Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: politics

  • AFHTO’s recommendations to the OMA Negotiations Committee on Physician Services Agreement

    AFHTO consulted with physician leaders to provide feedback for consideration in the development of recommendations to the OMA Negotiations Committee on the upcoming Physician Services Agreement. We submitted recommendations in  multiple areas on July 30, 2020, including:

    1. Increased access to capitated models of PEMs while also increasing access to team-based care
    2. Permanent billing codes for virtual care and investments in electronic medical record integration
    3. Investment and recognition of clinical leadership while also supporting the organization of primary care

    Read the full document here

  • AFHTO’s recommendations to the Physician Services Committee

    Originally posted Jul. 24, 2020. Updated Aug. 4, 2020

    AFHTO consulted with physician leaders to provide feedback for consideration in the development of recommendations to the Physician Services Committee. We submitted recommendations in the following areas to the Ontario Medical Association Primary Care Working Group and the Ministry of Health on July 15, 2020:

    1. Access and Quality Issues

    • Increase Access to Interprofessional Team-Based Care
    • Billing for Digital Access to Care and Investments in Electronic Medical Records Integration
    • Funding Support for Quality Improvement
    • Elimination of Negation for Outside Use – Moving to a truly population health approach to care

    2. Complexity Modifiers

    3. Walk-In Clinics

    4. GP Focused Practice Designation

    5. Other Important Considerations

    • Support for Clinical Leadership
    • Organized Primary Care

     

    For the full document with all 17 recommendations, click here.

    Relevant Links:

  • AFHTO’s 2020 Pre-Budget Submission

    AFHTO submitted its recommendations to the Ministry of Finance as part of the 2020 Ontario Pre-Budget Consultations in early January. The submission is entitled “It Takes a Team: Interprofessional Primary Care as the Foundation of Health System Transformation.”

    Our recommendations are the following:

    1. Increase access to interprofessional team-based primary care for Ontarians who need it. As the population ages, more people will spend more years living with multiple chronic conditions, significantly increasing strain on health services. Interprofessional primary care teams are integrated around patients and their caregivers to promote, maintain or improve health and wellbeing. As Ontario Health Teams start rolling out, ensure comprehensive primary care is at the heart of the health system, so patients get care from the right provider when and where they need it.

    2. Invest in clinical leadership to ensure successful roll-out of Ontario Health Teams. Primary care providers know patients and their families best. They are the best resource government has for shifting the profession and the health system towards a shared vision and purpose. It is critical that they all be empowered to lead OHT development. Successfully building integrated care in OHTs, led by primary care, will require investing in and supporting clinical leadership.

    3. Embed mental health and addictions support in primary care. Ontario is on the verge of a mental health and addictions crisis. We need to provide continuity of care and can’t wait for the full roll-out of OHTs to achieve this. These resources need to be in the community where the person lives and receives comprehensive care, and not in an expensive acute care centre.

    4. Help end hallway health care by embedding home and community care coordination with primary care. 
    The function and associated resources of community care coordination should be transitioned to primary care. This will bring greater efficiency and patient-centredness to care. Care will be integrated, allowing for seamless transitions for patients. This will allow for greater continuity of care.

    5. Support digital health options in primary care. Patients want convenient access to their health care team and to know their health information is all in one place, so stories don’t have to be repeated over and over again. We recommend government adopt a digital health strategy that is co-designed by providers and patients, and provide billing codes to recognize that care delivered digitally is valued as much as an in-person visit. This cannot happen without modernizing our current model and thinking about how care is delivered. 

     

    Relevant links:

  • Winter 2019 Highlights: AFHTO Leadership Councils

    Below are the highlights from the winter 2019 leadership council meetings: Executive Director Advisory Council (EDAC), Physician Leadership Council (PLC), Board Chair Leadership Council (BCLC), NPLC Leadership Council (NPLC LC), and IHP Advisory Council.
     
