Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: reports and relevant news

  • AFHTO’s 2013 Annual Report to the Members is now available

    The 2013 Annual Report gives insight into the progress of Ontario’s family health teams, collectively supported by their association, to move toward their shared vision. This is a vision where all Ontarians would have timely access to high-quality and comprehensive primary care, and that care is informed by the social determinants of health, delivered by collaborative teams in partnership with patients and communities, and anchored in an integrated, equitable and sustainable system. The association’s achievements are firmly grounded in AFHTO’s strategic priorities. These priorities are squarely focused on ensuring members are supported in all the key factors required to optimize quality and value – governance and leadership, measurement and improvement, integration and support for care delivery, and the ability to recruit and retain staff. Read about the past year’s achievements in each of these strategic priorities – click on the link to go to AFHTO’s 2013 Annual Report to the Members.

  • Report from quarterly meeting with MOHLTC FHT Unit, Sept.18, 2013

    The main focus of the meeting was on budget flexibility and accountability. FHT representatives presented to MOHLTC the position proposed by the Executive Director Advisory Council at their meeting of August 28 and endorsed by the AFHTO board and the AOHC’s group of CFHT EDs. Other topics covered in the meeting:

    • Process to address current budget pressures
    • Status of the BSM review
    • Sessional fees
    • Transfer of rostered patients
    • Quality Improvement Plans
    • QIDSS Program
    • IHPS in non-FHT models
    • Physiotherapy in FHTs

    AFHTO members can access the full report by logging in then going to the Members Only News page.

  • Report from quarterly meeting with MOHLTC FHT Unit, June 3, 2013

    FHT Executive Directors representing AFHTO and AOHC members met with the FHT Unit on Monday.  Topics covered included:

    • QIDSS implementation: how the allocations have been made and what to expect in their implementation
    • Physiotherapy in FHTs: timing and process to apply for positions
    • Health Links: staffing implications for FHTs that are coordinating and/or taking on care for more patients
    • Changes in Ministry reporting: ensuring FHTs have adequate training and lead time
    • Flexibility and accountability in FHT budgets: finding the way toward greater budget flexibility while enabling the Ministry to ensure good value and appropriate oversight for public funds
    • A number of specific budget pressures:  recognizing that 2013-14 budget packages are already in the approval process, these were noted with the view to improving the situation for the 2014-15 budget cycle
    • Transfer of rostered patients within a group: FHTs are seeking clarification of Ministry policy and application
    • As well as quick updates on other issues.

    These topics zeroed in on the priority issues identified and developed by AFHTO’s ED Advisory Council and Board of Directors, with input from the AOHC CFHT ED Executive group. Please click here for the full report from the meeting. This report details the background, updates from the meeting and next steps on each of these items. Understanding the financial constraints within which the FHT Unit must operate, the AFHTO and AOHC group appreciated their openness to involving FHTs, through their associations, to find ways to optimize these scarce resources to deliver the best outcomes possible for patients.  The specific next steps include:

    • Consulting with AFHTO, AOHC and NPAO on implementation of physiotherapy positions in the interprofessional primary care models.
    • Convening a joint working group in the fall, with the aim to implement some initial improvements in the accountability reporting for the 2014-15 fiscal year, and thereby set the stage to enable greater flexibility in use of budgets.
    • Receiving evaluation and recommendations on the QIDSS roll-out from AFHTO’s QIDSS Steering Committee.
    • Giving the opportunity for FHTs, through their association structures, to give input into priorities for funding.

    The meeting participants were:

    • MOHLTC: Phil Graham (Manager, FHTs and Related Programs), Richard Yampolsky (Program Manager, FHT Implementation), Fernando Tavares (Senior Program Consultant).
    • FHT EDs: Randy Belair (Sunset Country FHT in Kenora), John Golanch (Owen Sound and Sauble FHTs), Lynne Poff (North Hastings FHT in Bancroft), Keri Selkirk (Thames Valley FHT in London)
    • Association staff:  Angie Heydon and ClarysTirel (Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario), Sophie Bart and Tara Galitz (Association of Ontario Health Centres).

