Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: Public health

  • Bits & Pieces: youth grants, updated primary care guidance, back to school and more

    Bits & Pieces: youth grants, updated primary care guidance, back to school and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Youth Opportunities Fund- applications open
    • LAST DAY to submit a poster abstract!
    • Updated primary care guidance, back to school and more
    • Call for interest- BORN’s Health Equity Advisory Group
    • Free furniture donation – Ottawa
    • Upcoming events regarding collaborative Quality Improvement Plans and more

     

    Youth Opportunities Fund- applications open

    AFHTO members and their partners may be eligible to apply for the Systems Innovation Stream of Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) Youth Opportunities Fund, a grant worth up to $250,000 per year for  2 to 6 years.

    • The System Innovations Stream supports collaboratives that are strengthening the quality and responsiveness of systems so they work better for youth facing systemic barriers.
    • Organization Registration Deadline: September 1, 2021
    • Grant Application Deadline: September 29, 2021
    • Information Sessions: August 12 and 17, 2021

    Shocked emoji- top of head exploding

     

     

    LAST DAY to submit a poster abstract!

    Today is the deadline! Submit your poster abstract by 5:00 pm!

    Email info@afhto.ca or call 647-234-8605 x1200 if you have any questions. We’re here to help.

     

     

     

    Updated primary care guidance, back to school and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Call for interest- BORN’s Health Equity Advisory Group

    Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario is looking for members of equity-seeking groups with lived experience to join their Health Equity Advisory Group (HEAG). “Equity-seeking groups are communities that face significant collective challenges in participating in society. This marginalization can be created by attitudinal, historic, social, institutional, and environmental barriers based on age, ethnicity, disability, economic status, gender, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, and transgender status, etc.”
     
    The group will provide guidance and recommendations to BORN with a lens on equity. If you have questions about HEAG or this application process, please email Meron Berhe, Health Equity Advisory Group Chair at equity@bornontario.ca. Deadline August 18, 2021.

    Free furniture donation – Ottawa

    Any teams in the Ottawa area looking for free furniture and equipment donations from corporations to improve your office and working spaces? You can join Green Standards’ Charitable Network to receive notifications when furniture and equipment becomes available near you.

    How to Speak with Loved Ones About Getting Vaccinated, Aug. 4, 2021

    Join Dr. Danyaal Raza, Rexdale Vaccine Ambassador Terrence Rodriguez, and Behavioural Neuroscientist Olga Rodríguez-Sierra on having conversations with vaccine hesitant community members. Sign up here.

    OHT Virtual Engagement Series: collaborative Quality Improvement Plans, Aug. 11, 2021

    Hosted by the Ministry and Ontario health, this Information Session will be focused on the development and planning of collaborative Quality Improvement Plans (cQIPs). Find out more.

    Applying the Ontario Health Asthma Quality Standards for Children and Adolescents in your practice, August 12, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health and the Lung Health Foundation. Find out more here.

    Pandemic Recovery and Chronic Disease Management: Primary Care for Adults with Asthma, August 19, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health and the Lung Health Foundation. Find out more here.

    NPAO 2021 Virtual Annual Conference, Sep. 23-24, 2021
    This years’ Conference theme is Nurse Practitioner: Innovative Influencers of Health and Wellness. Find out more.

    OMD Digital Health and Virtual Care Day, Sep. 30, 2021
    This virtual day will focus on leveraging digital health and virtual care tools to complement the in-person delivery of patient care. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: rides to vaccination sites, immunization reconciliation and more

    Bits & Pieces: rides to vaccination sites, immunization reconciliation and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Rides to vaccination sites for people with disabilities
    • Virtual CBT for insomnia slides and video
    • Last reminder- nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 30
    • COVID-19 immunization reconciliation tool, maternal-neonatal guidelines and more
    • Request for updated member renewal forms
    • New resources- seniors’ mental health & developmental surveillance
    • Reminder- seeking pharmacists’ input on experiences and contributions to mental health care during COVID-19
    • Upcoming events regarding aggregate primary care vaccination report and more

     

    Rides to vaccination sites for people with disabilities

    The Ontario Community Support Association’s Accessible Drive-to-Vaccines program provides door-to-door rides to vaccination sites for people with disabilities, including seniors with mobility issues. To determine eligibility, identify a local transportation provider and request service, visit www.ontariocommunitysupport.ca. 

    CBT webinar title slide

    Reminder – virtual CBT for insomnia webinar today

    In this webinar co-hosted with Queen’s FHT, we will review the first line treatment for chronic insomnia and describe its components. They will also explore how to set up and run a virtual group program in and interprofessional team setting. Slides and video are now available here.

