Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: social determinants of health

  • Bits & Pieces: federal funding for LGBTQ2 health services at Sherbourne and more

    Bits & Pieces: federal funding for LGBTQ2 health services at Sherbourne and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Health Canada funding sexual and reproductive health services for LGBTQ2 Communities at Sherbourne
    • More on mental wellness supports for frontline workers
    • Buddy Up: men’s suicide prevention using friendship and peer support
    • Perkopolis- summer & insurance discounts
    • The impact of physical activity on mental health outcomes during COVID and more
    • Reminder about upcoming changes to Infectious Disease Emergency Leave provisions
    • Primary Care Quality Improvement Hub on Quorum
    • Upcoming events including telementoring in occupational medicine and more

    Health Canada funding sexual and reproductive health services for LGBTQ2 Communities at Sherbourne

    Today the federal government announced funding to improve the quality of and access to sexual and reproductive health services for LGBTQ2 communities at Sherbourne Health and other organizations. Read the news release here.

    As we come to the end of Pride Month, we can recognize for many in these communities, heteronormativity is institutionalized within health care. As such, it’s good to continue learning how to provide an inclusive environment for patients. There are many resources including Rainbow Health Ontario.

    Also available from our own archives and teams:

    More on mental wellness supports for frontline workers

    Per Dr. Sylvain Roy, OPA:

    “OPA began partnering with Ontario Health & MOH in January to deliver treatment to all frontline workers (defined relatively broadly to include physicians, paramedics, nurses, PSWs), etc. in Ontario. There are a number of service offerings and referral pathways.

    Persons identifying as frontline workers can self-refer to one of the five mental health hospitals (e.g. CAMH, the Royal…) where they will be matched to a social worker or psychotherapist for up to 6 sessions of 1-1 therapy. If the patient is deemed to require more sessions or may be best served by a psychologist/PA by the hospitals, the frontline worker patient may be referred to an OPA psychologist for 8 (up to 12 sessions) of therapy covered by MOH.  

    Frontline workers can self-refer on the hospital website e.g. https://www.theroyal.ca/covid-frontline-wellness or https://redcapsurveys.camh.ca/redcap/surveys/?s=JK4XK83AYC

    Primary Care Clinicians will be able to refer frontline worker patients directly to OPA psychologists using the same method as before or from within their EMRs. We are now wrapping up the digital integration work between OCEAN (the primary care e-referral platform) to Strata Health (psychologists e-referral platform) that will enable direct primary care clinician referrals to psychologists for the frontline workers programs and more.  Also, CMHA is offering free training to organizations, and Project Echo provides free mental health-focused peer-to-peer support for frontline workers.”

    Additionally, don’t forget OH has released the Mental Wellness Supports for Health Care Workers due to COVID-19 Digital Toolkit.

    Buddy Up: men’s suicide prevention using friendship and peer support

    Men have a suicide rate 3 times higher than women. Buddy Up is a communications campaign focused on male friendship to prevent suicide, run by the Centre for Suicide prevention, part of CMHA. Find out more here.

    Screenshot of discounts inlcuding Canada Wonderland

     

    Perkopolis- summer & insurance discounts

    AFHTO members are eligible to sign up for free access to over 5000 perks through Perkopolis, including discounts on summer activities, products, and home and auto insurance quotes.

    EDs, if your team doesn’t have access yet, please email info@ahto.ca.

     

     

     

     

    The impact of physical activity on mental health outcomes during COVID and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Reminder about upcoming changes to Infectious Disease Emergency Leave provisions

    Courtesy of Maria McDonald, McDonald HR Law, here is an alert reminding you about upcoming changes to the Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (IDEL) Provisions of the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”), including the end to paid and deemed leave.

    Primary Care Quality Improvement Hub on Quorum

    The Ontario Health Primary Care Quality Team invites you to join the Primary Care Quality Improvement Hub on Quorum. The hub provides links to tools, resources, and webinars that can support quality improvement in your practice. Find out more here.

    Telementoring in occupational medicine for Ontario primary health-care providers, April- July 2022

    Project ECHO OEM sessions are held via videoconference each Friday from April 22 to July 15, 2022. Registration is free and ongoing throughout the cycle. Learn more here.

    New Horizons: Navigating towards the future of family medicine, May – September 2022
    Speaker series hosted by Dr. Danielle Martin, Chair of the University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine. Find out more here.

    NPAO 2022 Annual Conference, Sep. 22-23, 2022

    This years’ Conference theme is The NP Experience: Pushing Boundaries Towards Common Goals. Find out more here.

    Data To Action: Making Your Data Visible and Useful, Sep. 28, 2022
    Hosted by TechSoup Connect’s Ontario chapter. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: National Indigenous Peoples Day and more

    Bits & Pieces: National Indigenous Peoples Day and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • National Indigenous Peoples Day
    • Apply to join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council!
    • Bright Lights Awards nominations now open!
    • Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients webinar materials available
    • Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence seeking clinical leads
    • Monkeypox designated a Disease of Public Health Significance, IPAC materials and more
    • BFI Coach – Mentor opportunity
    • for primary care organizations
    • Trans health mentorship call
    • Upcoming events regarding the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative and more

    National Indigenous Peoples Day- narwhal, eagle superimposed over the sun, with a drummer, dancer in regalia and violinist. Background is multicoloured- blue, green, pink and orange.

    National Indigenous Peoples Day

    Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day. We recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures & contributions of First Nations, Inuit & Métis peoples. We are especially grateful for the partnership with our colleagues at IPHCC at advancing culturally safe primary health care, and our member teams who embody culturally safe care.

     

    Apply to join AFHTO’s IHP Advisory Council!

    Are you interested in advising AFHTO on the top issues facing IHPs in team-based primary care? Would you like to be a leader in working with IHPs in primary care to advocate for and to speak to the critical role of teams? Would you like to share and spread knowledge and learnings? If yes, please apply to join our IHP Advisory Council!

    We invite any IHP in a member team to apply by completing this survey by Friday, July 29.

    More information is here. Please share this opportunity with providers across teams.

    Bright Lights Awards nominations now open!

    Shine a light on your team’s achievements. Nominate an outstanding team or individual for a “Bright Lights” Award by July 15, 2022. AFHTO’s “Bright Lights” Awards recognize AFHTO members’ leadership, outstanding work and the significant progress being made to improve the value interprofessional primary care teams across Ontario deliver. There’s no better time to show what you can do. Find out more here.

