Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: Public health

  • Ontario Health Unit Vaccination Plans

    Shared by the Toronto Star

    Updated March 2021

    The Toronto Star collected data on how each Ontario Region will roll out COVID vaccines. The 21 Public Health Units responded; 8 were found online; 5 were not found at the time.

    Ontario Health Unit Vaccination Plans, by Health Unit

     

    For more information on COVID-19 Vaccinations, click here

  • March 8th Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out

    Dear Members,

    We are writing to provide you with an update from our united Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Collaborative (*PC-VAC). This past week’s key messages that we shared with vaccine decision-makers can be found here.

    Today, the primary care organizations had an opportunity to present to some public health units, members of the Ministry’s Public Health Branch and colleagues from the Solicitor General’s office about the role primary care plays in the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines. We highlighted equity as the grounding principle to the vaccine roll-out and provided four different scenarios where primary care is already playing a pivotal role: In-Office Primary Care Vaccine Clinics, Drive Through Clinics, Mobile Units, and Vaccines for the Homebound or Limited Mobility Individuals.

    These scenarios were based on already existing experiences in primary care and was part of an administrative table-top exercise with the PHUs which will help them finalize their public health – primary care collaborations and future work that will be done with clinical leaders. The slide deck can be found here. As more information becomes available, we will continually be providing an update.  

    Key Updates:

    • The Ontario government announced Phase Two of the Vaccine Distribution Plan, including eligible populations. The full technical briefing is available here.
    • The AstraZeneca vaccine will soon be distributed in a limited number of PHUs and primary care offices in a pilot program. Details are forthcoming. An online Community of Practice will be led by Ontario Health to support sharing of lessons learned.
    • OntarioMD will be providing additional training and onboarding on COVAXON (the vaccine registration system) for physicians, starting with those involved in vaccine pilots, including support for technical questions that arise throughout the process. More information to follow.
    • Physicians can review a Ministry INFOBulletin regarding newly negotiated compensation for vaccinations and vaccine outreach.
    • A joint letter was sent to Premier Ford and Minister Elliott from a consortium of health care associations requesting that the government build upon and enhance strategies towards an equitable vaccination rollout: “Ensuring Equity in Ontario’s Vaccination Campaign”
    • With Health Canada approval of Johnson & Johnson single-dose viral vector-based COVID-19 vaccine, and the expected acceleration of Pfizer vaccine deliveries, Ontario is expected to receive significant doses of various vaccines over the coming weeks.
    • A feature article on collaboration between sectors during Phase 1 entitled We’re All in This Together: Power of Partnership is the Key Ingredient to Vaccine Rollout Success is featured in the OHA Health System News and speaks to three examples of how primary care, hospitals and public health worked collaboratively to vaccine LTC/RH residents.

    New Resources:

    Webinars:

    • Public Health Ontario Learning Exchange: COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Equity Considerations, Wednesday, March 10, 2:00-3:00 pm. The webinar will focus on sharing of equity centered health unit practices to support COVID-19 vaccine uptake, followed by a learning exchange on prioritizing trustworthiness and trust, as well as highlighting experiences/challenges/opportunities.
    • COVID-19 and the Black community: Answering questions about COVID vaccines, Saturday, March 13, 12-3 pm: A national forum hosted by the Black Opportunity Fund and BlackNorth Initiative to hear from and engage with Black doctors, nurses, social workers, and other medical professions.
    • The COVID-19 Community of Practice, with UofT DFCM and the OCFP, will take place on Friday, March 12, and Drs. Kieran Moore and Daniel Warshafsky will cover the role for family physicians in the vaccine rollout, and the new vaccines.  

    In Case you Missed it: Learnings From Primary Care: Vaccine Roll-Out Across Ontario Webinar
    On Friday, February 26, we heard from four AFHTO teams who have stepped up to provide leadership for vaccine distribution in their communities. They spoke to work that is underway, offered guidance and advice, spoke to challenges faced and how they are resolving them, and answered questions.

    Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Senior Medical Consultant, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, also joined the call to provide an update on vaccine roll-out and to take questions. You can access the slide deck and webinar on our site here.

    Find resources from previous weeks here.

    We look forward to continually updating you on the provincial vaccination strategy. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas.

     

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association/Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine

  • March 1st Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out

    Dear Members,
    We are writing to provide you with an update from our united Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Collaborative (PC-VAC*).  This past week’s key messages that we shared with vaccine decision-makers can be found here.

    The Collaborative has been working closely together and is meeting regularly with representatives from the Provincial Vaccine Task Force, public health, home care, hospitals, and other stakeholders. The provincial vaccine strategy is continuously evolving, and despite the close collaboration, we are often not privy to government decisions prior to their announcement. We are committed, however, to providing you with the most up to date information that is available to us and advocating on behalf of our colleagues and the patients that we serve.

