Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: Mental Health Care

  • Bits & Pieces: #AFHTO2022 registration open and more

    Bits & Pieces: #AFHTO2022 registration open and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • AFHTO 2022 Conference registration now live
    • Bright Lights education grants now available- deadline this Friday, July 15
    • Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative slides and video available
    • Ontarians aged 18+ eligible for second booster shot and more
    • Reminder- nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 29, 2022
    • Call for content- OLTC 2022 Virtual Conference
    • 2SLGBTQI identity and dementia: an introduction for healthcare and social service professionals
    • Reminder – apply to join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council
    • Upcoming events including Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity, and Accessibility in Research and more

    AFHTO 2022 Conference logo- background is multicoloured streaks going towards an abstract event horizon

     

    AFHTO 2022 Conference registration now live

    Registration now open for the AFHTO 2022 Conference! Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond as we reconnect and reimagine, moving forward together.

    Members get more than 50% off registration. A code (sent by email to all members who have paid 2022-2023 membership fees in full) will be required to receive the membership rate. If you do not know your organization’s verification code, please contact your administrator.

     

    Bright Lights education grants now available- deadline this Friday, July 15

    All awards now receive an education grant, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, including the award for underrepresented teams! Find out more here.

    Don’t be left out- send in your nominations and supporting documents before the deadline, this Friday, July 15.

    Screenshot of Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar title slide

     

    Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative slides and video available

    On June 23 we heard about the work of the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative as it pertains to identified priorities around fall indicators and falls risk screening and assessment and how we can better align our efforts across the province. Slides and video are available here.

    Ontarians aged 18+ eligible for second booster shot and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Reminder- nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 29, 2022
    Are you interested in serving on the AFHTO board of directors? The Governance Committee of AFHTO’s board invites anyone who works within an AFHTO member organization to apply. Please share this call for nominations with all who work in your team and with members on your Board. Find out more here.

    Call for content- OLTC 2022 Virtual Conference
    The Ontario Long Term Care Association’s (OLTCA) This is Long Term Care 2022 virtual conference is taking place Oct. 24-26. To submit an abstract or to learn more click here. Abstract deadline Aug. 10.

    2SLGBTQI identity and dementia: an introduction for healthcare and social service professionals
    Egale Canada has a free e-module designed for healthcare providers, social work professionals, and other support personnel specializing in the care of people living with dementia. There’s also another for unpaid carers, and further resources on their site. Find out more here.

    Reminder – apply to join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council!

    Are you interested in advising AFHTO on the top issues facing IHPs in team-based primary care? Would you like to be a leader in working with IHPs in primary care to advocate for and to speak to the critical role of teams? Would you like to share and spread knowledge and learnings? If yes, please apply to join our IHP Advisory Council!

    We invite any IHP in a member team to apply by completing this survey by Friday, July 29.

    More information is here. Please share this opportunity with providers across teams.

    Webinar Series: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity, and Accessibility in Research, July 25- October 19, 2022

    Hosted by the Alliance and the Primary Care Ontario Practice-Based Learning and Research (POPLAR) Network

    Supporting patients amid an opioid epidemic, July 27, 2022
    Session by the Practising Well CoP, an intentional conversation for shared learning hosted by the OCFP and the DFCM Division of Mental Health and Addictions. Register here.

    Integrating Hepatitis C Care with Safer Supply Practice, July 28, 2022

    Co-hosted by National Safer Supply Community of Practice and CATIE on World Hepatitis Day. Register here.

    Demystifying the Cloud for Nonprofits, July 28, 2022
    Hosted by TechSoup with presentation by Amazon Web Services. Register here.

    NPAO 2022 Annual Conference, Sep. 22-23, 2022

    This years’ Conference theme is The NP Experience: Pushing Boundaries Towards Common Goals. Find out more here.

  • 2022 Conference Themes

    2022 Conference Themes

    Tectonic shifts: rebuilding primary care in a new world
    (more…)

  • QI in Action eBulletin #119: Stress Management in the Healthcare Workplace

    In this Issue:

    • Supporting Stress Management in the Health Care Workplace
    • BounceBack Webinar: Back-to-the-Office Guide and Tips to Manage Stress and Anxiety
    • Returning to a Shared Workplace Toolkit for Transitioning to a New Normal
    • Other Supports for Health Care Workers
    • Featured Team Initiative
    • Upcoming Events

     

    Supporting Stress Management in the Health Care Workplace
    Content below developed by Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario

    Stress and stress management in the workplace have long been topics of interest for both employers and employees. We often hear that stress is unavoidable and expected when it comes to employment, but for health care professionals the degree of chronic stress endured throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is an issue that deserves concentrated attention and thoughtful response.

    As a Health Care Worker- what can I do to support my own mental health?
    An effective strategy to manage stress on the spot is to first recognize and acknowledge stress. It is beneficial to recognize what one’s stress response might look or feel like, and subsequently identify the stressor or trigger that is causing the stress response. This level of self-awareness will enable individuals to recognize stressors and utilize coping mechanisms in future exposures.

    By acknowledging the stress experience, individuals can switch from the reactive part of their brain to the conscious logical part of the brain. This makes it easier to calm down and problem solve. Reframing, reorganizing, and using positive psychology are other tools to help manage stressful situations at work. By effectively taking care of one’s mental health at work, individuals can build better resilience and adaptability, increase mental well-being, and respond better to future stressors.  

    One of the many resources available for workplace mental health support is Your Health Space (YHS), a free workplace mental health program developed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario. YHS offers psychoeducation opportunities to professionals working in health care organizations. From Leaders to Health Care Workers, as well as Support Staff, YHS’ evidence-based program seeks to provide participants with practical tools that they can start using to support well-being in the workplace.

