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Tag: social determinants of health

  • 2023 Conference Themes

    2023 Conference Themes

    Team-Based Care: Making it a reality for all

    text says Team Based Care: Making it a reality for all in white font on a blue streaked background, like hyperspace

     

    The AFHTO 2023 Conference program is built around 4 core themes.

    1. Using a population-based approach to provide care to the community
    2. Optimising teams’ capacity and creating efficiencies
    3. Organizing primary care to advance Ontario Health Teams
    4. Embedding mental health and home care in primary care

     

    ConFERENCE Theme Descriptions

    Download a printable PDF of the theme descriptions here.

     

    1. Using a population-based approach to provide care to the community

    Topics of interest include (but aren’t limited to):

    • Expanding access to teams for unattached patients
    • Partnerships to facilitate population-based health approaches
    • Utilising data to inform population-based planning
    • Collaborative governance / Governance at the OHT level

     

    2. Optimising teams’ capacity and creating efficiencies

    Topics of interest include (but aren’t limited to):

    • Triage in a world of virtual online booking
    • Focus on non-digital methods of integration including back-office integration, common clinical pathways, cross-team collaborations/regional approaches to care
    • Creating operational efficiencies through digital health tools
    • Interprofessional Health Providers and full scope of practice
    • Staff and provider wellness
    • Recruitment and retention

    3. Organizing primary care to advance Ontario Health Teams

    Topics of interest include (but aren’t limited to):

    • Building Primary Care Networks- success case studies
    • Integrating Primary Care Networks with OHTs
    • Jurisdictional review of organized primary care

    4. Embedding mental health and home care in primary care

    Topics of interest include (but aren’t limited to):

    • Increasing access to mental health and addictions support at the population level
    • Supporting Mental Health Promotion & Prevention (including support for Children and Youth)
    • Mental health pathways in Ontario Health Teams
    • Primary Care in the home
    • Increasing collaborations between providers

  • Bits & Pieces: Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap and more

    Bits & Pieces: Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Ontario charting the path to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030
    • Member stories
    • New digital tools with implementation support- heart failure; anxiety disorders and depression
    • Help advise which health care services and medical devices should be publicly funded
    • Refreshed Indigenous relationship and cultural awareness courses
    • Upcoming events including How can peer counsellors extend interprofessional teams, and more

    Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap Ontario

    Ontario charting the path to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030

    The Ontario Hepatitis C Elimination Roadmap is guiding policy and practice action to end hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030. This is a collaborative, multi-sector initiative led by hepatitis C experts and with contributions from government, clinicians, community and more. AFHTO has been one of the partners in its development.

    Expanding the number of primary care providers who can deliver hepatitis C care is essential to reach elimination. Hepatitis C care is easier than ever, however is still primarily delivered by specialists. As trusted, familiar providers, you can expand access to care, particularly among priority populations.

    Hepatitis C is among the most burdensome infectious diseases in Ontario. However, an effective cure, widespread testing and proven prevention strategies mean elimination is within reach. Visit on.endhepc.ca find out more.

    Member stories

    Cottage Country FHT – Gravenhurst council endorses expansion plans

    Grandview Medical Centre & Two Rivers FHTs – Pilot program underway for mental health and addictions treatment

    Norfolk FHT – Team moving to enhance services

    New digital tools with implementation support- heart failure; anxiety disorders and depression

    Evidence2Practice Ontario (E2P) makes it easier for primary care clinicians to access up-to-date, evidence-based information at point-of-care. Working with topic experts across Ontario, E2P is developing a suite of user-friendly digital tools that seamlessly integrate quality standards and best practices into EMRs.

    E2P is currently focused on three common conditions in primary care settings: heart failure (available now in TELUS PS Suite EMR); anxiety disorders and depression in adults (available in late April in OSCAR Pro and Accuro QHR EMRs); and pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes (coming this summer). They also provide complimentary MainPro+ accredited change management and academic detailing sessions (1-on-1 discussions with a clinical pharmacist). Clinicians can sign up via the E2P website.  

    E2P brings together multi-disciplinary, cross-sector expertise under the joint leadership of the Centre for Effective Practice, eHealth Centre of Excellence and North York General Hospital. It’s funded by the Ministry of Health as part of Ontario’s Digital First for Health Strategy, with support from Ontario Health.

    Help advise which health care services and medical devices should be publicly funded

    Ontario Health is seeking expressions of interest for the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee (OHTAC) and the Ontario Genetics Advisory Committee (OGAC), a standing sub-committee of OHTAC. This group of experts helps make evidence-based funding recommendations to the Ministry of Health regarding which health care services and medical devices should be publicly funded. Deadline April 19, 2023.

    Refreshed Indigenous relationship and cultural awareness courses

    Providing care that acknowledges, respects, and incorporates cultural and language considerations is an essential part of person-centred care. Ontario Health’s Indigenous Relationship and Cultural Awareness courses have undergone a major refresh and now contain current content with a more interactive look and feel.

    These courses have been designed to summarize 500 years of history into bite-sized chunks of information, providing you with knowledge about First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and urban Indigenous peoples, including their governance structures, communities, and histories. All courses are free self-paced learning modules publicly available to all.

    Certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, you can register today and earn up to 19.5 Mainpro+ credits. 

    Surgical Site Infections Quality Standard Webinar, Apr. 13, 2023
    This session will introduce Ontario Health’s recently released Surgical Site Infections quality standard and describe how it can drive quality improvement and improve care for Ontarians across the health system. Register here.

