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Tag: Members Only News

  • Nominate a partner or healthcare inspiration for an AFHTO Board award

    Nominate a partner or healthcare inspiration for an AFHTO Board award

    For the first time ever, the AFHTO board invites all member EDs, lead clinicians and board chairs to help them select the recipient of a Board award.

    Natalia Udarchik, PCAP Coordinator, Stonegate Health Centre accepts the 2018 Board award with guest

    The Board award recognizes an individual (or a group) who is not an AFHTO member but has significantly contributed to the development and growth of team-based primary care within their local community or at the provincial level.

    The winner(s) will receive their award(s) during the Bright Lights Awards Ceremony at the AFHTO 2019 Conference on Sep. 19, 2019.

    Submit a nomination for the Board Award category by June 11, 2019.

    Find out more about the criteria here. You can find the nomination template here.

    If you have any questions, please contact us at info@afhto.ca or call 647-234-8605 x 200.

  • Bits & Pieces: OHT updates, members’ stories, abstract notifications & more

    Bits & Pieces: OHT updates, members’ stories, abstract notifications & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • Update: Ontario Health Teams
    • Members’ stories
    • AFHTO 2019 Conference presentation notifications sent out
    • Harvard ManageMentor deadline May 30
    • ECHO addictions medicine and psychosocial interventions
    • MOHLTC update: mental health and addictions
    • Today’s the deadline to sign up as IHP session lead
    • OCFP board nominations
    • Upcoming events regarding OHTs and more

    Update: Ontario Health Teams

    The first deadline for OHT submissions has passed, and the self-assessment applications are now being reviewed. Teams that submitted for this first round will hear back from the Ministry in June on the status of their application. The first OHT candidates will be announced in the fall.

    AFHTO continues to add tools and resources to the website. The following were most recently added:

    These are on the Ontario Health Teams page with other tools and resources. If you have any questions, please email us at info@afhto.ca.

    You can also email ontariohealthteams@ontario.ca with questions, and consider signing up for regular Connected Care Updates.  The May 17 update is available here.

    Members’ stories

    Officials from more than 20 agencies, including Couchiching FHT, have been meeting and working together to create a new Ontario Health Team in Orillia.
    <em>Officials from more than 20 agencies, including Couchiching FHT, have been meeting and working together to create a new Ontario Health Team in Orillia.</em>

    Couchiching FHT: Orillia group makes pitch to form Ontario Health Team

    Kawartha North FHT: Kawartha North FHT & Kawartha Lakes groups discuss forming Ontario Health Team

    Essex County NPLC: Essex County NPLC’s Peer-led Workshop Walks through Diabetic Foot Complication Prevention

    St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT: St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT Physician prescribes money to low-income patients: Vox interview

    AFHTO 2019 Conference presentation notifications sent out
    Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract for concurrent session and poster presentations at the AFHTO 2019 Conference. A notification e-mail has been sent to each contact person so please ensure your group contact has received an e-mail including the words “AFHTO 2019 Conference” in the subject on May 24 or 27, 2019.

    If your contact person has NOT received this notification, please contact info@afhto.ca before Wednesday, May 29, 2019.

    Harvard ManageMentor deadline May 30
    Harvard ManageMentor is a self-directed online-learning program affiliated with the Harvard School of Business. It covers over 40 topics of vital relevance to today’s healthcare managers. Each module helps strengthen specific leadership skills that drive performance and results.

    For demo access:
    •    url: https://courses.edls.com/login.php?url=afhtogroup
    •    username: afhto_demo
    •    password:  harvard (all lower case)

    If you have any questions about Harvard ManageMentor and/or Spark, please contact Candace Dames at cdames@edls.com or (647) 838 2555. If you’re interested in participating, please contact Bryn Hamilton before May 30.

    ECHO addictions medicine and psychosocial interventions
    ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a collaborative model of healthcare education that leverages videoconferencing to empower providers to enhance their knowledge, confidence, and practice. This Fall, CAMH and St. Michael’s Hospital are collaborating on an ECHO that will focus specifically on empowering healthcare and service providers working with clients with substance related addictions. Specifically, this ECHO aims to build capacity in the treatment and management of substance use and addictions.

    They’re currently conducting a needs assessment to better understand the learning priorities of healthcare providers, with the goal of refining our curriculum. If you or someone you know would be interested in participating, please take a few moments to fill out the survey and provide your feedback. Deadline June 4.

    Find out more about ECHO Ontario AMPI here.

    MOHLTC update: mental health and addictions
    Ontario introduced the Foundations for Promoting and Protecting Mental Health and Addictions Services Act yesterday. If passed, this act would establish a Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence within Ontario Health and support the province’s participation in the national class action lawsuit British Columbia launched last year against more than 40 opioid manufacturers and wholesalers.