    Plus, reviewers needed
    We just need a couple more people on the review committee. If you’d like to learn more about your peers’ contributions and get a $35 discount on your registration fee, please apply here. Deadline June 22, 2022.

    Webinar title screenshot

     

    Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients webinar materials available

    On June 17 we cohosted a webinar focused on new, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. Slides and video are available here.

     

    Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence seeking clinical leads

    The Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence is recruiting provincial clinical leads to support their priority clinical areas of focus:

    The call for expressions of interest for these positions can be found at the specific links above, as well as on a general page here. The deadline to apply is 11:59 on July 14, 2022. If you have questions about the roles for Depression and Anxiety-Related Disorders or Eating Disorders, please contact Amanda Wong (Amanda.Wong@OntarioHealth.ca); if you have questions about the roles for Substance Use Disorders or Schizophrenia and Psychosis, please contact Monisha Patel (Monisha.Patel@OntarioHealth.ca).

    The posting for the Clinical Lead, Indigenous, Depression & Anxiety-Related Disorders can also be found on the website here. The posting will be live until June 30, 2022. For more information or questions about the role, please review the expression of interest in the link above or email Danyal Martin (Danyal.Martin@OntarioHealth.ca).

    Monkeypox designated a Disease of Public Health Significance, IPAC materials and more

    Recent updates include:

    IPAC Strategies to Ensure a Safe Environment in Primary Care Clinics materials:

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

    BFI Coach – Mentor invite

     

     

    BFI Coach – Mentor opportunity for primary care organizations

    The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada is upscaling the Baby-Friendly Initiative across all health sectors. Several skilled coaches have been hired to work with organizations who want to take a deliberate, quality improvement approach to implementing best practice in terms of infant feeding advice and support. Read the invitation here.

     

     

     

     

     

    Trans health mentorship call

    Rainbow Health Ontario’s Trans Health Mentorship Call is a biweekly teleconference for any Ontario health care professional to connect with peers who have experience caring for trans and non-binary service users. Topics range from specific case-based questions to more general issues. Find more information here.

    Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative, June 23, 2022

    In this webinar, we will hear about the work of the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative as it pertains to identified priorities around fall indicators and falls risk screening and assessment and how we can better align our efforts across the province. Find out more here.

    Online Appointment Booking, June 21, 2022
    Ontario Health webinar featuring a panel of primary care providers to learn about the benefits of using online appointment booking in primary care practices. Register here.

    What’s new with COVID-19 and Monkeypox, June 24, 2022

    46th in the series ‘Changing the way we work’, OCFP & UofT’s COVID-19 CoP for family physicians. Register here.

    BounceBack: Back-to-the-office guide and tips to manage stress and anxiety, June 28 & 29, 2022
    Presented with the Canadian Mental Health Association. You’ll hear about coping strategies to help you better manage life’s stresses. Register for EN (June 28) and FR (June 29).

  • Bits & Pieces: member stories, infant formula shortage and more

    Bits & Pieces: member stories, infant formula shortage and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Member stories
    • Reminder- Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative June 23
    • Evaluating program planning using an equity framework at Queen Square FHT
    • New provincial prenatal screening requisition
    • Reminder- Bright Lights nominations open soon- reviewers needed
    • Shortage of infant formulas for infants with food allergies and certain medical conditions and more
    • ECHO Ontario Mental Health summer applications open
    • Upcoming events including enhancing harm reduction education, advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients and more

    Member stories

    City of Kawartha Lakes FHT– OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network and the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team launch a project with AI platform Goji Voice

    Cottage Country FHT– Cottage Country FHT looking to expand

    Dryden Area FHT– new addictions program introduced in Dryden

    Kirkland District FHT– Blanche River Health transitioning patients to the team’s outpatient collection laboratory

    Mount Forest FHT– Township of Wellington North presents $10,000 cheque to assist with local health care professional recruitment

    Reminder- Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar June 23

    In this webinar, we will hear about the work of the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative as it pertains to identified priorities around fall indicators and falls risk screening and assessment and how we can better align our efforts across the province. Find out more here.

    Evaluating program planning using an equity framework at Queen Square FHT
    Article published in Healthcare Management Forum. Please note that you need to pay for the full article. 

    New provincial prenatal screening requisition

    DNA helix

    The Prenatal Screening Requisition has been updated to reflect recent changes to screening for twin pregnancies as well as to streamline the screening process for pregnancies with confirmed or suspected vanishing twin/co-twin demise.

    The new requisition form (version 3, May 2022) is effective immediately; please discard all old forms. The updated requisition form for all three Ontario Multiple Marker Screening labs (Trillium Health Partners-Credit Valley Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, and North York General Hospital) and accompanying step-by-step guides for ordering multiple marker screening (such as enhanced First Trimester Screening) can be found on the PSO website.

    Reminder- Bright Lights nominations open soon- reviewers needed
    Bright Lights nominations open soon. If you didn’t get a chance to submit an abstract or would just like to raise your profile at the conference and beyond, consider nominating your team for an award.

    We just need a couple more people on the review committee. If you’d like to learn more about your peers’ contributions and get a $35 discount on your registration fee, please apply here. Deadline June 22, 2022.

    Shortage of infant formulas for infants with food allergies and certain medical conditions and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Administrative update: we will still provide COVID updates as necessary using this section but will also include MOH and stakeholder updates and memos on other topics.

    Reminder – impacts of transitioning cancer survivors to primary care

    Ontario Health has developed a short survey to better understand your practice, your comfort level providing care to cancer survivors, the challenges you face, and your experiences in providing care for cancer survivors. Their goal is to use the results to develop tools and resources to support you in providing care to survivors and improving patient care across the care continuum. 

    The survey will take about 5-10 minutes to complete, and your input by Friday, June 17th, 2022, would be greatly appreciated. For any questions, please contact Meaghan Wright (Meaghan.Wright@ontariohealth.ca).

    ECHO Ontario Mental Health summer applications open

    Summer programs include:

    • ECHO Ontario Addiction Medicine and Psychosocial Interventions: Hospital-Based Addictions Care (6 sessions – Mondays from 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. EST, July 11 – August 15, 2022)
    • ECHO Ontario Integrated Mental and Physical Health (12 sessions – Fridays from 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. EST, June 3 – August 26, 2022)

    Apply here.

    Enhancing harm reduction education for service providers, June 14, 2022
    This webinar will share CATIE’s new Harm Reduction Fundamentals toolkit and how it can be used by frontline organizations, along with examples of how organizations are training their workers and community partners. Register here.