    QI Innovations: Better Data, Better Decisions, Better Outcomes, Apr. 18, 2023
    This year’s free QI Innovations conference is for mental health and addiction providers and system planners who are interested in data driven decision making and quality improvement. Register here.

    ONCA Compliance Webinar, Apr. 20, 2023
    Hosted by Mills & Mills LLP, this free webinar will address steps organizations can take and what to be mindful of as we approach the Oct 2024 deadline. Register here.

    Autistic people and the COVID-19 pandemic – what have we learned so far? Apr. 27, 2023
    Hosted by CAMH. Register here.

    How can peer counsellors extend interprofessional teams and enhance care? Apr. 28, 2023
    Part of the DFCM New Horizons Speaker Series, join a virtual fireside chat on incorporating peer counsellors into interprofessional care teams to enhance care. Register here.

    Eating Disorders Quality Standard Webinar, May 5, 2023
    This session will introduce Ontario Health’s recently released Eating Disorders quality standard and describe how it can drive quality improvement and improve care for Ontarians across the health system. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: systems innovation grant and more

    Bits & Pieces: systems innovation grant and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Youth Opportunities Fund- applications open
    • Welcome to Michael Scarpitti
    • OurCare & Healthy Debate: Give me a primary-care provider who understands me
    • Connect with your peers using AFHTO’s IHP Directory
    • Relevant news and reports- prenatal care for refugees
    • Want to be a part of PSHSA’s HC Advisory Council?
    • RNs needed as research volunteers
    • Upcoming events including Surgical Site Infections Quality Standard Webinar, and more

    Youth Opportunities Fund- applications open

    AFHTO members and/or 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 5 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.
    • Lead Organization Registration Deadline: June 2, 2023
    • Grant Application Deadline: June 20, 2023

    Information Sessions: April 6 and 19, 2023

    Welcome to Michael Scarpitti

    Michael, smiling, is wearing a dark suit, with white shirt and dark striped tie

    We’re happy to introduce Michael Scarpitti, our new Director, Strategic Communications and Government Relations.

    Michael joins AFHTO with a strong background in health systems policy and strategy. Prior to joining AFHTO, he led health systems transformation work for the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division, supporting the integration of mental health and addictions agencies into Ontario Health Teams.

    Michael has a strong interest in value-based health care and the role of primary care in the patient experience. As a consultant with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health, he provided strategic direction on connected care services and the implementation of the Patient’s Medical Home. In his spare time, he enjoys teaching pharmacoeconomics to students studying regulatory affairs at the post-graduate level. Michael has an M.Sc. from the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University and an MPA from the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University.

    Welcome Michael to the team!

    OurCare & Healthy Debate: Give me a primary-care provider who understands me

    OurCare What's most important to patients? 98% of Canadians feel it is important that everyone have access to a family doctor, NP or team of health professionals that they can see regularly.

    Find out what patients and caregivers value most in a primary-care provider and health-care system in the latest blog published for the special series by Healthy Debate and OurCare, Give me a primary-care provider who understands me.

    And are you interested in how virtual care should be integrated into our system? Check out the second post, Virtual care must be integrated into public system, not driven by profit .

    Connect with your peers using AFHTO’s IHP Directory

    IHPs in AFHTO member teams are encouraged to sign up to AFHTO’s IHP Directory! This directory will help improve AFHTO’s communication to IHPs, and it will support IHP networking, information sharing, and collaboration.

    After you sign up, you will be emailed a link to a spreadsheet with the names, professions, team names, and work emails of all IHPs who have signed up for open communication. You may sort by profession to see the names of those in the same discipline as you.

    AFHTO will be checking the directory and emailing links to new registrants every 1-2 weeks. We look forward to improved communication from AFHTO to IHPs, and across IHPs in AFHTO-member teams!

    Relevant news and reports- prenatal care for refugees

    Want to be a part of PSHSA’s HC Advisory Council?
    Public Services Health & Safety Association would like an AFHTO member to sit on its health care advisory council. You can find terms of reference here. If you’re interested, please contact info@afhto.ca.

    RNs needed as research volunteers

    research volunteers needed

    Researchers from the School of Nursing at McMaster University are looking for volunteers who are Registered Nurses working in primary health care settings within Toronto, Ottawa-Gatineau, Hamilton, Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, or London. The purpose of the study is to understand how Registered Nurses working in primary health care settings facilitate access to health care for recent immigrants. Potential participants will be screened during an initial telephone call to determine if they are eligible for the study.

    The study involves a one-on-one interview that will take approximately 45-60 minutes and will involve one session. The interview will take place using Zoom (or by phone) and interview date and times are flexible. All participants will receive a $20 gift card following completion of the interview.

    For more information about this study, or to volunteer for this study, please contact Eugenia Ling via email: Linge6@mcmaster.ca.

    Surgical Site Infections Quality Standard Webinar, Apr. 13, 2023
    This session will introduce Ontario Health’s recently released Surgical Site Infections quality standard and describe how it can drive quality improvement and improve care for Ontarians across the health system. Register here.

    QI Innovations: Better Data, Better Decisions, Better Outcomes, Apr. 18, 2023
    This year’s free QI Innovations conference is for mental health and addiction providers and system planners who are interested in data driven decision making and quality improvement. Register here.

    Autistic people and the COVID-19 pandemic – what have we learned so far? Apr. 27, 2023
    Hosted by CAMH. Register here.