     

    Last reminder- nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 30

    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. Learn more about how you can take on a leadership role here. Deadline July 30.

    COVID-19 immunization reconciliation tool, maternal-neonatal guidelines and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Request for updated member renewal forms

    Thank you to all our members for renewing another year. To ensure our records are kept up to date (and to keep our auditors happy), please email your completed member renewal form to info@afhto.ca if you haven’t already done so. Any change in the leadership triad, patient numbers, etc. helps inform our advocacy and our ability to connect the right people with the most relevant information available. Contact us at info@afhto.ca if you need a new form.

    New resources- seniors’ mental health & developmental surveillance

    Reminder- seeking pharmacists’ input on experiences and contributions to mental health care during COVID-19

    If you are a primary care pharmacist, University of Toronto researchers want to hear from you! Their study seeks to examine primary care team pharmacist contributions to patient mental health care, and understand pharmacists’ experiences with collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 15 to 20 min survey includes a mix of multiple choice and open response questions.
     
    This study from the University of Toronto is co-led by Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft, Assistant Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, and Dr. Lisa Dolovich, Professor & Dean at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy.
     
    To take the survey, please click on this link: https://bit.ly/SplPharm.

    Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report Info Session, July 29, 2021
    Learn more about the new COVaxON Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report, as helpful strategies are discussed for accessing the reports and using the information to reach out to patients to understand their needs and discuss the benefits of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Find out more here.

    How to Speak with Loved Ones About Getting Vaccinated, Aug. 4, 2021

    Join Dr. Danyaal Raza, Rexdale Vaccine Ambassador Terrence Rodriguez, and Behavioural Neuroscientist Olga Rodríguez-Sierra on having conversations with vaccine hesitant community members. Sign up here.

    Applying the Ontario Health Asthma Quality Standards for Children and Adolescents in your practice, August 12, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health and the Lung Health Foundation. Find out more here.

    Pandemic Recovery and Chronic Disease Management: Primary Care for Adults with Asthma, August 19, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health and the Lung Health Foundation. Find out more here.

    Introduction to CARF Network Accreditation for Ontario Health Teams, Aug. 18, 2021
    Hosted by CARF Canada. Register here.

    NPAO 2021 Virtual Annual Conference, Sep. 23-24, 2021
    This years’ Conference theme is Nurse Practitioner: Innovative Influencers of Health and Wellness. Find out more.

  • Bits & Pieces: member stories, virtual CBT and more

    Bits & Pieces: member stories, virtual CBT and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Reminder – virtual CBT for insomnia webinar today
    • Member stories
    • Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP
    • Updated screening form, aggregate vaccination reports and more
    • PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support slides and video
    • 800 O2 sat monitors remaining- deadline for ordering extended
    • Support to implement large scale improvement initiatives- EXTRA call for applications
    • Upcoming events regarding aggregate primary care vaccination report and more

     

    Reminder – virtual CBT for insomnia webinar today

    In this webinar co-hosted with Queen’s FHT, we will review the first line treatment for chronic insomnia and describe its components. They will also explore how to set up and run a virtual group program in and interprofessional team setting. Get more details and register here.

    Elliott Lake FHT clinician in PPE administering their 10000th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to a masked man sitting down

     

     

    Member stories

    Couchiching FHT– Orillia doc ‘thrilled’ to be named Family Physician of the Year

    Elliott Lake FHT– 10,000 dose milestone

    Thames Valley FHT – Final buzzer sounds on London’s rink-turned-COVID-centre as cases drop

    Upper Grand FHT– wrapping up drive-through vaccination clinics

     

     

     

     

    Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP

    There has been a lot of interest in the aggregate primary care vaccination reports, and we know there are a lot of questions. Apart from the information sessions, you can get answers in the Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP, an Ontario Health CoP on Quorum.

    Updated screening form, aggregate vaccination reports and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    PTSD webinar title slide with image of a forest surrounding a lake with mountains in the background

     

    PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support slides and video

    On July 14 we held a webinar co-hosted with Couple HOPES discussing PTSD and relationships with Dr. Candice Monson, Professor of Psychology at Ryerson University, Director of the IMPACT psychology research lab, and Registered Clinical Psychologist. Slides and video are now available here.

    800 O2 sat monitors remaining- deadline for ordering extended

    Only 5% of the original stock of oxygen saturation monitors are left. With some monitors remaining, Ontario Health is extending the deadline for ordering. Primary care providers can benefit from having oxygen saturation monitors in their practice for patients being monitored with COVID-19, or other serious respiratory conditions such as COPD. To place an order for a free monitor complete this form. Orders will be fulfilled while supplies last over the next two weeks. Contact OH_COVIDatHome@ontariohealth.ca for more information. Learn more on how to monitor patients with COVID-19.

