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Tag: virtual care

  • 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: 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.

  • 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: perks to get you through winter and more

    Bits & Pieces: perks to get you through winter and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Perkopolis winter discounts
    • Reminder- is there a doctor on board? #AFHTO2023 help needed
    • ICYMI- mental health and addiction funding letters
    • Fellowship in Journalism and Health Impact- deadline Feb. 17
    • Association between virtual primary care and ED use and more
    • Workplace mental health training for health care settings
    • Phase I Guidance for Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care for Primary Care evaluation survey
    • Upcoming events including Collaborative Governance: Towards the Next Level of Integrated Care and more

     

    Text at the top- Get a head start on your March break travel plans. Below, CityPass, Vegas foodie tour and Great Wolf Lodge

     

    Perkopolis winter discounts

    AFHTO members are eligible to sign up for free access to over 5000 perks through Perkopolis, including discounts on winter activities, travel, products, and wellness.

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

     

     

    Reminder- is there a doctor on board? #AFHTO2023 help needed
    AFHTO offers Mainpro+ accreditation for our annual conference for physicians. To ensure we maintain the standards required, we invite a member physician to take part in ONE meeting in February to provide feedback and input on the themes and format for our 2023 event. We’ll provide the appropriate materials beforehand and will be available to answer any questions you might have. Please email paula.myers@afhto.ca ASAP if you’re interested. Deadline Jan. 25.

    ICYMI- mental health and addiction funding letters

    On Jan. 18 we sent an email titled ‘Regarding mental health and addiction funding letters’ to EDs and Admin leads. This can now be found here at the triad level. If you have any questions, please contact Abisola.otepola@afhto.ca.

    Fellowship in Journalism and Health Impact- deadline Feb. 17
    You can shape the public discussion about health. The University of Toronto has a journalism fellowship designed with family physicians in mind and you can attend from anywhere. Learn more / apply / join an open house here. The next open house is Jan. 26 and they’re accepting applications until Feb. 17.

    Association between virtual primary care and ED use 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.

    Workplace mental health training for health care settings

    The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario has launched Your Health Space. This free workplace mental health program provides the training, resources, and tools needed to support health care organizations in addressing the burnout and moral distress affecting their teams.

    Your Health Space offers self-directed modules and live workshops, the latter of which can be tailored to each organization’s unique needs. This programming is delivered through three distinct spaces designed to address the needs of 1) Leaders, 2) Health Care Workers, and 3) Support Staff working within an organization. A fourth space for Connection, invites all staff members across an entire organization to participate in training together. Your Health Space’s team of trainers are based across Ontario and are available to facilitate workshops virtually or in person.

    If you are interested in bringing this free training program to your workplace, please visit: https://yourhealthspace.ca/programs/ or contact yourhealthspace@ontario.cmha.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.

    Collaborative Governance: Towards the Next Level of Integrated Care, Jan. 24, 2023
    Hosted by HSPN and IFIC Canada. Register here.

    OCFP 2023 Family Medicine Summit, Jan. 27-28, 2023
    Features two livestream days on Jan 27 & 28, plus additional pre-recorded sessions. Find out more here.

    ECHO Ontario Conference 2023, Jan. 27, 2023
    Virtual event, titled Integrated Health Systems and the ECHO Model: Lessons Learned in Ontario. Register here.

    Early Psychosis Intervention Quarterly Webinar, Feb. 9, 2023
    Ontario Health’s Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence’s first quarterly webinar on the development of a provincial Early Psychosis Intervention Program. Register here.

    Patient Safety Learning Community of Practice, Feb. 7, 2023
    Learn more about the patient safety narrative question for the 2023/24 QIP submission. Register here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #125: Patient and Family support for pregnancy loss

    In this Issue:

    • Patient with a pregnancy loss? There is support – for you, and for families
    • Primary care clinicians can directly refer frontline health workers to psychological practitioners for MOH-covered psychological treatment
    • Mental Health Resources
    • CMHA Ontario’s Your Health Space
    • The Indigenous Voice | Daadibaajimo
    • Virtual Care Guidance Statements Checklist for Clinicians and other resources
    • Upcoming Events

     

    Patient with a pregnancy loss? There is support – for you, and for families
    Content developed by Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Network

    Lisa Marie Buccella stands in front of a group of health care workers and shares tips for engaging with patients experiencing possibly one of the worst events of their lives: losing a baby.