    Read the news release here and Hill+Knowlton’s memo on the subject here.

    Today’s the deadline to sign up as IHP session lead
    Today’s the deadline to sign up as an IHP session lead for the popular individual professional sessions at the AFHTO 2019 Conference, so if you’re interested, please contact Beth MacKinnon by 5:00 p.m.

    OCFP board nominations
    The Ontario College of Family Physicians is currently seeking up to three family physicians to join their Board of Directors. Deadline June 5.

    Ontario Health Teams: a primary care perspective, June 5, 2019
    Lunch and learn session specifically for AFHTO members, hosted in partnership with Karima Kanani (Partner at Miller Thomson LLP). Register here.

    BoneFit Kingston, June 8-9, 2019
    Join the Bone Fit exercise training workshop for health professionals, where you will learn effective and appropriate exercise for people with osteoporosis. Learn more here.

    Mental health and addiction QI collaborative webinar, June 13, 2019
    Join CMHA, AMHO, and AFHTO for a 4-part webinar series on community and primary care QI projects and initiatives with a focus on mental health and addictions. Register here for the first webinar.

    Considerations for Primary Care Teams as a Not-for-Profit Corporation, July 17, 2019
    Join AFHTO & Grant Thornton LLP for their second webinar in the Financial Webinar Series. Register here.

    Integrated People-Centred Care – How? An Overview of the upcoming HSO:76000 Integrated People-Centred Health Systems Standard, June 19, 2019
    HSO will be providing a high-level overview of their upcoming Integrated People-Centered Systems Standard in this webinar. Learn more here.

     

  • Bits & Pieces: final LeaderShift cohorts, palliative care & more

    Bits & Pieces: final LeaderShift cohorts, palliative care & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • Registration for final LeaderShift cohorts now open
    • Reminder- IHP session leads needed for AFHTO 2019 conference
    • Community access to palliative care via interprofessional primary care teams improvement project
    • Mental health, chronic pain, and substance use: addressing the connections
    • PHO antimicrobial stewardship advisory committee
    • Call for poster abstracts- Toronto International Conference on Quality in Primary Care
    • Health care consent advance care planning and goals of care e-learning modules
    • Upcoming events regarding OHTs and more

    Registration for final LeaderShift cohorts now open
    This is your LAST CHANCE to earn your LEADS certificate through LeaderShift for free! Applications for six new LEADS cohorts are now open (travel subsidies are available). Here are the cohorts you can apply for today:

    • North York: Sep. 10, 11, 24, 25, Oct. 9
    • Barrie: Sep. 17, 18, Oct. 2, 16, 17
    • Ottawa: Sep. 17, 18, Oct. 2, 16, 17
    • Toronto #3: Oct. 16, 17, Nov. 5, 19, 20
    • Mississauga: Nov. 6, 7, 21, Dec. 4, 5
    • London: Nov. 6, 7, 21, Dec. 4, 5

    Application deadlines are posted on the LeaderShift website. Spread the word to your colleagues, and if you applied for a cohort in 2018/2019 and didn’t get the opportunity to attend, this is your last chance to re-apply.
    If you have any questions please feel free to contact Nicola Kirwan at 416-256-3010 ex 219 or at nicola.kirwan@ocsa.on.ca.

    Community access to palliative care via interprofessional primary care teams improvement project

    As you are aware, the Ontario Palliative Care Network (OPCN) and its partners have developed the Palliative Care Health Services Delivery Framework (Delivery Framework) to address gaps in the availability and delivery of palliative care services across the province. To support Delivery Framework implementation, OPCN is partnering with a project called: CAPACITI (Community Access to PAlliative Care via Interprofessional primary care Teams Improvement Project). Teams are invited to participate the Readiness Self-Assessment to help to determine team readiness for Delivery Framework: CAPACITI implementation. Click here for more information and to find out if your team is eligible for CAPACITI.

    Irene Njoroge, an Advanced Practice Nurse with the Substance Use Service at Women’s College Hospital, describes some of the connections she sees between trauma, substance use disorders and chronic pain
    <em>Irene Njoroge, an Advanced Practice Nurse with the Substance Use Service at Women’s College Hospital, describes some of the connections she sees between trauma, substance use disorders and chronic pain in a <a href="https://vimeo.com/320005305">short video</a>.</em>

    Mental health, chronic pain, and substance use: addressing the connections

    Machealth has launched the fourth course in the Opioids Clinical Primer program. ‘Mental Health, Chronic Pain, and Substance Use: Addressing the Connections’ responds to some of the challenges associated with the overlap of chronic pain, mental health disorders and substance use disorders. It’s free and certified for up to 2 Mainpro+ credits and 2 MOC Section 1 hours for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

     

     

    PHO antimicrobial stewardship advisory committee
    Public Health Ontario (PHO) is currently recruiting members for the Antimicrobial Stewardship Advisory Committee (ASAC). This committee is multidisciplinary and advises PHO on matters related to antimicrobial stewardship.