    Trainers who lead YHS’ interactive workshops each have a background in health care and are skilled at delivering training workshops in person, virtually or via eLearning modules. Through creating safe spaces for learning, practical application, and connection, YHS is here to support you and your organization with challenges such as workplace stress. Health care organizations can find out more information and register on the Your Health Space website.

    For the full article, click here.

    BounceBack Webinar: Back-to-the-Office Guide and Tips to Manage Stress and Anxiety
    This webinar in June covered new coping strategies to help you better manage life’s stresses. You can watch the recording here.
    Timestamps:

    • 07:24 How to change your thought process
    • 36:00 Practice self-compassion
    • 38:55 Basic coping strategies
    • 42:20 Additional tips to reduce anxiety, stress, and worry
    • 47:28 A quick overview of the BounceBack program

     
    To help you remember the benefits of the BounceBack program, we have digital handouts like the general client factsheet. As well as handouts for yourself or anyone you know who is a: new parent, youth 15-17, caregiver, experiencing chronic pain or chronic conditions.

    Returning to a Shared Workplace: A Psychological Toolkit for Transitioning to a New Normal
    CMHA Ontario has revised its toolkit to reflect the changing needs of Ontarians and has been revised and informed by diverse perspectives, including clinical leaders from the mental health and addictions community across Ontario. The toolkit provides guidance on how to support the mental health of individuals as they plan safe transitions back to shared workspaces and to help employers as they develop policies and procedures for supporting staff returning to the work environment. See here for the toolkit.

    Other Supports for Health Care Workers
    Digital Toolkit of Mental Wellness Supports for Health Care Workers from Ontario Health
    Ontario Health has communications materials to help raise awareness about supports available for health care workers whose mental health has been impacted due to the pandemic. The toolkit with posters, one-pagers, key messages, newsletter content, and social posts can be viewed here.

    Self-Referral for Psychotherapy and Psychiatric Services from CAMH
    The Ministry of Health and Ontario Health partnered with five hospitals to provide mental health services to frontline health care workers. If you are a health care worker in Ontario and require mental health and/or addictions support, you can self-refer for psychotherapy and psychiatric services here.

    Mental Health and Wellness Resources from the Ontario College of Family Physicians
    If you are looking for mental health and wellness resources and peer support for patients and physicians, click here.

    ECHO Coping with COVID-19 Online Sessions
    These virtual sessions take place two times a month on Friday afternoons from 2-3 pm and are designed for health care providers and health professions students responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to register.

    Please see AFHTO’s Mental Health and Wellness webpage for additional resources.

    Featured Team Initiative
    Mental Health and Addictions Community Response Working Group
    Hills of Headwaters Ontario Health Team brought together a working group to respond to the need to support the community’s mental health, especially that of frontline workers. The initiatives they supported include an online portal for frontline/essential workers to access timely counselling support, workshop webinars on managing empathic strain, a virtual remembrance/memorial event, sponsoring memberships to an online psychological PPE resource and developing posters with mental health tips and contact information. See here for more information.

    Click here for a listing of AFHTO member mental health and addiction initiatives.

    Email improve@afhto.ca if you have a program or initiative that we can share with our teams.

    Upcoming Events
    COVID-19 Community of Practice for Ontario Family Physicians
    July 8 from 8:00-9:15 am
    The 47th session in the series “Changing the way we work” will focus on where we are with COVID-19 and what we might expect come the fall. We will discuss the available evidence on the COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 5 years old and reflect on the steps we can take to support an equitable COVID-19 recovery, particularly for our Indigenous population. Register here.

    CMHA Your Health Space Information Session
    July 12 from 2:00-3:00 pm or July 14 from 10:00-11:00 am
    Join us for an information session on CMHA Ontario’s new program, Your Health Space. We also invite organizational leaders (including HR Managers, Wellness Coordinators, Presidents, and CEOs) interested in registering for Your Health Space to participate in a Q&A discussion following the presentation. Register for July 12 or July 14.

    ECHO Ontario Mental Health Summer Applications
    Project ECHO at CAMH and U of T aims to strengthen primary care and allied health capacity in key priority areas for mental health and addictions through weekly videoconferencing sessions and a case-based learning model. Sessions are engaging, interactive, practical and evidence based. The application for ECHO Ontario Mental Health Summer Programming is open and can be accessed here. For more information, please visit the website.  

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #118 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

  • Supporting Stress Management in the Health Care Workplace

    Content below WAS developed by Nhi Luu, Canadian Mental Health Association 

    Stress and stress management in the workplace have long been topics of interest for both employers and employees. We often hear that stress is unavoidable and expected when it comes to employment, but for health care professionals the degree of chronic stress endured throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is an issue that deserves concentrated attention and thoughtful response. 

    Health Care Workers face unique occupational stressors consistent with experiences of grief and loss related to exposure to human suffering and death, moral conflict and distress, health, and safety risks from hazardous exposures, long and inflexible work hours, job role ambiguity with redeployment practices and staffing shortages, as well as overall demanding work often without sufficient resources. All these and other compounding factors have escalated since the onset of the pandemic and exacerbated stress levels resulting in poor mental health for Health Care Workers.

    Employers are seeking mental health support for Health Care Workers to better manage symptoms of burnout, occupational stress injury, trauma, compassion fatigue, depression, and anxiety. When such symptoms are left unmanaged, it can result in illness, higher job turnover, absenteeism or presenteeism, and other stress related manifestations that can severely impact mental and physical health. Sometimes when individuals experience this level of prolonged stress, they may be depleted of their awareness or capacity for self-help. Furthermore, individuals who are struggling with mental health challenges may not seek support because of stigmas and negative associations. Therefore, more upstream interventions are encouraged. 