     
    A New Government and Health System Reform
    • Much is up in the air as the government undertakes health care reform. While nothing is final, documents leaked to the press in late January and early February give a general idea of the direction the government will go.
    • The draft Health System Efficiency Act, 2019 can be seen online through several media sources. A summary of it and of the other internal documents that were leaked are on AFHTO’s website. We encourage you take a look and become better informed about the proposed changes.
    • A key piece is the formation of a “super agency” that would oversee local integrated care delivery systems (ICDS) – MyCare Groups – whose function remains unclear.
    • AFHTO will work with our GR firm, H&K Strategies, to arrange a webinar to review and discuss the legislation and transformation agenda, including possible implications for our members, once the expected legislation is tabled. Please stay tuned for more details.
    • The Premier’s Council on Improving Health Care and Ending Hallway Medicine released its first interim report in late January. Its priorities align well with AFHTO’s pre-budget submission that was submitted a few days prior.
    • The Arbitrator’s Award was issued to the Ministry and the OMA on February 19. The news release from the Ministry is here.
    • AFHTO will continue to work with the new government to show that an investment in a robust primary care system will deliver a high-performing health care system, which will lead to better outcomes and patient experience.
    Meetings with the Minister and the Ministry
    • AFHTO met with the Minister on January 21. Mental health and addictions are among her top priorities. The meeting went well although the direction of primary care remained unclear.
    • AFHTO continues to meet with officials to discuss the direction of primary care in the province.
    • AFHTO is working closely with the Primary Care branch on issues such as an integration of mental health and addictions support in primary care, care coordination, and ongoing support for team-based care for more Ontarians. In a recent meeting, we were also notified that AOPs will likely be delayed this fiscal year.  AFHTO will keep teams posted on timelines once we learn more.
    • For the 10 or so pilot ICDSs, the Expression of Interest is expected soon. We’ll let teams know once we have more information. If your team is interested in possibly taking leadership in this new initiative, please let us know. We can ‘plant some seeds’ with the policy makers at the Ministry.
    • AFHTO continues to emphasise the importance of primary care being part of integration efforts.
    Local Advocacy – Time to Connect with Your MPP
    • We continue to encourage teams to meet with their local MPP to demonstrate the value of team-based care for the MPP’s constituents.
    • Tools and resources are online.
    • The tools include key messages to explain the value of team-based care and how it aligns with the government’s priorities.
    • AFHTO encourages teams be consistent with the main points to ensure the government hears the same message from MPPs about why team-based care is important as they undertake restructuring of the health care system.
    • Let us know when you’re meeting with your local MPPs! Send us your pictures, stories and tag us on Twitter @afhto.
    Continuing to Support Great Governance and Leadership
    • As we have already let members know, the G&L program did not receive project funding for 2018/19, and project funding for 2019/20 is unknown.
    • AFHTO still aims to provide support tools. Governance webcasts continue to roll out, and we continue to support teams transitioning to a skills-based board.
    • Integration and collaborative governance are an expected focus of the new government. AFHTO will align training and supports under this new direction to ensure teams are adequately equipped with the tools and knowledge needed.
    • A strategic planning toolkit is being prepared to support boards in developing a strategic planning process and a strategic plan. The final is expected in the coming month.
    • LeaderShift opportunities continue. Sign up now!
    Focus Shifting to Improvement
    • As noted with the G&L Program, the QIDS program also did not receive project funding for 2018/19, and project funding for 2019/20 is unknown.
    • To align with the government’s mandate, the focus of the program is shifting from measurement to improvement.
    • The main priority of the QIDS Program will be continued AFHTO support for QIDSS in the field and through the newly created “Quality Improvement in Primary Care” council, which will support QIDSS in the areas of advocacy, knowledge translation and improvement.
    • AFHTO is pleased that Dr. Kevin Samson has agreed to be the new Chair of the AFHTO Quality Steering Committee, which will be looking at a renewed focus on highlighting the value of team-based care.
    • On March 6 (Ottawa) and March 8 (Toronto), AFHTO will be hosting two KTE workshops based on our QI Enablers study called “Building together: how to become a high performing team.” A better functioning team is better care. Registration for Ottawa is now closed, and for Toronto it is February 22.
    • The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health spoke to several councils about OPTIMUM, a project funded by the Patient-Centred Outcomes Research Institute. They’re looking to collaborate with primary are providers to recruit 300 people for a project in optimising depression treatment in older adults. The presentation and contact information are here.
    Membership Renewals and Voluntary Contributions
    • A reminder that membership renewals will be going out at the end of February and early March.
    • AFHTO works to serve and represent our members to the best of our ability, and we hope to see you renew your membership! With all the health system reforms currently underway, now more than ever we need a strong voice for team-based primary care.
    • Please also consider a voluntary contribution to help ensure AFHTO can continue its work in advocacy, governance and quality. Contributions can flow out of the overhead budget line and there is no limit. Voluntary contribution forms will be sent with your membership renewal forms.
    Any questions or comments, please contact Bryn Hamilton, Provincial Lead, Governance & Leadership Program.
     