  • 2013 Ontario Budget: Highlights for FHTs

    When it comes to health care, the key planks in the 2013 Ontario budget are Health Links, the Seniors’ Strategy and the recently announced funding increases for home care. The health care sections of the budget summarize government priorities and commitments in this area.  Click here to read health-related excerpts from the budget. Full text of the budget can be downloaded at http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2013/papers_all.html

  • Health Minister announces introduction of physiotherapy positions in FHTs

    Today Minister Matthews announced that Ontario is improving access to physiotherapy services for eligible Ontarians by changing how and where these services are provided.  Beginning August 1, 2013, the province will expand availability of community-based physiotherapy, exercise classes and falls prevention services in more locations across Ontario. Steps include integrating physiotherapy positions into primary care settings, including Family Health Teams, Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics, and Community Health Centres. The total number of positions is not yet known. AFHTO will be working closely with the ministry to optimize access and capacity for these physiotherapy services within FHTs. We will update AFHTO members as more information becomes available. For further information, click here to see the ministry’s announcement.

  • Strategic direction for AFHTO is renewed

    The AFHTO board is pleased to announce the renewed vision, mission and strategic priorities to guide our work on behalf of our members over the next 2 – 3 years. Please click here for more information. AFHTO members may also click here to learn more about how this Strategic Direction will be operationalized in the next year.

  • FHTs continue to play key role in Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care

    One year after releasing Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care, Health Minister Deb Matthews presented her progress report today.  She called it a plan for “fundamental transformation” that puts “family health care at the centre of the system.”

    Government’s news release and the Action Plan for Health Care One Year Progress Report both continue to highlight as a key achievement –  “200 Family Health Teams in operation serving nearly 3 million Ontarians and growing.” (FYI – This represents close to 22% of Ontarians, up from 20% 18 months ago.)

    The Minister’s speech emphasized the important partnership the new Physician Services agreement has created, since it has made “a commitment to continuous quality improvement for patients.”  She also re-iterated the goal announced in last week’s release of the Seniors’ Strategy that every senior be attached to a primary care provider, and the expansion of house calls. The creation of Health Links and hospital funding reform were the other two topics she highlighted in her speech. (FYI – Seven of the 19 early adopter Health Links are being coordinated by FHTs.)

    The Minister continues to be full of praise and gratitude to the people working in Ontario’s health system and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. With the Liberal leadership convention to be held in 10 days, she made the point of stating, “I do know each of the six candidates is committed to the Action Plan. … Government will continue to forge ahead with it.”

  • Family Health Teams play a prominent role in Ontario’s Health Links

    The first 19 Health Links were announced today by Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Deb Matthews. Health Links bring together health care providers in a community to better and more quickly coordinate care for high-need patients. Seven of the 19 Health Links announced today will be coordinated by family health teams:

    This is a natural progression in the evolution of FHTs.  FHTs were created to join family doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, dietitians, nurses, social workers and others to strengthen primary care – the first level of care over a person’s lifetime. Health Links promise to extend the care team – they will strengthen links between primary care providers and specialists, hospitals, and other community support agencies, to give high needs patients the wrap-around care they need. Health Links start by looking at the people who have complex care needs, and build on primary care as the foundation for a person’s health care. In choosing the Taddle Creek Family Health Team as the site for her announcement, the Minister underlined the central role that primary care plays for patients, and for the health system.  In addition to the seven Health Links to be coordinated by FHTs, four will be coordinated by community health centres, one by a family health organization and one by a community service agency. The remaining six will be coordinated by a mix of hospitals and community care access centres.  Click here for the list of the first 19 Health Links. Many details about Health Links are being worked through. AFHTO expects there will be additional information forthcoming from the Ministry in the weeks and months ahead.  The following paragraphs summarize what AFHTO has learned to date from Ministry sources. Health Links are designed around, and will be accountable for, system-level metrics established by the province. Click here to see DRAFT areas to be measured. We understand the Ministry will set up an advisory table to define the indicators. The next phase for these early adopters is to prepare a business plan over the next 3 months. A guidance document is to go out early next week. The early focus is on relationship building among providers. The Ministry will encourage more applications for Health Links beginning in January. The Minister stated, “I envision that every doctor will be involved in a Health Link.”  They anticipate seeing about 75 across the province – to be rolled out as communities are ready. Health Links are accountable to their LHIN for progress in the outcome measures.  Health Links include providers who are accountable to their LHIN, and others who are accountable to the Ministry (such as FHTs). The coordinating body for each Health Link commits to plan to improve indicators, and each member is to include their role in achieving these improvements in their respective business plans.  Providers who do not have direct accountability to the LHIN will have a joint Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry and the LHIN. LHIN Primary Care Councils will continue as well.  Both are important – PCCs focus on coordination and planning of primary care, and Health Links focus on coordination and planning of multiple types of care for high-needs patients. Health Links will be supported by Health Quality Ontario’s bestPATH initiative – quality improvement tools, a framework to collect and report on outcomes, and other supports that will help them deliver more integrated care. As Health Links identify issues that get in the way of delivering more seamless care, the Ministry has committed to work with them to lower these policy barriers. Throughout this journey, AFHTO’s role is to:

    • Facilitate idea and information exchange among members;
    • Work with FHTs to identify the support they need to succeed as coordinators and members of Health Links and, where needed, to advocate for that support.

    Click here for the Ministry’s press release and backgrounders, including the list of the first 19 Health Links. Click here for a Ministry presentation to key stakeholders, prior to the public announcement. Click here for presentations that describe the population of high users that is the focus of the Health Links initiative.

  • CMOH releases “Seasonal Influenza 2012-2013: Ontario’s Blueprint for Action”

    Dr. Arlene King, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, announced the release of Seasonal Influenza 2012/ 2013: Ontario’s Blueprint for Action. This document updates the 2011/ 2012 Blueprint for Action by outlining the actions that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Public Health Ontario and the Ministry of Labour are taking to support the health system’s response to this year’s influenza season. Every year, influenza impacts the province of Ontario. This includes impacts on our health and the capacity of our health system. Because influenza reoccurs each year, the health system has an annual opportunity to reflect on its response to the virus and to integrate lessons learned and new approaches into our actions. Many of the lessons learned from past influenza seasons – and from the 2009 influenza pandemic – are reflected in this document. The ministry is also in the process of updating the Ontario Health Plan for an Influenza Pandemic (OHPIP) to reflect best practices from the 2009 pandemic. After the release of the revised OHPIP in late fall 2012, the ministry with its partners will integrate strategies from the Seasonal Influenza Blueprint with the OHPIP to develop the Ontario Influenza Response Plan. This integrated and comprehensive response plan will include stratified, scalable response strategies that will inform the actions of the health system to all types of influenza events – including both seasonal and pandemic outbreaks. Memorandum:

  • Applications now being accepted for Wave 6 of HQO’s Advanced Access and Efficiency for Primary Care

    AFHTO is pleased to share the launch of Health Quality Ontario’s (HQO) Learning Community Wave 6 in Advanced Access, Efficiency and Chronic Disease Management in Primary Care as a valuable learning opportunity for family health teams.  Advanced Access, Efficiency and Chronic Disease Management in Primary Care has been designed to assist providers in reaching this goal by offering Independent and Coach-Supported Learning programs. Applications for Coach-Supported Learning covering Advanced Access, Efficiency and Chronic Disease Management in Primary Care are being accepted at www.hqolc.ca/wave6 until March 1, 2013. There are 100 available spots and spaces may fill with approved applicants prior to the deadline. Acceptance into the Wave is contingent on an applicant successfully completing a readiness assessment interview.  The 9-month initiative begins on March 20, 2013 and ends on December 20, 2013. Providers can join the Independent Learning at any time by visiting www.hqolc.ca. Note that the Independent Learning approach only covers Advanced Access and Efficiency. Please review the information package for a full description of the initiative, including how to join or apply and what participation entails. Please the letter of support from a family physician and a patient story for how others have already benefited from their experience. If you have any additional questions, you may also visit the Advanced Access, Efficiency and Chronic Disease Management in Primary Care in Primary Care website at http://hqolc.ca/wave6 , email learningcommunityinfo@hqontario.ca or call 1-866-623-6868 extension 281. To learn more about advanced access and efficiency, visit the CME accredited Primer e-module at advancedaccess.machealth.ca. Health Quality Ontario (HQO) is a partner and leader in transforming Ontario’s healthcare system so that it can deliver a better experience of care and better outcomes for Ontarians and better value for money. HQO was formed through the consolidation of some of the top healthcare quality improvement organizations in the province. HQO’s legislated mandate under the Excellent Care for All Act, 2010 is to evaluate the effectiveness of new healthcare technologies and services, report to the public on the quality of the healthcare system, support quality improvement activities and make evidence-based recommendations on healthcare funding. Visit www.hqontario.ca for more information.