessions. All IHP session leads get a $50 discount on conference registration. Email us for more information.

September 4: Our early bird deadline to register for the AFHTO 2019 Conference, “Health System Integration Built on the Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care”

Project ECHO Ontario Mental Health: free professional development opportunity
Registration is now open for ECHO Ontario Mental Health at CAMH and the University of Toronto. This free educational program uses videoconferencing technology to support front line providers in the delivery of high quality, evidence-based mental health and addictions care. Together with their peers, as well as an inter-disciplinary specialist hub, ECHO Ontario Mental Health allows participants to share and learn best practices, jointly discuss practical recommendations for complex client care, and build sustainable communities of practice.

Free programs in the following areas will launch in Fall 2019:

Addiction Medicine and Psychosocial Interventions
Complex Patient Management
Mental Health
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Psychotherapy
Trans and Gender Diverse Healthcare

Apply today using this Application Form. If you have any questions, email echo_Ontariomentalhealth@camh.ca.

NPAO Annual Conference, September 12-13, 2019
Register for the NPAO Annual Conference by Friday, August 16th to access early bird rates! Learn more about the conference here.

Good Governance Practice to Support System Transformation, August 14, 2019
The OHA is hosting a webinar for guidance on how OHT candidates can work together to evaluate good governance and to discuss building blocks that will help ensure the success of their OHT. There is a cost. Please click here for more information or to register.

Free Workshop to Develop Support for Patient-Oriented Research, September 9 to November 25, 2019
Join this free workshop series for patient partners, policymakers, managers or researchers who would benefit from learning more about how patient-oriented research can improve the patient experience and patient outcomes. Find out more here.

August 13, 2019

Bits & Pieces: full OHT list now available, member news, conference deadlines & more

Your Weekly News & Updates

In this Issue:
Full OHT List now available Member news AFHTO 2019 Conference deadlines starting Aug. 9 NEW Ontario follow-up care clinical guidance summaries for breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors	Free workshop to develop support for patient-oriented research Managing benzodiazepine use in older adults- tool available LeaderShift Conference Upcoming events regarding opioids, COPD and more

Full OHT List now available
The Ministry of Health has posted the full list of Ontario Health Teams online. A number of our teams are actively involved in the application and in development phase including two in development by members ESF NORD-ASKI and Huron Shores FHT.

The list can be used as a resource by any health service provider or organization to connect with an existing team that has already started the Ontario Health Team journey.

The updated list of teams led by or involving members is available on our site as well, with a link to a map created by the OMA.

A reminder to stay up to date on the health transformation currently underway by subscribing to the Connected Care Updates.

Member news
Mount Sinai Academic FHT – Mount Sinai Academic FHT prenatal services fit under Ontario’s plan to expand midwifery services

City of Kawartha Lakes FHT – City of Kawartha Lakes FHT celebrates grant for seniors’ play park in Fenelon Falls

Owen Sound FHT – Owen Sound FHT holds ‘Adulting’ focused seminar for youth

AFHTO 2019 Conference deadlines starting Aug. 9

August 9: Our referral program is only open until next Friday, August 9, 2019. All non-members have to do is say who recommended them during registration and the organization with the most referrals wins a complimentary registration! Please remind your partners and stakeholders to mention your team’s name! Non-members and members alike can win.

September 4: Our early bird deadline to register for the AFHTO 2019 Conference, “Health System Integration Built on the Foundation of Team-Based Primary Health Care”

NEW Ontario follow-up care clinical guidance summaries for breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors
Cancer Care Ontario is sharing the new provincial follow-up care clinical guidance summaries for breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers, now available on their website. The summaries are to serve as concise and user-friendly informational tools for primary care providers to support the delivery of evidence-based follow-up care to their patients. If you have any questions, please email the Transitions in Care Team at TransitionsInCare@CancerCare.on.ca.

Free workshop to develop support for patient-oriented research
Do you know any patient partners, policymakers, managers or researchers who would benefit from learning more about how patient-oriented research can improve the patient experience and patient outcomes? If so, McMaster Health Forum is asking you to encourage them to register for one of their two remaining free, online training sessions:

Sept. 9 – Nov. 25, 2019 (sessions on Mondays and Thursdays, 2:30 – 3:30pm)
Jan. 6 – Mar. 23, 2020 (sessions on Mondays and Thursdays, 12 – 1pm)

This is a limited opportunity for them to help bring a strong patient voice to both research and decision-making. Over 11 weeks, this virtual course will better prepare participants to support the conduct and use patient-oriented research in Ontario’s health system and become mentors to others looking to do the same.

Managing benzodiazepine use in older adults- tool available
The Centre for Effective Practice (CEP) has published a new clinical tool to support the assessment and discussion of the use of benzodiazepines with older patients.

Developed as part of the Knowledge Translation in Primary Care initiative, the Managing Benzodiazepine Use in Older Adults tool focuses on the role of benzodiazepines in insomnia, anxiety disorders and panic disorder, with steps to support safely discontinuing, starting and continuing to prescribe benzodiazepines.

LeaderShift Conference
Read more about the LeaderShift Conference that was held on July 11, 2019 and how attendees were able to connect and collaborate with their peers, learning how they were part of the #shapetheshift movement currently underway in the province.