    ASAC is currently seeking Practitioners from Long-Term Care and Primary Care.

    Candidates should send their expression of interest, with curriculum vitae and complete contact details to asp@oahpp.ca by June 7 2019. For more information, contact asp@oahpp.ca.

    Call for poster abstracts- Toronto International Conference on Quality in Primary Care
    The conference on Nov. 16 is designed to explore several aspects of health equity, including health disadvantages related to income, race, and social position. We will have the opportunity to hear from two panelists with experience working with primary care practices to screen for and address the social determinants of health in Canada and the U.S.

    Please submit your poster abstracts by June 3, 2019 on the conference website or here.

    Health care consent advance care planning and goals of care e-learning modules
    Hospice Palliative Care Ontario has launched the Health Care Consent Advance Care Planning and Goals of Care E-Learning Modules. Learners will move beyond advancing their knowledge & attitudes to develop clinical skills through:

    • Interactive case scenarios
    • Reflective questions
    • Videos of both simulated & real clinical encounters

    Registration can be accessed here.

    Ontario Health Teams: a primary care perspective, June 5, 2019
    Lunch and learn session specifically for AFHTO members, hosted in partnership with Karima Kanani (Partner at Miller Thomson LLP). Register here.

    ROI Stories of Entrepreneurship Webinar Series, May 28 – June 20, 2019
    Participate in the conversation around entrepreneurship by rural Ontario community organizations. This 4-part webinar series highlights case studies and are free of charge to attend. Find out more here.

    Mental health and addiction QI collaborative webinar, June 13, 2019
    Join CMHA, AMHO, and AFHTO for a 4-part webinar series on community and primary care QI projects and initiatives with a focus on mental health and addictions. Register here for the first webinar.

    Considerations for Primary Care Teams as a Not-for-Profit Corporation, July 17, 2019
    Join AFHTO & Grant Thornton LLP for their second webinar in the Financial Webinar Series. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: AFHTO board nominations, call for IHP session leads & more

    Bits & Pieces: AFHTO board nominations, call for IHP session leads & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open
    • IHP session leads needed for AFHTO 2019 conference
    • Ontario Health Teams: a primary care perspective
    • MOHLTC connected care update
    • Call for participation- delirium & toxicity management
    • Integrated heart failure care – enabling development of Ontario Health Teams
    • Examining the healthcare experiences of foreign-born older Canadians: a pilot study – call for participants
    • Upcoming events regarding CHOGIP benefits and more

    Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open
    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.

    Five (5) positions are to be elected for a 3-year term on the 14-member AFHTO board. The AFHTO by-laws call for balanced representation on the board to include the various forms of governance, the regions of the province, and the mix of the professions working within FHTs, NPLCs and other interprofessional models of primary care. For more details visit our site and to apply click here. Deadline June 28, 2019.

    IHP session leads needed for AFHTO 2019 conference
    attendees talkin at table

    Planning is on track for the AFHTO 2019 Conference and this includes planning for the interprofessional health provider sessions. We’re currently finalising plans for the group session but need volunteers to lead the popular individual professional sessions.

    Each one-hour session with your peers won’t take place without a lead so if you’re interested, please contact Beth MacKinnon by May 28, 2019.

     

    Ontario Health Teams: a primary care perspective
    Primary care has been identified as a key component for Ontario Health Teams and this health system reform will impact all AFHTO members. Please join us for a lunch and learn session hosted in partnership with Karima Kanani (Partner at Miller Thomson LLP) on Wednesday June 5th 12-1pm. This session held specifically for AFHTO members will cover:

    • Key features of the Connecting Care Act, 2019
    • Ontario Health Team requirements
    • The role of primary care in OHTs
    • Tips for proactive planning

    Register here.

    MOHLTC connected care update7 things re OHTs
    Email sent by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on May 10. Includes ‘7 Things You Need to Know About OHTs’, which includes statements like “Teams should have the ability to deliver coordinated services across at least three sectors of care, especially hospital, home and/or community care, and primary care.” See the email here.

    Call for participation- delirium & toxicity management
    Advisory committee- delirium: Health Quality Ontario, in partnership with the Regional Geriatric Programs of Ontario, is developing a new quality standard outlining quality care for adults who have or may have delirium.