    At the organizational level, employers can positively influence the mental health culture in the workplace by allowing for more flexible and accommodating shifts so Health Care Workers can seek mental health support during times that might otherwise interfere with scheduled shifts. Another intervention could include actively promoting employee and family assistance plan (EFAP) benefits, as well as community mental health resources to staff members. Many employers are acknowledging that staff mental health and well-being via psychological health and safety needs to be embraced as a priority in the workplace to support staff on the journey toward recovery from the pandemic. One of the many resources available for workplace mental health support is Your Health Space (YHS), a free workplace mental health program developed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario. This program is exclusively available to health care organizations throughout Ontario. 

    As a Health Care Worker – what can I do to support my own mental health?

    Individuals who have the energy and mental capacity for self-help can try to exercise various tools or strategies to help them gain back control and better manage stress in the workplace. The goal here is to refocus the stamina and energy that is remaining and prevent that from being further depleted by choosing where one can invest existing energy to help them recharge. Sleep, rest and relaxation, exercise, good nutritional intake, supportive social networks, and relevant skill-building training are a few things that can help to reenergize oneself to positively cope with stress. 

    Another effective strategy to manage stress on the spot is to first recognize and acknowledge stress. It is beneficial to recognize what one’s stress response might look or feel like, and subsequently identify the stressor or trigger that is causing the stress response. This level of self-awareness will enable individuals to recognize stressors and utilize coping mechanisms in future exposures. For example, a nurse shows up to work to find out that their workstation had been used by someone else and is now in complete disarray and missing equipment. This environmental stressor may trigger a physical response of sweating and blushing. Emotionally, this nurse could start feeling overwhelmed, confused, and disoriented. It can also trigger thoughts such as “this is a mess and I don’t know where to even begin” or “I am going to run behind schedule, my whole morning is ruined”. Instead of dwelling and sinking into an emotionally driven cycle of discouragement, with practice, the nurse could immediately recognize that they are experiencing stress and identify their trigger (in this case it is the disorganized workstation). Now the nurse can focus on troubleshooting and removing the trigger. 

    By acknowledging the stress experience, individuals can switch from the reactive part of their brain to the conscious logical part of the brain. This makes it easier to calm down and problem solve. Reframing, reorganizing, and using positive psychology are other tools to help manage stressful situations at work. By effectively taking care of one’s mental health at work, individuals can build better resilience and adaptability, increase mental well-being, and respond better to future stressors.  

    YHS offers psychoeducation opportunities to professionals working in health care organizations. From Leaders to Health Care Workers, as well as Support Staff, YHS’ evidence-based program seeks to provide participants with practical tools that they can start using to support well-being in the workplace. Trainers who lead YHS’ interactive workshops each have a background in health care and are skilled at delivering training workshops in person, virtually or via eLearning modules. Through creating safe spaces for learning, practical application, and connection, YHS is here to support you and your organization with challenges such as workplace stress. Health care organizations can find out more information and register on the Your Health Space website.

    Nhi Luu is a Trainer with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario’s Your Health Space program. Her background is in nursing, and she has worked in various healthcare settings including hospitals, primary care, and public health. Nhi uses her clinical background to reinforce her mental health training with employees across healthcare organizations in Ontario.

    References
    Ackerman, CE. (2018). Flourishing in Positive Psychology: Definition + 8 Practical Tips. Retrieved from: Flourishing in Positive Psychology: Definition + 8 Practical Tips (PDF) 
    CDC: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Healthcare Workers: Work Stress & Mental Health. Retrieved from: Healthcare Workers: Work Stress & Mental Health | NIOSH | CDC
    Cornerstone OnDemand Foundation. Stress Management and Mental Health for Everyone. Retrieved from online course: Curriculum Training Details – Realize Your Potential: Ready Learning Portal (csod.com)
    Dankwa, K. (2017). Work-Related Stress. Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/contest/finalists-finalistes_2-eng.htm   
    Government of Ontario. COVID-19: Support for people. Retrieved from: https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-support-people#support-health-care-worker 
    Mayo Clinic. Healthy Lifestyle: Stress Management. Retrieved from: Stress management Stress relief – Mayo Clinic
    Mental Health Commission of Canada. Workplace Mental Health. Retrieved from: Workplace Mental Health – Mental Health Commission of Canada 
    Nowrouzi, B., Lightfoot, N., Larivière, M., Carter, L., Rukholm, E., Schinke, R., & Belanger-Gardner, D. (2015). Occupational Stress Management and Burnout Interventions in Nursing and Their Implications for Healthy Work Environments: A Literature Review. Workplace Health & Safety, 63(7), 308–315. https://doi.org/10.1177/2165079915576931 
    Wellness Together Canada. Wellness for Healthcare Workers: Overview. Retrieved from: Wellness Together Canada | Wellness for Healthcare Workers
    Your Health Space. Program. Retrieved from: https://yourhealthspace.ca/programs/ 
     

  • Bits & Pieces: federal funding for LGBTQ2 health services at Sherbourne and more

    Bits & Pieces: federal funding for LGBTQ2 health services at Sherbourne and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Health Canada funding sexual and reproductive health services for LGBTQ2 Communities at Sherbourne
    • More on mental wellness supports for frontline workers
    • Buddy Up: men’s suicide prevention using friendship and peer support
    • Perkopolis- summer & insurance discounts
    • The impact of physical activity on mental health outcomes during COVID and more
    • Reminder about upcoming changes to Infectious Disease Emergency Leave provisions
    • Primary Care Quality Improvement Hub on Quorum
    • Upcoming events including telementoring in occupational medicine and more

    Health Canada funding sexual and reproductive health services for LGBTQ2 Communities at Sherbourne

    Today the federal government announced funding to improve the quality of and access to sexual and reproductive health services for LGBTQ2 communities at Sherbourne Health and other organizations. Read the news release here.