Understanding an evolving opioid crisis, August 8, 2019
HQO’s next Quality Rounds Ontario webinar. Find out more here.

COPD Workshop, August 26, 2019
The Lung Association’s – Ontario’s Provider Education Program will host a COPD Workshop in Mississauga and via OTN. Register here.

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

August 7, 2019

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

Your Weekly News & Updates

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

AFHTO members & OHTs

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

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

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

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

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

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

We urge you to take advantage of LeaderShift’s FINAL OPPORTUNITY to attend the 5-day LEADS Learning Series FOR FREE!

The deadline for North York, Barrie, Ottawa, Toronto, Mississauga and London is today, July 30, 2019. Travel subsidies are also available.

APPLY TODAY! If you have already attended the series and know of a colleague who could benefit from this experience don’t forget to encourage them to apply!

Let’s #shapetheshift together.

Tomorrow’s the deadline to join our IHP Advisory Council
There are two vacancies on AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council and we’re inviting all AFHTO-member IHPs to apply. More information and the Terms of Reference are here. One vacancy is a regular two-year term and the other is a one-year term for a maternity leave.

Interested members are asked to complete this application by tomorrow Wednesday, July 31. Any questions, please contact Beth MacKinnon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

July 30, 2019

Bits & Pieces: OHT current state survey, Health Canada funding opportunity & more

Your Weekly News & Updates

In this Issue:
OHT current state survey Health Canada/PHAC funding on substance use Hotel group rate deadline Aug. 19 Reminder- call for applications: patient digital identity, access and authorization	Deadline to join our IHP Advisory Council is July 31 Ministry response on budget adjustments CPSO consultations on draft policies due Aug 2 Upcoming events for NPs, RDs and more

OHT current state survey
Thanks to those of you who have reached out to let us know the current status of your OHT applications. Great to see the level of primary care leadership across the province as OHT implementation progresses!

We’re now asking EDs to complete this short survey to share some more detail on your team’s state and needed supports. We hope to hear from all teams, including those not part of this first round. It should only take 5-10 minutes of your time.

We’re working closely with the OMA and OCFP to map out primary care involvement and to ensure teams have access to supports that will help improve OHT development and eventual implementation.

Please complete the survey by Friday, August 2, 2019.

If you have any questions, please contact bryn.hamilton@afhto.ca.

Health Canada/PHAC funding on substance use
On July 17, 2019, the Government of Canada launched two new anticipatory Calls for Proposals. Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) will fund projects in three streams:

Harm reduction, community-led and front-line initiatives;
Increasing access to pharmaceutical grade medications as a safer alternative to the contaminated illegal drug supply; and
New approaches that address problematic methamphetamine use.

The application deadline is Thursday, September 26, 2019. More information, including detailed Guidelines for Applicants, can be found here: Substance Use and Addictions Program. If you have questions or you would like to request an application form, please contact hc.SUAP-PUDS.sc@canada.ca.

Separately, the Public Health Agency of Canada will fund projects that use evidence-based approaches to reduce barriers to care for people who use drugs. Letters of Intent must be submitted by August 30, 2019 and the deadline to request the application package is 11:59am ET, August 7, 2019.More information can be found here: Pathways to Care. If you have questions, please contact phac.cgc.solicitations-csc.aspc@canada.ca with the subject line: LOI Pathways to Care.

Hotel group rate deadline Aug. 19

With the AFHTO conference in September this year, the deadline to get the hotel group rate is Aug. 19. After that, rooms are released to the public, with no guarantees. Please book before the deadline to secure your spot.

Reminder- call for applications: patient digital identity, access and authorization
The Ministry of Health invites AFHTO members to submit applications for establishing a public-facing digital identity, authentication and authorization (IAA) service for patients in Ontario’s health system. Full details on the eligibility requirements, the submission and review process, and project requirements and deliverables can be found in the Call for Applications document.

The closing date for submissions is August 9, 2019 at 12pm EDT. Please send any questions to digitalhealthsecretariat@ontario.ca.

Deadline to join our IHP Advisory Council is July 31
There are two vacancies on AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council and we’re inviting all AFHTO-member IHPs to apply. More information and the Terms of Reference are here. One vacancy is a regular two-year term and the other is a one-year term for a maternity leave.

Interested members are asked to complete this application by Wednesday, July 31. Any questions, please contact Beth MacKinnon.

Ministry response on budget adjustments
AFHTO wrote to the ministry on May 31 with members’ questions and concerns about budget adjustments. The response was received on July 12 and has been posted for the triad.

We’re in touch with the ministry on unanswered questions, and we’ll keep members posted as we receive more information.

CPSO consultations on draft policies due Aug 2
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is requesting feedback on draft policies, all due Aug. 2:

FHT RD Conference + RD Research Afternoon, October 17- 18, 2019
Education, networking and brainstorming opportunities to leave you feeling motivated about nutrition in primary care. Find out more here.

NPAO Conference: Stronger Together: Our Time is Now, September 12-13, 2019
Register for the NPAO Annual conference to network and engage with your NP colleagues. Learn more here.

BORN Conference, November 7-8, 2019
Held in Ottawa, the BORN conference connects the conversation between health-care providers, administrators, policy makers, researchers and students. Find out more here.

July 24, 2019

Tag: Members Only News

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Programs and Initiatives supporting Primary Care Health

Support Services for Patients and Caregivers

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