    Support to implement large scale improvement initiatives- EXTRA call for applications

    Per Healthcare Excellence Canada:
    EXTRA is a program that supports teams of health leaders to implement large scale improvement initiatives. The teams are networked with others across the country, receive content from Canadian and international experts, and are supported throughout the 16-month program by QI coaches. Several teams from Ontario have participated in the past. In the 2019 cohort, a team from Michael Garron Hospital, VHA Home Health and Woodgreen Community Services led a project to deliver acute care at home to people with COPD for example.

    As we slowly emerge from the pandemic, you may be looking to solidify some of the practices you put in place to deal with the public health emergency or implement some improvement initiatives you weren’t able to get to. You can also partner with other organizations on an improvement project. The EXTRA program will support all these efforts.

    You can find more info on the EXTRA program and the application process in the Call for Applications here or by visiting the Healthcare Excellence Canada’s website.

    While the deadline for applications was July 15th, the EXTRA team is willing to extend it, should anyone express an interest in the coming few weeks. You can also reach out directly to Genevieve Martin at Healthcare Excellence Canada at EXTRA-FORCES@hec-esc.ca.

    Aggregate Primary Care Vaccination Report Info Sessions, July 21-29, 2021
    Hosted by Public Health Ontario. At times, primary care providers have felt detached from COVID-19 vaccine rollouts. To support primary care involvement, this session will summarize key enablers that led the Waterloo Region to achieve the highest total vaccine output through primary care across Ontario. Find out more here.

    Data Package and Data Supports Information Session, July 22, 2021

    Part of the “OHT Virtual Engagement Series”, supported by the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health. Find out more here.

    Applying the Ontario Health Asthma Quality Standards for Children and Adolescents in your practice, August 12, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health and the Lung Health Foundation. Find out more here.

    Pandemic Recovery and Chronic Disease Management: Primary Care for Adults with Asthma, August 19, 2021
    Hosted by Ontario Health and the Lung Health Foundation. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: member stories, board award and more

    Bits & Pieces: member stories, board award and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Member stories
    • Nominate a partner or healthcare inspiration for an AFHTO Board award
    • Reminder – PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support, tomorrow July 14, 2021
    • Vaccinating the last 25% and ramping up in-person visits and more
    • We want your input! Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap
    • Upcoming events regarding PHO partnering with primary care in the vaccine response and more

     

    Member stories

    Bruyère Academic and North York FHTs– Ontario hopes family doctors can reach those unvaccinated against COVID-19

    Guelph FHT – 2020-2021 Annual Report is available to read online

    North York, South East Toronto, St. Michael’s Hospital Academic and Toronto Western FHTs– In stadiums and living rooms, family doctors are leading the vaccine effort

    Nominate a partner or healthcare inspiration for an AFHTO Board award

    2020 board award video

    For the first time ever, the AFHTO board invites all members to help them select the recipient of a Board award. The Board award recognizes an individual (or a group) who is not an AFHTO member but has significantly contributed to the development and growth of team-based primary care within their local community or at the provincial level.

    Submit a nomination online for the Board Award category by August 20, 2021.

    Find out more about the criteria here. You can find the nomination template here.

    PTSD takeaways

     

     

     

    Reminder – PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support, July 14, 2021

    Co-hosted with Couple HOPES, join this webinar with Dr. Candice Monson, Professor of Psychology at Ryerson University, Director of the IMPACT psychology research lab, and Registered Clinical Psychologist as she discusses PTSD and relationships.
    Register here.

     

     

     

    Vaccinating the last 25% and ramping up in-person visits and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    We want your input! Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap

    Ontario is creating a roadmap to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. AFHTO is participating as part of an advisory committee to help identify barriers and opportunities when it comes to primary care.
    The advisory committee wants to hear from Family Health Teams in Ontario to find out how hepatitis C fits in with your practice, and what supports or information you need to begin testing and treatment. If you are interested, please contact Christopher Hoy directly (choy@catie.ca) to set-up a time to chat.

    Reminder- nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 30

    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. Learn more about how you can take on a leadership role here. Deadline July 30.

    2021 Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day

    The 2021 Trillium Primary Health Care Research Day is virtual on Oct. 15, 2021. See their save-the-date for more details.

    PHO Rounds: Partnering with Primary Care in the Vaccine Response, July 15
    Hosted by Public Health Ontario. At times, primary care providers have felt detached from COVID-19 vaccine rollouts. To support primary care involvement, this session will summarize key enablers that led the Waterloo Region to achieve the highest total vaccine output through primary care across Ontario. Find out more here.