    Even as information is uncertain there are four things that primary care can do: educate, communicate, collaborate, and vaccinate:

    • Educate: we have built trusting therapeutic relationships with our patients and can help answer questions about vaccine hesitancy and consent
    • Communicate: we have rosters of patients and can reach out easily through EMR, secure email, websites as well as our office voicemail messaging.
    • Collaborate: we have long standing relationships with public health and can be a huge help in supporting their vaccine rollout plans. Please consult your PHU’s vaccination plan for how you can best support your 80+ and other priority clients to be vaccinated. You can also reach out to the primary care liaisons for your local PHU.
    • Vaccinate: it’s at the core of what primary care providers do. Prevention is our specialty. The rollout will be faster with us helping out as part of mass vaccination clinics, mobile teams and in our own offices.

    Learnings From Primary Care: Vaccine Roll-Out Across Ontario Webinar
    On Friday, February 26, we heard from four AFHTO teams who have stepped up to provide leadership for vaccine distribution in their communities. They spoke to work that is underway, offered guidance and advice, spoke to challenges faced and how they are resolving them, and answered questions.

    Dr. Daniel Warshafsky, Senior Medical Consultant, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, also joined the call to provide an update on vaccine roll-out and to take questions. You can access the slide deck and webinar on our site here.

    Updates:

    COVAXON update
    OntarioMD is working on sending the vaccine report through HRM (source: MOH COVAX app) and the target is to have this live by the end of April. No additional information at this point as they are in the early design stage. They will have communications and an FAQ ready once they know more.

    COVID@Home  

    The Ministry of Health is working to procure oxygen saturation monitors for use by primary care professionals wishing to provide enhanced monitoring of their COVID+ patients. These devices can be requested via provincial stockpile, similar to how you request PPE, and more details on ordering will soon be available.

    Please reach out to your regional digital leads to learn more about existing remote monitoring programs in your region and how you can assist or leverage these programs for your patients. In the meantime, Ontario Health will be hosting a webinar on March 4th from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. on COVID@Home Monitoring for Primary Care: Clinical Pathways and Resources so please register for more information.

    Ontario Community Support Program
    Since the start of the pandemic, the Ontario Community Support Program (OCSP), funded by the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, has provided funds to help vulnerable clients stay home safely.

    This ongoing program helps low-income, isolated seniors and people with physical disabilities get the meals, groceries, medications, and other essentials they need to stay at home safely during COVID-19. This week, the Government extended the program to March 2022, creating more security for people in need. Please help raise awareness of these services so people can continue to isolate safely.

    Below is a short message you can share with your patients, families, and caregivers:

    COVID-19 Support Available for Isolated Seniors and People with Physical Disabilities

    Do you know an isolated, low-income senior or person living with a physical disability, without family or community support, who needs help getting essentials during the current COVID-19 pandemic?  
    The Ontario Community Support program helps those in need get meals, groceries, medicine, and other essentials delivered through Meals on Wheels so that they can safely isolate at home. Service is available through March 2022.

    To identify a local community provider and request service, visit www.ontariocommunitysupport.ca or dial 211 or 1-877-330-3213 (toll free). TTY service is also available at 1-888-340-1001.

    New Resources:

    • University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Ontario College of Family Physicians has released four e-modules for primary care professionals: why we need the vaccine, the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines, plans for vaccine rollout and how to build vaccine confidence among patients. Updated modules on the viral vector vaccines are coming soon.
    • COVID Learning Series: free 5-part self-paced learning series through CFPC Learn
    • Covid19 Vaccine Facts: Instagram account by Dr. Amanda Adams, Department of Family Medicine, Markham Stouffville Hospital, with answers by Canadian doctors to combat vaccine hesitancy.
    • ‘Onions Don’t Cure COVID-19’: University of Guelph students combatting COVID-19 misinformation through videos and infographics.

    Find resources from previous weeks here.

    We look forward to continually updating you on the provincial vaccination strategy. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas.

     

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association/Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine

  • February 17th Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out

    Dear Members,

    We are writing to provide you with an update from our united Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council (*PC-VAC). Last week’s key messages that we shared with vaccine decision-makers can be found here.

    We are mindful that the news regarding vaccines is evolving daily, and we will have to continue to be prepared for changes and uncertainties in the coming months as a sector. Along with our partners in primary care, we are committed to sharing regular updates, usually weekly, except on weeks where there are no significant new developments to share.

    Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health released updated sequencing of Phase One priority populations for vaccination which sets out the provincial direction for the vaccination program over the coming weeks.

    Engaging Primary Care in Vaccine Rollout – a Practical Guide for Public Health

    Key messages:

    • Public health leadership is committed to strong primary care partnerships in all phases and in all regions. These relationships are key enablers of an effective, efficient, and equitable rollout.
    • To ensure successful partnership with primary care, 1) invite primary care professionals and teams in planning and co-design, 2) involve them in feedback and rollout, and 3) inform them of local opportunities, uncertainties, and changes.
    • The enclosed partnership checklist can inform and validate existing strategies from health leaders involved in local COVID-19 vaccine planning in engaging primary care.

