Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: Members Only News

  • Data to Decisions eBulletin #40: Submission platform to open next week!

    D2D 4.0 Data submission opens on Wednesday, August 10. Tools are available here to help get you started. Need a refresher? Register here to attend a walk-through webinar on August 11. The webinar will be recorded for those who cannot attend it live. Standardized queries for the EMR-based D2D indicators: Check out our updated standardized queries for D2D 4.0. You’ll find new queries for the new indicators, and updates to the labeling of the old ones so that they’re more consistent across different EMRs and iterations of D2D. 2016-08-04 D2D timeline

    Help spread the word about D2D – invite others to sign up for the eBulletin online. 

  • Building Collaboration: Case Study based on QIDS Partnerships

    Patients First calls for collaboration across subLHIN regions. It also calls for spreading measurement for quality improvement and performance monitoring. AFHTO members’ experience in building QIDS partnerships (about 150 AFHTO member organizations are actively involved) provides a foundation for both these objectives. These QIDS partnerships have been a critical ingredient in the advances AFHTO members are making to meaningfully measure primary care. This new resource – Building Collaboration and Increased Capacity through QIDS Partnerships – illustrates three different approaches to organizing these partnerships. It describes each approach and then examines all three to identify the challenges they faced, the enablers for success and the lessons learned. This knowledge, together with that gained from other types of partnerships AFHTO members have developed, can be applied to strengthen your QIDS partnership, evaluate existing partnerships (e.g. Health Links and other community programs) and help to broaden your reach into other areas of collaboration. Learning from your peers: additional case studies AFHTO has developed a series of case studies for our members to share the experience of colleagues on topics identified as being important to you:

  • Looking beyond measurement to improvement in interprofessional care: focus groups with IHPs

    In January and February of 2016, we conducted a series of focus groups with AFHTO-member Interprofessional Health Care Providers (IHPs) about what you need in order to get better at what you do – and about how we can get better at helping you with that. We heard a lot of great information from these focus groups! Now its our turn to teach back in order to be sure we heard right from all those who were able to be a part of the focus group discussions, as well as to get input from the wider group of volunteers to help us set priorities for action. To do this, we have created an anonymous, online survey. This brief questionnaire is your opportunity to tell us what Quality Improvement (QI) means to you, whether that’s even an accurate term to describe the process of getting better at what we do, and how we can support you in doing this. The questions for this survey come out of our discussions at the focus groups. Please confirm/correct our impressions and tell us which aspects of the enablers and barriers are the highest priority for you so they can also be the highest priority for our work together. Data from the focus groups and this survey will be used internally to set priorities in supporting teams to move beyond measurement to improvement. We can’t promise we will do everything that you identify as important – but at the very least, we can commit to focusing whatever resources we have in that direction. Data from the survey will also be used externally via direct communication and broader publication to advocate for resources/tools/other supports for AFHTO members. The results will also constitute part of the data being considered in my (i.e., Carol Mulder) doctoral thesis. Rest assured that your survey data will be completely anonymous, even to us – we won’t know who has completed it The survey has been sent to everyone who signed up for the focus groups. We look forward to learning from your responses and using them to help us in improving our efforts to help you. Thanks again for taking the time to share.

    March 3, 2016

    Thanks to the more than 100 IHPs who  have signed up for focus groups!

    What’s next?

    Meeting invitations have now been sent for sessions in London (March 24), Toronto (March 29) and Kitchener (March 30). Planning for sessions in other locations is still underway.  Not all IHPs will have received a meeting invitation; they were sent to those who indicated availability for the chosen date/time.  Where there were more IHPs available than space in the focus group (maximum size of 8), a random sample of available IHPs was invited to the session. Closer to the dates of the sessions, we will send the high-level questions that will be addressed during the focus groups. There is no presentation planned as the goal of the sessions is to hear from IHPs about quality improvement, what it looks like in their teams and what it would take to better support it. All IHPs (not only those who take part in the focus groups) will be invited to comment on the guidance emerging from the focus groups and implications for AFHTO. To do that, we are hoping all IHPs who have signed up will agree to be added to the email distribution list for updates – watch your email for more information. AFHTO will work with all members to develop activities, resources and/or tools to support quality improvement within teams. These interventions will be informed by the focus group discussions and reflection on them by IHPs as well as other staff of AFHTO member organizations.