    They’re seeking volunteers to help support and drive the development of this work. Apply by May 20, 2019.

    Toxicity management models of care working group: Cancer Care Ontario is seeking GPO, GP and Nursing representation for a Models of Care Working Group to improve the delivery of toxicity management for adult cancer patients currently undergoing systemic and radiation treatment. If you’re interested in participating, please contact Ada Payne, Lead, Models of Care at ada.payne@cancercare.on.ca by May 17, 2019.

    Integrated heart failure care – enabling development of Ontario Health Teams
    Heart failure (HF) has high health system costs, poor patient outcomes, and complex care transitions among primary and community care, and acute care. CorHealth Ontario’s ‘Roadmap for Improving Integrated HF Care in Ontario’, and Implementation Toolkit details how to improve HF care in the community, reduce ‘hallway medicine’ and begin Ontario Health Team (OHT) formation.

    As the OHT submission deadline approaches, CorHealth invites primary care teams to learn more about integrated heart failure care, as an enabler for partnerships in OHT development. For more information, visit www.corhealthontario.ca or email service@corhealthontario.ca.

    Examining the healthcare experiences of foreign-born older Canadians: a pilot study – call for participants
    Although foreign-born older adults (immigrant seniors) are at a higher risk for certain chronic diseases and negative health conditions, limited Canadian studies have examined healthcare experiences of foreign-born older adults (FBOAs), and few have developed or proposed practical solutions to support patient engagement, system navigation, and care coordination.

    The University of Waterloo is reaching out to community organizations and partners to seek their preliminary guidance and perspectives for an exploratory study. For more details visit our site. If you’re interested in participating or if you have any questions please contact Alison Kernoghan (alison.kernoghan@uwaterloo.ca).

    CHOGIP Benefits webinar, May 22, 2019
    Looking to switch dental and health benefit providers? AFHTO is pleased to present CHOGIP choice and voice benefit services to our members. Gallagher Benefit services will be presenting an overview in this webinar. Register here.

    ROI Stories of Entrepreneurship Webinar Series, May 28 – June 20, 2019
    Participate in the conversation around entrepreneurship by rural Ontario community organizations. This 4-part webinar series highlights case studies and are free of charge to attend. Find out more here.

    Wounds Canada: New Perspectives in Diabetic Limb Preservation Symposium, May 31, 2019
    Join the first Diabetic Limb Preservation Symposium held by Wounds Canada in Toronto. This event is aimed at primary care practitioners and specialists working on patients with lower limb complications that can lead to amputation. Learn more here

    Antimicrobial Stewardship in Primary Care
    Register for an online CE course for prescribers & pharmacists to help HCPs optimize antibiotic use in common clinical scenarios. Find out more here.

  • Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors are open until June 28, 2019

    Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors are open until June 28, 2019

    Dear AFHTO members:
     
    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.

    Five (5) positions are to be elected for a 3-year term on the 14-member AFHTO board. The AFHTO by-laws call for balanced representation on the board to include the various forms of governance, the regions of the province, and the mix of the professions working within FHTs, NPLCs and other interprofessional models of primary care.

    Given the composition of the continuing board members, priority for the directors to be elected will be given to candidates who are:

    • Board members, especially community members in the position of Chair of the Board;
    • Interprofessional Health Care Providers (IHPs), especially those working in mental health and addictions;
    • Experienced in finance, including accreditation as a financial professional (e.g. CA, CPA, CMA); or
    • From AFHTO members located in Eastern and Central Ontario.

    To apply:

    The Governance Committee of the AFHTO board will review all applications to assist the AFHTO board to determine the slate of candidates to recommend to the AFHTO membership for ratification at the AFHTO annual general meeting.

    • Nominees will be informed of their status by September 5, 2019.
    • The slate will be presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting in conjunction with the AFHTO annual conference.  This year it will be held:

    Thursday, September 19, 2019
    8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
    The Westin Harbour Castle
    1 Harbour Square
    Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A6

     

    Sincerely,

    beth signature
     

     

     

     

    Beth Cowper-Fung
    Chair, AFHTO Board of Directors
    Clinic Director, Georgina Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic

  • D2D eBulletin #87- Sometimes Less is More: Deprescribing initiatives in Primary Care

    In this issue

    • Deprescribing initiatives in interprofessional primary care teams
    • AFHTO 2019 conference
    • Stay tuned for resources to support your team’s QIP!

    Deprescribing Initiatives in Interprofessional Primary Care Teams

    What is deprescribing?
    Deprescribing is the planned and supervised process of dose reduction or stopping of medication that might be causing harm, or no longer be of benefit. The ultimate goal of deprescribing is to reduce medication burden and improve quality of life1.