    As a parent who has had a loss, she provides feedback on what wasn’t very helpful: Never start a sentence with “At least you have other children…” or “Just be grateful for…”. The room is clearly engaged and pipe up with questions. Families with an experience of pregnancy and infant loss will also share the importance of being connected with meaningful support, and how validating it feels for a professional to offer information and a referral.  

    Offered by Sunnybrook’s Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Network, the workshop is just one example of a resource for professionals to help support bereaved parents and families during a loss. PAIL Network also offers suggestions for communication with families, memory making, forming bereavement committees, and practical information and handouts for families on issues like lactation after loss and employment leave.

    For families living in Ontario, PAIL Network organizes peer-led group and individual support services at no cost. The supports are comprehensive, including groups for each trimester of loss, and groups focused on infant/neonatal loss, SIDS, termination of pregnancy, pregnancy after loss, partners in grief and grief after abortion. Referring a family for support can be done online by any health care or service professional through a secure form that is sent directly to PAIL Network and ensures that a family will be contacted to be connected with peer support online or over the phone.

    We encourage you to check out their resources and consider signing up for a session as well as ordering handouts to support families. For more information, visit Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Network.

    Primary care clinicians can 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. For a demo, please click here.

    Mental Health Resources
    Webinars

    Select Resources

    CMHA Ontario’s Your Health Space
    Just a reminder that the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario has launched Your Health Space, a free mental health service for Ontario’s health care organizations. This program provides the training, resources, and tools needed to encourage complex conversations about stress and burnout and promote psychological health and safety in health care workplaces.

    Your Health Space offers self-directed modules and live workshops, the latter of which can be tailored to your organization’s unique needs. This programming is delivered through three distinct spaces designed to address the needs of 1) Leaders, 2) Health Care Workers, and 3) Support Staff working within an organization. Furthermore, Your Health Space has a team of trainers across Ontario that are available to facilitate workshops virtually or in person, at your workplace. Upon completion of the program, primary care teams will receive a digital badge and individuals will receive a digital certificate.

    If you are an organizational leader interested in bringing this free program to your workplace, please visit www.yourhealthspace.ca or contact yourhealthspace@ontario.cmha.ca.

    The Indigenous Voice | Daadibaajimo
    Content developed by IPHCC

    The IPHCC recently launched a public facing newsletter titled: Indigenous Voice | Daadibaajimo to keep the audience informed on how we are improving Indigenous health outcomes and supporting the advancement and evolution of Indigenous primary health care services throughout Ontario. This newsletter is designed for both non-Indigenous and Indigenous audiences as it entails specific content and resources to promote education and awareness about Indigenous Peoples. To learn more about how the IPHCC is shaping Indigenous health care, subscribe to our newsletter here or send an email to communications@iphcc.ca. Click here to view the past issue.

    Virtual Care Guidance Statements Checklist for Clinicians and other resources
    The Virtual Care Guidance Statements Checklist for Clinicians and other support tools for the Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care Guidance in Primary Care are now live on the Ontario Health website. They are currently available in English and French. For feedback/questions, email PCP.Gudance@ontariohealth.ca.

    Upcoming Events

    ECHO Ontario Child and Youth Mental Health
    Beginning January 19, 2023, 12:00-1:00 pm
    Many Ontarian children and youth live in remote and underserved communities. Eighteen percent of Ontarians live in rural areas, where only 2% of the province’s child psychiatrists live. ECHO Ontario CYMH aims to change diagnostic, prescribing, treatment and referral practices of Primary Care Providers (PCPs) who are caring for children and youth with mental health problems. Register here.