    All IHPs are invited to participate in a series of regional focus groups. AFHTO has been making progress with measurement of comprehensive, team-based primary care.  There is still more work to do with that. In the meantime, it is time to look beyond measurement to improvement in interprofessional care. IHPs are invited to complete the online survey about potential dates, times and locations as soon as possible so we can set up the sessions.  We are looking for up to 6 people for each session on a first come, first served basis. The sessions will be facilitated by Lori Chambers, a qualitative researcher and doctoral candidate from McMaster and Carol Mulder, Provincial Lead for AFHTO’s Quality Improvement and Decision Support program. There is no charge for the sessions, which are expected to be about 1.5 hours long. Date and location of groups will be decided based on response to Doodle polls. The first sessions (which we anticipate to be in late March) will be held in the locations which fill up first.  Additional options will be offered after the first sessions are set. Contact Carol Mulder for more information

  • Data to Decisions eBulletin #37: Data Dictionary and Step-by-Step Guide released

    Just released: Data Dictionary and Step-by-Step Guide to participate in D2D 4.0. Look for them on our updated planning and preparation page along with some tips on what you can do to prepare for data submission (opening August). Ensure you have the most up-to-date data: The next Primary Care Practice Team Report will be released by the end of August. Most teams have already signed up; if you haven’t, now is your last chance – deadline is June 30. IHPs: Continuing the journey from measurement to improvement. We are finalizing our summary of guidance received during our Winter/Spring 2016 focus groups with IHPs. We will soon be reaching out to all who signed up and inviting them to reflect and comment on the summary via a short survey.

    D2D 4.0 Timeline

     

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

  • Data to Decisions eBulletin #36: Your data, your story

    AFHTO is capturing widespread attention: Stories about the measurement and improvement work that AFHTO members are doing together have been accepted at four major primary care conferences (see below).  These presentations will be posted on the AFHTO website at the close of each conference:

    Ready… set…  D2D!  If you want a head start in your preparations for D2D 4.0, here are a few easy steps you can take now. For example, start gathering your data and talking to your team. Much of the data you’ll need can be found at the links below:

    Consider nominating your team for a Bright Lights award. Nominations open on Monday. As you prepare for D2D, consider telling stories about your improvement journey as a Bright Lights nomination. Bright Lights awards come with a $3000 education grant for the winning team. Are you a QIDS Specialist (QIDSS) host or member of a QIDSS partnership? Please join us for the next QIDSS Host-Partner ED forum.

    • When: June 23, 2016, 12:00 – 1:30 PM (EST)
    • How to join: Register for the webinar. Once registered, you will receive an email with a unique link to join the webinar along with instructions to connect to the audio channel.
    • Who: All EDs who are QIDSS partnership hosts or members

  • Data to Decisions eBulletin #34: Tracking new evidence in follow-up, give your input to refine D2D indicator in survey

    D2D refinement survey: D2D is AFHTO’s way of influencing primary care reporting on your behalf.  Please tell us what you want D2D to include so it can best reflect your team and your association. Please complete the survey before May 18. Evidence about the impact of follow-up after hospitalization! VERY new analysis provides long-awaited evidence of the impact of follow-up after hospitalization. Among other things, it provides hints about the optimal number of days after discharge in which follow-up should happen. Tracking phone encounters in your EMR to measure follow-up by the TEAM: AFHTO members have said follow-up is NOT just about physicians.  AFHTO is changing the follow-up indicator accordingly, and we have tools to help your team track phone encounters by ALL clinicians to better reflect follow-up by teams. “Improving diabetes care; improving diabetes outcomes”: The upcoming event on June 16 was sold out within 48 hours. (AFHTO’s version of the “same/next day” indicator!)  We still have room for patients though, please see the FAQ for suggestions on how to invite them and/or check with Catherine regarding the waitlist. Join the Diabetes Care CoP: Do you have a passion for diabetes care in your team? Join the fledgling interprofessional Community of Practice to make audacious improvements in the health of patients with diabetes.

