In this Issue:
- Striving for Health Equity and Better Health Outcomes at McMaster FHT
- Targeted Poverty Screening Process Improves Health Equity
- Collecting Race-Based and Indigenous Identity Data
- Learning Opportunities
- Upcoming Events
Striving for Health Equity and Better Health Outcomes at McMaster FHT
Content below developed by McMaster FHT
Through the expertise and passion of Dr. Tejal Patel, Andrea Pansoy (PA), Dr. Amanda Ramdyal and Dr Anjali Menezes, McMaster FHT (MFHT) has developed an interactive program focused on equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), anti-racism and anti-oppression (AR/AO) that has led to the hiring of a full-time EDI and AR Partner. Initially, a 4-part EDI & AR/AO educational session was created in response to a global awakening that is ongoing but came to a head in 2020.
After the tremendous success of the initial series, the 3 creators and the EDI/AR Partner continue to support both the MFHT and our community partners formally and informally, through continued offerings including workshops, a lending library, a community of practice, weekly newsletter updates regarding internal and external events and learning opportunities, multi-cultural calendars and more. The MFHT has changed its approach to recruitment and retention and collaborates with equity deserving suppliers.
Finally, the launch of the DFM Racialized Community of Support took place in June 2022, creating a safe space for self-identifying Black, Indigenous and/or racialized staff and faculty. Such a support group already exists for the family medicine residents learning at the MFHT, started by 2 residents in 2020/21.
The team has created a Community of Practice and support groups, shared their reflective anti-racism and EDI prompts with 3 clinical Departments and their residency programs, as well as with the GHHN. Invitations have been extended further to other McMaster staff and faculty, as well as community partners to attend education sessions and promote the dissemination of this material.
The team is working with resident groups to integrate this educational framework into resident education at McMaster University, and they are working on a literature review of anti-racism teaching within medical education. Find more information here or contact Jill Berridge at berridj@mcmaster.ca.
Targeted Poverty Screening Process Improves Health Equity
A research team at North York General Hospital and the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto created an innovative way for family physicians to use a validated tool to screen their patients for poverty.
The project used data managed by the University of Toronto Practice-Based Research Network (UTOPIAN) to identify patients living in low-income neighbourhoods by postal code and Statistics Canada census information and create a chart alert. During patient visits, physicians could then see the alert and use the evidence-based clinical tool to assess for poverty. Then if needed, physicians could offer referrals to North York FHT case workers to provide supports to improve patients’ well-being, which includes tax-filing assistance and income optimization. The results from this study are published in this peer-reviewed article.
This project is one of the first to incorporate neighbourhood-level data into EMRs in community primary care settings and was funded through a Patient’s Medical Home Caring and Compassion Grant from the College of Family Physicians of Canada. For more information, please contact Joyce Lo at jlo@nyfht.com.
Collecting Race-Based and Indigenous Identity Data
CIHI released pan-Canadian minimum standards for collecting race-based and Indigenous identity data in health systems, along with guidance on their use. You can also view a supplementary report that identifies some key concepts and considerations related to collecting and using race-based and Indigenous identity data. For questions on the guidance and standards, please contact populationhealth@cihi.ca.
Learning Opportunities
2SLGBTQI Identity and Dementia: An Introduction for Healthcare and Social Service Professionals
Egale Canada has a free e-module that takes 45-60 minutes to complete and is designed for healthcare providers, social work professionals, and other support personnel specializing in the care of people living with dementia. It may also be of interest to anyone working in homecare, community care or long-term care settings. For more information and to fill out the form to access any of Egale’s e-modules, click here.
Call It Out: Racism, Racial Discrimination and Human Rights
A 30-minute interactive eCourse from the Ontario Human Rights Commission that offers a foundation for learning about race, racial discrimination, and human rights protections under Ontario’s Human Rights Code. The course offers a historical overview of racism and racial discrimination, explains what “race”, “racism” and “racial discrimination” mean, and provides approaches to preventing and addressing racial discrimination.
Upcoming Events
Health Care Innovation: New Opportunities in the Digital Era
Monday, September 12, 2022, 12:30-4:00 pm | Globe and Mail
This half-day event will bring leading voices and experts in health care innovation together to discuss where the greatest opportunities lie, along with strategies to overcome barriers to implementation. Register here.
Wellness Check: Dealing with Transitions and Managing Stress Webinar
Thursday, September 15, 2022, 12-1 pm | Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario & AFHTO
In a webinar hosted in partnership with CMHA Ontario, participants will have the opportunity to gain insight into change processes and their impact on workplace mental health from Nancy Hood, the head trainer of the Your Health Space program. Strategies for managing hybrid working models and combating stress will also be explored. Learn more and register here.
POPLAR Webinar Series: EDIIA in Research
Equitably improving primary health care requires research and practice-based learning that are thoroughly grounded in the principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity, and Accessibility (EDIIA). POPLAR, Ontario’s provincial primary healthcare Practice-Based Learning and Research Network has the vision to advance equitable primary healthcare delivery and health outcomes for everyone in Ontario, and is hosting the following webinars for anyone who wants to learn more about building these principles into their work:
Part 2: Building Research Projects with an EDIIA Lens
Friday, August 26, 2022, 12-1 pm | Dr. Vivian R. Ramsden, University of Saskatchewan
Learn more and register here.
Part 3: Embedding Equity in Leadership and Teams- Measuring EDIIA
Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 12-1 pm | Dr. Nicole Kaniki, University of Toronto
Learn more and register here.
Part 4: EDIIA and Data – Building Capacity
Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 12-1 pm | Dr. Andrew Pinto, Upstream Labs
Learn more and register here.
OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Conference
Thursday, September 29 to Friday, September 30, 2022
Learn how to take advantage of innovative technologies to realize more of their benefits and integrate them with your EMR workflows. Find out more here.
AFHTO 2022 Conference
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together. Members get more than 50% off registration. Register here.
In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #119 or other back issues here!
Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.