    As we come to the end of Pride Month, we can recognize for many in these communities, heteronormativity is institutionalized within health care. As such, it’s good to continue learning how to provide an inclusive environment for patients. There are many resources including Rainbow Health Ontario.

    Also available from our own archives and teams:

    More on mental wellness supports for frontline workers

    Per Dr. Sylvain Roy, OPA:

    “OPA began partnering with Ontario Health & MOH in January to deliver treatment to all frontline workers (defined relatively broadly to include physicians, paramedics, nurses, PSWs), etc. in Ontario. There are a number of service offerings and referral pathways.

    Persons identifying as frontline workers can self-refer to one of the five mental health hospitals (e.g. CAMH, the Royal…) where they will be matched to a social worker or psychotherapist for up to 6 sessions of 1-1 therapy. If the patient is deemed to require more sessions or may be best served by a psychologist/PA by the hospitals, the frontline worker patient may be referred to an OPA psychologist for 8 (up to 12 sessions) of therapy covered by MOH.  

    Frontline workers can self-refer on the hospital website e.g. https://www.theroyal.ca/covid-frontline-wellness or https://redcapsurveys.camh.ca/redcap/surveys/?s=JK4XK83AYC

    Primary Care Clinicians will be able to refer frontline worker patients directly to OPA psychologists using the same method as before or from within their EMRs. We are now wrapping up the digital integration work between OCEAN (the primary care e-referral platform) to Strata Health (psychologists e-referral platform) that will enable direct primary care clinician referrals to psychologists for the frontline workers programs and more.  Also, CMHA is offering free training to organizations, and Project Echo provides free mental health-focused peer-to-peer support for frontline workers.”

    Additionally, don’t forget OH has released the Mental Wellness Supports for Health Care Workers due to COVID-19 Digital Toolkit.

    Buddy Up: men’s suicide prevention using friendship and peer support

    Men have a suicide rate 3 times higher than women. Buddy Up is a communications campaign focused on male friendship to prevent suicide, run by the Centre for Suicide prevention, part of CMHA. Find out more here.

    Screenshot of discounts inlcuding Canada Wonderland

     

    Perkopolis- summer & insurance discounts

    AFHTO members are eligible to sign up for free access to over 5000 perks through Perkopolis, including discounts on summer activities, products, and home and auto insurance quotes.

    EDs, if your team doesn’t have access yet, please email info@ahto.ca.

     

     

     

     

    The impact of physical activity on mental health outcomes during COVID and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Reminder about upcoming changes to Infectious Disease Emergency Leave provisions

    Courtesy of Maria McDonald, McDonald HR Law, here is an alert reminding you about upcoming changes to the Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (IDEL) Provisions of the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”), including the end to paid and deemed leave.

    Primary Care Quality Improvement Hub on Quorum

    The Ontario Health Primary Care Quality Team invites you to join the Primary Care Quality Improvement Hub on Quorum. The hub provides links to tools, resources, and webinars that can support quality improvement in your practice. Find out more here.

    Telementoring in occupational medicine for Ontario primary health-care providers, April- July 2022

    Project ECHO OEM sessions are held via videoconference each Friday from April 22 to July 15, 2022. Registration is free and ongoing throughout the cycle. Learn more here.

    New Horizons: Navigating towards the future of family medicine, May – September 2022
    Speaker series hosted by Dr. Danielle Martin, Chair of the University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine. Find out more here.

    NPAO 2022 Annual Conference, Sep. 22-23, 2022

    This years’ Conference theme is The NP Experience: Pushing Boundaries Towards Common Goals. Find out more here.

    Data To Action: Making Your Data Visible and Useful, Sep. 28, 2022
    Hosted by TechSoup Connect’s Ontario chapter. Register here.

  • Spring Highlights 2022: AFHTO Leadership Council

    The AFHTO Leadership Council met on June 14, 2022. Below are highlights from the spring 2022 council meeting, projects that are underway, and links to useful resources, including last week’s webinar on the Working for Workers Act.

    Compensation Markey Review in Primary and Community Care

    • We know that compensation rates across teams is a huge concern. Primary and community care providers/staff are underfunded compared to other areas of the healthcare sector, and funding for these roles has not kept up with inflation and cost of living increases.
    • AFHTO has begun work with 10 other associations to provide recommendations to government on reasonable and fair compensation in the sector, outside of acute care.
    • Our RFP has been issued, and a vendor is expected to be confirmed in August. The market review work will be complete in November. A summary of the work will be shared with members shortly.

    Vaccine Update in Primary Care

    • AFHTO received an update from the ministry last week on vaccines in primary care, including those given to Indigenous communities.
    • The Primary Care COVID Vaccine Update can be read here. If you are experiencing any challenges with vaccines in your community, please let us know.

    FHT Contract Consultation

    • FHT 2018-2022 contracts have been extended to March 2023, and AFHTO will be providing recommendations on an updated contract to the ministry in the fall.
    • There are now three working groups discussing the top three areas for modernization in the contract and who will be finalizing recommendations: governance, performance and accountability, and FHT/physician affiliation.
    • AFHTO will keep members apprised of this work and may reach out for more input. Stay tuned for more details!

    AFHTO Conference and Bright Lights Submissions

    • The AFHTO conference is on October 12, and nominations are now open for the Bright Lights Awards. Awards will be presented at the conference – which will be hybrid this year! – and fall in the conference themes:
      • It takes a team: collaboration inside and out
      • Health equity at the centre
      • Sustainable solutions to primary care problems
      • Mental health and addictions
      • Special recognition for underrepresented teams
    • Please check out the Bright Lights Nomination guide here!
    • Any questions, members are welcome to contact Paula Myers.