    Spirometry Testing for Diagnosing Asthma and COPD in Primary Care – The Why and the How, June 16, 2022

    The Lung Health Foundation is hosting sessions to explore the why and the how of spirometry testing for the diagnosis of asthma and COPD in primary care. Register here.

    Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients, June 17

    New, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines have been developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. These groups often have lower screening rates than their peers due to outreach that misses eligible clients and screening practices that can trigger gender dysphoria. Register here.

    Online Appointment Booking, June 21, 2022
    Ontario Health webinar featuring a panel of primary care providers to learn about the benefits of using online appointment booking in primary care practices. Register here.

    BounceBack: Back-to-the-office guide and tips to manage stress and anxiety, June 28 & 29, 2022
    Presented with the Canadian Mental Health Association. You’ll hear about coping strategies to help you better manage life’s stresses. Register for EN (June 28) and FR (June 29).

    Data To Action: Making Your Data Visible and Useful, Sep. 28, 2022

    Hosted by TechSoup Connect’s Ontario chapter. Register here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #118: Cancer Screening Program Updates and Team Initiatives

    In this Issue:

    • Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Changes
    • Ontario Cervical Screening Program Recommendations
    • Screening Activity Report
    • Continuing Professional Development Modules
    • Cancer Screening Initiatives in Teams
    • Upcoming Webinar

     

    Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Changes
    Content below developed by Ontario Health

    The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) and the Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) are pleased about amendments to Regulation 543 under the Healing Arts Radiation and Protection Act and Regulation 107/96 under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, which will allow nurse practitioners (NPs) to order computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans as of July 1, 2022.
     
    As of July 1, 2022, NPs will be able to:

    • Refer individuals to the High Risk OBSP. The updated referral form will be available on July 1st and can be found here.
    • Manage unattached OBSP participants with abnormal results.
    • Authorize OBSP sites to arrange all assessment tests required for OBSP participants.  
    • Refer individuals to the OLSP. The updated referral form can be found here.

     
    NPs are still able to provide colonoscopy referrals for the ColonCancerCheck program. Ontario Health helps people with an abnormal fecal immunochemical test (FIT) result who don’t have a primary care provider find a provider to refer them for a follow up colonoscopy. If an NP would like to put their name on the Ontario Health list to support unattached patients with abnormal FIT results, they can complete the CCC Attachment form found here.  
     
    Further information about the OBSP can be found here in English and French.
    Further information about the OLSP can be found here in English and French.

    Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP) Recommendations
    Content below developed by Ontario Health

    The OCSP now formally recommends that people with the following cervical screening results repeat their cytology test in 12 months instead of in 6 months:

    • A first time low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) or atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) result
    • An LSIL or ASCUS result followed by a normal result

     
    The OCSP originally released these evidence-based recommendations to support the gradual resumption of cervical screening services during COVID-19. We are now formalizing the change to our screening recommendations. Please see the fulsome screening recommendation summary that can be found here. For evidence to support this recommendation, please see: www.cancercareontario.ca/repeatcytologyinterval
     
    Ontario Health is working with Ontario labs that provide cervical screening testing to update the relevant cytology result reports, so they reflect this recommendation change. Please reach out to cancerinfo@ontariohealth.ca if you have any questions.

    Screening Activity Report
    Content below developed by Ontario Health

    The Screening Activity Report (SAR) is an electronic audit and feedback tool for patient enrolment model (PEM) physicians. The SAR supports PEM physicians with improving screening participation and follow-up rates for Ontario’s three organized screening programs:

    • Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP)
    • Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP)
    • ColonCancerCheck (CCC)

    Information and tools to support using the SAR can be found on: cancercareontario.ca/SAR

    Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Modules
    Content below developed by Ontario Health

    The following cancer screening Continuing Professional Development (CPD) modules are available for providers:

    • Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT): A Non-Invasive Test for Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening
    • Abnormal Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) Follow-Up and Surveillance
    • Lung Cancer Screening for People at High Risk (for applicable providers)

     
    Each module has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for 1 Mainpro+ Group Learning credit. If you are interested in a presentation of these new modules, please contact your Regional Cancer Program or your Regional Primary Care Lead.  Information about the Regional Cancer Programs can be found here.

    Cancer Screening Initiatives in Teams

    Preventative Care Text Reminders at Marathon Family Health Team
    Content below developed by Marathon Family Health Team

    Text reminders have been used for over 2 years at Marathon FHT to remind consenting patients the day before a scheduled clinic appointment. Aside from a small percentage of cell phone numbers being no longer valid when reminders are sent, the process has been going smoothly and reduced the administrative time needed to make reminder calls.  

    Given the success with general appointment reminders, in 2021 the team looked to expand the text reminder system to preventative care recall. In the fall of 2021, it was used first to notify patients aged 65+ of flu shot clinics.  Then in December 2021, the first set of text reminders was sent out to 31 patients due or overdue for Pap testing.  While the uptake from flu shot reminders has not been tracked, 7 (22.6%) of the patients receiving Pap reminders contacted the clinic within 2 weeks to book a Pap. Text reminders have also been successful in encouraging patients due for mammograms to book appointments with the Screen for Life Coach; last spring the booking staff for the coach confirmed that several patients called for appointments following the text reminder notifications of upcoming visits of the coach to our rural northern community.

    In all cases, the reminders are short and offer the option to opt out of preventative care reminders while retaining the usual clinic appointment reminders. Staff ensure that patient cell phone numbers are recorded in the cell phone field in the EMR (OSCAR) and consent for reminders is recorded in a previously unused demographic field now named “SMS consent”.  Patients opting out of specific preventative care reminders have that recorded under the specific prevention as “never remind”.

    Sample messages are as follows:
    MFHT Pap reminder: Email appointments@mfht.org or call 807-229-3243 to book a Pap. To opt out of Pap reminders CALL the clinic 807-229-3243
    MFHT reminder: Screen for Life Coach in Marathon June/Sep call 1-800-461-7031 to book a mammogram.  To opt out of mammogram reminders CALL the clinic 807-229-3243

    To learn more about this initiative please contact Margaret Cousins at mcousins@mfht.ca.

    Portal Messages at West Carleton Family Health Team
    Content below developed by West Carleton Family Health Team

    West Carleton FHT utilizes population health methods, namely EMR reminders, the newsletter and portal messages (note that 72% of patients at this FHT are registered on the portal) to inform patients that they are (or may be) (over)due and how to book/request the test. For the portal specifically, the health promoter runs a search to pull the list of eligible patients that are due then sends a mass portal message. Here is the response rate by cancer screening program:

    • For the FIT, over the last 2 times the portal messages were sent, 20.7% of the patients receiving those messages requested the test (370 requests out of 1,791 messages).
    • For Paps, the portal messages are staggered until the pap clinic slots are filled. During the latest pap clinic, 20.8% of the patients that received a message booked an appointment on the portal (49 appointments booked online out of 236 messages).
    • For mammography, over the last 2 times the portal messages were sent, the rate of messages read was 78.7% after 3 weeks and 52.4% after 2 weeks respectively (708 and 418 messages sent respectively).