    How can peer counsellors extend interprofessional teams and enhance care? Apr. 28, 2023
    Part of the DFCM New Horizons Speaker Series, join a virtual fireside chat on incorporating peer counsellors into interprofessional care teams to enhance care. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: 2023 Ontario budget and more

    Bits & Pieces: 2023 Ontario budget and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Overview of the 2023 Ontario government budget
    • Farewell to Abisola Otepola
    • PCC submission re Bill 60, Your Health Act, 2023
    • Reminder- CPS Full Access free trial ends April 1
    • Chronic noncancer pain management: Integration of a nurse-led program in primary care
    • Upcoming events including DFCM New Horizons Speaker Series with Dr. Kwame McKenzie, and more

    Overview of the 2023 Ontario government budget

    Last Thursday the government released their 2023 Ontario Budget, Building a Strong Ontario. This budget was largely a reinforcement of “Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care”. Introduced in February 2023, it focused on three pillars: The Right Care in the Right Place, Faster Access to Care, and Hiring More Health Care Workers.

    Most relevant, the provincial budget recommitted to connect Ontarians to additional primary care teams by investing $60 million over two years. We have confirmed this is the same $30 million that was announced in February, carried over 2 years resulting in a total investment of $60 million dollars. While this is a step in the right direction, we are disappointed there was not more of a commitment over the longer term.

    The health human resources crisis that currently exists was acknowledged through additional investments in nursing, medical school education and home care, but none were made for primary care nor any mention of dropping the appeal to retain Bill 124. However, much needed support in mental health and addictions was welcomed. Read full details on our site.

    Abisola Otepola

    Farewell to Abisola Otepola

    It is with genuinely mixed feelings we announce that Abisola Otepola will be leaving AFHTO for new opportunities.

    Abisola has been with AFHTO since last May as Director of Policy and Stakeholder Relations. Many have you had the pleasure of working with her as she has led our efforts on the compensation review and IHP guidance document, details of which are to be released soon.

    We’re going to miss Abisola but know she will bring so much to her future endeavours. Please join us in giving her our sincerest best wishes. Her last day with AFHTO will be April 14 – any questions related to her work can be directed to info@afhto.ca.

    PCC submission re Bill 60, Your Health Act, 2023

    On Mar. 27, members of the PCC including AFHTO presented our submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy on Bill 60, Your Health Act, 2023. “We are committed to working with the government on health policy that will uphold the principles necessary to provide Ontarians with the care they need. This submission highlights further clarification and recommendations regarding Bill 60 to ensure an equitable and sustainable approach to the delivery of care provided under this act.” Read the submission here.

    Reminder- CPS Full Access free trial ends April 1

    On Feb. 23, we sent an email, “Introducing our new benefit- discount on CPS Full Access”, to all member EDs and Admin Leads. If you spend time clarifying prescriptions, use CPS Full Access, a Canadian-developed platform that features up-to-date Canadian information such as:

    • Current drug shortages.
    • Health Canada–approved product names, indications, dosing and patient information.
    • Warnings, recalls and safety alerts.
    • Evidence-based therapeutic content and algorithms.
    • Drug tables with price ranges.  

    This is a reminder that the free trial expires April 1. After that, members can get a 40% discount. Login information for the trial is available on our site at the triad level only (i.e., accessible just to EDs/Admin Leads, lead clinicians and board members). This benefit is being offered on a trial basis for a year, at which time we will assess participation rates. If you have any questions, please feel free to email info@afhto.ca.

    Chronic noncancer pain management: Integration of a nurse-led program in primary care

    Problem addressed Chronic noncancer pain is often excessively managed with medications (most notably opioids) instead of nonpharmacologic options or multidisciplinary care—the gold standards.

    Objective of program To offer an effective alternative to pharmacologic management of chronic noncancer pain in primary care.

    Learn more about the successful integration of this nurse-led program at Bruyère Academic FHT.

    DFCM New Horizons Speaker Series with Dr. Kwame McKenzie, Mar. 31, 2023
    Join a conversation with Dr. Kwame McKenzie, CEO of Wellesley Institute and Professor of Psychiatry at U of T, on how family doctors and primary care providers can better link their work in education, research, and quality improvement to the social determinants of health, and how to partner with organizations that serve communities to be more socially accountable in their work. Learn more here.

    Surgical Site Infections Quality Standard Webinar, Apr. 13, 2023
    This session will introduce Ontario Health’s recently released Surgical Site Infections quality standard and describe how it can drive quality improvement and improve care for Ontarians across the health system. Register here.

    QI Innovations: Better Data, Better Decisions, Better Outcomes, Apr. 18, 2023
    This year’s free QI Innovations conference is for mental health and addiction providers and system planners who are interested in data driven decision making and quality improvement. Register here.

    Autistic people and the COVID-19 pandemic – what have we learned so far? Apr. 27, 2023
    Hosted by CAMH. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: CIRA grants and more

    Bits & Pieces: CIRA grants and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • CIRA grant deadline April 12
    • Diagnosing and treating POTS in Long COVID patients and more
    • Reminder- Q & A with Fernando Tavares for EDs, Mar. 28
    • Perkopolis Day at Canada’s Wonderland
    • Relevant reports – networks of care in resource constrained settings & socioeconomic gradient in mortality

     
    • Feedback on supplemental screening as adjunct to mammography for breast cancer screening in people with dense breasts
    • Upcoming events including Pharmacists’ Expanded Scope – and What it Means for Appropriate Prescribing, and more

     

    CIRA grant deadline April 12
    AFHTO members and/or their partners may be eligible for Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) grants. Grants are available up to $100,000. You can learn more about eligibility, key dates and priority funding areas for 2023 on their site. You can also watch their information webinar here.