    Provincial and Federal Advocacy

    • The 2022 election is done, and a majority progressive conservative government has been elected. AFHTO looks forward to continuing our work with them. We expect to learn who the next health minister is shortly and will begin outreach this summer.
    • Thank you to all members for your excellent local advocacy. We encourage you to congratulate your MPP on their (re)election and begin/continue relationship building.
    • Please share any stories and pictures from the election with Beth MacKinnon to support AFHTO’s central advocacy.
    • AFHTO will be starting federal advocacy to encourage prioritization of funding to team-based primary care in Ontario. This advocacy will begin this summer.

    Resource Library Refresh

    • AFHTO is updating our members’ resource library with samples of by-laws, policy manuals, strategic plans, agreements, and more. Many of the samples we post are contributed by members for members, so we need your help!
    • If you have any resources or tools you are willing to share with other teams, please send them to us or to the member on our leadership council who will be reaching out to you. Stay tuned!
    • Members with any questions are welcome to contact Bryn Hamilton.

    Increase in Nurse Practitioners’ Scope of Practice

    • As of July 1, 2022, nurse practitioners will see an increase in their scope allowing them to order computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
    • NPs will now have the ability to:
      • Refer individuals to the Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) and the High-Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP)
      • Manage unattached OBSP participants with abnormal results
      • Authorize OBSP sites to arrange all assessment tests required for OBSP participants
    • NPs have been able to provide colonoscopy referrals for the ColonCancerCheck (CCC) program, but if they would like to be added to the OH list of providers who can support patients with an abnormal FIT result who does not have a primary care provider, they can put their names on the CCC attachment form.
    • Here are the slide deck and one-pager from Ontario Health for more information. Please share this with the NPs and other members on your team.  

    Managing Risk Post Pandemic

    • As the insurance industry experienced high claims during the pandemic, renewing in 2022 will be met with increased premiums and changes to policy packages. Sourcing for insurance that meets a primary care team’s need within its budget can be cumbersome. Working with an insurance broker can help a team compare its existing policy against what’s available on the market and to get an affordable renewal premium rate.
    • Starting the renewal process at least two months in advance of the coverage expiry gives enough time to evaluate the team’s insurance requirements and the quotes received.
    • To connect with an insurance broker or if you have any questions, please reach out to Sombo Saviye.

    Update on Temporary Retention Incentive for Nurses

    • Roll-out on this funding is slow but the ministry has told AFHTO it is a priority. They’re working on a funding package for approval by the minister, once appointed, as quickly as possible.
    • While timing is not confirmed, the ministry anticipates it may be late summer before nurses begin to see this first payment. The second payment would be in the fall.

    Mental Health Supports for Healthcare Providers

    • Ontario Health has started providing bilingual mental health and wellness supports for healthcare workers, a collection of services alongside the Ontario Psychological Association.
    • Frontline workers can self-refer to one of the five mental health hospitals where they will be matched with a social worker or psychotherapist for up to 6 sessions of 1-1 therapy. If they are deemed to require more sessions or may be best served by a psychologist/PA by the hospitals, the patient may be referred to an OPA psychologist for 8 (up to 12 sessions) of therapy covered by MOH. Check out their digital toolkit.
    • CMHA has also launched Your Health Space, a free mental health program designed to support healthcare organizations in addressing burnout and promoting psychological health and safety in the workplace.

    Working for Workers Act: Tools and Recording from Webinar

    • Maria McDonald from McDonald HR Law joined members of AFHTO, the Alliance, and the NPLCA on June 16 to review and answer questions on the “Working for Workers Act: What Employers Need to Know.”
    • The slide deck, recording, and draft policy can be seen here.

    Other Webcasts and Supports

    Apply to Join AFHTO’s Board of Directors!

    • Members are encouraged to apply to become a board member of AFHTO. There are four 3-year terms open and one 1-year term.
    • To apply, please complete this survey and send your CV to Beth MacKinnon. The deadline is July 29.
    • We encourage you share this invitation with all board members, physicians, and IHPs on your team. Three people on AFHTO’s board can also be non-AFHTO members.

    Apply to join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council!

    • There are several openings on AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council. A call has gone out in our weekly newsletter today, and members will also see an email on this soon.
    • EDs and admin leads are asked to encourage IHPs on their team to apply.
    • Any interested IHP is asked to complete this survey by July 29 and can contact Beth MacKinnon with any questions. More information is here.

    Thank you for the great work you all do, and please let us know if there are any other ways in which we can support you. We hope you all find a bit of down time this summer for some much-deserved rest.

    Sincerely,
    Your AFHTO Team

  • Bits & Pieces: National Indigenous Peoples Day and more

    Bits & Pieces: National Indigenous Peoples Day and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • National Indigenous Peoples Day
    • Apply to join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council!
    • Bright Lights Awards nominations now open!
    • Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients webinar materials available
    • Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence seeking clinical leads
    • Monkeypox designated a Disease of Public Health Significance, IPAC materials and more
    • BFI Coach – Mentor opportunity
    • for primary care organizations
    • Trans health mentorship call
    • Upcoming events regarding the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative and more

    National Indigenous Peoples Day- narwhal, eagle superimposed over the sun, with a drummer, dancer in regalia and violinist. Background is multicoloured- blue, green, pink and orange.

    National Indigenous Peoples Day

    Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day. We recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures & contributions of First Nations, Inuit & Métis peoples. We are especially grateful for the partnership with our colleagues at IPHCC at advancing culturally safe primary health care, and our member teams who embody culturally safe care.

     

    Apply to join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council!

    Are you interested in advising AFHTO on the top issues facing IHPs in team-based primary care? Would you like to be a leader in working with IHPs in primary care to advocate for and to speak to the critical role of teams? Would you like to share and spread knowledge and learnings? If yes, please apply to join our IHP Advisory Council!