    Delivery of cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia via virtual platform, July 21

    In this webinar co-hosted with Queen’s FHT, we will review the first line treatment for chronic insomnia and describe its components.  They will also explore how to set up and run a virtual group program in and interprofessional team setting.

    Get more details and register here.

    ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) at CHEO, September 7, 2021 – February 15, 2022
    Learn how ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) at CHEO can help you better care for children and youth. Limited spots available. Find out more here.

    Queen’s Department of Family Medicine CPD Program Fall 2021, Sep. 14- Dec. 7, 2021
    Part of the CPD Subscription, topics will include Menopause, Diabetes: New Meds and Beyond, Approach to Tremors, Pediatric Growth Issues, and Ask the MOH/Hot Topics in Public Health. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: virtual CBT for insomnia, call for abstracts and more

    Bits & Pieces: virtual CBT for insomnia, call for abstracts and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Delivery of cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia via virtual platform, July 21
    • AFHTO 2021 Conference: call for poster abstracts
    • Reminder – PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support, July 14, 2021
    • IPAC/PPE FAQ, updates to vaccine product monographs and more
    • Evidence of value: Primary care teams’ experiences of delivering mental health care during the COVID‑19 pandemic
    • Practical implementation guide for Ontario’s delirium quality standard
    • Seeking pharmacists’ input on experiences and contributions to mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic
    • Upcoming events regarding vaccinating the last 25%, ramping up in-person visits and more

     

    Delivery of cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia via virtual platform, July 21

    In this webinar co-hosted with Queen’s FHT, we will review the first line treatment for chronic insomnia and describe its components.  They will also explore how to set up and run a virtual group program in and interprofessional team setting.   Additionally, attendees will be provided with a general program outline as well as helpful tools and resources to individualize their own CBTi group program.

    At the end of this session the participant will be able to:   

    • Understand CBT-I (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Insomnia) as the first line treatment for chronic insomnia and its key components
    • Describe key processes and a general outline in setting up a virtual group CBTi program
    • Identify tools and resources to develop and individualize your own CBT-I program

    Get more details and register here.

    Post-Pandemic Primary Care: Respond, Recover, Rebuild

    AFHTO 2021 Conference: call for poster abstracts

    We’ll be selecting content for our 5 core themes, and we need your help. We want your insight, from system and policy-level discussions to patient-focused inquiries into the ways teams can better serve their communities now and as we transition to a post-pandemic reality. The deadline to submit for an #AFHTO2021 presentation is August 3, 2021, at 5:00 PM (EDT). Find out more and get your Bright Lights update here.

    And don’t forget, the deadline to join a working group is Thursday, July 8. Come behind the scenes and be the first to learn about new developments in the field, influence conference programming and discover the latest innovators in areas directly relevant to your work. Working group members also receive a discount off their registration fee.

    Reminder – PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support, July 14, 2021

    Co-hosted with Couple HOPES, join this webinar with Dr. Candice Monson, Professor of Psychology at Ryerson University, Director of the IMPACT psychology research lab, and Registered Clinical Psychologist as she discusses PTSD and relationships.
    Register here.

    IPAC/PPE FAQ, updates to vaccine product monographs and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Evidence of value: Primary care teams’ experiences of delivering mental health care during the COVID‑19 pandemic
    “From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care quickly responded to the rising mental health care demands of their patients. Despite the numerous challenges they faced with the rapid transition to virtual care, primary care teams have persevered. It is essential that policy and decision-makers take note of the toll that these demands have placed on providers. There is an immediate need to enhance primary care’s capacity for mental health care for the duration of the pandemic and beyond.”

    “Primary care teams’ experiences of delivering mental health care during the COVID‑19 pandemic: a qualitative study” was just published in BMC Family Practice, and authored by Rachelle Ashcroft et al.

    Practical implementation guide for Ontario’s delirium quality standard

    Delirium is a preventable harm for your older patients which can lead to functional decline and death. Do you have reliable and consistent processes across your organization to prevent or manage it?  Regional Geriatric Program of Toronto’s new Practical Implementation Guide for Ontario’s Delirium Quality Standard is intended to help you elevate your practice in delirium care. For any feedback or questions, you can connect with a senior friendly care (sfCare) coach at info@rgptoronto.ca.

    Seeking pharmacists’ input on experiences and contributions to mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic

    University of Toronto researchers want to hear from primary care pharmacists, as they seek to examine primary care team pharmacist contributions to patient mental health care, and understand pharmacists’ experiences with collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 15 to 20 min survey includes a mix of multiple choice and open response question.