    Diagnosing and treating POTS in Long COVID patients and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates– the original page, with news and updates. You can find links to related pages here as well.

    Reminder- Q & A with Fernando Tavares for EDs, Mar. 28

    Fernando Tavares will join us for another Q&A session to provide a brief update on the Annual Operating Plan (submission timelines + process), discuss further details on the FHT contract extension including updates to the Governance & Attestation document, and review details of the “Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care” investment of $30 million to help bridge the gap in accessing interprofessional primary care. All EDs/Admin Leads are invited to attend the session on March 28th @ 12:00pm. Register here.

    Picture of people with their legs dangling as they sit at the top of a rollercoaster on a sunny day. The background shows trees and neighbourhoods. Text- early bird special .99

     

    Perkopolis Day at Canada’s Wonderland

    Perkopolis Day at Canada’s Wonderland is April 29th. This is an exclusive opportunity to spend a day enjoying Wonderland before the park opens. If your team isn’t registered under the AFHTO account yet, please email info@afhto.ca. Early bird deadline is March 31st. Find out more.

     

    Relevant reports – networks of care in resource constrained settings & socioeconomic gradient in mortality

    Feedback on supplemental screening as adjunct to mammography for breast cancer screening in people with dense breasts

    Ontario Health invites you to share your thoughts about a health technology assessment and draft funding recommendation Supplemental Screening as an Adjunct to Mammography for Breast Cancer Screening in People With Dense Breasts. Open for feedback until April 6, 2023. Learn more here.

    Pharmacists’ Expanded Scope – and What it Means for Appropriate Prescribing, Mar. 22, 2023

    In several provinces, the scope of pharmacist prescribing has expanded, enabling them to assess and prescribe treatments for common syndromes. With other provinces and territories expected to adopt similar approaches, how do we support pharmacists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals in promoting resource stewardship and appropriate prescribing practices? Hosted by Choose Wisely Toronto. Find out more here.

    Journey with depression: Experiences accessing treatment and services, Mar. 23, 2023
    Virtual town hall hosted by ODPRN Citizens’ Panel with Dr. Noah Ivers. Find out more here.

    Together We Care 2023, Mar. 27- 29, 2023
    Together We Care is the largest and most comprehensive learning and networking experience for professionals in long-term care and retirement living. Find out more here.

    Engaging primary care – from the inside out, Mar. 24, 2023
    Part of the OHT Impact Fellows- Knowledge Translation Lunch and Learn Series. Register here.

    DFCM New Horizons Speaker Series with Dr. Kwame McKenzie, Mar. 31, 2023
    Join a conversation with Dr. Kwame McKenzie, CEO of Wellesley Institute and Professor of Psychiatry at U of T, on how family doctors and primary care providers can better link their work in education, research, and quality improvement to the social determinants of health, and how to partner with organizations that serve communities to be more socially accountable in their work. Learn more here.

    Primary care data reports for OHTs, Mar. 29, 2023

    Hosted by INSPIRE-PHC. Primary Care Data Reports for all OHTs are available here. Join here.

  • $30 million new/expansion funding for teams

    Dear Executive Directors/Administrative Leads,

    On Feb 2nd we shared Minister Jones launch of the Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care. This plan includes an investment of $30 million to create up to 18 new teams and help bridge the gap in accessing interprofessional primary care for vulnerable, marginalized, and unattached patients to ensure they are able to connect to care where and when they need it. While the number of 18 was noted in the plan, the Ministry may also be looking at expansion of EXISTING teams and new satellite locations and will share their expectations as they work through their internal planning.

    As we await further information around next steps in the funding implementation process, we encourage all teams to begin thinking about and preparing for the call for proposals. We expect Ministry/OH will release guidance documents towards the end of March with a submission timeline of end of April. We have requested Ministry/OH to provide a technical briefing and review of the relevant documents and process once finalized. We will share the date of this webcast once confirmed.

    To get an idea of what the application template MIGHT look like, here is the link to the 2017-19 IPC Team Expansion Business Case Template. We anticipate the new application process will be similar in terms of structure and big categories for content. Below are also number of principles from the previous process that you may want to keep in mind to help create a successful submission:

    Planning Principles

    • Readiness for early implementation
    • Population health based planning approach
    • Promote equitable access to interdisciplinary primary care across the OHT
    • Enhance access to appropriate, linguistically and culturally sensitive care and services
    • Engage patients and caregivers in planning
    • Integrate and collaborate with local health, social and community service providers
    • Develop model for comprehensive, continuous and coordinated care
    • Enhance attachment, accessibility and timeliness of primary care
    • Enhanced quality improvement and safety
    • Reduce barriers to access to care for vulnerable populations (e.g., Francophone and Indigenous populations)
    • In areas where teams exist, it would be optimal to leverage these existing teams to minimize administrative costs and expend the majority of the allocation on direct patient care.

    Implementation Principles

    • Services/programs reflect OHT population health needs
    • Services/programs are open to the wider community (i.e. populations beyond the rostered or registered patients)
    • Patient and community engagement is a component of planning and governance
    • Health equity is a focus of programs/services
    • Increased programming that is planned and delivered in a culturally sensitive manner, with special focus on addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities, including Indigenous peoples and Francophone Ontarians in Ontario
    • Focus on quality, including reporting on key performance indicators
    • Governance structure that includes community members to ensure local population needs are met
    • Improved attachment and access to primary care across OHT
    • Embedded care coordination and care navigation in primary care settings

    Please also note that the $30M is inclusive of increases in base funding for those teams experiencing overhead budget pressures – the process for increases in your base budget will be included in your annual operating plan which is set to be released imminently. Please make sure you join Fernando Tavares for a Q&A on March 28th @ 12:00pm where he will also touch upon the process to apply for increased base funding and provide an overview of this year’s annual operating plan and governance attestation documents. Register here.