    To learn more about this initiative please contact Charles Bruntz at charles.bruntz@esfam.ca.

    Email Communications to Engage Patients
    Content below developed by Southlake Academic Family Health Team

    Southlake Academic Family Health Team has made tremendous strides in the digital era produced by COVID-19. They have seen that email communication has been a very effective strategy to engage patients and provide them with important updates related to their health. Adapting successes from their vaccination clinics, the team is emailing education materials and newsletters to patients who are overdue for cervical cancer screening using resources from CognisantMD Ocean portal, AFHTO, Cancer Care Ontario, clinicians, and peers. These emails include a direct link to book appointments online with their providers for a Pap test. Based on past experiences, the team expects about 50% engagement from the email campaign, with 10-30% of these patients self-initiating an appointment with the team.

    To learn more about this initiative please contact Peter Nguyen at pnguyen@southlakeregional.org.  

    Content below developed by New Vision Family Health Team

    New Vision Family Health Team is actively emailing patients who have email addresses that they are due and providing them a link to book online with the NP during NP clinics. During Pap visits the team ensures that patients due for mammograms or FIT/colonoscopies are being provided requisitions or requisitions are being sent at that time. The team is actively tracking these conversations within the Pap stamp and utilizing the patient newsletter to remind patients of these screenings, letting them know they will receive a letter in the mail and need to contact the clinic to set up their appointment.

    To learn more about this initiative please contact Desirée DeMelo at desiree@newvisionhealth.ca.  

    Cancer Screening Queries
    To assist teams in pulling a list of up-to-date screening-eligible patients, the QI in PC Council members have put together a few queries. Please note, these queries are designed as a starter point to be customized according to your team’s EMR and needs. They can be found here.

    Upcoming Webinar

    Advancing Equity in Cancer Screening for Gender-Diverse Clients
    June 17 from 12:30-1:30 pm
    New, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines have been developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. Research shows that these populations have lower than average screening rates because outreach efforts often miss eligible clients; screening practices that can trigger gender dysphoria; and many clinicians experience confusion about who is eligible for cervical and breast screening. Join us on Friday, June 17, from 12:30-1:30pm for a special lunch ‘n’ learn webinar with guests from Ontario Health and Alliance member organizations to learn about the new guidelines and how the Alliance is helping to update data standards. Register here.

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #117 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

  • Bits & Pieces: Bright Lights coming soon and more

    Bits & Pieces: Bright Lights coming soon and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Bright Lights nominations open soon- reviewers needed
    • Reminder- Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients, June 17
    • Cyber Security Centre of Excellence updates
    • Speak Up Ontario is now Advance Care Planning Ontario
    • Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 and more
    • Psychological impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare workers
    • EMR best practices, tips & advice
    • Deadline approaching for 2023 OCFP Family Medicine Summit call for abstracts
    • Upcoming events including Indigenous Health Care Conference and more

     

    Bright Lights nominations open soon- reviewers needed
    Bright Lights nominations open soon. If you didn’t get a chance to submit an abstract or would just like to raise your profile at the conference and beyond, consider nominating your team for an award.

    We just need a couple more people on the review committee. If you’d like to learn more about your peers’ contributions and get a $35 discount on your registration fee, please apply here. Deadline June 22, 2022.

    Reminder- Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients, June 17

    New, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines have been developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. These groups often have lower screening rates than their peers due to outreach that misses eligible clients and screening practices that can trigger gender dysphoria. Register here.

    Cyber Security Centre of Excellence updates
    The latest email from this centre, part of the Cyber Security Division, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, features upcoming modules (e.g., Structuring Your Organization’s Cyber Security Program) and an updated resources page. Read more and sign up for updates here. 

    Install the Advance Care Planning App Today

    Speak Up Ontario is now Advance Care Planning Ontario

    Along with this rebranding they have multiple new resources to assist the public and health service providers with Advance Care Planning conversations and Goals of Care discussions.

    Websites:

    • www.advancecareplanningontario.ca – a guide for the public
    • www.pcdm.ca – for Health Care Professionals to learn about their role in Advance Care Planning conversations, Goals of Care discussions and Consent and Capacity 

    Advance Care Planning Ontario Mobile App

    Videos:

    Translated Resources– new edition of the Advance Care Planning Guide is available for purchase in English, French, Punjabi, Italian, Spanish, Chinese and Tagalog

    Management of Cases and Contacts of COVID-19 and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Psychological impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare workers

    Researchers from the University of Victoria and University of Toronto are inviting healthcare workers to take part in an online survey examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers’ wellbeing. They aim to understand how people who work in healthcare settings have been impacted, and what kinds of policies, practices or supports could help support this vital workforce.

    Whether you provide direct patient care, work in a supportive role, or provide administrative support/leadership, they would like to hear from you and understand your experiences through this pandemic. The survey takes around 40-50 minutes to complete and can be directly accessed by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3tJCvPN

    Participants will be offered a $5 Tim Hortons gift card and be entered into a draw to win one of several prizes up to $500.

    This study’s Research Ethics ID number is H21-02858. Further information can be obtained from Principal Investigators Brianna Turner (briannat@uvic.ca) and Theone Paterson (tpaterson@uvic.ca).

    EMR best practices, tips & advice

    Do you wish you could discuss your electronic medical record (EMR) with other healthcare providers who also use it and get useful and time-saving tips? You can join an OntarioMD (OMD) EMR Community of Practice (CoP).

    CoP members share best practices, tips, and advice on digital health tools at quarterly meetings. Your EMR vendor is also there so you can ask them questions. CoPs are available for Accuro® (QHR Technologies), Clinic Information System (P&P Data Systems), OSCAR Pro (WELL Health), and TELUS PS Suite electronic medical record (EMR) users.

    Find out more about OMD EMR Communities of Practice

    Join the CoP for your EMR

    Deadline approaching for 2023 OCFP Family Medicine Summit call for abstracts
    In 2023, FMS will be presented virtually, including live-stream days on January 27 and 28. Find out more about the application process on their site. Deadline June 12, 2022.