  • First interim report released by Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine

    The first report of the Premier’s Council on Improving Health Care and Ending Hallway Medicine was released on January 31, 2019. The Council, chaired by Dr. Rueben Devlin, provides an assessment of Ontario’s health care system and lays the groundwork for future reports that will speak to recommendations for health system restructuring.

    The first report describes three key challenges facing Ontario’s health care system:

    1. Patients and families are having difficulty navigating the health care system and are waiting too long for care. This has a negative impact on their own health and on provider and caregiver well-being.
    2. The system is facing capacity pressures today, and it doesn’t have the appropriate mix of services, beds, or digital tools to be ready for the projected increase in complex care needs and capacity pressures in the short and long-term.
    3. There needs to be more effective coordination at both the system level, and at the point-of-care. This could achieve better value (i.e. improved health outcomes) for taxpayer money spent throughout the system. As currently designed, the health care system does not always work efficiently.

    While there is very little mention about primary care, it should be noted that the report references that patients are going to the hospital when they could be treated in primary care, with a recognition that there should be additional focus on preventative measures and effective engagement with primary care providers.

    The essential role of primary care in providing mental health and addictions supports was acknowledged, with the report noting that about 1 in 3 adults who reported to an ED for mental health and addictions care hadn’t previously accessed physician-based care for their illness. And challenges in home and community care was highlighted, noting that the health care system is overly complex which makes it more difficult for patients and families to navigate.

    The report concluded with three opportunities for improvement: digital and modern health care, integrated care delivery and efficiency in the system.

    AFHTO was pleased to see that many of the findings in the report are consistent with AFHTO priorities and aligned with our most recent Pre-Budget Submission submitted to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs:

    1. We need a health system that is truly integrated, one where patients don’t have to move from one part of the system to another part to get their care, especially care for mental health and addictions – primary care and mental health care providers need to work together to ensure that mental health and addictions investments are integrated in primary care.
    2. The relationship between primary care and home and community care can be strengthened by transitioning the function and associated resources of care coordination to primary care. This will bring greater efficiency and patient-centredness to care. Care will be integrated, allowing for seamless transitions of care for patients.
    3. Support expansion of interprofessional team-based care across Ontario. This can start with communities that don’t have a team at all and then expand to all Ontarians who wish for it. Allow for local-level innovation but ensure that primary care providers are involved in the co-design on what would work best for them in their communities and for their patients.
    4. Look at existing models of performance measurement in primary care and facilitate and fund a strategy that spreads it across the system. This strategy must measure outcomes that matter to patients and providers while assisting in lower system costs. To support this, there needs to be further investments in quality improvement practice facilitators to help support front line providers.

    AFHTO members are already taking leadership in many of the areas that are highlighted as challenges in the report and we look forward to sharing your innovations, ideas and patient stories with the government so we can continually highlight that an investment in creating a robust primary care system will lead to a high performing health system with better outcomes and patient experience.

    Documents of Interest:

  • Draft legislation and other leaked documents on health system transformation

    A draft bill from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care was leaked to the media at the end of January. The Health System Efficiency Act, 2019 appears to be in early stages, but the draft provides a high-level overview of what may be a major structural overhaul of health services in the province.

    A summary of the draft legislation, as it read on January 31 when leaked, can be seen here. The draft legislation itself can be seen through online media.

    Additional documents that show major changes to the health care system were leaked on February 4. These provide more information on a policy that is being formed, including information about MyCare Groups, the “Super Agency,” and how the ministry may be restructured. Information about the February 4 leaked documents can be read here.

    While there is now more clarity about the government’s plans, much is still up in the air and will be seen in the weeks and months ahead. As we get more information, we’ll let our members know. In the meantime, we continue to encourage teams to reach out to their MPP to speak about the value of team-based care in their communities. Tools and resources are here. 

    If you have any questions, please contact Beth MacKinnon (Program Associate, Policy, Leadership and Strategic Communications) at beth.mackinnon@afhto.ca or 647-234-8605 x206.

  • MPP Meetings – Advocacy Tools & Resources

    A new government and many new Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP) were elected in June 2018. AFHTO members are encouraged to meet with  their local MPP.

    Establishing a relationship with new MPPs – or building on existing relationships with longer-serving MPPs – and communicating the value of team-based primary care is key to helping see MPPs do two things:

    • Advocate for investments in team-based care, and
    • Understand the value of team-based care for their constituents, so they can speak to it as the new government undertakes primary care reform.