    As always, please contact us if you have any questions.

  • Bits & Pieces: member stories and more

    Bits & Pieces: member stories and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Member stories
    • Canada’s national nature prescription program, PaRx, celebrates two years in Ontario
    • New Long COVID resources from the OCFP and more
    • New resource for social prescribing
    • Project on women and hypertension
    • 2023 OCFP award nominations now open
    • Evidence of value- financial counselling during baby checkups
    • Farewell card for Kavita
    • Upcoming events including Sickle Cell Disease: A New Quality Standard for High-Quality Care in Ontario and more

    Member stories

    City Of Kawartha Lakes FHT – City Of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team To Receive Almost $110,000 Additional Base Funding For This Year

    “MPP Laurie Scott made the announcement today. Scott says the provincial government is providing $8.1 million in new annualized base funding to enhance access to primary care in key regions of the province. This funding will support various interprofessional primary care organizations, including 18 Family Health Teams (FHTs), 2 Community Health Centres (CHCs) and 2 Nurse Practitioner Led-Clinics (NPLCs), to continue the delivery of high-quality care that Ontarians know and deserve.”

    If your team is receiving new base funding as well and you’re able to share details, please contact us so we can promote it.

    Peterborough FHT – Peterborough Newcomer Health Clinic helps immigrants and refugees transition to Canada’s health care system

    Parx 2022 roundup. Text reads- PaRx was nominated for an Earthshot Prize. Nature prescriptions were officially endorsed by the Canadian Medical Association. 200,000,000+ people learned about nature prescriptions and health

     

    Canada’s national nature prescription program, PaRx, celebrates two years in Ontario

    Research shows how important nature contact is for health, including reduced rates of anxiety, depression, respiratory and cardiovascular disease. To help connect Canadians to the health benefits of nature, the BC Parks Foundation launched PaRx in 2020, starting in British Columbia, then expanding to every province across the country including Ontario in February 2021. From physiotherapists and physicians to nurses and counsellors, over 10,000 prescribers are registered across the country. Learn more about their progress here.

    You can visit www.parkprescriptions.ca for more information on nature prescriptions and to register to become a prescriber.

     

     

     

    New Long COVID resources from the OCFP and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates– the original page, with news and updates. You can find links to related pages here as well.

    New resource for social prescribing

    The CEP has launched a new resource for social prescribing, which includes practical tips, talking points and tangible next steps to integrate social prescribing into your practice. It supports primary care clinicians to provide more holistic, patient-centred care and connect those in need to a wide range of non-clinical services in the community, ultimately improving health outcomes. 

    women & high blood pressure eligibility criteria

     

    Project on women and hypertension

    “Management of high blood pressure seems simple in that there is strong evidence of its reduction on hospitalizations and mortality. However, hypertension control is not improving but declining. There is a disconnect between the evidence-based guidelines available and primary care practice. The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the barriers and enablers for family physicians, practice nurses/nurse practitioners, and women living with high blood pressure.”

    Hypertension Canada is focusing on the point of care and treatment process when a woman with high blood pressure attends a family physician clinic. They’re seeking:

    • Women who self-identify as over 40yrs old living with high blood pressure.
    • Family physicians, nurse practitioners, or practice nurses working in primary care.

    This would involve a one-time 30-60min interview (virtual or by phone), a small thank you gift will be provided. For more information contact, Dr Kaitlyn Watson, kewatson@ualberta.ca and (780) 492 3454.

    2023 OCFP award nominations now open

    Help shine a spotlight on the outstanding work and accomplishments of family doctors by nominating a colleague for an OCFP Award. Find out more here.

    Evidence of value- financial counselling during baby checkups

    “When you expand the team that’s providing care for families in early childhood, you can make the well-child experience more meaningful. And when people find things more meaningful, they come”. Read ‘How financial counseling at the pediatrician’s office can help families thrive’-NPR.

    Farewell card for Kavita
    If you would like to join us in wishing our current CEO Kavita Mehta farewell with your own best wishes, please leave your message to her on this e-card before her last day on Friday, March 10, 2023: https://ellacard.com/sign/6166bcff-87e1-4bd2-bcb6-fdae8226a1a7.

    Sickle Cell Disease: A New Quality Standard for High-Quality Care in Ontario, Feb. 22, 2023
    This session will introduce Ontario Health’s recently released Sickle Cell Disease quality standard and describe how it can drive QI and improve care for Ontarians across the health system. Register here.

    Long COVID, Feb. 24, 2022
    57th in the series “Changing the way we work” on Friday, February 24, 2023, at 7:55-9:15 am, hosted by UofT and OCFP. Register here.

    Strategies to Increase Client and Family Engagement, Feb. 27, 2023
    Hosted by RNAO and presented by Victorian Order of Nurses (VON). Register here.

    Sensemaking Population Health Management in Ontario Health Teams: A Diabetes Example, Feb. 28, 2023
    HSPN OHT webinar hosted by Dr. Walter Wodchis, Principal Investigator at HSPN,
    Co-Founder IFIC Canada and Professor at IHPME. Register here.