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #124 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

  • Bits & Pieces: The experience of primary care teams during the early phase of COVID-19 and more

    Bits & Pieces: The experience of primary care teams during the early phase of COVID-19 and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • The experience of primary care teams during the early phase of COVID-19
    • Member stories
    • Evidence of value- Enhanced Primary Care Diabetes (EPCD) team model
    • Corrected link – Healthcare Excellence Canada Opportunity: Partnering on Appropriate Virtual Care
    • Ontario Caregiver Organization 2022 Spotlight Report
    • Updated Post-Covid-19 Condition guidance, vaccination deserts and more
    • Help shape the future of virtual health care in Ontario
    • Comparison of bleeding risk between Rivaroxaban and Apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation
    • Upcoming events including COVID Therapeutics and more

     

    The experience of primary care teams during the early phase of COVID-19

    Now published in BMC Primary Care are the results of “The experience of primary care teams during the early phase of COVID-19: A qualitative study of primary care practice leaders in Ontario, Canada”.

    Seventy-one Executive Directors from across all regions of Ontario were interviewed for the study, representing 37% of the AFHTO member clinics. Four themes were identified in the data: i) Complexities of Virtual Care, ii) Continuation of In-person Care, iii) Supporting Patients at Risk, and iv) Stepping up and into New Roles.

    Thank you to all the EDs and Admin Leads who provided your insights. Read more here.

    Member stories

    Espanola FHT – nurse wins prestigious award

    North Simcoe FHT- New clinic offers help for those with COVID-19, flu symptoms

    St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT – What the rest of the country can learn from Ontario’s family doctor payment model

    Evidence of value- Enhanced Primary Care Diabetes (EPCD) team model

    Staff clinician group with access to the model found to improve their diabetes care quality, but more research needed- “Evaluation of an Enhanced Primary Care Team Model to Improve Diabetes Care”, The Annals of Family Medicine, November 2022

    Corrected link – Healthcare Excellence Canada Opportunity: Partnering on Appropriate Virtual Care

    The Partnering on Appropriate Virtual Care collaborative will support primary care practices, organizations, and multidisciplinary teams from across Canada to determine when and how virtual care should be used in their respective healthcare settings. Participants will receive up to $20,000 in seed funding to develop a framework that supports shared decision-making with patients, ensuring choices around virtual care are based on patient needs and capabilities, their care requirements and clinician capacity. This program runs between January and November 2023 and involves a range of online learning and design activities. Learn more about the program and how to apply here.

    a black man with greying hair places a throw blanket on the shoulders of an older black woman sitting in front of him as they smile at each other

     

     

    Ontario Caregiver Organization 2022 Spotlight Report

    One in four caregivers say their caregiving responsibilities have become more difficult since the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

    Each year, the Ontario Caregiver Organization looks at the caregiving experience in Ontario and how family caregivers are coping in their role. Although much has changed since 2021’s report, what hasn’t changed is the impact caregiving is having on caregivers. Read the full report here.

     

     

     

    Updated Post-Covid-19 Condition guidance, vaccination deserts 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.

    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 our recruitment efforts, we are offering primary care clinics the opportunity to receive a personalized survey link and provide a custom report on the experiences of your patients. If this opportunity interests you, please contact Simon Lam, research coordinator, at sck.lam@utoronto.ca.

    Comparison of bleeding risk between Rivaroxaban and Apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation

    Dr. Lana Castellucci, Thrombosis Physician and General Internist at The Ottawa Hospital, is leading the COBRRA AF trial (COmparison of Bleeding Risk between Rivaroxaban and Apixaban in patients with Atrial Fibrillation). The aim is to evaluate the safety and bleeding risks of apixaban compared to rivaroxaban for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL). Current guidelines do not support using one agent over another, but data suggests apixaban has lower bleeding risks. This trial will be the first to directly compare these anticoagulants for bleeding events in AF and to determine the safest treatment.
    We invite you to refer your patients with newly diagnosed AF/AFL to The Ottawa Hospital Thrombosis Unit to be considered for participation. Materials:

    Please note, these documents are meant for staff only, and not for the patients. Please let us know if you have any questions. 