    Collaborating with Others:

    • Over the last two weeks, the collaborative of primary care organizations met with General (retired) Rick Hillier, Chair, COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Taskforce, who emphasized the importance of an ongoing partnership with primary care provincially and locally.
    • We were pleased to see the addition of Dr. Kieran Moore, the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health, join the Ontario Ministers’ COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force. Dr. Moore is a passionate advocate for public health, and as a trained family physician he will ensure that the primary care voice is added to the conversation. PC-VAC is now meeting weekly with Dr. Moore, in addition to Dr. Isaac Bogoch, to provide updates on issues arising from the field.
    • Health and primary care leaders from throughout the country led a virtual roundtable with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. During the roundtable, the Prime Minister and other participants affirmed what we know to be true: family doctors and primary care professionals are “most knowledgeable and most trusted” and “a core part of getting everyone vaccinated.”
    • Listen to the Evan Solomon Show speak to Dr. Isaac Bogoch about the importance of family physicians and primary care providers in the COVID vaccine rollout. Leveraging the existing relationships primary care has with their patients, based in trust, will accelerate vaccination in the community.

    COVAXON

    • As we had mentioned in our last update, the Ministry of Health has introduced an electronic central repository to input the vaccine information for individuals and manage site inventory called COVAXON. This web-based application will allow for ease in checking people in for their vaccination appointment, capture the consent and personal data information, as well as which health unit region they are in and their vaccination clinic site. While clinics will be required to submit names of the staff (along with user names and email addresses) to request access to the system, the mechanism to apply is not yet finalized however we will advise once we know the information. Please note however that once you get an email from the system, you must reply within 24 hours in order to complete the authentication process.
    • Access for primary care users will fall within phase two and three of the vaccine rollout and training webinars will be available prior to the on-boarding schedule to ensure that everyone is prepared. While it likely won’t be fully integrated into your EMR, we understand COVAXON system will be able to send reports of your vaccinated patients to your EMR.  
    • More on COVAXON will be shared when it becomes available.

    New Resources:

    Reminder of resources from previous weeks

    We look forward to continually updating you on the provincial vaccination strategy. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas.

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association/Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine
  • Bits & Pieces: cultural safety toolkit, many vaccine resources and more

    Bits & Pieces: cultural safety toolkit, many vaccine resources and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Creating a safer environment for Indigenous Peoples
    • Reminder- Supply Ontario survey
    • Reminder- primary care virtual groups webinar tomorrow
    • Saegis cybersecurity clinic update webinar Mar 4
    • PHAC COVID-19 vaccination toolkit for HCWs, many Ministry resources, and more
    • Wellness Together Canada
    • OCFP Awards – call for nominations
    • CPSO policy consultations including MAID
    • Noninvasive Fetal RhD Blood Group Genotyping Task Force
    • Upcoming events including engaging and supporting caregivers and more

    Creating a safer environment for Indigenous Peoples

    The Indigenous Primary Health Care Council has just released Ne’ iikaanigaana Toolkit: Creating Safer Environments for Indigenous Peoples. Ne’ iikaanigaana is the Anishinaabe word for ‘All Our Relations’.

    The toolkit was created to support mainstream organizations on their journey towards creating safer environments for Indigenous participation, which is inclusive of participating as both an employee and a client or patient seeking services.

    Reminder- Supply Ontario survey

    The government recently established Supply Ontario, a single integrated supply chain across the public sector that will leverage the province’s purchasing power to provide greater value and consistent access to high-quality products and services.

    They’re need your input to help identify opportunities to improve the value they can deliver for your organization and patients, through better supply chain processes. Deadline February 24.

    Reminder- primary care virtual groups webinar tomorrow

    This webinar is in collaboration with two FHTs transitioning in-person programs to virtual. Scarborough Academic FHT will share how they transferred their CBT skills group for depression and anxiety to online along with the benefits and challenges.

    Arnprior FHT is presenting on how they modified an in-person Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab to Virtual in their rural community. In this webinar they will share their patients’ thoughts and feelings on the program adjustment, discussing wins and struggles along the way. Register here.

    Pre-budget submission
    AFHTO submitted recommendations last week to the Ministry of Finance as part of the 2021 Ontario Pre-Budget Consultations. The submission is entitled “The Heart of Health Care: Delivering Better Primary Care for Ontarians.”  This was done in collaboration with the Ontario College of Family Physicians, the OMA Section on General & Family Practice, and the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario. The submission can be read here.

    Saegis cybersecurity clinic update webinar Mar 4

    This webinar on March 4 will explore Canadian data/trends from the Canadian Centre for Cybersecurity, discuss the top security threats facing your team, and explore best practices to decrease the risk of breaches in the clinic setting. We will take a look at what a cyber-attack looks like, and how to respond if one should happen. Register today.

    COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet, cancer screening update and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Woman in pyjamas sits on the floor wth her head resting against a bed

    Wellness Together Canada

    Wellness Together Canada is Canada’s first and only online platform offering immediate mental health support for people of all ages, in every province and territory, and in both official languages.

    It provides a “stepped care” model where Canadians can be instantly connected to virtual mental health services, from a five-minute self-assessment, to extensive support and resources, to live phone, video or text counselling with a mental health professional or crisis responder.