    Together We Care 2023, Mar. 27- 29, 2023
    Together We Care is the largest and most comprehensive learning and networking experience for professionals in long-term care and retirement living. Find out more here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #126: The Health Equity Questionnaire

    QI in Action eBulletin #126: The Health Equity Questionnaire

    In this Issue:

    • The Health Equity Questionnaire: Standardized Entry of Social Determinants of Health into EMRs
    • Resources for social determinants of health
    • Food for thought
    • Updated Primary Care Data Reports for Ontario Health Teams
    • Help shape the future of virtual health care in Ontario
    • Phase I Guidance for Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care for Primary Care evaluation survey
    • Virtual Care Guidance Statements Checklist for Clinicians and other resources
    • Upcoming Events

     

    The Health Equity Questionnaire: Standardized Entry of Social Determinants of Health into EMRs

    The Health Equity Questionnaire: Standardized Entry of Social Determinants of Health into EMRs. Below are a group of hands in different watercolours reaching upwards

    To provide the most equitable care for our patients we need to know their social determinants of health. Current EMR specifications don’t require that this information is included in the dataset for each patient and EMRs don’t provide a standardized way to enter it.

    The Health Equity Questionnaire (HEQ) has been developed to allow social determinants of health information to be entered into EMRs efficiently and in a standardized way, allowing it to be easily accessed, updated, and searched.

    Questions and data elements from an extensive set of existing tools were collected, prioritized, and distilled into a practical new format designed around provider workflows. Many stakeholders, including several EDI specialists, were consulted.

    At the time of a visit, clicking on the ‘HEQ’ button in the chart will bring up the Questionnaire form. The provider can then enter any information that may be relevant to the patient’s care and save it to the chart. Clicking the button again will bring up a new copy of the form which is pre-populated with any previously entered data and can be updated as needed. The form is designed to display all the information in an “at a glance” view which means that all the information is shown in one window without any clicking or scrolling.

    The questions can also be sent directly to the patient via secure messaging. They can then answer any of the questions that they’re comfortable with and their responses will be automatically entered directly into their charts. If an HEQ form is not already in the chart, then a new one will be created. If there is an existing form in the chart, then it will simply be updated with their responses.

    Care must be taken to ensure that the patient understands why the questions are being asked, that the information will be treated with the same confidentiality as the rest of their medical information, that it will only be used to provide them with the best care possible, and that they only need to provide whatever responses they’re comfortable with.

    A video demonstration of the tool is available here.

    The toolkit can be downloaded from the TELUS Health Practice Solutions Community Portal by navigating in Chatter to Groups, Active Groups and then the East Wellington Family Health Team group. Plans are in progress to migrate the toolkit to the other main EMRs as well.

    Questions and feedback are welcome and can be directed to Dr. Kevin Samson kevin.samson@ewfht.ca.

    Resources for social determinants of health
    Webinars and conference sessions

    Select Resources

    Food for Thought

    Updated Primary Care Data Reports for Ontario Health Teams
    INSPIRE PHC has posted the updated Primary Care Data Report for all of Ontario. These reports track key primary care health system indicators and guide attachment strategies in Ontario Health Teams (OHTs). The Primary Care Data Working Group produced reports specific to each OHT and are intended to provide a deeper understanding of the attributed population of each OHT. Find out more.

    Help shape the future of virtual health care in Ontario
    Help shape the future of virtual health care in Ontario! We are looking for patients and caregivers in Ontario to take a 15 to 20-minutes survey on the experiences and expectations with virtual care appointments as a patient or caregiver with a doctor, nurse, or another healthcare professional in a family practice. This study from the University of Toronto and the Bruyére Research Institute is led by Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft and Dr. Simone Dahrouge.

    To take the survey, please click one of the links below:

    As part of the recruitment efforts, primary care clinics will have the opportunity to receive a customized report based on the template regarding the experiences of their patients with virtual care. In addition, you can view the report last year on virtual care that was shared broadly to key decision makers. Should you be interested in participating or learning more, please contact Simon Lam, research coordinator, at sck.lam@utoronto.ca.

    Phase I Guidance for Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care for Primary Care evaluation survey
    Ontario Health is conducting an evaluation of the ‘Phase I Guidance for Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care for Primary Care’ developed in collaboration with an Expert Panel. You’re invited to complete this survey to capture your awareness of, access to and adoption of the Phase I Guidance for Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care for Primary Care.   

    You may access the survey here.  

    The survey should take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete, and your responses will remain anonymous. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the survey, please do not hesitate to contact Mimosa Zhao by email at zhao@theevidencenetwork.com.

     

    Upcoming Events

    Sickle Cell Disease: A New Quality Standard for High-Quality Care in Ontario
    February 22, 2023, 12:00pm
    This session will introduce Ontario Health’s recently released Sickle Cell Disease quality standard and describe how it can drive quality improvement and improve care for Ontarians across the health system. Register here.

    Media Messaging on Equity: How do we do better?
    March 6, 2023, 4:30 pm
    The third-annual Vohra Miller Lectures in Critical Public Health Issues in collaboration with the Institute for Pandemics puts a spotlight on the media’s handling of equity issues, including health equity, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. What are the forces that shape media coverage of equity matters? What does the future of the media landscape hold and, what are the possibilities? Register here.

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #125 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

  • Bits & Pieces: join the ED mentorship program and more

    Bits & Pieces: join the ED mentorship program and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Join AFHTO’s Executive Director Mentorship Program!
    • Farewell to Beth MacKinnon
    • Reminder- Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing, Dec. 8
    • Member stories
    • Radon- the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers
    • Guidance for clinical assessment centres and more
    • BORN Health Equity Advisory Group – call for interest
    • Get Mainpro+® credits for reading quality standards
    • Upcoming events including Highlights and implications of the Ontario Science Table’s brief on primary care and more

    Join AFHTO’s Executive Director Mentorship Program!