    Primary Care and COVID-19 Support CoP Monthly Call, Jan. to Jul. 2023
    The Community of Practice hosted by Ontario Health to support Primary Care and Covid-19, holds monthly calls, and the new registration link for the first 7 months in 2023 is available. Register here.

    ECHO Programs at UHN, starting Jan 12, 2023

    • Liver Starting Jan. 16
    • Concussion Resumes Jan. 18
    • Chronic Pain/Opioids Starting Jan.12
    • Rheumatology Starting Jan. 14

    Register here.

    COVID Therapeutics, Jan. 20, 2023
    55th in OCFP and UofT’s series “Changing the way we work” on Friday, January 20, 2023, at 7:55-9:15 am. Register here.

    Introduction to CARF Network Standards for OHTs, Jan. 24, 2023
    CARF Canada is hosting a complimentary webinar to describe the relevance of their Network standards for organizations working in partnership for service delivery. Register here.

    OCFP 2023 Family Medicine Summit, Jan. 27-28, 2023
    Features two livestream days on Jan 27 & 28, plus additional pre-recorded sessions. Find out more here.

    ECHO Ontario Conference 2023, Jan. 27, 2023
    Virtual event, titled Integrated Health Systems and the ECHO Model: Lessons Learned in Ontario. Register here.

  • The experience of primary care teams during the early phase of COVID-19

    Research article published in BMC Primary Care 23, 294 (2022)

    The experience of primary care teams during the early phase of COVID-19: A qualitative study of primary care practice leaders in Ontario, Canada

    Abstract

    Background

    The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a rapid shift to virtual care in primary care practices around the globe. There has been little focus on the experiences of interprofessional teams through the lens of primary care practice leaders. The objective of this study was to examine the experience of primary care teams during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of primary care leadership.

    Methods

    Qualitative study using qualitative description methods. Executive Directors of interprofessional primary care teams belonging to the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO) were invited to participate. Executive Directors were interviewed and the interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.

    Results

    Seventy-one Executive Directors from across all regions of Ontario were interviewed for the study, representing 37% of the AFHTO member clinics. Four themes were identified in the data: i) Complexities of Virtual Care, ii) Continuation of In-person Care, iii) Supporting Patients at Risk, and iv) Stepping up and into New Roles.

    Conclusions

    Primary care teams rapidly mobilized to deliver the majority of their care virtually, while continuing to provide in-person and home care as required. Major challenges to virtual care included technological infrastructure and unfamiliarity with virtual platforms. Advantages to virtual care included convenience and time savings. Virtual care will likely continue to be an important mode of primary care delivery moving forward.

    Authors:

    • Dr. Catherine Donnelly, Queen’s University
    • Christine Mills, Queen’s University
    •  Sandeep Gill, Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    • Kavita Mehta, Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
    •  Dr. Rachelle Ashcroft, University of Toronto

  • QI in Action eBulletin #124: Celebrating the Resilience of Teams in 2022, QIPs 2023-2024

    In this Issue:

    • Thank You to our Wonderful Teams
    • Celebrating Teams: Collaborating to Improve Palliative Care
    • Celebrating Teams: Filling Gaps in the Community
    • Healthcare Excellence Canada: Partnering on Appropriate Virtual Care
    • Physician Consultations on PHIPA Changes
    • Support Tools for Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care Guidance in Primary Care
    • Quality Improvement Plans (QIPS) 2023/24
    • Farewell and Thank You from Raveen Bahniwal
    • Upcoming Events

     

    Thank You to our Wonderful Teams
    2022 has been a difficult year for primary care and we want to thank our teams for their resilience and capacity to adapt to the constant challenges that came their way. You have all continued to support not only your patients but non-rostered patients in your communities, collaborated with partners to advance your programs and continued to advocate for the ongoing expansion of team-based care. We aren’t able to highlight all the wonderful work for teams in 2022 in this short newsletter, but we encourage you all to read our Annual Report and explore our Bright Lights Nominees and Award Winners.