    COVID@Home Monitoring for Primary Care CoP, July 7, 2021
    Join us to learn about getting notifications of your COVID+ patient through HRM and to learn more about the clinical pathways (including the post-hospitalization pathway) and have your questions answered. Register here.

    COVID-19 CoP for Ontario Family Physicians, July 9, 2021
    Hosted by the Family and Community Medicine Department at the University of Toronto and the OCFP. Register here.

    Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP,  July 8, 2021
    Join PCPs, EDs & clinical managers from AFHTO, AHC & NPLCA to share learnings, tools and strategies to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario.
    Find out more here.

    ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) at CHEO, September 7, 2021 – February 15, 2022
    Learn how ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) at CHEO can help you better care for children and youth. Limited spots available. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: conference call for volunteers, guidance for vaccinated people and more

    Bits & Pieces: conference call for volunteers, guidance for vaccinated people and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • AFHTO 2021 Conference: create YOUR virtual conference. Sign up by July 8
    • Guidance for vaccinated people, aggregate primary care vaccination report and more
    • Space available in HPCO Virtual Compassion Care Community Centre programs
    • Evaluation of online tool for occupational hand dermatitis
    • Shaping PSHSA 2021-24 strategic plan
    • OLTCA invitation to submit an abstract
    • Upcoming events regarding PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support and more

     

    Post-Pandemic Primary Care: Respond, Recover, Rebuild

    AFHTO 2021 Conference: create YOUR virtual conference. Sign up by July 8

    You can make an impact by joining a working group today. Come behind the scenes and be the first to learn about new developments in the field, influence conference programming and discover the latest innovators in areas directly relevant to your work. Working group members also receive a discount off their registration fee. Find out about our themes and sign up by July 8! Call for poster abstracts also coming soon.

    Guidance for vaccinated people, aggregate primary care vaccination report and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Space available in HPCO Virtual Compassion Care Community Centre programs

    Recognizing the need for virtual support for seniors, caregivers, hospice volunteers and people isolated at home, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario’s Virtual Compassion Care Community Center (VCCCC) delivers free education and support programs and activities through both virtual and telephone options. The goal is to provide a safe, comfortable, and interactive setting to encourage social support and connections.

    They have the capacity to accept new participants and collaborate with other partners to reach a wide array of participants that might require this service. A few programs include the Grief Support Group, Advance Care Planning education, and the Caregiving for Serious Illness and End-of-Life series. Visit the VCCCC for a detailed list of all the programs. If you have any questions, please contact Tomilola John at tomilola.john@hpco.ca or Bolaji Idowu at bolaji.idowu@hpco.ca.

    Evaluation of online tool for occupational hand dermatitis

    Healthcare workers have many potential hazards in your workplace that can affect your skin and cause skin disease. The Centre for Research Expertise in Occupational Disease (CRE-OD) and Public Services Health & Safety Association (PSHSA) are looking for healthcare workers to participate in an online research study evaluating an online learning module for occupational hand dermatitis. For more information visit their site.

    Shaping PSHSA 2021-24 strategic plan

    Public Services Health & Safety Association (PSHSA) is seeking insight as they develop their 2021-24 Strategic Plan. In particular, they have two important questions:

    • What lessons have you learned through COVID-19 about making, and keeping, health and safety a priority?   And reflecting on those lessons:
    • How do you think your approach to injury and illness prevention will change going forward?

    You can access their survey here until July 6, 2021.

    OLTCA invitation to submit an abstract

    Taking place October 26 & 27, the Ontario Long Term Care Association’s (OLTCA) This is Long Term Care 2021 Virtual Conference: Disruptive Impact & Transformative Change seeks to highlight emerging opportunities, research, and innovations that have arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can submit an abstract or learn more here. Deadline July 12.

    PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support, July 14, 2021

    Co-hosted with Couple HOPES, join this webinar with Dr. Candice Monson, Professor of Psychology at Ryerson University, Director of the IMPACT psychology research lab, and Registered Clinical Psychologist as she discusses PTSD and relationships.
    Register here.

    Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP,  July 8, 2021
    Join PCPs, EDs & clinical managers from AFHTO, AHC & NPLCA to share learnings, tools and strategies to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario.
    Find out more here.

    COVID-19 CoP for Ontario Family Physicians, July 9, 2021
    Hosted by the Family and Community Medicine Department at the University of Toronto and the OCFP. Register here.

    ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) at CHEO, September 7, 2021 – February 15, 2022
    Learn how ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) at CHEO can help you better care for children and youth. Limited spots available. Find out more here.