    Are you a leader with 3+ years of experience in team-based primary care? Are you interested in supporting new EDs as they develop in their role? If YES, AFHTO is looking for executive directors to join our ED Mentorship Program, and we want to hear from you!

    Please fill out this brief survey, and we will be in touch.

    More information about the program is here.

    Beth MacKinnon Oct 2022

     

    Farewell to Beth MacKinnon

    It is with genuinely mixed feelings we announce that Beth MacKinnon will be leaving AFHTO for new opportunities.

    Beth has been with AFHTO for nearly 5 years, most recently as Senior Associate, Policy and Advocacy. Many have you had the pleasure of working with her as she has supported the Governance and Leadership program and our advocacy efforts.

    We’re going to miss Beth but know she will bring so much to her future endeavours. Please join us in giving her our sincerest best wishes. Her last day with AFHTO will be Friday, December 30 – any questions related to her work can be directed to info@afhto.ca.

     

     

     

    Reminder- Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing, Dec. 8

    Metered dose inhalers produce significant carbon emissions. Ironically, these contribute to changes to the climate that can exacerbate respiratory conditions. Simple practice changes can help disrupt this cycle and lessen the health sector’s contributions to climate change.

    Register here.

    Member stories

    Belleville NPLC – Rotary honours NPLC board member

    Wawa FHT – Dr. Anjali Oberai recognized with the 2022 Ontario Family Physician of the Year award

    Radon- the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers
    Across Canada, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. In persons who do smoke, the risks of developing lung cancer when exposed to radon are further compounded. Learn how and why you should speak to your patients about radon in machealth’s free and certified online program.

    Guidance for clinical assessment centres and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates– the original page, with news and updates. You can find links to related pages here as well.

    BORN Health Equity Advisory Group – call for interest

    The Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario is looking for community members to join their Health Equity Advisory Group (HEAG). To learn more, please see the terms of reference.
    If you have questions, please email Alana Esty and Danna Hull, Health Equity Advisory Group Co-Chairs at equity@bornontario.ca.

    Get Mainpro+® credits for reading quality standards

    Attention, family physicians! Do you need additional CME credits for end-of-year? Through Ontario Health’s no-cost Understanding Quality Standards in Primary Care Program, you can earn Mainpro+® credits for the quality standards you read. Just read a quality standard, complete a simple self-reflection exercise, and submit for your credits. This one-credit-per-hour Self-Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 54.5 credits. Learn more here.

    Highlights and implications of the Ontario Science Table’s brief on primary care, Nov. 30, 2022

    On October 3, 2022, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) released its final brief, a 3-part exploration of how primary care responded to and was affected by the pandemic, and implications for ongoing health system planning and policy. In this webinar, you will hear from a panel of primary healthcare experts who contributed to that brief, as they share some of the most significant findings and implications. Register here.

    The latest on COVID, Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, Dec. 2, 2022
    53rd in the series “Changing the way we work” by OCFP and UofT. Register here.

    NEW Patient Safety Learning Community of Practice, Dec. 6, 2022

    The Quality and Patient Safety Team at Ontario Health kicks off the new community of practice focused on developing robust processes to track, prevent and learn from patient safety incidents. Register here.

    Ontario Health’s Mental Health and Addictions Provincial Data and Digital Initiative Webinar, Dec. 12, 2022
    Part of a quarterly series designed to share regular updates and gather feedback on the initiative. Register here.

    Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams, starting Jan 2023
    Tenth annual ‘Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams’ series will launch in January 2023, by Kate Dewhirst and Maria McDonald. Register here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #123: HFHT Green Initiative, Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care Guidelines

    In this Issue:

    • The HFHT Green Initiative
    • Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care- Guidance for Primary Care
    • Primary care clinicians can how directly refer frontline health workers to psychological practitioners for MOH-covered psychological treatment
    • Evidence2Practice Ontario Program
    • Upcoming Events

    The HFHT Green Initiative
    Content below developed by Hamilton FHT

    The HFHT Green Initiative is an interprofessional team developing practical solutions to improve patient healthcare outcomes while simultaneously reducing climate change. The initiative provides a free and evidence-based program which includes an action-based checklist, poster orders (1148 so far delivered), a monthly newsletter (17 sent so far), a CFPC Mainpro+ accredited webinar series (212 attendees thus far), an infographic series (31 different topics), 2 waiting room videos, 2 EMR-embedded prescription templates, patient-facing group education, resource kits, and project support.

    Since its launch in 2019, this project has supported environmental efforts in 19 different Ontario Family Health Teams as well as additional primary care teams across Ontario and Canada and has helped direct the efforts of our local OHT as well as national sustainable health care initiatives such as CASCADES. For more information, please contact the HFHT Green Team at green.team@hamiltonfht.ca.