    Celebrating Teams: Collaborating to Improve Palliative Care

    Care for Palliative End of Life Patients with Bancroft FHT

    Content developed by Bancroft FHT
    In April 2022 the Bancroft Community Family Health Team formed a partnership and collaboration with North Hastings Hospice in Bancroft Ontario to provide an alternative level of care to their palliative end of life patients and residents of the community.

    Through the System Navigation Program, patients can be referred directly from physicians, nurse practitioners, Home and Community Care Services, Hospitals, and other community support agencies. The Palliative System Navigator RN will complete the initial intake process by meeting with the patient to discuss their end-of-life care and wishes. The nurse will then make the appropriate arrangements for the patient, coordinating in home services or admission to Hospice House in collaboration with one of the BCFHT FHO physicians.

    The goal is to provide effective, quality, compassionate, and coordinated care to palliative end of life patients and community residents in an appropriate setting while at the same time reducing hospital admissions. For any questions, please email mkelly@bancroftfht.com.

    Couchiching FHT Streamlines Access to Palliative Care Resources

    Couchiching FHT has provided leadership and resources to the Couchiching Palliative Care Working Group for several years. With the creation of the Couchiching Ontario Health Team (COHT), this working group was able to leverage the strong collaboration within the COHT to make incredible strides towards accomplishing their goals.

    This group of service providers and system users has created a central referral system which went live in February 2022. There is one referral form to access all palliative care services in the sub-region and a list of primary care practitioners who will accept non-rostered palliative patients, so no palliative patient in Couchiching is going without primary care. In addition, they have streamlined and coordinated resources to reduce duplication and make it easier for patients and their caregivers to find the right resources at the right time. For more information, please email a.munday@cfht.ca.

    Celebrating Teams: Filling Gaps in the Community

    Community Newborn Program at the Belleville NPLC

    Content provided by Belleville NPLC
    The purpose of the Community Newborn program is to provide follow up care to newborns who do not have a primary care provider in the community. Infants are seen by the program staff within 72 hours of discharge from the hospital. The Community Newborn Program consists of a Nurse Practitioner-Paediatrics, a Registered Nurse, and an Admin Support who each work 20 hours per week to support patients in this program. The NP and RN provide routine follow up care and non-emergent assessments for the infants up until 6 months of age. They also provide routine vaccinations for siblings of their infant patients who also do not have a primary care provider. For any inquiries about this program, please email admin@bnplc.ca.

    Prenatal and Well Baby Program at Barrie and Community FHT

    The Prenatal and Well Baby (PNWB) Program provides prenatal and well-baby care for women and children (up to the age of 6) without a family physician in the Barrie and surrounding area. The program has nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians and lactation consultants that provide care, education and referrals into community supports. The program also performs tongue tie releases and has a paediatrician available for consultation.

    Throughout the pandemic, the PNWB Program and Breastfeeding Services continued to see patients daily for essential care. During the pandemic, the Barrie area has seen an influx of new residents. Many of these new community members do not have a family doctor close to home, and the PNWB clinic is a place they can receive this essential service in the community they live. For more information, please click here and for any questions, please email jthomas@bcfht.ca.

    Healthcare Excellence Canada Opportunity: Partnering on Appropriate Virtual Care
    The Partnering on Appropriate Virtual Care collaborative will support primary care practices, organizations, and multidisciplinary teams from across Canada to determine when and how virtual care should be used in their respective healthcare settings. Participants will receive up to $20,000 in seed funding to develop a framework that supports shared decision-making with patients, ensuring choices around virtual care are based on patient needs and capabilities, their care requirements and clinician capacity. This program runs between January and November 2023 and involves a range of online learning and design activities. Learn more about the program and how to apply here.