    We invite any IHP in a member team to apply by completing this survey by Friday, July 29.

    More information is here. Please share this opportunity with providers across teams.

    Bright Lights Awards nominations now open!

    Shine a light on your team’s achievements. Nominate an outstanding team or individual for a “Bright Lights” Award by July 15, 2022. AFHTO’s “Bright Lights” Awards recognize AFHTO members’ leadership, outstanding work and the significant progress being made to improve the value interprofessional primary care teams across Ontario deliver. There’s no better time to show what you can do. Find out more here.

    Plus, reviewers needed
    We just need a couple more people on the review committee. If you’d like to learn more about your peers’ contributions and get a $35 discount on your registration fee, please apply here. Deadline June 22, 2022.

    Webinar title screenshot

     

    Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients webinar materials available

    On June 17 we cohosted a webinar focused on new, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. Slides and video are available here.

     

    Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence seeking clinical leads

    The Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence is recruiting provincial clinical leads to support their priority clinical areas of focus:

    The call for expressions of interest for these positions can be found at the specific links above, as well as on a general page here. The deadline to apply is 11:59 on July 14, 2022. If you have questions about the roles for Depression and Anxiety-Related Disorders or Eating Disorders, please contact Amanda Wong (Amanda.Wong@OntarioHealth.ca); if you have questions about the roles for Substance Use Disorders or Schizophrenia and Psychosis, please contact Monisha Patel (Monisha.Patel@OntarioHealth.ca).

    The posting for the Clinical Lead, Indigenous, Depression & Anxiety-Related Disorders can also be found on the website here. The posting will be live until June 30, 2022. For more information or questions about the role, please review the expression of interest in the link above or email Danyal Martin (Danyal.Martin@OntarioHealth.ca).

    Monkeypox designated a Disease of Public Health Significance, IPAC materials and more

    Recent updates include:

    IPAC Strategies to Ensure a Safe Environment in Primary Care Clinics materials:

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

    BFI Coach – Mentor invite

     

     

    BFI Coach – Mentor opportunity for primary care organizations

    The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada is upscaling the Baby-Friendly Initiative across all health sectors. Several skilled coaches have been hired to work with organizations who want to take a deliberate, quality improvement approach to implementing best practice in terms of infant feeding advice and support. Read the invitation here.

     

     

     

     

     

    Trans health mentorship call

    Rainbow Health Ontario’s Trans Health Mentorship Call is a biweekly teleconference for any Ontario health care professional to connect with peers who have experience caring for trans and non-binary service users. Topics range from specific case-based questions to more general issues. Find more information here.

    Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative, June 23, 2022

    In this webinar, we will hear about the work of the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative as it pertains to identified priorities around fall indicators and falls risk screening and assessment and how we can better align our efforts across the province. Find out more here.

    Online Appointment Booking, June 21, 2022
    Ontario Health webinar featuring a panel of primary care providers to learn about the benefits of using online appointment booking in primary care practices. Register here.

    What’s new with COVID-19 and Monkeypox, June 24, 2022

    46th in the series ‘Changing the way we work’, OCFP & UofT’s COVID-19 CoP for family physicians. Register here.

    BounceBack: Back-to-the-office guide and tips to manage stress and anxiety, June 28 & 29, 2022
    Presented with the Canadian Mental Health Association. You’ll hear about coping strategies to help you better manage life’s stresses. Register for EN (June 28) and FR (June 29).

  • Bits & Pieces: Bright Lights coming soon and more

    Bits & Pieces: Bright Lights coming soon and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Bright Lights nominations open soon- reviewers needed
    • Reminder- Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients, June 17
    • Cyber Security Centre of Excellence updates
    • Speak Up Ontario is now Advance Care Planning Ontario
    • Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 and more
    • Psychological impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare workers
    • EMR best practices, tips & advice
    • Deadline approaching for 2023 OCFP Family Medicine Summit call for abstracts
    • Upcoming events including Indigenous Health Care Conference and more

     

    Bright Lights nominations open soon- reviewers needed
    Bright Lights nominations open soon. If you didn’t get a chance to submit an abstract or would just like to raise your profile at the conference and beyond, consider nominating your team for an award.

    We just need a couple more people on the review committee. If you’d like to learn more about your peers’ contributions and get a $35 discount on your registration fee, please apply here. Deadline June 22, 2022.

    Reminder- Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients, June 17

    New, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines have been developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. These groups often have lower screening rates than their peers due to outreach that misses eligible clients and screening practices that can trigger gender dysphoria. Register here.

    Cyber Security Centre of Excellence updates
    The latest email from this centre, part of the Cyber Security Division, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, features upcoming modules (e.g., Structuring Your Organization’s Cyber Security Program) and an updated resources page. Read more and sign up for updates here. 

    Install the Advance Care Planning App Today

    Speak Up Ontario is now Advance Care Planning Ontario

    Along with this rebranding they have multiple new resources to assist the public and health service providers with Advance Care Planning conversations and Goals of Care discussions.

    Websites:

    • www.advancecareplanningontario.ca – a guide for the public
    • www.pcdm.ca – for Health Care Professionals to learn about their role in Advance Care Planning conversations, Goals of Care discussions and Consent and Capacity 

    Advance Care Planning Ontario Mobile App

    Videos:

    Translated Resources– new edition of the Advance Care Planning Guide is available for purchase in English, French, Punjabi, Italian, Spanish, Chinese and Tagalog

    Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Psychological impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare workers

    Researchers from the University of Victoria and University of Toronto are inviting healthcare workers to take part in an online survey examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers’ wellbeing. They aim to understand how people who work in healthcare settings have been impacted, and what kinds of policies, practices or supports could help support this vital workforce.