    Why is it important?
    Deprescribing can improve patient health outcomes. It’s a method to address polypharmacy, which can be defined by the concurrent use of 5 or more medications (including both prescription and non-prescription products) by a single individual1,2. Polypharmacy is common among seniors and individuals with mental health disorders3. This increases the risk of these populations experiencing an adverse drug effect and interactions that can contribute to negative outcomes2.

    How can it contribute to cost savings?
    Inappropriate use of medication costs the Canadian healthcare system an estimated $419 million annually and the cost of treating the harmful effects of these medications is estimated to be $1.4 billion every year4. Deprescribing can help to reduce some of these unnecessary costs.

    How can I get started?

    Learn how AFHTO members are implementing interdisciplinary deprescribing initiatives in their teams:

    Email improve@afhto.ca if you would like to get in contact with any of the teams above to learn more about their programs.

    AFHTO 2019 Conference

    Here are some important dates relating to this year’s AFHTO conference taking place September 19 & 20.

    • Late May 2019: Concurrent sessions + posters selected + scheduled
    • End of May to early June: Call for Bright Lights nominations
    • June 2019: Conference registration opens
    • September 4, 2019: Early-bird registration ends
    • Sep 19 & 20, 2019: AFHTO 2019 Conference

    Stay Tuned for Resources to Support your Team’s QIP!

    The 2019/20 QIPs have been submitted and are available on the QIP navigator for review. You can search the 2019/20 QIPs using QIP Query or download any organization’s QIP using Download QIPs.

    Stay tuned for resources and tools AFHTO will be providing to help teams once emerging themes are identified.

    References:

    1. Canadian Deprescribing Network: https://www.deprescribingnetwork.ca/deprescribing
    2. ISMP Canada Safety Bulletin: https://www.ismp-canada.org/download/safetyBulletins/2018/ISMPCSB2018-03-Deprescribing.pdf
    3. Sivagnanam G. Deprescription: the prescription metabolism. J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2016;7(3):133-137.
    4. Medication without harm. WHO global patient safety challenge. Geneva (Switzerland): World Health Organization; 2017 [cited 2018 Jan 31]. Available from: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/255263/1/WHO-HIS-SDS-2017.6-eng.pdf?ua=1&ua=1

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #86 or other news here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

     

  • Bits & Pieces: OHT current state survey, mental health & addiction QI & more

    Bits & Pieces: OHT current state survey, mental health & addiction QI & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • OHT current state survey
    • Mental health and addiction QI collaborative webinar series
    • Health TAPESTRY evaluation results in CMAJ
    • Reminder – Harvard ManageMentor available
    • Addressing mental health and addictions needs in primary care
    • Toronto Central LHIN rapid access clinics for low back pain
    • OntarioMD call for abstracts
    • Upcoming events regarding CHOGIP benefits and more

    OHT current state survey
    We’re requesting EDs complete the following short survey to identify your teams’ current state within the Ontario Health Team development process. This information is key for us to track progress across the province.

    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 participation readiness and eventual implementation.

    Please complete the survey by Friday, May 10, 2019.
     
    If you have any questions or follow-up inquiries please contact bryn.hamilton@afhto.ca.

    Mental health and addiction QI collaborative webinar series

    Mental health and addiction QI collaborative webinar series
    Join CMHA, AMHO, and AFHTO for a 4-part webinar series on community and primary care QI projects and initiatives with a focus on mental health and addiction.

    Register here.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Health Tapestry

    Health TAPESTRY evaluation results in CMAJ

    “Combining volunteers and primary care teamwork to support health goals and needs of older adults: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial” showed more primary care visits and fewer hospitalizations, which means it may shift focus from reactive to preventive care. Learn more at healthtapestry.ca.

     

    Harvard Lunch and Learn
    <em><a href="/node/4007">Video from the lunch and learn session available</a></em>

    Reminder – Harvard ManageMentor available

    Harvard ManageMentor is a self-directed online-learning program affiliated with the Harvard School of Business. It covers over 40 topics of vital relevance to today’s healthcare managers. Each module helps strengthen specific leadership skills that drive performance and results.

    For demo access:

    If you have any questions about Harvard ManageMentor and/or Spark, please contact Candace Dames at cdames@edls.com or (647) 838 2555. If you’re interested in participating, please contact Bryn Hamilton.

    Addressing mental health and addictions needs in primary care
    At last year’s leadership triad session, we partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario, and co-designed a session to focus on mental health and primary care integration. We addressed the question “How do we ensure that we provide seamless care for our patients and create a well integrated system of care.”