    Clearing the Air on Asthma and COPD: When Undertesting Leads to Overdiagnosis, June 8, 2022
    What are the barriers to pulmonary function testing? And how might clinicians and patients be supported to avoid over-diagnosis and over-treatment? They’ll discuss these questions and more on June’s Choosing Wisely Talks. Register here.

    Indigenous Health Care Conference, June 10, 2022
    Virtual event hosted by NPAO. Register here.

    On-Demand Insomnia Interventions: First-Line Treatment for Insomnia in Primary Care program

    Courtesy of Queen’s Health Sciences CPD team. Find out more here.

    Palliative Care in Practice, June 16 & 17, 2022
    2-Day in-person CPD event for NPs, MDs, PAs hosted by Queen’s Health Sciences. Find out more here.

    Online Appointment Booking, June 21, 2022
    Ontario Health webinar featuring a panel of primary care providers to learn about the benefits of using online appointment booking in primary care practices. Register here.

    Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar June 23

    In this webinar, we will hear about the work of the Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative as it pertains to identified priorities around fall indicators and falls risk screening and assessment and how we can better align our efforts across the province. Find out more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar and more

    Bits & Pieces: Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar June 23
    • Please fill in this quick vaccine survey
    • Member renewal deadline June 30
    • Free workplace mental health program for health care settings
    • Interim guidance on monkeypox vaccination, COVaxON training, and more
    • Seeking physician input for IMproving performance in Primary Care Teams (IMPaCT) survey
    • Reminder- interview on the diagnosis and management of concussion in adolescents
    • Upcoming events including Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients and more

    Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative webinar June 23

    The Ontario Fall Prevention Collaborative is a diverse group of health and social service practitioners and clinicians from across Ontario who come together to share information, analyze trends, and respond collectively to the need for change and innovation in fall prevention among older adults.

    In this webinar, we will hear about the work of the Collaborative as it pertains to identified priorities around fall indicators and falls risk screening and assessment and how we can better align our efforts across the province. Find out more here.

    Please fill in this quick vaccine survey

    Discussions are just starting on planning for vaccination for the under 5-year-old age group (when/if approved), which will rely very heavily on primary care and pediatricians. To better understand the current state and to start the planning process, please take a moment and fill in this very quick vaccine survey so we can ensure primary care is supported in this next phase of vaccination: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/May2022VaccineSurvey. Deadline extended to June 8.

    Member renewal deadline June 30
    Thank you to most of the teams who have renewed their membership already. If you haven’t sent in your renewal fee and form, the deadline to do so is June 30. After this date, access to member benefits and resources including updates, website and webinars will be removed. If you haven’t received a confirmation email from us, please email info@afhto.ca. 

    Free workplace mental health program for health care settings

    Your Health Space logo

    CMHA has launched Your Health Space, a free mental health program designed to support health care organizations in addressing burnout and promoting psychological health and safety in the workplace. Your Health Space offers training for Health Care Workers, Leaders, and Support Staff through self-directed modules and live workshops, the latter of which can be tailored to your organization’s unique needs.

    If you are an organizational leader and interested, please visit the website or email yourhealthspace@ontario.cmha.ca. Registration is now open. The Your Health Space team also invites you to attend a virtual information and Q&A session discussing the program on Tuesday, June 14th, Wednesday, June 15th, Tuesday, July 12th, or Thursday, July 14th.

    Interim guidance on monkeypox vaccination, COVaxON training, and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Seeking physician input for IMproving performance in Primary Care Teams (IMPaCT) survey

    Trillium Health Partners is seeking input from primary care physicians working in Ontario to understand what influences how physicians interact with data about their patients and their practice.
     
    You can find the survey and additional details here. You will be offered a $50 gift card in recognition for your time.
     
    If you have any questions, please contact, Zahava Rosenberg-Yunger (zahava.rosenberg-yunger@thp.ca).

    Reminder- interview on the diagnosis and management of concussion in adolescents

    Graduate students are researching the perspectives of community-based primary care providers in Toronto on the diagnosis and management of concussion in adolescents. They’re interested in connecting with a few family physicians, pediatricians, and nurse practitioners working in Toronto for a half-hour interview to participate in their capstone project.

    If you’re interested in participating or have any questions, please send them an email at concussion.trp@utoronto.ca. Deadline June 3.

    Clearing the Air on Asthma and COPD: When Undertesting Leads to Overdiagnosis, June 8, 2022
    What are the barriers to pulmonary function testing? And how might clinicians and patients be supported to avoid over-diagnosis and over-treatment? They’ll discuss these questions and more on June’s Choosing Wisely Talks. Register here.

    Spirometry Testing for Diagnosing Asthma and COPD in Primary Care – The Why and the How, June 16, 2022
    The goal of Choosing Wisely’s Let’s Clear the Air campaign is to avoid unnecessary treatment and misdiagnosis that can occur without a proper breathing test. To help, the Lung Health Foundation is hosting sessions to explore the why and the how of spirometry testing for the diagnosis of asthma and COPD in primary care. Register here.

    Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients June 17, 2022

    New, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines have been developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. Register here.

    Palliative Care in Practice, June 16 & 17, 2022
    2-Day in-person CPD event for NPs, MDs, PAs hosted by Queen’s Health Sciences. Find out more here.

    BounceBack: Back-to-the-office guide and tips to manage stress and anxiety, June 28 & 29, 2022
    Presented with the Canadian Mental Health Association. You’ll hear about coping strategies to help you better manage life’s stresses. Register for EN (June 28) and FR (June 29).

  • Bits & Pieces: advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients and more

    Bits & Pieces: advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients June 17
    • Welcome to Abisola Otepola
    • Reminder- Practical technologies that can enable ageing in place webinar May 19
    • Just a couple weeks left for Election 2022
    • Clinical systems renewal funding guidelines and template
    • National Physiotherapy Month
    • Access to Evusheld, guidance for routine immunization and more
    • Impacts of transitioning cancer survivors to primary care
    • Updates to antimicrobial stewardship program & antimicrobial resistance comparison tool
    • Upcoming events including Inuit Wellness and Prosperity and more

     

    Advancing equity in cancer screening for gender-diverse clients June 17
     

    New, gender-affirming cancer screening guidelines have been developed to support the health and wellbeing of Transgender and Non-Binary clients. These groups often have lower screening rates than their peers due to outreach that misses eligible clients and screening practices that can trigger gender dysphoria.

    We will hear from Ed Kucharski, a family physician who has led this work at Ontario Health and is a physician at SETFHT, about the guidelines and what needs to be in place to enable their use.