    Whether you provide direct patient care, work in a supportive role, or provide administrative support/leadership, they would like to hear from you and understand your experiences through this pandemic. The survey takes around 40-50 minutes to complete and can be directly accessed by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3tJCvPN

    Participants will be offered a $5 Tim Hortons gift card and be entered into a draw to win one of several prizes up to $500.

    This study’s Research Ethics ID number is H21-02858. Further information can be obtained from Principal Investigators Brianna Turner (briannat@uvic.ca) and Theone Paterson (tpaterson@uvic.ca).

    EMR best practices, tips & advice

    Do you wish you could discuss your electronic medical record (EMR) with other healthcare providers who also use it and get useful and time-saving tips? You can join an OntarioMD (OMD) EMR Community of Practice (CoP).

    CoP members share best practices, tips, and advice on digital health tools at quarterly meetings. Your EMR vendor is also there so you can ask them questions. CoPs are available for Accuro® (QHR Technologies), Clinic Information System (P&P Data Systems), OSCAR Pro (WELL Health), and TELUS PS Suite electronic medical record (EMR) users.

    Find out more about OMD EMR Communities of Practice

    Join the CoP for your EMR

    Deadline approaching for 2023 OCFP Family Medicine Summit call for abstracts
    In 2023, FMS will be presented virtually, including live-stream days on January 27 and 28. Find out more about the application process on their site. Deadline June 12, 2022.

    Clearing the Air on Asthma and COPD: When Undertesting Leads to Overdiagnosis, June 8, 2022
    What are the barriers to pulmonary function testing? And how might clinicians and patients be supported to avoid over-diagnosis and over-treatment? They’ll discuss these questions and more on June’s Choosing Wisely Talks. Register here.

    Indigenous Health Care Conference, June 10, 2022
    Virtual event hosted by NPAO. Register here.

    On-Demand Insomnia Interventions: First-Line Treatment for Insomnia in Primary Care program

    Courtesy of Queen’s Health Sciences CPD team. Find out more here.

    Palliative Care in Practice, June 16 & 17, 2022
    2-Day in-person CPD event for NPs, MDs, PAs hosted by Queen’s Health Sciences. Find out more here.

    Online Appointment Booking, June 21, 2022
    Ontario Health webinar featuring a panel of primary care providers to learn about the benefits of using online appointment booking in primary care practices. Register here.

    Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar June 23

    In this webinar, we will hear about the work of the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative as it pertains to identified priorities around fall indicators and falls risk screening and assessment and how we can better align our efforts across the province. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar and more

    Bits & Pieces: Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar June 23
    • Please fill in this quick vaccine survey
    • Member renewal deadline June 30
    • Free workplace mental health program for health care settings
    • Interim guidance on monkeypox vaccination, COVaxON training, and more
    • Seeking physician input for IMproving performance in Primary Care Teams (IMPaCT) survey
    • Reminder- interview on the diagnosis and management of concussion in adolescents
    • Upcoming events including Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients and more

    Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar June 23

    The Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative is a diverse group of health and social service practitioners and clinicians from across Ontario who come together to share information, analyze trends, and respond collectively to the need for change and innovation in fall prevention among older adults.

    In this webinar, we will hear about the work of the Collaborative as it pertains to identified priorities around fall indicators and falls risk screening and assessment and how we can better align our efforts across the province. Find out more here.

    Please fill in this quick vaccine survey

    Discussions are just starting on planning for vaccination for the under 5-year-old age group (when/if approved), which will rely very heavily on primary care and pediatricians. To better understand the current state and to start the planning process, please take a moment and fill in this very quick vaccine survey so we can ensure primary care is supported in this next phase of vaccination: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/May2022VaccineSurvey. Deadline extended to June 8.

    Member renewal deadline June 30
    Thank you to most of the teams who have renewed their membership already. If you haven’t sent in your renewal fee and form, the deadline to do so is June 30. After this date, access to member benefits and resources including updates, website and webinars will be removed. If you haven’t received a confirmation email from us, please email info@afhto.ca. 

    Free workplace mental health program for health care settings

    Your Health Space logo

    CMHA has launched Your Health Space, a free mental health program designed to support health care organizations in addressing burnout and promoting psychological health and safety in the workplace. Your Health Space offers training for Health Care Workers, Leaders, and Support Staff through self-directed modules and live workshops, the latter of which can be tailored to your organization’s unique needs.

    If you are an organizational leader and interested, please visit the website or email yourhealthspace@ontario.cmha.ca. Registration is now open. The Your Health Space team also invites you to attend a virtual information and Q&A session discussing the program on Tuesday, June 14th, Wednesday, June 15th, Tuesday, July 12th, or Thursday, July 14th.

    Interim guidance on monkeypox vaccination, COVaxON training, and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Seeking physician input for IMproving performance in Primary Care Teams (IMPaCT) survey

    Trillium Health Partners is seeking input from primary care physicians working in Ontario to understand what influences how physicians interact with data about their patients and their practice.
     
    You can find the survey and additional details here. You will be offered a $50 gift card in recognition for your time.
     
    If you have any questions, please contact, Zahava Rosenberg-Yunger (zahava.rosenberg-yunger@thp.ca).

    Reminder- interview on the diagnosis and management of concussion in adolescents

    Graduate students are researching the perspectives of community-based primary care providers in Toronto on the diagnosis and management of concussion in adolescents. They’re interested in connecting with a few family physicians, pediatricians, and nurse practitioners working in Toronto for a half-hour interview to participate in their capstone project.

    If you’re interested in participating or have any questions, please send them an email at concussion.trp@utoronto.ca. Deadline June 3.