    The Hamilton FHT’s Green Initiative recently presented a disease prevention webinar highlighting practical tools that will make cancer screening and smoking cessation easier in both the clinical setting and for QI projects. Please watch this 20 min webinar recording to hear family physician and project lead Dr. Meghan Davis speak about:

    • Understanding how cancer screening/smoking cessation is good for our patients and the environment
    • Accessing a cancer screening dashboard for teams and individual practices  
    • The Screening Activity Report
    • Finding patients who were lost to follow-up after screening positive
    • A new digital patient communication pathway for ordering FITs
    • Managing colonoscopy results
    • Providing paps: Pathway for interprofessional health care training & updated guidelines
    • Guidelines for mammograms post-COVID-19 vaccine
    • Videos for your waiting room
    • Helping patients to quit smoking

    Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care- Guidance for Primary Care
    Ontario Health recently released new virtual care guidance materials for primary care clinicians. The “Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care Guidance for Primary Care” aims to help primary care clinicians feel supported in the decisions they make related to the planning and delivery of virtual care. This is ‘phase one’ of the virtual care guidance for primary care. More detailed virtual care guidance will be released in the future, including materials focused on other specialties and areas of care. The virtual care guidance materials can be accessed here in English and French. Click here to watch the Ontario Health Community of Practice recording from November 9 where Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Bordman speak about the guidance document.

    Primary care clinicians can now directly refer frontline health workers to psychological practitioners for MOH-covered psychological treatment
    Content below developed by Ontario Psychological Association

    Primary care providers can now refer patients directly to psychologists from their Electronic Medical Record system (EMR) enabling increased access to timely specialized mental health services. The new development is made possible through a partnership between the Ontario Psychological Association and Ontario’s eServices Program which saw the integration of the Ocean and Strata Health e-referral platforms thereby allowing family physicians, nurse practitioners, and other primary care providers to connect with psychologists.
     
    The Covid-19 Psychological Support Program, funded by the Ministry of Health, ensures that frontline health workers can receive up to 12 psychotherapy sessions with a registered psychologist or psychological associate at no cost. Primary care clinicians wishing to learn more can email opa@psych.on.ca or read our e-referral guidelines for more details.
     
    This work builds on a prior collaboration between the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO), the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO), the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP), the Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic Association, Ontario Medical Association’s (OMA) section of General & Family Practice, and the Alliance for Healthier Communities. For a demo, please click here.  

    Evidence2Practice Ontario Program
    Content below developed by Centre for Effective Practice

    CEP is proud to lead the launch of Evidence2Practice Ontario (E2P) and its first set of digital tools and supports for heart failure. Co-led with the eHealth Centre of Excellence and North York General Hospital, E2P is a province-wide initiative developed to strengthen and support the delivery of evidence-based care and best practice in primary and acute care settings. The first E2P tool, developed in the Telus PSS EMR, focuses on enhancing care of patients with suspected or diagnosed heart failure.

    CEP’s renowned academic detailing service and accompanying clinical tools on heart failure are available to further support primary care providers. Tools and supports in additional EMRs (e.g., Oscar and Accuro QHR) will follow in 2023, focused on supporting adult patients living with major depression, anxiety disorders and type 2 diabetes. Click here to learn more.

     

    Upcoming Events

    Evidence2Practice Ontario
    Friday, November 18, 2022, 12-1 pm
    Evidence2Practice Ontario is co-hosting a webinar with Ontario Health: Dr. David Kaplan, Vice President, Quality at Ontario Health, and Young Lee, Vice President, Corporate Performance and Digital Health Innovation at North York General Hospital will provide an overview of how this key initiative is embedding quality standards into health information systems to support clinician adoption. Register here.

    CCHL Webinar: Leading Climate Resilient and Low Carbon, Sustainable Health Systems
    Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 12-1 pm
    Climate and environmental change pose accelerating and complex threats for 21st century health systems- and these modern health systems are a significant contributor to global carbon emissions. Increasingly, the executive boards, and healthcare staff leading Canada’s health systems are recognizing the need to address these challenges. New Leadership and Governance standards include explicit requirements to consider environmental stewardship, with implications for patient engagement, enterprise risk management plans, capital investment plans, talent management and acquisition, procurement policies and practices and budgeting. Click here to register.

    Infection Prevention and Control in Primary Care “Spread Prevention- Not Infection”
    Wednesday, November 23, 2022, 12:30-2 pm
    The Hamilton Family Health Team’s Patient and Provider Safety committee has planned a virtual IPAC information session with their partners from Public Health Ontario and Hamilton Public Health Services. The content shared will be focused on increasing the learner’s knowledge of current IPAC trends as well as providing practical strategies for primary care providers to enhance IPAC practices in their clinical setting. Click here to register.

    Supporting Caregivers Supports Patients- The Critical Role of Primary Care in Preventing Caregiver Burnout
    Thursday, November 24, 2022, 12-1 pm
    Primary care providers can play a key role in preventing burnout and enhancing caregiver well-being by initiating early interventions and connecting caregivers to support. Co-hosted by The Ontario Caregiver Organization and the Primary Care Collaborative, this webinar will include insights from a caregiver with lived experience, as well as examples of primary care initiatives across Ontario that are connecting caregivers to support. Click here to register.

    Highlights and Implications of the Ontario Science Table’s Brief on Primary Care
    Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 7:45-8:45 am
    On October 3, 2022, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) released its final brief, a 3-part exploration of how primary care responded to and was affected by the pandemic, and implications for ongoing health system planning and policy. In this webinar, you will hear from a panel of primary healthcare experts who contributed to that brief, as they share some of the most significant findings and implications. To register, click here.

    Climate Conscious Inhaler Prescribing
    Thursday, December 8, 2022, 12-1 pm
    This webinar will explore the carbon footprint of healthcare systems and how inhalers contribute to it, examine two problems related to inhaler prescribing and imagine practice change that results in an immediate reduction in emissions: “high value, low carbon care”. To register, click here.

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #122 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.