Your Weekly News & Updates
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Supporting documentation for Astra-Zeneca pause
As we noted last week the Ontario government announced on May 11 that primary care and pharmacy are to pause on the further use of the AstraZeneca (AZ)/COVISHIELD COVID-19 vaccines as first doses to eligible individuals.
On May 14, the Ministry released related supporting documentation for healthcare workers:
COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky, Office of CMOH, June 9
From variants of concern to changing directives on vaccines, understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve rapidly. The Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, the Alliance for Healthier Communities, and the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario are pleased to invite Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Senior Medical Consultant at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health to speak with our members on the latest findings and considerations related to COVID-19, so that you can be better equipped to answer your patients’ questions.
This session will cover key questions that we have heard from you, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and potential mixing of vaccine, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council will talk about why Indigenous people are prioritized to receive vaccines. Register here.
Happy Foot Health Month- plus article on initial diabetic foot screening
This month chiropodists and podiatrists all over Ontario will be promoting awareness and education on the importance of good foot health. Everyone involved in foot health, including physicians, chiropodists, nurses, diabetes teams, and other IHPs, can provide better outcomes for their patients by sharing important weekly tips and information about good foot health, common conditions, and preventative measures. Some useful sources include:
- Wounds Canada – Diabetes Healthy Feet and You Brochures in various languages
- Canadian Federation of Podiatric Medicine – Free downloadable Information Posters and Graphics
In recognition of Foot Health Month, we would also like to celebrate a recent peer reviewed publication from Dufferin Area FHT’s chiropodists in The Foot journal. Conducted at the DAFHT, the study explains how the 60-second diabetes foot screens that many diabetes teams and nurses use (to refer) could be enhanced with a use of the Manchester Scale visual tool. The purpose was to emphasize a primary care and inter-collaborative approach to diabetes foot screens.
COVID-19 vaccination clinic workflow update
We have just updated the document geared towards the Super User, with some tips and tricks for teams, their mass vaccination clinics, drive-thru vaccination clinics and in-clinic vaccinations.
Provincial Antigen Screening Program – Intake Portal and more
Recent updates include:
- Provincial Antigen Screening Program – Intake Portal– Ministry of Health, May 13, 2021
- Astra Zeneca pause, mRNA vaccines in primary care, ON matching portal, etc.– AFHTO, May 12, 2021
- COVID-19 vaccines and workplace health and safety– Government of Ontario, May 11, 2021
We continue to update several pages on our site with resources and news:
- Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates– the original page, with news and Ministry situation reports (please note that the Ministry Situation Reports on COVID-19 are posted daily so review them to better understand the provincial response)
- COVID-19 Vaccination Information
- COVID-19 assessment centres in Ontario
- COVID-19 information for Patients, Caregivers and the Public
- Infection control resources and tools for primary care
- Management and operations, human resources and COVID-19
- Mental health and wellness during COVID-19
- Providing Comprehensive Care During COVID-19
- Resources for Re-opening
- Virtual Care, Digital Health and COVID-19
Relevant reports and studies- patient perspectives on quality of care for depression and anxiety and need for team-based primary care in the US
- Patient perspectives on quality of care for depression and anxiety in primary health care teams- a qualitative study – Ashcroft et al
- Implementing High-Quality Primary Care: Rebuilding the Foundation of Health Care– the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (US)
ECHO Ontario Integrated Mental and Physical Health
Are you looking for support managing your most complex patients? Apply for ECHO Ontario Integrated Mental and Physical Health. The FREE and virtual interactive sessions will take place on Fridays from 12:00-1:15 PM EST from June 4-August 27, 2021.
Identifying the most effective mental and physical health interventions can be challenging. Our program connects you with the expertise of leading clinicians and a panel of your peers. By learning together, you will not be alone in finding the best path ahead for your patients. Apply here.
OHT Impact Fellows- deadline May 25
The OHT Impact Fellows program offers recent Master’s and PhD graduates a one-year embedded fellowship opportunity in Ontario Health Teams, where they will support local projects and contribute to rapid learning.
The program provides Fellows with advanced training in implementation and evaluation while enabling them to apply their skills in an exciting work environment and be a catalyst for health systems change. Deadline May 25. Find out more here.
1st North American Conference on Integrated Care– call for submissions
The 1st North American Conference on Integrated Care in association with the 6th World Congress on Integrated Care will be run as a virtual conference in partnership with the University of Toronto, KPMG Canada, HSPN and iCOACH from October 4 – 7, 2021. With the overarching theme ‘Co-designing for health and wellbeing with individuals and communities’, deadline to submit is May 31. Find out more here.
Input needed today on the curriculum for a new mentoring program on occupational and environmental medicine
How confident do you feel about identifying a work-related illness, completing a WSIB Form 8, or doing a functional abilities assessment with injured patients? You can get support on these topics and more through the new Project ECHO Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) for Ontario healthcare providers. Help tailor the program curriculum by completing this short needs assessment. It takes less than 10 minutes, and you could win a $50 gift card. The (free) ECHO OEM program launches this fall. Deadline extended to today, May 18.
Addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in clinical practice, May 19 & 20, 2021
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID) is hosting a webinar to inform health care providers on addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in clinical practice.
COVID-19 CoP: Mobilizing community, administering Moderna in the office, evolving guidance and more, May 21, 2021
Join the OCFP for their 23rd CoP to see how primary care is vaccinating communities and more.
Find out more here.
Measuring Patient and Provider Experience: Completing the Quadruple Aim, May 25, 2021
HSPN will be discussing the measures of provider experience they recommend for use in OHTs. Patient & provider experiences will be shared from their own perspective.
Register here.
McMaster University Review Course in Psychiatry, May 27-28, 2021
Hosted by Continuing Professional Development, McMaster University and accredited. Find out more here.
Child & Youth Eating Disorders: Information for Primary Care, June 1 – 15, 2021
This special interest ECHO session series will cover:
- Understanding Medical Implications and Monitoring for Children and Youth with Eating Disorders, June 1, 2021
- Supporting a Young Person with an Eating Disorder in Primary Care – Tips and Tricks for the Primary Care Provider, June 15, 2021
For more information, click here.
Project ECHO: Ontario Bariatric Network, Starting June 2, 2021
Join these OBN Project ECHO Series held by Guelph General Hospital BCOE & The Ottawa Hospital BCOE.
Find out more here.