    Read the full report here.

    Toronto Central LHIN rapid access clinics for low back pain
    Rapid Access Clinics (RAC) for Low Back Pain are being rolled out across the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network to help improve the quality, access and appropriateness of care for people with low back pain. RAC Low Back Pain stems from the Inter-professional Spine Assessment and Education Clinics (ISAEC) model of care; a successful pilot program for low back pain.

    Primary care providers must be enrolled in RAC Low Back Pain in order to refer patients. Find out more here.

    OntarioMD call for abstracts
    The call for abstracts for EMR: Every Step Conference at the Toronto Congress Centre on Sep. 26, 2019 has been launched. Deadline May 24, 2019.

    CHOGIP Benefits webinar, May 22, 2019
    Looking to switch dental and health benefit providers? AFHTO is pleased to present CHOGIP choice and voice benefit services to our members. Gallagher Benefit services will be presenting an overview in this webinar. Register here.

    Transitions in Care: A Quality Standards Webinar, May 8, 2019
    Learn about a draft quality standard for quality care for patients transitioning from hospital to home. Find out more here.

    IFIC Canada Virtual Community Webinar Series: Global Tour Of Integrated Care And What It Means For Us, May 14, 2019
    Learn how others around North America have successfully integrated care practices. Join for the first monthly meeting with IFIC. Join the first virtual conversation.

    Antimicrobial Stewardship in Primary Care
    Register for an online CE course for prescribers & pharmacists to help HCPs optimize antibiotic use in common clinical scenarios. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: palliative care framework, Doctors’ Day, abstract confirmations & more

    Bits & Pieces: palliative care framework, Doctors’ Day, abstract confirmations & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • Palliative care health services delivery framework
    • Over 120 submissions received for the AFHTO 2019 Conference
    • Doctors’ Day is May 1
    • CHOGIP Choice and Voice webinar on May 22
    • Free assistance from practice facilitators in Ottawa area
    • Training and capacity building in healthy childhood development survey
    • Seeking input: draft quality standard for transitions in care
    • Upcoming events regarding healthcare consent and more

    conference tree

     

    Over 120 submissions received for the AFHTO 2019 Conference

    Thank you to all those who applied! If you are part of a group that has prepared an abstract, please ensure your group contact has received the email with the subject: “AFHTO 2019 Conference: Abstract received confirmation“.
     
    If your contact person has NOT received this confirmation, please contact info@afhto.ca by 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, May 1.

     

     

     

     

    Doctors’ Day is May 1
    Tomorrow, May 1, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) and health care organizations across the province will be recognizing the amazing contributions made by Ontario’s doctors. Ontarians can submit their story at oma.org/doctorsday.

    Patient stories will be shared through the OMA’s social media channels throughout the month of May. Posters with real stories are also available for download and printing. You can also join the conversation with hashtag #DoctorsDay.

    A special thank you to all the family doctors working with our teams for the great care you provide to your patients each and every day.

    CHOGIP Choice and Voice webinar on May 22

    Looking to switch your employee health and dental benefit plan? AFHTO members are invited to a webinar to learn more about the CHOGIP benefit plan geared towards primary care organizations!

    AFHTO members who join the plan have access to reduced rates for dental benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term disability amongst other types of coverage. Enjoy an overview of the features and ask any questions you may have about this choice and voice focused benefit plan.

    Register to attend the webinar on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 12:00 PM.

    Free assistance from practice facilitators in Ottawa area
    Want free assistance from knowledgeable Practice Facilitators? Does your team need help identifying and implementing evidence informed strategies to address gaps in care while monitoring progress over time?

    Teams in the Ottawa area are invited to join the Ottawa Practice Enhancement Network (OPEN), which aims to support primary care practices achieve quality improvement (QI) goals. Teams can use a goal identified from their Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) or any other area of interest. Click here for more information.

    Training and capacity building in healthy childhood development survey
    Do you support the health and well-being of children and their families? The Nutrition Resource Centre (NRC) wants to hear from you. Have your say on NRC’s future development of training, tools and resources in early childhood development.

    Please take a few minutes to complete this survey on training and professional development needs and tell us how we can enhance and strengthen your knowledge and skills. Deadline May 13.

    Seeking input: draft quality standard for transitions in care
    hqo transitionsA new quality standard is being developed to address a common experience for Ontarians that tests the ability of our health system to offer seamless care – the transition home from the hospital.

    Both the quality standard and accompanying patient guide are being developed by Health Quality Ontario. Share your thoughts on a draft quality standard and patient guide by May 14, 2019.

     

    HPCO CoP Health Care Consent & Advance Care Planning In Ontario, May 7, 2019
    Learn about an algorithm that aids and outlines the process of informed consent using the treatment of CPR. Find out more here.