    Help spread the word about D2D – invite others to sign up for the e-Bulletin online. 

  • Data to Decisions eBulletin #33: Collecting feedback to refine D2D

    Membership wide survey coming out next week to guide any changes for D2D 4.0. We need you and your colleagues’ input to determine what is manageable and meaningful for members. Changes emerging from your input will be released in June with the updated Data Dictionary. IHP focus groups are done, all 6 of them! Summary of results will be available soon. Thanks to the two dozen or so clinicians and their teams for supporting AFHTO’s efforts to move from measurement to improvement. Curious about what other teams are doing? So are they, about you! Our annual conference is a time for members to share and learn from one another. Submit your abstract by May 5. Resources are available on our website to help you make the most of your submission. Orientation webinar for EMR-based decision support tool: Ontario Stroke Network is presenting the next iteration of a prototype for The Vascular Health Assessment Support Tool (VHAST). This EMR-based platform will allow you to compare clinical data with best practices for a range of vascular illnesses. Register here for an orientation webinar to be held on Monday, May 9. Newly submitted QIP reports now available for review in the HQO QIP Navigator. HQO released a blog post today detailing Why Planning for Quality Improvement Matters with an update on 2016/17 QIPs.

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

  • Data to Decisions eBulletin #32: Using EMRs to reflect team’s contribution to care

    Progress with a better measure of 7-day follow-up: As an important first step in measuring what your team REALLY does for follow-up after hospitalization, we are working with our EMR communities of practice to develop queries and processes to track phone encounters in your EMR. Learn more at the links above, and/or talk to your QIDSS. Exploring equity: QIDSS are exploring AFHTO members’ baseline capacity to collect socio-demographic data in EMRs, in order to help track health equity for your patients. Moving beyond measuring to improving diabetes care: AFHTO, in collaboration with Toronto LHINs, is presenting a free learning event for QIDSS, IHPs, and patients with diabetes. Space is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. Registration opens on Monday, May 2, 2016. D2D data dictionary update: We’re starting to collect input on what changes will be made this year. Members will be asked to vote on potential changes in May 2016, prior to the release of the updated Data Dictionary in June. Visit our site for more information and progress updates. Increase consistency of Schedule A reporting with the help of the Program Planning & Evaluation Framework, Indicator Catalogue, and other resources from AFHTO, designed to help you choose better indicators for your AOP submission.

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

  • Data to Decisions eBulletin #31: 7-day follow-up indicator changes

    You are not alone in seeing a big drop in your team’s 7-day follow-up. The definition has changed – click here for more information. Need more data for your QIP or AOP?

    • Group-level Primary Care Practice Reports: new version online with more information than was available in December, for those who signed up before October 31st. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can still sign up for the next iteration.
    • AFHTO’s program planning template and indicator catalogue can help you increase consistency in selecting program indicators for your AOP submission.
    • 2015/16 QIP Analyses: Insights into Quality Improvement summary report from last year’s Primary Care QIPs now online (with many success stories).
    • HQO has developed resources to assist you with the new “equity” indicator in the QIP Navigator. If you haven’t received e-mail updates about this, please contact QIP@hqontario.ca.
    • Other quality improvement resources for members are available here.

    AFHTO 2016 Conference: Join a working group to shape the conference program by March 25. THANK YOU for telling us how D2D is working for you. Interviews are underway with Dan Wagner (MSc student). Contact Carol Mulder for more information.

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

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

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

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