  • 2021 Conference Themes

    2021 Conference Themes

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

  • Bits & Pieces: PTSD, relationships & accessible supports, farewell to Rachel and more

    Bits & Pieces: PTSD, relationships & accessible supports, farewell to Rachel and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support, July 14
    • Farewell to Rachel So
    • Attn: Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk only available live
    • Call for applications to Indigenous and expanded midwifery programs
    • Member stories
    • Q&A for mixed COVID-19 mRNA vaccine schedules and more
    • COVID@Home: winding down of distribution pathways for oxygen saturation monitors
    • Mental health of northern Ontario nurses working during COVID-19 study
    • Upcoming events regarding providing care to 2SLGBTQ persons and more

    PTSD, Relationships & Accessible Support, July 14

    Co-hosted with Couple HOPES, join this webinar with Dr. Candice Monson, Professor of Psychology at Ryerson University, Director of the IMPACT psychology research lab, and Registered Clinical Psychologist as she discusses posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and relationships.

    During this webinar, you will learn about:

    • PTSD and its symptoms;
    • how PTSD impacts relationships;
    • and how relationships impact PTSD.

    Register here.

    Rachel So headshot

    Farewell to Rachel So

    It is with genuinely mixed feelings we announce that Rachel So will be leaving AFHTO for a new role in the non-profit sector.

    Rachel has been with AFHTO for nearly three years, starting first as our conference assistant before becoming our Programs & Operations Coordinator, so many have you had the pleasure of working with her over the last few years.

    We’re going to miss Rachel but know she will bring so much to her new team. Please join us in giving her our sincerest best wishes. Her last day with AFHTO will be Friday, June 25th – any questions related to her work can be directed to info@afhto.ca.

     

    GeriMedrisk title slide

    Attn: Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk only available live

    In Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk: drug safety for older adults beyond “Start Low, Go Slow” on June 24, Dr. Ho will review the pharmacology of aging and its impact on adverse drug events among seniors. We’ll also explore tools and services for primary care providers to use to optimize drug safety. Unlike most of our webinars, this will NOT be recorded, and slides will NOT be available afterwards. So register today.

    Call for applications to Indigenous and expanded midwifery programs

    The Ministry of Health is inviting applications for two programs with a special focus on improving access, choice, and care that is responsive to the needs of the community. These are:

    • Indigenous Midwifery Programs (IMP)- one of these models works within Interprofessional Primary Health Care Teams
    • Expanded Midwifery Care Models (EMCM)- could include, but are not limited to, interprofessional primary care teams in areas of demonstrated need.

    The Primary Health Care Branch is hosting a webinar about this initiative on June 28, 2021. To participate, please send an email to midwifery@ontario.ca by Friday, June 25, 2021, noting contact information for interested participants and the ministry will reach out to those individuals with the webinar details. The Indigenous midwifery team at the AOM is also offering a webinar on Wednesday, July 14 12:00pm-1:30pm. Get more information here.

    Member stories
    Markham FHT – our president and chair Dr. Allan Grill on CTV on protecting immunocompromised individuals and vaccine interchangeability

    Municipality of Assiginack FHT– Gwekwaadziwin Miikan success leads to new pilot project for adults over 30

    Norfolk FHT – wins Transformative Change Award with Grand River CHC for providing primary and COVID-19 support to seasonal agricultural workers.

    Q&A for mixed COVID-19 mRNA vaccine schedules and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    COVID@Home: winding down of distribution pathways for oxygen saturation monitors

    The COVID@Home initiative was designed to help primary care providers to remotely monitor patients who have mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms in the community. As the third wave of the pandemic subsides and health care capacity constraints gradually abate, Ontario Health will begin to wind down the distribution program for oxygen saturation monitors. Primary care professionals and teams who are still in need of oxygen saturation monitors should place orders by June 30th. Find out more here. 

    Mental health of northern Ontario nurses working during COVID-19 studyResearchers from Laurentian University’s Centre of Research in Occupational Health and Safety (CROSH) and the Public Services Health & Safety Association are conducting a study to explore the mental health of Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) in northern Ontario working during the COVID-19 global pandemic. This study aims to understand the perspective and experiences of nurses, their support needs to cope with the COVID-19 crisis, and its consequences. For more information visit their site.

    COVID@Home Community of Practice, June 23, 2021

    Learn how to monitor your COVID-19 patients in the community through this CoP.
    Learn more here.

    Providing Care to 2SLGBTQ Persons, June 24, 2021

    Discuss cultural safety and humility, clinical competencies, and interdisciplinary care for cisgender and transgender patients with speakers with the Ontario Caregiver Organization.
    Register here.