     

    All services and resources are available at no cost to users, ever. This includes:

    • Immediate crisis support
    • Mental health self-assessment and monitoring
    • Access to self-directed virtual programs
    • Moderated community of support
    • Virtual group coached anxiety program
    • E-courses, including drop-in mindfulness class
    • Live one-on-one counselling support by video, phone, or text

    Visit Wellness Together Canada for 24/7 access to free mental health and substance use support at wellnesstogether.ca.

    OCFP Awards – call for nominations

    Nominate your colleagues for an OCFP award. Multiple categories ae open, including regional Family Physician of the Year. Deadline Feb. 28, 2021

    CPSO policy consultations including MAID

    CPSO is conducting policy consultations on the issues below. You can provide your input by March 15 for the first and April 12 for the rest:

    Noninvasive Fetal RhD Blood Group Genotyping Task Force

    The PSO Advisory Committee is looking for representation from the following categories to join the Noninvasive Fetal RhD Blood Group Genotyping Task Force:

    • Primary Care (Family Medicine, Midwifery, Nurse Practitioner)
    • Care for Indigenous Populations and/or Remote Care

    This is a short-term task force that will provide evidence-based and clinical/scientific leadership advice on implementation considerations for noninvasive fetal RhD blood group genotyping in Ontario. The terms of reference are here.

    How to Apply (Deadline: February 24, 2021):

    1. Complete and submit the RhD Task Force Survey
    2. Forward your CV to pso@bornontario.ca

    Engaging and supporting caregivers in primary care teams: working together to improve outcomes and enhance the patient, caregiver, and family experience, Feb. 25, 2021

    Cohosted with Ontario Caregiver Organization, this webinar will highlight resources and opportunities for teams to support and engage caregivers.

    Register today.

    Infection Prevention and Control at Work: Basic Awareness Training

    The PSHSA recently released this free, 30-minute training module for Ontario workers to recognize and prevent infection hazards in the workplace. Learn more here.

    Goal Management Training for Treatment of Executive Dysfunction, Feb. 19, 2021
    Learn more about the intervention, research, and models to deliver Goals Management Training virtually. Learn more here. 

    Changing the way we work: Long COVID and lessons from the UK, Feb. 19, 2021
    The COVID-19 CoP by the OCFP is covering learnings from the Dr. Greenhalgh, a renowned primary care researcher and GP in the UK. Learn more here.

    Atopic dermatitis seminar for healthcare professionals, Mar. 1, 2021

    The Eczema Society of Canada and University of Ottawa is hosting this webinar aimed towards primary care providers.
    Find out more here.

    Personal Resilience for Hospice Palliative Care, Mar. 3, 2021
    Learn how to enhance personal resilience during even the most challenging times.
    Find out more here.

    Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health, Mar. 4, 2021
    The aim of this conference is to bridge this gap and provide information and resources to better equip Nurse Practitioners providing care to Gender Diverse individuals. The highlight is hearing the patient perspective. Find out more.

  • Bits & Pieces: COVID-19 collaborative home monitoring resources, fact sheets and more

    Bits & Pieces: COVID-19 collaborative home monitoring resources, fact sheets and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • COVID-19 collaborative home monitoring program resources now available
    • Happy Psychology month
    • Supply Ontario survey
    • Interprofessional primary care during COVID-19: a survey of the provider perspective
    • Correction-anti-racism webinar series open to members
    • COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet, cancer screening update and more
    • Reminder- primary care virtual groups webinar, Feb. 17, 2021
    • Trans health mentorship call
    • Infection prevention and control at work: basic awareness training
    • Microsoft Teams update
    • PHAC webinar: emerging issues on covid-19 vaccines: allergies, anaphylaxis, and low dead volume syringes
    • Upcoming events including transitioning programs to virtual and more

    COVID-19 collaborative home monitoring program resources now available

    Related to this recently launched program, Georgian Bay FHT has provided resources to help other members set up their own program, including CHMP pathway, patient information handouts and EMR assessment forms.

    Happy Psychology month

    To all our Psychologists, thank you for looking out for Ontarians’ mental health throughout the pandemic. Happy Psychology Month!

    Reminder- The Ontario Psychological Association is also still working with AFHTO to improve access to psychological services in times of need. Last spring, they activated the Disaster Response Network to connect essential front-line workers who needed support from psychologists. Until March 31st, Ontario physicians, nurse practitioners and FHTs may still refer essential workers with no or limited health benefits directly to OPA or inform patients to call 211 to be connected to a psychologist within 48 hours. Up to 6 counselling sessions are offered at no cost.

    Supply Ontario survey

    The government recently established Supply Ontario, a single integrated supply chain across the public sector that will leverage the province’s purchasing power to provide greater value and consistent access to high-quality products and services.

    They’re asking for input to help identify where there may be opportunities to improve the value that the agency can deliver for your organization and patients, through better supply chain processes. Deadline February 24.

    Interprofessional primary care during COVID-19: a survey of the provider perspective
    Thank you to those who participated in the survey led by Drs. Catherine Donnelly (and Jordan Miller and Rachelle Ashcroft. An article has now been published, with input from our own Sandeep Gill.