    We’ll also hear from two Alliance members who are leaders in care for 2SLGBTQ+ care and members of our 2SLGBTQ+ Health Equity Committee: Celeste Turner, an outreach worker, and Michelle Hurtubise, an executive director, will share their perspectives on how implementing these guidelines will affect health care planning, delivery, and outcomes at the individual and community levels.

    Register here.

    Abisola OtepolaWelcome to Abisola Otepola

    We’re happy to introduce Abisola Otepola, our new Director of Policy and Stakeholder Relations.
    Abisola joins AFHTO from the Ontario Public Service where she worked as a Manager to the Associate Deputy Minister of Health. She also previously worked as a Team Lead with oversight of the funding, policy, and performance of Ontario Health Teams, a population health model designed to end hallway healthcare and build a connected provincial health care system.

    At the Ministry of Health, she led and developed projects from design to scale, including a multi-year plan for scaling bundled care across the province. She brings a strong understanding of integrated care programs and a wealth of experience delivering on complex policy and programs across hospital, community, and primary care settings.

    Welcome Abisola to the team!

    Reminder- Practical technologies that can enable ageing in place webinar May 19
    Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health and University Health Network (UHN) and Director of Health Policy Research at the National Institute on Ageing (NIA) will be presenting on Practical Technologies that can Enable Ageing in Place on May 19, from 9:00 – 10:00am EDT.

    Presented by Sinai Health, in partnership with the NIA, UHN, and the Primary Care Collaborative, the webinar will aim to give health care professionals a better understanding of:

    • The risks and impacts of at-home medical emergencies
    • Why older Canadians want to age in place, now more than ever
    • Practical technologies that can enable ageing in place

    Register here.

    When it comes to keeping Ontarians healthy, it takes a TEAM

    Just a couple weeks left for Election 2022

    It’s only a couple of weeks until the provincial election on June 2. Healthcare is a top issue for all parties AND the public, so use all the resources available to make your voice heard.

    Share successes, pictures from candidate meetings, or pictures of patients with a voter card on social media. Broadcast what you do to deliver the best primary care in Ontario where It Takes a Team. Thank you to all the teams who have shared so far.

    AFHTO is tweeting regularly. We ask you tag @afhto when you tweet, and we’ll also retweet you! Don’t forget to use our campaign slogan #ItTakesATeam

    If you have any questions, please email advocacy@afhto.ca.

     

    Clinical systems renewal funding guidelines and template

    The FY 2022/23 Clinical Systems Renewal funding guideline and proposal template are now available.

    Interested OHTs, In Development Teams and other health care organizations should contact their OH Region (see below) to plan collaboratively and discuss their questions and the submission process. OH Regions are responsible for facilitating submission development and determining which should be submitted for funding approval.

    For more background see our February ebulletin.

    Scrabble tiles spelling out 'thank you' on a wooden ledge outside.

     

    National Physiotherapy Month

    For National Physiotherapy Month, we’d like to say THANK YOU to the amazing PTs in primary care teams – truly an example of the value that diverse professionals working together provide in healthcare.

     

     

    Access to Evusheld, guidance for routine immunization and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Refugee Healthline

    The Ministry of Health is supporting newly arriving refugees and people arriving through other exceptional humanitarian authorizations (e.g., Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel) by providing a toll-free, multi-lingual, Refugee HealthLine where they can connect with health care providers who deliver transitional health care and services, including primary care, specialist care, and mental health supports. Find out more here and here.

    Impacts of transitioning cancer survivors to primary care

    Primary care providers are tasked with providing safe and effective follow-up care for many cancer survivors.

    Ontario Health has developed a short survey to better understand your practice, your comfort level providing care to cancer survivors, the challenges you face, and your experiences in providing care for cancer survivors. Their goal is to use the results to develop tools and resources to support you in providing care to survivors and improving patient care across the care continuum.  

    The survey will take about 5-10 minutes to complete, and your input by Friday, June 17th, 2022, would be greatly appreciated. For any questions, please contact Meaghan Wright (Meaghan.Wright@ontariohealth.ca).

    Updates to antimicrobial stewardship program & antimicrobial resistance comparison tool
    Public Health Ontario has updated the Ontario Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) & Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Comparison Tool to provide more data and increase functionality. It will include recent data on hospital ASPs, updated Antimicrobial Use (AMU) data and trending in Ontario hospitals, and new antimicrobial resistance/antibiogram data for hospital, long-term care, and community settings. For questions or more information contact asp@oahpp.ca.

    Inuit Wellness and Prosperity: The Importance of National Seal Products Day, May 18, 2022

    Hosted by the IPHCC and presented by IPHCC Knowledge Keepers Circle member Vicky auf der Mauer. Find out more here.

    Demystifying Insurance: What Nonprofits Need to Know to Protect their Operations, May 19, 2022
    Free webinar presented by HUB International in partnership with CharityVillage. Register here.

    Quadruple Aim Measures for Ontario Health Teams (Part II), May 24, 2022
    Hosted by HSPN, they will review the approach to provider experience measurement and results from the Couchiching OHT. Register here.

    Clearing the Air on Asthma and COPD: When Undertesting Leads to Overdiagnosis, June 8, 2022
    What are the barriers to pulmonary function testing? And how might clinicians and patients be supported to avoid over-diagnosis and over-treatment? They’ll discuss these questions and more on June’s Choosing Wisely Talks. Register here.

    Spirometry Testing for Diagnosing Asthma and COPD in Primary Care – The Why and the How, June 16, 2022
    The goal of Choosing Wisely’s Let’s Clear the Air campaign is to avoid unnecessary treatment and misdiagnosis that can occur without a proper breathing test. To help, the Lung Health Foundation is hosting sessions to explore the why and the how of spirometry testing for the diagnosis of asthma and COPD in primary care. Register here.

  • Bits & Pieces: member stories, farewell to Sandeep and more

    Bits & Pieces: member stories, farewell to Sandeep and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Member stories
    • Farewell to Sandeep Gill
    • Seeking Director of Policy and Stakeholder Relations- deadline Mar. 25
    • Reminder – Ontario Health and Primary Care, MHA CoE, and HCNS, April 1
    • Reminder- Your Voice is Important: Election Campaign Training with Enterprise Canada, Apr. 6, 2022
    • The second anniversary and more
    • Ontario government seeking input on Anti-Racism Strategic Plan
    • Launch of QIP Navigator for 2022/23- drop-in sessions available
    • Upcoming events regarding COVID Recovery and more

    Member stories

    City of Lakes FHT– has developed a new Strategic Plan for 2022-25- EN and FR

    Lakehead NPLC– Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-led Clinic plans to take on 1,600 more patients

    Haldimand FHT– Haldimand FHT receives over $900k from province. Press release here.