    OHT Learnings through COVID-19, June 28, 2021

    The Ministry of Health (ministry) and Ontario Health are hosting the third OHT Virtual Engagement Series webinar Register here.

    Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP, June 17 & July 8, 2021
    Join PCPs, EDs & clinical managers from AFHTO, AHC & NPLCA to share learnings, tools and strategies to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario.
    Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: 2022 election priorities, free bot to document vaccines and more

    Bits & Pieces: 2022 election priorities, free bot to document vaccines and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • 2022 Election Priorities: seeking members’ input
    • AFHTO statement on racism and hate
    • Reminder- Cancer screening during the pandemic and onwards, June 21
    • Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 30
    • Free bot to help document vaccinations and more
    • Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program slides and video
    • COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky webinar materials
    • New regulation to streamline reporting requirements under OHSA
    • Oxygen saturation monitors still available
    • Seeking dietitians’ input -nutrition screening in primary and community care
    • Upcoming events regarding geriatric clinical pharmacology and more

    2022 Election Priorities: seeking members’ input

    The provincial election is fast approaching! Election day will be on or before June 2, 2022 – less than a year away.

    We will continue to be strongly advocating for expansion of team-based primary care, and we want your input to ensure we are effectively advocating for you and with you.

    We ask all members complete this survey to share your priorities. We want to hear from you all: executive directors/admin leads, board members, physicians, nurse practitioners, IHPs, QIDSS, admin staff! This will only take about 5-10 minutes of your time, and the results will be kept confidential.

    Please click here to complete the survey!

    Please complete this by tomorrow, June 16. We will be taking the feedback to our board of directors at their board meeting next week. 

    AFHTO statement on racism and hate
    We want to start by expressing our grief and sorrow about the tragic and horrifying events of the last few weeks, recognizing that racism and hate has been part of Canada since its inception. We are committed to working with our partners and allies to listen, learn, grow, and do better at creating a more equitable and safer country for all. You can read AFHTO’s statement here.

    Reminder – Cancer screening during the pandemic and onwards, June 21

    In collaboration with our primary care partners and Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), we will be hosting a webinar to further explore guidance for resuming breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening and share stories from teams that have already resumed cancer screening.

    Register here.

    Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 30
    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. Given the composition of the continuing board members, priority for the directors to be elected will be given to candidates who are:

    • Executive Directors, especially those actively involved in their Ontario Health Team (OHT) development and supporting integrated care in their community;
    • Interprofessional Health Care Providers, especially those actively involved in OHT development;
    • Members from Central Ontario Health Region;
    • Board members, especially community members in the position of Chair of the Board; or
    • Experienced in finance, including accreditation as a financial professional (e.g., CA, CPA, CMA);

    Learn more about how you can take on a leadership role here. Deadline July 30.

    Free bot to help document vaccinations and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program title slide

    Update on the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program slides and video

    The Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence at Ontario Health invited primary care organizations to a webinar on June 10 to learn more about the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) Program’s background, the vision of OSP as a provincial program, and next steps with the expansion. Slides and video now available on our site.

     

    COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky webinar slide

    COVID-19 Education with Daniel Warshafsky webinar materials
    On June 9th Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health at the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health covered key questions, including variants of concern, AstraZeneca and mixing of vaccines, breakthrough cases and emerging evidence around vaccination for children 12-17 years old. Nicole Blackman, Provincial Director at the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council, discussed why Indigenous people were prioritized to receive vaccines. Resources include:

    New regulation to streamline reporting requirements under OHSA
    A new regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) will come into effect on July 1, 2021: Ontario Regulation 420 / 21 – Notices and Reports under Sections 51 to 53.1 of the Act – Fatalities, Critical Injuries, Occupational Illnesses and Other Incidents– EN and FR.

    The new regulation incorporates the critical injury definition and streamlines reporting requirements into a single regulation that applies to all workplaces covered under the OHSA. The amending regulations include:

    • O. Reg. 427/21: HEALTH CARE AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES –EN and FR

    Oxygen saturation monitors still available

    Oxygen saturation monitors are still available free of charge for primary care providers. Please be sure to order yours before the end of June!  Every primary care provider can benefit from having these in their practice and for distribution to patients you may be monitoring with COVID, but also for other conditions (e.g., COPD).  These monitors will then belong to your practice – you do not need to return them to the Ministry of Health. Link to ordering survey HERE. Monitors usually arrive within 2-3 days after requesting. For questions, please contact OH_COVIDatHome@ontariohealth.ca. For a link to the one-pager with all the resource you need for monitoring COVID patients visit HERE.