    It’s important to include primary care providers and, where possible, a patient in these meetings. These are people the government is especially interested in hearing from. Where there is more than one team in an MPP’s riding, we encourage teams coordinate one meeting together, if possible.

    Working with Hill+Knowlton Strategies, our government relations firm, the following tools have been prepared to help with local advocacy:

    It’s important that teams across the province are consistent in saying why team-based care matters. The key messages are the main points to communicate, with proof points to back you up, but the document is not intended to be left with the MPP. The slide deck summarises the key messages, and it’s what can be left behind after the meeting.

    In the deck, be sure to add a couple success stories and accomplishments where patients – the MPP’s constituents – benefitted because of team-based care.

    Other tools, resources and references

    If you have any questions, please contact Beth MacKinnon (Program Associate, Policy, Leadership and Strategic Communications) at beth.mackinnon@afhto.ca or 647-234-8605 x206.

  • AFHTO’s 2019 Pre-Budget Submission

    AFHTO submitted its recommendations to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs as part of the 2019 Ontario Pre-Budget Consultations in January. Our key recommendations are:

    1. We need a health system that is truly integrated, one where patients don’t have to move from one part of the system to another part to get their care, especially care for mental health and addictions – primary care and mental health care providers need to work together to ensure that mental health and addictions investments are integrated in primary care.
    2. The relationship between primary care and home and community care can be strengthened by transitioning the function and associated resources of care coordination to primary care. This will bring greater efficiency and patient-centredness to care. Care will be integrated, allowing for seamless transitions of care for patients.
    3. Support expansion of interprofessional team-based care across Ontario. This can start with communities that don’t have a team at all and then expand to all Ontarians who wish for it. Allow for local-level innovation but ensure that primary care providers are involved in the co-design on what would work best for them in their communities and for their patients.
    4. Look at existing models of performance measurement in primary care and facilitate and fund a strategy that spreads it across the system. This strategy must measure outcomes that matter to patients and providers while assisting in lower system costs. To support this, there needs to be further investments in quality improvement practice facilitators to help support front line providers.

    Relevant Links:

  • AFHTO’s 2019 Pre-Budget Submission

    AFHTO submitted its recommendations to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs as part of the 2019 Ontario Pre-Budget Consultations in January. Our key recommendations are:

    1. We need a health system that is truly integrated, one where patients don’t have to move from one part of the system to another part to get their care, especially care for mental health and addictions – primary care and mental health care providers need to work together to ensure that mental health and addictions investments are integrated in primary care.
    2. The relationship between primary care and home and community care can be strengthened by transitioning the function and associated resources of care coordination to primary care. This will bring greater efficiency and patient-centredness to care. Care will be integrated, allowing for seamless transitions of care for patients.
    3. Support expansion of interprofessional team-based care across Ontario. This can start with communities that don’t have a team at all and then expand to all Ontarians who wish for it. Allow for local-level innovation but ensure that primary care providers are involved in the co-design on what would work best for them in their communities and for their patients.
    4. Look at existing models of performance measurement in primary care and facilitate and fund a strategy that spreads it across the system. This strategy must measure outcomes that matter to patients and providers while assisting in lower system costs. To support this, there needs to be further investments in quality improvement practice facilitators to help support front line providers.

    Relevant Links:

  • Internal Responsibility System (IRS) and Workplace Violence Prevention Initiative 2018/2019

    The Ministry of Labour regularly undertakes “Safe at Work Ontario” activities, such as initiatives to focus attention on important health and safety hazards or concerns.

    Between July 1, 2018, and March 31, 2019, health and community care workplaces may be visited as part of the MOL’s Safe At Work Ontario internal responsibility system (IRS) initiative to promote compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations..

    The following IRS focus priorities will be integrated into MOL workplace inspections:

    • Training / information and instruction/supervisory competency
    • Personal protective equipment (PPE) / protective devices:
    • Reporting incidents of workplace violence and other reporting requirements
    • Notification requirements
    • Duties of directors and officers of a corporation

    A joint webinar with the Ministry of Labour & Public Services Health and Safety Association (PSHSA) on November 14, 2018, reviewed how “Safe at Work Ontario” activities may affect your workplace and what compliance support resources are available to help you with achieving compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations.

    The slide deck is here.

    The webinar was also recorded:

    Speakers:
    Eunice John, Provincial Specialist, Ministry of Labour
    Sherri Bastos, Director of Prevention and Operations, Engagement and Retention, Public Services Health & Safety Association