    Physician Consultations on PHIPA Changes
    The Ministry of Health is seeking physicians interested in participating in a focus group to talk about their experiences with the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). This work is part of the Ministry’s Dialogue on Data engagement strategy. Your knowledge and experience will inform the development of a data strategy report to the Ontario Health Data Council that will be seen by the Minister of Health, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, and many other important stakeholders. Click here to learn more. Focus groups will take place January 17 to 19, from 12-1 pm and we are looking for 20 physician volunteers spread over the three days. If you are interested in participating, please email info@afhto.ca.

    Support Tools for Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care Guidance in Primary Care
    The two patient-facing support tools for the Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care Guidance in Primary Care are now live on the Ontario Health website. The patient-facing tools, ‘Learning about Virtual Care Options’ and ‘Checklist for Use of Virtual Care’, are currently available in English and French. There is work underway to translate the patient-facing tools into additional languages. This will be made available on the Ontario Health website when ready. For feedback/questions, email PCP.Gudance@ontariohealth.ca.

    Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) 2023/24
    Ontario Health announced the start of the Quality Improvement (QIP) program cycle for 2023/24. This year’s QIPs will continue to focus on a small number of quality issues that are important to the health care system, such as issues that have been particularly impacted by COVID-19 and need our attention to help support health system recovery.

    Priority indicators have been developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Long-Term Care, and other teams across Ontario Health; however, organizations may also choose to focus on local issues that are important to their communities. Ontario Health encourages organizations to work on improving equity and supporting cultural safety and responsiveness. Organizations can choose to add custom indicators aimed at improving equitable access to care and/or share goals in the Narrative section.

    QIP Navigator, the online QIP development and submission platform, has been updated for this year’s submission and is now open for 2023/24 QIP submissions. Organizations can download pre-populated templates and current performance will be pre-populated with administrative data in January where available. Ontario Health will be hosting drop-in sessions on Zoom which are optional and will provide you with an opportunity to ask questions about the QIP program, QIP Navigator and learn about available quality improvement resources. QIPs must be submitted by March 31, 2023. Please email QIP@ontariohealth.ca if you have any questions or concerns.

    Planning Resources:

    Farewell and Thank You
    To end this ebulletin with some bittersweet news, I will be leaving AFHTO at the end of December to begin medical school in January. Thank you to all our members and partners for sharing your stories and initiatives with me. It was a pleasure for me to bring you these monthly ebulletins and KTE webinars. I will truly miss this community but hope our paths cross again someday. Stay tuned to the next ebulletin in January and have a wonderful holiday season. –Raveen Bahniwal, Quality Improvement and Knowledge Translation Specialist

    Upcoming Events

    HSPN: IFIC Canada and Health System Performance Network Virtual Community

    Tuesday, December 20, 2022, 12-1:30 pm
    Integration is the lever to enable population health and well-being. A key component of integration is the role of partnering with the volunteer sector to improve outcomes for our patients, caregivers, and our population. In this session, we will take a deep dive to learn firsthand about the role of engaging the volunteer sector from the perspectives of policymakers, researchers, and a person with lived experience. This session will discuss the available evidence, the volunteer sector’s role in policy, and share approaches and practical examples of local work that engages with the volunteer sector. Register here.

    ADVANCE Special Topic Series- Balancing Task and Process in Leading Integrated Care Systems
    Monday, January 9, 2023, 12-1 pm
    Developing integrated care systems often requires newly constituted intersectoral teams to form and rapidly engage in mutually reinforcing activities of integration, while attending, in parallel, with the processes by which these new teams engage in collaborative leadership, decision-making and/or system improvement. Professor Robin Miller, based at the University of Birmingham, will discuss the promise and pitfalls of collaborative leadership within integrated care systems and how attending to process can support inter-sectoral teams to achieve the aim of collaborative governance. To register, click here.

     

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #123 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

  • 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.