    Seeking dietitians’ input -nutrition screening in primary and community care
    Professor Heather Keller (University of Waterloo), Marg Alfieri (Primary Care Dietitians Association) and the Primary Care working group of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force are conducting a survey to determine what models of nutrition screening have been implemented in primary and community care, the reach of these efforts and for those who have yet to start screening, the challenges they are experiencing. This data will be used to launch further research on the outcomes and benefits of different nutrition screening models and further investigate how to support implementation of nutrition screening in the community. Get additional information and complete survey here.

    Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology and GeriMedRisk: drug safety for older adults beyond “Start Low, Go Slow”, June 24

    Co-hosted with GeriMedRisk, in this webinar, Dr. Ho will review the pharmacology of aging and its impact on adverse drug events among seniors. We’ll also explore tools and services for primary care providers to use to optimize drug safety. Register here.

    NACI Recommendations On COVID-19 Vaccine Interchangeability, June 21, 2021 *NEW DATE*
    Join PHAC as they discuss evidence around interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as NACI recommendations for interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines.
    Learn more here.

    Applying an Equity Lens when Caring for your Population, June 17, 2021

    This RISE OHT webinar will be based on a PHM approach, deep diving into co-designing care models for different priority populations.
    Learn more here.

    Primary Care Vaccination QI Support CoP, June 17 & July 8, 2021
    Join PCPs, EDs & clinical managers from AFHTO, AHC & NPLCA to share learnings, tools and strategies to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario.
    Find out more here.

    COVID-19 CoP, June 18, 2021
    Join the OCFP’s COVID-19 CoP where they will be discussing “Getting to herd immunity: addressing children, confidence, and complacency”.
    Find out more here.

    Evaluating Integrated Care: How should we be evaluating integrated care? June 22, 2021
    Join the HSPN, IFIC Canada and Emerald Publishing as they discuss evaluation of integrated care both at a local and health system level.
    Register here.

  • AFHTO Statement on Racism and Hate

    AFHTO Statement on Racism and Hate

    AFHTO logo- full

     

    We want to start by expressing our grief and sorrow about the tragic and horrifying events of the last few weeks, recognizing that racism and hate has been part of Canada since its inception.

    We mourn the discovery of the mass grave at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. The profound loss of 215 young lives, some as young as three years old, will have long lasting impact on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc community and all other First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people. It will remain a reminder to all Canadians of our nation’s shameful history of residential schools and colonialism.

    To all who may have been shocked by this discovery, it’s important to remember Indigenous communities have long said there are thousands who never made it home. We must listen to marginalised communities when they speak of their pain rather than instinctively shy away because it’s hard to hear or goes against what we’d like to believe about our country.

    We support the calls to the Government of Canada to implement the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and to prioritize the search of all residential schools across the country so that all Indigenous children can be brought home. They Came for the Children is a powerful but painful story of Canadian colonialism, but it is important for all of us to read to better understand the legacy of residential schools and to participate in the work needed for reconciliation.

    We are grateful for the wisdom and support of our primary care partner, the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC), who we work with to amplify the need to confront our own biases with respect to anti-Indigenous discrimination.

    AFHTO looks forward to continuing to learn about the Indigenous Cultural Safety Program through the IPHCC, which improves Indigenous healthcare experiences and outcomes by increasing respect and understanding of the unique history and current realities of Indigenous populations. We encourage others to do so as well.

    The racism that is so prevalent in this country continued earlier this week with the deliberate, hate-filled murder of a Muslim family in London, Ontario. We grieve and are saddened by the tragic loss of four lives of people targeted because of their faith. We will forever hold in our hearts the young 9-year-old boy who has lost his family.  

    We stand in solidarity with our Muslim communities. We will work to ensure that our governments and political leaders are held accountable for their words and actions to counter hate and racism. We urge our primary care colleagues to uphold human rights, to acknowledge our collective responsibility as individuals to stand in solidarity with members of our Muslim communities, and to combat all forms of discrimination.

    On May 26, 2021, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Professor of Global Health at the University of Toronto, wrote an op ed piece entitled Why hatred should be considered a contagious disease. He notes that ‘‘Hatred can be conceptualized as an infectious disease, a determinant of health and a public health issue spreading violence, fear and ignorance” and “Hatred is a public health issue because it often engenders widespread physical, psychological or political violence.” In the conclusion, he notes that the global community, including the medical community, needs to recognize that hatred is a public health issue, and it is up to all of us to “address the root causes through promotion, education and awareness.”

    Like many of you, AFHTO is on its own Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) journey to address the inequities and built-in racism that exists in our health and social systems. Together with our allies, we will continue to listen, learn, grow, and do better. We look forward to this journey with our partners, our members, and our communities.