    Transitions in Care: A Quality Standards Webinar, May 8, 2019
    Learn about a draft quality standard for quality care for patients transitioning from hospital to home. Find out more here.

    IFIC Canada Virtual Community Webinar Series: Global Tour Of Integrated Care And What It Means For Us, May 14, 2019
    Learn how others around North America have successfully integrated care practices. Join for the first monthly meeting with IFIC. Join the first virtual conversation.

    Community Health Connections 2019, June 12 & 13, 2019
    Join CACHC and AHC for their Community Health Connections conference held in Ottawa. Learn more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: abstract deadline tomorrow, OHT webinar on patient partnership & more

    Bits & Pieces: abstract deadline tomorrow, OHT webinar on patient partnership & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • Deadline to submit your #AFHTO2019 abstract tomorrow
    • OHT webinar on patient partnership Apr. 25
    • Creating a “Balanced” View: we want to learn from you!
    • Registration open for LeaderShift Health System Leaders webinar #4 Apr. 30
    • Seeking input on improving primary stroke prevention
    • Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) launch
    • Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, June 5, 2019
    • Upcoming events including primary care virtual community meeting and more

    Deadline to submit your #AFHTO2019 abstract tomorrow

    AFHTO 2018 Panorama

    Time’s almost up to submit your AFHTO 2019 Conference abstract. Within a very short span of time the Ontario health landscape will look very different, so we need to make sure primary health care teams are as prepared as they can be. Deadline to submit tomorrow Apr. 24. at 5:00 p.m.

    OHT webinar on patient partnership Apr. 25
    The Ministry has announced its third webinar on the Ontario Health Teams with a focus on patient partnership on April 25 at noon. If you have not yet done so, please click here to register.   
     
    Ongoing information about the development about the OHTs are available on our website so please make sure you check there periodically.

    Creating a “Balanced” View: we want to learn from you!
    Is your team using a balanced scorecard approach to monitor progress towards strategic objectives? Has your team developed tools or frameworks for the board to assess organizational performance? We’d like to learn from you!

    Please consider sharing your tools with AFHTO as we continue in our collective pursuit to drive quality and identify opportunities for improvement.   

    Registration open for LeaderShift Health System Leaders webinar #4 Apr. 30
    Cross-sector collaboration is a major goal of the LeaderShift project. But how can we collaborate when we don’t really know what other parts of the community and primary care sector are doing?
     
    Tune into what’s happening in and across community & primary health today and uncover where the biggest opportunities for current and emerging leaders lie in the webinar: Innovation and Opportunity in Community and Primary Health Care. Find out more here.

    Seeking input on improving primary stroke prevention
    The Translation Research Program at the University of Toronto is looking for family physicians to participate in a study on improving primary stroke prevention. The study involves a 2-hour focus group at a pre-determined location and a short questionnaire about stroke knowledge.

    An honorarium will be provided for your time, and refreshments will be served during the focus groups. Click here for more details.

    Fecal immunochemical test (FIT) launch
    On June 24, 2019, Ontario is transitioning from the guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) to the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) as the recommended screening test for people at average risk of developing colorectal cancer. To support primary care providers, Cancer Care Ontario has updated existing ColonCancerCheck resources and developed new resources outlining changes to the program. Learn more here.

    Inaugural Primary Care Virtual Community meeting, Apr. 25, 2019
    With special guest, Dr. Robert Varnam, GP and Head of General Practice Development at NHS England. Join us as he shares learning from the journey that the UK underwent in health system transformation where primary care was at the centre of reforms, and how we might use that learning in Ontario. Join the first virtual conversation

    Transitions in Care: A Quality Standards Webinar, May 8, 2019
    Learn about a draft quality standard for quality care for patients transitioning from hospital to home. Find out more here.

    Project ECHO Liver: Liver Disease in Primary Care: Approach to Hepatitis B, May 16, 2019
    Join this webinar held by ECHO Ontario for their Liver series, which will cover approaches to different liver diseases in a primary care setting.  Learn more here.

    Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, June 5, 2019
    Submit your abstracts by May 1 if you would like to present your research. You can also register now. Learn more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: OHT webinar today, we really want your abstract & more

    Bits & Pieces: OHT webinar today, we really want your abstract & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In this Issue:  
    • Ontario Health Team webinar today
    • We really want you to submit your AFHTO 2019 Conference abstract. Deadline Apr. 24
    • Member news -the case for a single EMR in each OHT
    • Prenatal Screening Ontario – new program for primary health care
    • Chronic Kidney Disease Medication Safety List now available online
    • Brain health and wellness project
    • Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, June 5, 2019
    • Upcoming events regarding financial statements and more

     

    Ontario Health Team webinar today
    The Ministry has just announced its second webinar on the Ontario Health Teams with a focus on Readiness assessment supports and process scheduled for today at noon. If you have not yet done so, please click here to register.   
     