    Correction- Anti-racism webinar series open to members
    Hosted by Central Brampton FHT’s mental health team & CMHA Toronto Opening Doors Project, Anti-Racism – What is it and Where do you fit in? is a webinar series with four consecutive episodes, which offers an opportunity to explore our own individual identities and how it relates to practicing anti-racism:

    • Part 1: Reflecting on our own Identities -Feb. 17 AND 24
    • Part 2: Building Bridges: Anti-Racism 101- Mar. 3 AND 10

    Members are welcome to attend.

    COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet, cancer screening update and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Reminder- primary care virtual groups webinar, Feb. 17, 2021

    This webinar is in collaboration with two FHTs transitioning in-person programs to virtual. Scarborough Academic FHT will share how they transferred their CBT skills group for depression and anxiety to online along with the benefits and challenges.

    Arnprior FHT is presenting on how they modified an in-person Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab to Virtual in their rural community. In this webinar they will share their patients’ thoughts and feelings on the program adjustment, discussing wins and struggles along the way. Register here.

    Trans health mentorship call

    Rainbow Health Ontario’s Trans Health Mentorship call is a teleconference every other week for Ontario clinicians to connect with peers who have experience caring for trans and non-binary service users.  

    The call is open to any professional (physician, nurse, social worker, mental health worker, etc.) who is or will be working with trans and non-binary service users. Learn more here.

    An employee with glasses, mask and glove cleans a counter

     

    Infection prevention and control at work: basic awareness training

    A new online training program is now available to help Ontario workers recognize infection hazards in the workplace and what can be done to prevent them. Developed in consultation with infection control consultants and epidemiologists, this free, 30-minute eLearning program from Public Services Health & Safety Association equips workers with knowledge in how infections spread and what action can be taken to protect themselves and others in the workplace.

     

     

    Microsoft Teams update

    AFHTO continues its conversations with Ontario Health on extending the Microsoft 365 licensing (which includes Microsoft Teams) to AFHTO members. Ontario Health is working through the details with Microsoft, and they are considering affiliate licensing that would be made available through a licensing provider. AFHTO will advise members when the affiliate licensing has been set up, along with the details on the discount pricing (hopefully before fiscal year end).

    PHAC webinar: emerging issues on covid-19 vaccines: allergies, anaphylaxis, and low dead volume syringes

    Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) webinar hosted by the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID):
    English Session
    February 10, 2021 1pm-3:00pm EST
    Register: Click here
     
    French Session
    February 12, 2021  1pm-3:00pm EST
    Register: Click here
     
    Previous Public Health Agency of Canada COVID-19 vaccine webinars for health care providers can be found here.

    Engaging and supporting caregivers in primary care teams: working together to improve outcomes and enhance the patient, caregiver, and family experience, Feb. 25, 2021

    Cohosted with Ontario Caregiver Organization, this webinar will highlight resources and opportunities for teams to support and engage caregivers.

    Register today.

    Waiting Room Revolution – A Podcast About Unlocking the Secrets to a Better Illness Experience

    Drs. Hsien Seow and Samantha Winemaker share the stories of patients and families’ serious illness journeys. Listen to the first 4 episodes today.

    Goal Management Training for Treatment of Executive Dysfunction, Feb. 19, 2021
    Learn more about the intervention, research, and models to deliver Goals Management Training virtually. Learn more here.

    Recognizing and Managing Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care during COVID-19, Feb. 9, 2021
    Ontario Health webinar with experts in the field and resources about how to support patients presenting in primary care with symptoms of anxiety. Register here.

    Personal Resilience for Hospice Palliative Care, Mar. 3, 2021
    Learn how to enhance personal resilience during even the most challenging times.
    Find out more here.

    Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health, Mar. 4, 2021
    The aim of this conference is to bridge this gap and provide information and resources to better equip Nurse Practitioners providing care to Gender Diverse individuals. The highlight is hearing the patient perspective. Find out more.

    Advance Care Planning & Goals of E-Learning Modules, Available until Mar. 31, 2021
    The HPCO is offering their e-modules on person-centred decision making for a limited time. Register before the end of March to access the resources. Learn more here.

  • Winter Highlights 2021: AFHTO Leadership Council

    The AFHTO Leadership Council met on February 4, 2021. Below are the highlights from the winter 2021 council meeting; updates on last week’s meeting with officials at the Ministry of Health; and links to useful resources.

    AFHTO review

    • Highlights of the work that is keeping AFHTO busy were shared with the council, including COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, OHT development, the pre-budget submission, and quality improvement work. Updates on vaccination roll-out and OHT development are later in the communique.
    • The pre-budget submission is underway in collaboration with the Ontario College of Family Physicians, the OMA’s Section on General and Family Practice, and the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario.
      • Together, we are recommending expansion of team-based primary care; embedding mental health and addiction and home and community care services in primary care; and strengthening virtual care foundations in primary care.
      • The submission will be posted on AFHTO’s site next week, after it has been submitted.
    • An update on the work of AFHTO’s Quality & Knowledge Translation Program was provided to the council and can be read here.
    • Dr. Rob Annis, a member of AFHTO’s board of directors, spoke to governance structure changes that are underway at the Ontario Medical Association. New board members could help drive leadership and change in primary care. Member leaders are encouraged to apply, and physicians are encouraged to vote for primary care representation. The deadline to apply is tomorrow, February 9, and voting is March 23 to April 13. Anyone with questions can contact Dr. Annis.

