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Tag: Quality Improvement Plans

  • Quality update and new resources from AFHTO

    This notice to members sums up all the recent quality-related initiatives to make sure you have all the information, and to introduce new resources available through AFHTO to support your FHT’s quality journey. Quality Improvement Plans to be submitted to HQO by April 1: The Ministry’s templates and guidance materials are found at:

    For questions about completing the QIP templates, e-mail qip@hqontario.ca .  Stay tuned – information to follow in the next week or so on HQO’s webinar offerings to support the field.

    Effective Governance for Quality in Primary Care: a one-day training program: Registration opened yesterday (click here for AFHTO announcement).  At least one session is already filled – The Ministry will consider adding more sessions, based on demand. In the meantime please sign up to a session or add your name to the waiting list. Click here for the registration guidelines and link to the registration site. Proposals for Quality Improvement Decision Support Specialists (QIDSS): A week ago AFHTO circulated draft recommendations to guide FHTs in developing proposals for QIDSS positions (due Feb.20 with operating plan submissions). We are collecting member feedback (click here) until end of day tomorrow (Jan.31) to finalize the recommendations then present them to the Ministry next week. Health Quality Ontario’s development of a Primary Care Performance Measurement (PCPM) Framework: Click here to access the proceedings from the Nov. 21 PCPM Summit.  The PCPM Steering Committee has been expanded to include representatives from AFHTO, AOHC, OCFP and OMA. The ultimate aim is finalize the PCPM Framework by this summer, and by the fall of 2013, recommendations that will support the development of infrastructure, data collection, analysis and reporting. A former FHT ED joins AFHTO staff: Clarys Tirel has joined AFHTO on a three-month contract.  Clarys was ED of the North York Family Health in 2008-2011, and most recently, interim executive director of the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team. Her main focus will be to support FHTs as they respond to their reporting and operational requirements in the January to April time frame, namely annual operating plans and QIPs, as well as governance and leadership development. To contact Clarys, e-mail her at clarys.tirel@afhto.ca or phone 647-234-8601. AFHTO launches Members’ Discussion Forum: Go to the AFHTO members-only website and log-in using your FHT username and password, then follow the instructions to access the Members’ Forum.  (Contact Sal at info@afhto.ca if you need help.)

    You will see three discussion forums, open to all AFHTO members and intended for asking questions and sharing ideas, advice and information resources among peers. Clarys Tirel will moderate and respond.  These are:

    • FHT Governance Forum: focuses on the roles, responsibilities, structures, policies, processes and leadership that all combine to promote good governance in FHTs.
    • Quality Improvement Planning Forum: is about developing and submitting QIPs, implementing the plans, collecting and reporting data, and other factors that contribute to advancing improvement.
    • General Forum:  for any other topics affecting Family Health Teams across Ontario

    Two secure forums have also been launched, with usernames and passwords issued to participants in these forums:

    • Executive Directors Forum: enables discussion on topics that could possibly be sensitive, such as operating plans, HR issues, relations with vendors and funders, risk management, etc.
    • Health Links Forum: for FHT leaders involved as the coordinating body for one of the early adopter Health Links.  Membership in this forum is restricted at the moment as Health Links work their way through the early “growing pains”.  Access to this forum will expand over time.

    Additional forums can be set up as interest emerges.