    These last two are part of the Ontario government investment of $6.2 million across 32 primary care teams. Further details are coming, but if you are one of these teams, please send us any press releases, articles, etc. so we can spread the good news.

    Sandeep perches on edge of desk with her hands in her lap wearing a suit

     

    Farewell to Sandeep Gill

    It is with genuinely mixed feelings we announce that Sandeep Gill will be leaving AFHTO for a new role in the acute sector.

    Sandeep has been with AFHTO for nearly three years, most recently as Manager, Quality and Knowledge Translation.  So many have you had the pleasure of working with her or attended the webinars she has organized over the last few years. She has also helped AFHTO grow its research portfolio by securing several research opportunities which have also led to a few publications.

    We’re going to miss Sandeep but know she will bring so much to her new team. Please join us in giving her our sincerest best wishes. Her last day with AFHTO will be Friday, April 8th – any questions related to her work can be directed to info@afhto.ca.

    If anyone is interested in joining our team in a similar role, you can find details here. Deadline April 1, 2022.

     

     

    Seeking Director of Policy and Stakeholder Relations- deadline Mar. 25

    We’re growing! The Director of Policy and Stakeholder Relations will monitor and respond to relevant government activity, analyze government legislation and regulations that impacts primary care, health system restructuring and team-based care ensuring that AFHTO and its member voices are considered in the development and implementation of policy and advocacy by aligning with AFHTO’s strategic directions and delivering messaging that is consistent with AFHTO and the primary care sector’s public policy agenda, by positioning comprehensive team-based primary care as the foundation of the health care system.

    Learn more and apply by Mar. 25, 2022, for this two year position.

    Reminder – Ontario Health and Primary Care, MHA CoE, and HCNS, April 1

    AFHTO has arranged for an update and conversation with Ontario Health on its role in supporting primary care, the work being led through the Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence (MHA CoE), and the vision for OH’s Healthcare Navigation Service (HCNS). Register here to hear from senior decision makers at OH talk about how they are planning to support primary care through the pandemic recovery.

    Reminder- Your Voice is Important: Election Campaign Training with Enterprise Canada, Apr. 6, 2022

    AFHTO Executive Committee members and CEO meet with NDP MPP France Gélinas

    The provincial election is just over three months away. Now is the time for local candidates to hear from you!

    If you have any questions or need support, please email advocacy@afhto.ca.

    The second anniversary and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Ontario government seeking input on Anti-Racism Strategic Plan

    The Ontario government is seeking input as it launches a review of the province’s Anti-Racism Strategic Plan. You can find more details and submit feedback here (FR). Deadline May 4, 2022.

    Launch of QIP Navigator for 2022/23- drop-in sessions available

    The Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) online submission platform, QIP Navigator, has opened for 2022/23 QIP submissions. It will remain open until June 30, 2022. To support the process, Ontario Health will be hosting drop-in sessions on Zoom. Register here.

    If you have any questions, please contact QIP@ontariohealth.ca.

    COVID Recovery, Mar. 25, 2022

    41st in the series ‘Changing the way we work’ for OCFP’s COVID-19 CoP for Family Physicians. Register here.

    COVID-19 and indoor air quality – how community spaces can reduce transmission using ventilation, filtration, and ultra-violet disinfection

    Hosted by the Alliance and IPHCC, this April 5 webinar features two experts in indoor air quality from the University of Toronto. Want to get started now? Dr. Siegel and Dr. Li have shared five great things you can do to improve air quality and reduce airborne transmission of COVID-19.

    Diabetes Care: Tools and Resources to Support Mental Health Needs, Apr. 8, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Health and moderated by Dr. David Kaplan. Find out more here.

    Cannabis and Older Adults
    Free, asynchronous, accredited eLearning modules by Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) (English version) are now available. The French modules will be available Spring 2022. Find out more here.

    QI Innovations: Better Data, Better Decisions, Better Outcomes, Apr. 12, 2022
    Free conference hosted by Excellence through Quality Improvement Project (E-QIP). Learn more here.

  • Bits & Pieces: resilient communities fund and more

    Bits & Pieces: resilient communities fund and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • OTF Resilient Communities Fund deadline April 6
    • Happy Pharmacy Appreciation Month
    • Recommended drugs for adults with COVID-19 and more
    • Cannabis and older adults – coming soon
    • OCFP Awards – call for nominations
    • Benefits wayfinder
    • Upcoming events including “From pandemic to endemic? What’s next with COVID”, and more

    OTF Resilient Communities Fund deadline April 6

    While AFHTO members may not be solely eligible, they can work with community partners to apply for the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Resilient Communities Fund. The fund supports the recovery efforts of organizations impacted by COVID-19 and helps them respond with immediate, medium, and longer-term recovery projects.

    • Applicants can apply for a minimum of $10,000, and up to $200,000, with a maximum of $100,000 per year.
    • Application period is from March 9 until April 6, 2022, at 5 PM ET.

    You can find out more and register for overview webinars here.

    (NOTE: as per the OTF – they do not fund organizations that receive the majority of their funding through the public purse but they would welcome applications through the Collaborative Applicants Policy).

    Pharmacist in glasses, mask, hijab and gloves injects masked female patient in her right arm

     

    Happy Pharmacy Appreciation Month

    March is Pharmacy Appreciation Month, so we’d like to thank all our teams’ pharmacists for stepping up, during the pandemic, before, and beyond. Happy Pharmacist appreciation month!

     

    Recommended drugs for adults with COVID-19 and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Cannabis and older adults asynchronous learning- 11 individually accredited modules

    Cannabis and older adults – coming soon

    Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health has been developing several eLearning modules on Cannabis and Older Adults. The English version will be ready for launch very soon. Geared specifically to physicians, nurse practitioners, other healthcare providers and healthcare students, information on how to register will be made available when the modules officially launch. You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest developments. 

    OCFP Awards – call for nominations

    Nominate your colleagues for an OCFP award. Multiple categories ae open, including regional Family Physician of the Year. New for 2022 – Ontario family physicians can self nominate in any OCFP Award category. Deadline Mar. 13, 2022.

    Benefits wayfinder
    Benefits wayfinder is an online tool that simplifies the search for government benefits for people seeking ways to boost their incomes and/or reduce their expenses. Created by Prosper Canada, primary care providers can do a free online course to help them support patients here. If you have questions, please email benefitswayfinder@prospercanada.org. 