    COVID-19 vaccination roll-out

    • Leadership council members received an update from Dr. Daniel Warshafsky (Senior Medical Consultant, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Ministry of Health) and Nadia Surani (Director, Primary Health Care Branch) on the provincial approach to vaccination roll-out.  AFHTO is regularly speaking with the Ministry of Health and the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force regarding the role of primary care in vaccine roll-out – in stage 2, but particularly in stage 3 when the general population will be vaccinated.
    • Work is being done to ensure primary care is a pillar in the planning. The pivot of primary care to go into mass vaccination clinics will be part of the planning.
    • As vaccine planning happens across the province, a reminder that PHUs are in charge of the planning and are to engage with primary care. Primary care will determine clinical priorities and will need to decide if there is capacity to support initiatives like mass immunization campaigns. Please connect with your PHU to ensure that they are sharing their vaccine roll-out plans, and share your plans with us.
    • Teams are reminded that they can access the provincial Pandemic PPE Transitional Support stockpile through the remedy system (even if you have more than 7 days of stock you can still access this supply). Ignore the question that asks if you have connected with your supplier first.  
    • A detailed update was circulated on Saturday, February 6, and can be read here.

    OHT development

    Triad survey: Primary care priorities

    • Thank you to triad members who completed a survey that was circulated prior to the leadership council meeting to help AFHTO frame priorities moving forward. Feedback is still welcome.
    • The survey was one question: “In your role as ED, board chair, or lead physician, what do you think is the biggest opportunity for primary care teams to focus on over the next 3 to 6 months?” The following were shared as top priorities and discussed with the council:
      • COVID-19 vaccination roll-out
      • Mental health and addiction challenges and needed support
      • Advancing OHT work
      • Maximizing utility of virtual care
      • Spreading access to team-based programs and services
      • Getting back on track
    • AFHTO will continue to focus on supporting teams in these areas.

    Meeting with the Primary Health Care Branch, Ministry of Health
    AFHTO met with officials from the Ministry of Health’s Primary Health Care Branch on Thursday, February 4, following the leadership council meeting. Here are the highlights of the meeting with the ministry:

    • Mental health and addiction funding letters
      • The letters are in the final stage of approval and, once signed, the Ministry will be sending them out to all interprofessional teams.
      • All FHTs will receive a minimum of $5,000, with a top-up based on roster size. Teams can choose to pool this funding within regions to target areas in greatest need.
      • At the moment, the expectation will be to utilize the funds by fiscal year end, but a parallel stream of work is happening at the Ministry to enable the funding to be carried into next fiscal year. This is still to be determined.
    • Annual Operating Plans and funding support:
      • About 60% of teams submitted their Annual Operating Plans for FY 2020/2021, which the Ministry is currently reviewing in tandem with AOPs submitted in FY 2019/2020. A reminder that you do not have to mention all the COVID-related clinics you are doing as those are one-time events.
      • The Ministry recognizes that program and service delivery targets may be affected as a direct result of COVID. Teams will not be penalized if programs and services are not delivered as planned and should continue to balance urgent/high need service provision with the need to support COVID testing/assessment centres and vaccination roll out.
      • Timelines for AOPs for FY 2021/2022 has not yet been determined.  
      • Although there is not a pool of operational funding to support teams right now, the Ministry continues to ask teams to keep track of COVID-related expenses to enable advocacy for more funding if needed in the next fiscal year (ex. upgrades of IT for virtual care, licenses for virtual care modalities, IPAC in your teams). As we will be entering into a new political cycle, we are hopeful it may create opportunities for further investment in primary care. Teams are advised to start thinking about other increased budgetary demands, such as rent increases, so we can begin advocacy efforts accordingly.
      • Though budget funding requests typically are only reviewed during the AOP submissions, teams are still able to make unsolicited in-year funding requests through their ministry program consultant, although there is no guarantee that those requests will be met.
    • FHT contract:
      • The FHT contract is expiring in March 2022. Although we have had preliminary discussions with the Ministry on opportunities to modernize the contracts, we expect that there will be at least a one-year extension to the current contract due to the impacts of COVID. We will keep members updated as we learn more.
    • Pandemic pay:
      • We have heard that some primary care staff redeployed to an assessment centre run by hospitals still have not received their pandemic pay. The Ministry confirmed that hospitals have been reimbursed for March and April expenses and are still working on the subsequent months’ reimbursement, so this may be creating delays. If you are still having issues in accessing pandemic pay for your staff, please let us know.