    Clearing the Air on Asthma and COPD: When Undertesting Leads to Overdiagnosis, June 8, 2022
    What are the barriers to pulmonary function testing? And how might clinicians and patients be supported to avoid over-diagnosis and over-treatment? They’ll discuss these questions and more on June’s Choosing Wisely Talks. Register here.

    Spirometry Testing for Diagnosing Asthma and COPD in Primary Care – The Why and the How, June 16, 2022
    The goal of Choosing Wisely’s Let’s Clear the Air campaign is to avoid unnecessary treatment and misdiagnosis that can occur without a proper breathing test. To help, the Lung Health Foundation is hosting sessions to explore the why and the how of spirometry testing for the diagnosis of asthma and COPD in primary care. Register here.

    Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients June 17, 2022

    New, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines have been developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. Register here.

    Palliative Care in Practice, June 16 & 17, 2022
    2-Day in-person CPD event for NPs, MDs, PAs hosted by Queen’s Health Sciences. Find out more here.

    BounceBack: Back-to-the-office guide and tips to manage stress and anxiety, June 28 & 29, 2022
    Presented with the Canadian Mental Health Association. You’ll hear about coping strategies to help you better manage life’s stresses. Register for EN (June 28) and FR (June 29).

  • Bits & Pieces: #AFHTO2022 abstract deadline tomorrow and more

    Bits & Pieces: #AFHTO2022 abstract deadline tomorrow and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • AFHTO 2022 conference abstract deadline tomorrow
    • Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors are open until July 29, 2022
    • Practical technologies that can enable ageing in place materials available
    • Almost time for Election 2022
    • Member stories
    • Mental wellness supports, planning vaccination for the under 5-yr olds and more
    • Examining cannabis use and mental health concerns in youth
    • Reminder- seeking input on the structure of social work practice in primary care
    • Upcoming events including Clearing the Air on Asthma and COPD and more

    AFHTO 2022 conference abstract deadline tomorrow

    via GIPHY

    Run, don’t walk to submit your abstract. Your peers, colleagues from other health care sectors, non-profits, and the academic community are eager to hear from YOU. The deadline to submit for an #AFHTO2022 presentation is tomorrow, May 26, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.

    Confirmations will be sent within a business day of the deadline.

    Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors are open until July 29, 2022

    Are you interested in serving on the AFHTO board of directors? The Governance Committee of AFHTO’s board invites anyone who works within an AFHTO member organization to apply. Please share this call for nominations with all who work in your team and with members on your Board. Find out more here.

    Title screenshot

    Practical technologies that can enable ageing in place materials available
    On May 19 Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health, and University Health Network (UHN) and Director of Health Policy Research at the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) presented on Practical Technologies that can Enable Ageing in Place. Materials are now available here.

     

     

    Questions to ask MPP candidates: Do you support team-based primary care? How will you advocate for expanding access to team-based primary care in Ontario and in our community? How will you ensure there is a sufficient healthcare provider workforce to sustain our healthcare system now and in the future?

    Almost time for Election 2022

    Advanced voting has opened and it’s almost time for the provincial election on June 2. Healthcare is a top issue for all parties AND the public, so use all the resources available to make your voice heard.

    Share successes, pictures from candidate meetings, or pictures of patients with a voter card on social media. Broadcast what you do to deliver the best primary care in Ontario where It Takes a Team. Thank you to all the teams who have shared so far.

    AFHTO is tweeting regularly. We ask you tag @afhto when you tweet, and we’ll also retweet you! Don’t forget to use our campaign slogan #ItTakesATeam

    If you have any questions, please email advocacy@afhto.ca.

    Member stories

    Marathon FHT– Marathon FHT physician feted by medical school

    Summerville FHT – Help us fix family doctor shortage ‘crisis,’ GPs tell Ontario election candidates

    Upper Grand FHT– Care map workshop to help caregivers with burnout

    Mental wellness supports, planning vaccination for the under 5-yr olds and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Examining cannabis use and mental health concerns in youth

    Dr. Toula Kourgiantakis from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto is conducting a research study titled Examining Cannabis Use and Mental Health Concerns in Youth from the Perspectives of Youth, Parents, and Service Providers: A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach. To participate, you must be a service provider (physician, social worker, psychologist, nurse, pharmacist, or psychotherapist) in a health and mental health care setting, who works with or occasionally treat youth and or young adults (aged 16-24). Read more here.

    Reminder- seeking input on the structure of social work practice in primary care

    Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft, an Assistant Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, is the lead investigator for a research study titled The Structure of Social Work Practice in Ontario Family Health Teams: A Mixed-Methods Study. It involves a provincial-wide survey and semi-structured focus groups with discussions focused on examining the daily practice of social workers in FHTs during the pandemic. Read more here.

    Ontario College of Family Physicians/University of Toronto DFCM CoP, May 27, 2022
    Starting at 7:55 a.m, a short update on what you need to know about Monkeypox will also be discussed. Register here.

    Clearing the Air on Asthma and COPD: When Undertesting Leads to Overdiagnosis, June 8, 2022
    What are the barriers to pulmonary function testing? And how might clinicians and patients be supported to avoid over-diagnosis and over-treatment? They’ll discuss these questions and more on June’s Choosing Wisely Talks. Register here.

    Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients June 17, 2022

    New, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines have been developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. Register here.

    Spirometry Testing for Diagnosing Asthma and COPD in Primary Care – The Why and the How, June 16, 2022
    The goal of Choosing Wisely’s Let’s Clear the Air campaign is to avoid unnecessary treatment and misdiagnosis that can occur without a proper breathing test. To help, the Lung Health Foundation is hosting sessions to explore the why and the how of spirometry testing for the diagnosis of asthma and COPD in primary care. Register here.