  • Bits & Pieces: virtual care guidance and more

    Bits & Pieces: virtual care guidance and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Clinically appropriate use of virtual care guidance for primary care
    • Resources addressing children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen shortage
    • Nurse Practitioner Week
    • Ontario’s Fall Economic Statement
    • Member stories
    • Reminder – Highlights and implications of the Ontario Science Table’s brief on primary care, Nov. 30
    • Updated COVID-19 vaccine guidance and more
    • Reminder – seeking input on how to improve person-centred osteoarthritis care
    • Hospice Palliative Care Ontario call for abstracts
    • Public Health 2023 call for submissions
    • Upcoming events including The Critical Role of Primary Care in Preventing Caregiver Burnout and more

    Clinically appropriate use of virtual care guidance for primary care

    Today Ontario Health released the much anticipated ‘Clinically Appropriate Use of Virtual Care Guidance for Primary Care’- EN FR.  The materials are intended to support primary care clinicians to make deliberate and purposeful decisions in 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.

    You can also watch Drs Kaplan and Bordman speak about the guidance document during the November 9th OH Community of Practice. Click here for the recording.

    Resources addressing children’s acetaminophen and ibuprofen shortage

    NPAO Celebrating Nurse Practitioner Week NPAO.ORG. Text beside picture of a smiling woman in mask and cap

     

    Nurse Practitioner Week

    Thank you to all the NPs working in primary care teams for your passion, your dedication, and your ongoing commitment to excellent patient-centred care! Happy Nurse Practitioner Week!

     

     

     

     

     

    Ontario’s Fall Economic Statement
    On Monday, the Minister of Finance tabled Ontario’s Fall Economic Statement (FES) entitled Ontario’s Plan to Build: A Progress Update.

    In the last few years, FES has been used as a “mini budget” with new investments. This year, it returned to being what it is called: an economic statement. It repeated campaign commitments and noted the number of new healthcare workers, acute care beds, and long-term care homes under development. There was nothing new about health care and no mention of mental health and addiction.

    AFHTO and partners will continue advocacy to hopefully see meaningful commitments in the spring budget. For a synopsis of the FES, please read Enterprise Canada’s highlights.

    Member stories

    Minto-Mapleton FHT– Filling the Gaps in Access to Rural Mental Healthcare– featuring their NP and counsellor

    Peterborough FHT – The front door to health care is broken

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

    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.

    Updated COVID-19 vaccine guidance 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.

    Hospice Palliative Care Ontario call for abstracts

    Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO) is accepting submissions for presentations at their 2023 Annual Conference, Now is the Time, on June 11-13, 2023. More details here. Deadline Dec. 5, 2022.

    Public Health 2023 call for submissions

    Canadian Public Health Association is accepting submissions for Public Health 2023, taking place virtually June 20-22, 2023. For more details, please visit their site. Deadline Jan. 12, 2023.

    Reminder – seeking input on how to improve person-centred osteoarthritis care

    Per UHN:
    “Dr. Anna Gagliardi at University Health Network (UHN) is recruiting healthcare professionals for a one-time 20-minute phone interview for a research study about how to improve person-centred osteoarthritis (OA) care. During the interview, we will ask you for your perspectives, experiences, and recommendations regarding strategies to improve care for immigrant women affected by osteoarthritis.

    You are eligible for this study if you:
    — Are a family physician, nurse practitioner, or community pharmacist who works with patients with osteoarthritis
    OR
    — Are a healthcare executive, healthcare manager, or policymaker who oversees osteoarthritis services

    For more information or to express interest in participating, please contact the study coordinator, Madeline Theodorlis, by email: madeline.theodorlis@uhn.ca. Please note that information sent by email may be accessible by external parties and therefore not entirely secure. Many thanks for your consideration.”

    Infection Prevention & Control in Primary Care, Nov. 23, 2022
    Hosted by Hamilton FHT and Public Health Ontario. Find out more here.

    Evaluating program planning using an equity framework, Nov. 23, 2022
    To plan for an expansion of healthcare services in newly developed neighbourhoods, a planning initiative was conducted to better understand the needs of the population. Ensuring equity of care was identified as a priority for this initiative.

    CCHL Forum webinar featuring speakers from Ontario Health, North York FHT and Queen Square FHT. Register here.

    Supporting Caregivers Supports Patients- The Critical Role of Primary Care in Preventing Caregiver Burnout, Nov. 24

    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. Register here.

    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.