    Supply Ontario survey

    • The government recently established Supply Ontario, a single integrated supply chain across the public sector that will leverage the province’s purchasing power to provide greater value and consistent access to high-quality products and services. They are asking for input to help identify where there may be opportunities to improve the value that the agency can deliver for your organization and patients, through better supply chain processes.
    • Please take a moment to fill out this survey by Wednesday, February 24.    

    Webcasts and other supports

    And, finally, for new members of the council who may not have access to the members only section of the website – or any member who may not have signed up for it! – you can set up your log-in here:

    • Click on ‘Member Login’ in the top right corner of AFHTO’s homepage
    • Go to “Create New Account” and follow the steps
    • All individuals are verified as members by AFHTO staff and then permission is granted.
    • If your email address does not show the team where you work, members are encouraged to send a quick email to info@afhto.ca to share this information after creating the account. This helps ensure permission is quickly granted.

  • February 6th Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out

    Dear Members,

    We are writing to provide you with an update from our united Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council (*PC-VAC). This week’s key messages that we shared with vaccine decision-makers can be found here.

    We are mindful that the news regarding vaccines is evolving daily, and we will have to continue to be prepared for changes and uncertainties in the coming months as a sector. Along with our partners in primary care, we are committed to sharing regular updates, usually weekly, except on weeks where there are no significant new developments to share.

    New Resources:

    • The Ministry has provided a number of guidance documents describing common side effects following vaccination including an After Care sheet and Guidance for Health Care Workers.
    • We know that vaccine supply issues are an ongoing concern but phase 1 continues to roll out with the intent to accelerate the vaccination of long-term care, high-risk retirement, and First Nations elder care residents. Please click here to read the most up to date COVID-19 Vaccination Technical Briefing.
    • The OCFP has developed a resource for special populations and the recording for their most recent Community of Practice session on New Vaccines, building vaccine confidence and more from February 5, 2021 can be found here.
    • A COVID-19 – Allergy/Immunology BASE™ Managed Specialty Group is now available through Ontario eConsult. Physicians and nurse practitioners can ask COVID-19 vaccine allergy related clinical questions to Allergy and Clinical Immunology specialists electronically and receive a response within days.

    Patient Resources:

    Other Information:

    • The updated prioritization framework for the population is being finalized for approval by the cabinet over the next few weeks and we will share the guidance document once it is received.
    • The COVID-19 Science Table released its lessons learned from Israel’s vaccine rollout, including: “leveraging primary care providers, including family doctors, nurse practitioners and other community-based clinicians who have established relationships with patients is key to promoting vaccine confidence, while increasing human resources required to administer vaccines as quickly as the supply will allow.”
    • The Ontario Hospital Association released a media statement calling for the need to migrate vaccination efforts away from hospitals to public health, primary care, and pharmacies.
    • We continue to work with public health to encourage all the public health units to engage primary care early, are supporting connections with local primary care leaders, and are soon releasing a practical guide to primary care partnership in vaccine rollout. Please ask your PHU for your region’s vaccine rollout strategy if you have not seen it and share with us so we can support best practices across the province.  
    • COVAXON is the provincial system to record COVID vaccination, adverse events and eventually also integrate the approved prioritization sequence.  
      • See ADM Memo to Primary Care – COVID-19 Vaccination and COVAXON, February 1, 2021.
      • The prioritization framework will be integrated into COVAXON and an associated scheduling system is planned that will enable patients to choose their preferred locations and make direct appointment bookings.
      • While it likely won’t be fully integrated into your EMR, we understand COVAXON system will be able to send reports of your vaccinated patients to your EMR.  

    To facilitate coordinated action in primary care, we are seeking to understand beliefs relating to the COVID-19 vaccine and what supports are needed for healthcare professionals in primary care. Please complete this new, very brief survey to help gain a better understanding of your perspectives and experience. Click here to access the survey.

    We look forward to continually updating you on the provincial vaccination strategy. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas.

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association/Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine

  • January 22nd Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out

    Dear Members,

    We are writing to provide you with an update from our united Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council (*PC-VAC). This week’s key messages that we shared with vaccine decision-makers can be found here.

    There are several updates this week:

    Vaccination Availability:

    • The delays reported from Pfizer seem likely to affect availability of vaccination of community-based primary care providers over the next month, but it remains a goal to ensure all healthcare workers are vaccinated by the end of March.
    • We heard from Public Health that the rate-limiting step is currently vaccine supply, and there are currently no first doses available for healthcare workers.  
    • Second doses are available for those that have had their first doses but may be delayed up to 42 days to prioritize LTC/RH residents.  