    AFHTO has started a series of Executive Director Forums (North, South, East and GTA) for EDs to come together from the province to discuss how OHT development is happening in their community. Invitations have already gone out and we’ll be collecting questions from each of the Forums which we’ll send to the Ministry for response. If you haven’t received your invitation to attend the Forum please contact Beth MacKinnon at beth.mackinnon@afhto.ca.
     
    Ongoing information about the development about the OHTs are available on our website so please make sure you check there periodically.

    We really want you to submit your AFHTO 2019 Conference abstract. Deadline Apr. 24

    AFHTO 2019 Conference logo

    Are you:

    • A small, rural or Northern team?
    • Helping your patients live healthier lives?
    • Improving your community through effective partnerships and programs?
    • Providing truly integrated care and embodying the patient medical home?

    Then your experience is invaluable! Your peers across the province want to hear from you. Deadline to submit Apr. 24.

    Member news -the case for a single EMR in each OHT

    “Nothing Truly Valuable can be Achieved Except by the Unselfish Cooperation of Many”- Longwoods essay by Dr. David Kaplan, North York FHT and Chief, Clinical Quality, Health Quality Ontario

    Prenatal Screening Ontario – new program for primary health care
    Looking for resources for your prenatal practice? Prenatal Screening Ontario (PSO) is a provincial resource supporting providers and patients by providing up-to-date information, current requisitions, and practice guidelines for prenatal screening in Ontario. Find new resources, including point-of-care tools, and screening timelines and pathways on their site.

    Do you have questions about prenatal screening? Would you like PSO to present an update to your group? Call their prenatal screening info line (833)351-6490.

    Chronic Kidney Disease Medication Safety List now available online
    The Medication Safety List for chronic kidney disease (CKD) is now available online.
    Many people with CKD have other chronic conditions and take multiple medications. Some drugs used to treat other conditions are cleared through the kidneys, which increases the risk of harm, including acute kidney injury.
    The list is available on the Ontariorenalnetwork.ca site and as a link in the KidneyWise Clinical Toolkit.

    Brain health and wellness project
    Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) is seeking interested clinicians to participate in a project that has recently received funding through the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI).  

    The project involves clinicians promoting mental wellness by supporting their patients in setting a SMART goal during routine care in an area of brain health and resilience and then checking in with the patient 4 weeks later to gauge their success.

    Piloted in Nova Scotia with great success, this concept is now being attempted nationally. Introductory webinars are being held on April 25 and 26. Find out more here.

    Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day, June 5, 2019
    Learn about ongoing primary health care research through presentations and posters and participate in skill-building workshops. Participants will be exposed to the latest in peer-reviewed primary health care research.

    *Includes the Distinguished Lecture by Dr. Rick Glazier
     
    Abstract submissions open until May 1. Learn more and register.

    Understanding Financial Statements, Apr. 17, 2019
    The first in our financial webinar series, presented by Grant Thornton LLP. Board members are also encouraged to attend this webinar as they have been charged with fiduciary and duty of care responsibilities. Register and find more information here.

    A Successful Nurse-Led Program in Primary Care for Patients with Chronic Pain, Apr. 18, 2019
    Learn about the feasible, evidence-based and cost-effective program based on self-management support for chronic non-cancer pain. Find out more here.

    Microcytic Anemia in Primary Care, Apr. 23, 2019
    Presented by Marg Alfieri, RD and AFHTO board member. Register here.

    CMHA and Mental Health Works workplace conference, May 13-14, 2019
    Held in Toronto, it will bring together leaders, managers, employees, researchers and experts in the field to discuss emerging best-practices and practical, on-the-ground skills that will develop resiliency in the workplace. Find out about Roadmaps to Resiliency: Investing in Mental Wellness for Ontario’s Workplaces.

    Primary Care Virtual Community meeting, Apr. 25, 2019
    With special guest, Dr. Robert Varnam, GP and Head of General Practice Development at NHS England. Join us as he shares learning from the journey that the UK underwent in health system transformation where primary care was at the centre of reforms, and how we might use that learning in Ontario. Join the first virtual conversation.

    FHT Mental Health Networking and Education Event, May 30-31, 2019
    Held in Chatham-Kent. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email Marijke Jurriaans at Marijke.jurriaans@hamiltonfht.ca or call (905) 667-4848 extension 160. Learn more here.