    Supporting caregiver well-being within Ontario Health Teams: Building caregiver resilience and reducing the risk of caregiver burnout, Mar. 2, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Caregiver Organization. Register here

    From pandemic to endemic? What’s next with COVID, Mar. 4, 2022

    Join the 40th in OCFP CoP’s series ‘Changing the way we work’. Register here.

    Your Voice is Important: Election Campaign Training with Enterprise Canada, Apr. 6, 2022

    The provincial election is just over three months away. Now is the time for local candidates to hear from you!

    If you have any questions or need support, please email advocacy@afhto.ca.

    Safe Administration of Oxytocin, Mar. 7, 2022
    Relaunched report, developed by the Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health available here. You can register for the webinar here.

    Primary Care COVID-19 Support CoP, Mar. 9, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Health, with a special focus on COVID@Home monitoring and Post COVID-19 Clinical Guidance for primary care. Register here.

    Winter/Spring 2022 Continuing Professional Development, until June 2022
    Some changes have been made to session dates for Queen’s Faculty of Health Sciences’ Continuing Professional Development program to allow them to host many programs in-person. View options here.

  • Bits & Pieces: 2022 pre-budget submission, OHIP inequity and more

    Bits & Pieces: 2022 pre-budget submission, OHIP inequity and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • AFHTO’s 2022 Pre-Budget Submission
    • Inequity in online OHIP renewal being addressed
    • FHT contract extension confirmed
    • Our response regarding the impact of team-based care on ED visits
    • Windsor Essex OHT announced
    • Updates re revoking Directive #2 and more
    • Accessible Drive-to-Vaccines Program extended
    • Advance care planning guides on sale
    • Upcoming events including The Omicron Aftermath: Post-acute COVID and Physician Wellness and more

    AFHTO’s 2022 Pre-Budget Submission

    On February 10, AFHTO submitted our recommendations to the government for their 2022 budget. This was done in collaboration with our five partners in the Primary Care Collaborative.

    Our recommendations are broken into four sections: 1) Address the HHR crisis and system capacity; 2) Integrate health care across Ontario; 3) Prioritize digital and data equity; and 4) Create a culturally safe healthcare system that addresses health inequities.

    With primary care at the foundation, our submission lays out what is needed to help build a province where people can access better care, more integrated care, and more accessible and continuous care.

    Our 2022 pre-budget submission can be read here.

    Inequity in online OHIP renewal being addressed

    Kathleen Wynne quote tweet- This is good news and only happened because activists spoke up. COVID has been especially hard on people with disabilities. This decision only makes sense!

    AFHTO began advocacy for the online OHIP renewal system last fall after learning that only people with a driver’s license could renew their OHIP card online. Like others, we felt it was unfair to limit this ability, particularly when it most negatively impacts people with disabilities that may prevent them from driving and, as such, having a driver’s license. It’s a concern at any time, but especially with a fast-approaching OHIP renewal deadline during a pandemic.

    AFHTO’s advocacy, along with partners, has paid off and the government announced on February 9 that they will be fixing the system to allow those with an Ontario Photo Card to renew online as well. To allow them needed time to fix this, they have extended the OHIP renewal deadline to September 30, 2022. Read more here!

    FHT contract extension confirmed

    FHT funding agreements were set to expire March 31, 2022. On Feb. 9 the Primary Health Care Branch sent the long-anticipated letters to teams confirming the extension of your current contracts to March 31, 2023. To minimise any potential disruption in funding, please return a signed copy as requested by March 15, 2022. Please contact your Ministry representative if you have any questions.

    Our response regarding the impact of team-based care on ED visits

    In the Jan/Feb Annals of Family Medicine journal Dr. Tara Kiran et al. showcased the Impact of Team-Based Care on Emergency Department Use which found adoption of team-based primary care may reduce emergency department use. See here for our response to the editors on this very important work.

    Windsor-Essex OHT announced

    Congratulations to Windsor-Essex OHT, whose 45 partners include members Amherstburg, Erie Shores, Harrow Health Centre, Windsor FHTs, and Essex County NPLC. Their focus will include ensuring underserved communities have equitable, culturally appropriate, and safe access to care. Read the news release here.

    Updates re revoking Directive #2 and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Need a ride to your COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment?

     

    Accessible Drive-to-Vaccines Program extended

    Ontario Community Support Association has been administering the Accessible Drive-to-Vaccines Program since June 2021, which is a Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility funded initiative that provides rides to COVID-19 vaccines for people with disabilities and seniors with mobility issues. The program was originally set to conclude in December 2021, but was extended to accommodate further transportation to booster shots, etc. The Ministry has announced that the program has been extended to March 31, 2022. Visit their site for more information.

    Advance care planning guides on sale

    National Advance Care Planning Day is on Saturday, April 16, and Hospice Palliative Care Ontario has a resource, Guide to Advance Care Planning in Ontario, to encourage important conversations. From now until March 31 at 4 p.m. all orders placed for full boxes will be provided with a discount of 10% off. Order the guide in English, French, Punjabi, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, or Tagalog. Please email your completed order form to Nav.Dhillon@hpco.ca.

    The Omicron Aftermath: Post-acute COVID and Physician Wellness, Feb. 18, 2022
    39th in the series ‘Changing the way we work’ – COVID CoP for Family Physicians, hosted by OCFP. Register here.

    Segmenting your OHT population: Stories from the Field Part 3, Feb. 22, 2022
    The next HSPN OHT evaluation webinar. Register here.

    OMD Educates: Targeting Patient Populations in Primary Care – A Practical Approach, Feb. 23, 2022

    Presented by Dr. Anil Maheshwari, Dr. Lee Donohue, and Dr. Vineet Nair, OMD Physician Peer Leaders with support from OMD Practice Enhancement Consultants.
    Register here.

    Five Recommendations for Using Labs Wisely During Global Blood Tube and Other Resource Shortages, Feb. 24, 2022
    COVID-19 has put an extraordinary strain on laboratory medicine in Canada due to critical shortages in blood tubes, devices, and lab staffing. Join Choosing Wisely Talks for a discussion on the need to conserve tubes and other critical lab resources. Register here.

    MyPractice: Primary Care Report: Using Data for Improvement, Feb. 28, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Health. Register here.

    Supporting caregiver well-being within Ontario Health Teams: Building caregiver resilience and reducing the risk of caregiver burnout, Mar. 2, 2022
    Hosted by Ontario Caregiver Organization. Register here