    Collaborating with Others:

    • Each public health unit has developed a regional vaccination plan that was sent to the Ministry on January 20th. Some public health units have shared their playbooks with their partners, and we will be requesting that all 34 units share them in their regions. If you have a copy of your region’s vaccination plans, please feel to share with us and we will share with our partners.
    • Each Public Health Unit (PHU) will have different needs that you may have an opportunity to support in the months ahead. We will share approaches and actively help to spread best practices across regions.
    • While we are working collaboratively at the Provincial level with a variety of partners including public health, we have recognized that an instrumental component to enabling an efficient and equitable vaccination process across regions will be establishing relationships and networks at the regional level, inclusive of all healthcare professionals that will be part of the process.
    • We are working with public health to formalize primary care leads in each of the 34 PHUs to enable communication channels and to support public health in their engagement of primary care. Primary care professionals willing to get engaged will be able to work with their PHU.
    • The OHA shared with us that many hospitals are reaching capacity and are concerned about critical care bed occupancy. They are working to determine innovative solutions around transferring people amongst hospitals.
    • The OHA acknowledged that there has been some frustration around who is receiving vaccinations and are committed to working with community physicians/primary care to figure out how to vaccinate efficiently and effectively.  
    • As a reminder, the Guidance for Prioritizing Health Care Workers for COVID-19 Vaccination has been released. The associations have sent a letter requesting further clarity on some elements of the guidance.
    • Watch for a communication about COVAX in the coming days on how to register for this system and the associated guidance.

    Resources

    To facilitate coordinated action in primary care, we are seeking to understand beliefs relating to the COVID-19 vaccine and what supports are needed for healthcare professionals in primary care. Please complete this new, very brief survey to help us better understand your perspectives and experience. Click here to access the survey.

    We look forward to continually updating you on the provincial vaccination strategy. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas.

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association/Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine

  • January 15th Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Roll Out

    Dear Members,

    We are writing to provide you with an update from our united Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council (*PC-VAC). Each week, we advocate for a shared set of bottom-line messages to vaccine decision-makers. You can read the bottom lines for this week here.

    We are also committed to sharing with you weekly news on the work underway, and have several key updates for this week:

    1. Ontario has released a technical briefing with further details of its vaccination plan. The plan outlines priority populations in each phase, as well as anticipated vaccine delivery timelines.

    • See the figure at the bottom of this email, which indicates that all primary care providers and their staff will be immunized in Phase 1, vaccine dependent.

    2. Primary care is ready to support vaccine efforts, and each community is at different stages of deployment and primary care partnership.

    • Thank you to the 3,000+ primary care professionals who raised their hands to support vaccine efforts during our recent call out for LTC. We continue to share these lists with the public health units.
    • Ontario has a forthcoming Public Health Playbook for the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, which emphasizes early partnerships with primary care.
    • In the meantime, we are working with provincial public health leaders to assess individual public health unit needs and emphasize the willingness of our primary care community to support vaccine efforts. We anticipate that each region will have different needs that you may have an opportunity to support in the months ahead. We will share successes and actively help to spread best practices across regions.
    • We are also working with provincial public health leaders to develop a package for primary care that will include direction around consent, medical directives and other relevant resources and tools.

    3. As we await broader vaccine rollout, there are ways we can make a difference.

    4. We continue to advocate on your behalf to the Ministry of Health and other decision-makers.

    • We are asking for regular, transparent communications from the Ministry of Health, Public Health, and the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force to the broader primary care community.
    • The Ministry of Health released healthcare worker prioritization guidance on January 8th. We are now advocating for specific details regarding when and how our physicians and primary care providers will be immunized, which we expect to happen over the coming weeks.
    • The Ministry of Health also released updated guidance on H-codes. To support the provincial vaccination strategy, the ministry is expanding the criteria used to designate COVID-19 Assessment Centres to include any sites where a Hospital or Public Health Unit (PHU) coordinates COVID-19 vaccination delivery. The Ministry will release an INFOBulletin on this update shortly.
    • We also understand that the Ministry of Health is working on a provincial training rollout for COVAX, as well as EMR integration for future primary care vaccination settings.
    • Note that the Ministry’s new Ontario matching portal for vaccination support is not intended for vaccinators.
    • Finally, we are advocating for a multi-pronged approach, which includes the following elements:
    • Mass vaccination hubs – offered in partnership with public health and hospitals and staffed by primary care and community health professionals.
    • Mobile vaccination teams – to deploy to congregate settings, high rise apartments, homebound older adults, and other people who have challenges going to a vaccine hub.
    • Community based, equity-focused vaccination efforts for communities that face barriers otherwise accessing vaccination clinics.
    • Regular flu vaccine model — office-based, opportunistic vaccinations out of primary care practices and in collaboration with pharmacy partners.

    5. To facilitate coordinated action in primary care, we are seeking to understand beliefs relating to the COVID-19 vaccine and what supports are needed for healthcare professionals in primary care. Please complete this new, very brief survey to help us better understand your perspectives and experience. Click here to access the survey.

    As a friendly reminder, the Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council (PC-VAC) is not a decision-making body. Rather, we are respectfully emphasizing to decision-makers that primary care must play a central role in current and future vaccination efforts.

    Please let us know if you have any questions or ideas.

    Yours in good health,

    The AFHTO Team

    *Ontario Primary Care COVID-19 Vaccination Action Council:

    • Alliance for Healthier Communities
    • Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
    • Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association/Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
    • Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • Ontario Medical Association Section on General and Family Practice
    • Ontario’s Academic Chairs of Family Medicine