Ultimate Blogging Championship

Tag: virtual care

  • Bits & Pieces: COVID-19 collaborative home monitoring resources, fact sheets and more

    Bits & Pieces: COVID-19 collaborative home monitoring resources, fact sheets and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • COVID-19 collaborative home monitoring program resources now available
    • Happy Psychology month
    • Supply Ontario survey
    • Interprofessional primary care during COVID-19: a survey of the provider perspective
    • Correction-anti-racism webinar series open to members
    • COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet, cancer screening update and more
    • Reminder- primary care virtual groups webinar, Feb. 17, 2021
    • Trans health mentorship call
    • Infection prevention and control at work: basic awareness training
    • Microsoft Teams update
    • PHAC webinar: emerging issues on covid-19 vaccines: allergies, anaphylaxis, and low dead volume syringes
    • Upcoming events including transitioning programs to virtual and more

    COVID-19 collaborative home monitoring program resources now available

    Related to this recently launched program, Georgian Bay FHT has provided resources to help other members set up their own program, including CHMP pathway, patient information handouts and EMR assessment forms.

    Happy Psychology month

    To all our Psychologists, thank you for looking out for Ontarians’ mental health throughout the pandemic. Happy Psychology Month!

    Reminder- The Ontario Psychological Association is also still working with AFHTO to improve access to psychological services in times of need. Last spring, they activated the Disaster Response Network to connect essential front-line workers who needed support from psychologists. Until March 31st, Ontario physicians, nurse practitioners and FHTs may still refer essential workers with no or limited health benefits directly to OPA or inform patients to call 211 to be connected to a psychologist within 48 hours. Up to 6 counselling sessions are offered at no cost.

    Supply Ontario survey

    The government recently established Supply Ontario, a single integrated supply chain across the public sector that will leverage the province’s purchasing power to provide greater value and consistent access to high-quality products and services.

    They’re asking for input to help identify where there may be opportunities to improve the value that the agency can deliver for your organization and patients, through better supply chain processes. Deadline February 24.

    Interprofessional primary care during COVID-19: a survey of the provider perspective
    Thank you to those who participated in the survey led by Drs. Catherine Donnelly (and Jordan Miller and Rachelle Ashcroft. An article has now been published, with input from our own Sandeep Gill.

    Correction- Anti-racism webinar series open to members
    Hosted by Central Brampton FHT’s mental health team & CMHA Toronto Opening Doors Project, Anti-Racism – What is it and Where do you fit in? is a webinar series with four consecutive episodes, which offers an opportunity to explore our own individual identities and how it relates to practicing anti-racism:

    • Part 1: Reflecting on our own Identities -Feb. 17 AND 24
    • Part 2: Building Bridges: Anti-Racism 101- Mar. 3 AND 10

    Members are welcome to attend.

    COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet, cancer screening update and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    Reminder- primary care virtual groups webinar, Feb. 17, 2021

    This webinar is in collaboration with two FHTs transitioning in-person programs to virtual. Scarborough Academic FHT will share how they transferred their CBT skills group for depression and anxiety to online along with the benefits and challenges.

    Arnprior FHT is presenting on how they modified an in-person Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab to Virtual in their rural community. In this webinar they will share their patients’ thoughts and feelings on the program adjustment, discussing wins and struggles along the way. Register here.

    Trans health mentorship call

    Rainbow Health Ontario’s Trans Health Mentorship call is a teleconference every other week for Ontario clinicians to connect with peers who have experience caring for trans and non-binary service users.  

    The call is open to any professional (physician, nurse, social worker, mental health worker, etc.) who is or will be working with trans and non-binary service users. Learn more here.

    An employee with glasses, mask and glove cleans a counter

     

    Infection prevention and control at work: basic awareness training

    A new online training program is now available to help Ontario workers recognize infection hazards in the workplace and what can be done to prevent them. Developed in consultation with infection control consultants and epidemiologists, this free, 30-minute eLearning program from Public Services Health & Safety Association equips workers with knowledge in how infections spread and what action can be taken to protect themselves and others in the workplace.

     

     

    Microsoft Teams update

    AFHTO continues its conversations with Ontario Health on extending the Microsoft 365 licensing (which includes Microsoft Teams) to AFHTO members. Ontario Health is working through the details with Microsoft, and they are considering affiliate licensing that would be made available through a licensing provider. AFHTO will advise members when the affiliate licensing has been set up, along with the details on the discount pricing (hopefully before fiscal year end).

    PHAC webinar: emerging issues on covid-19 vaccines: allergies, anaphylaxis, and low dead volume syringes

    Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) webinar hosted by the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCCID):
    English Session
    February 10, 2021 1pm-3:00pm EST
    Register: Click here
     
    French Session
    February 12, 2021  1pm-3:00pm EST
    Register: Click here
     
    Previous Public Health Agency of Canada COVID-19 vaccine webinars for health care providers can be found here.

    Engaging and supporting caregivers in primary care teams: working together to improve outcomes and enhance the patient, caregiver, and family experience, Feb. 25, 2021

    Cohosted with Ontario Caregiver Organization, this webinar will highlight resources and opportunities for teams to support and engage caregivers.

    Register today.

    Waiting Room Revolution – A Podcast About Unlocking the Secrets to a Better Illness Experience

    Drs. Hsien Seow and Samantha Winemaker share the stories of patients and families’ serious illness journeys. Listen to the first 4 episodes today.

    Goal Management Training for Treatment of Executive Dysfunction, Feb. 19, 2021
    Learn more about the intervention, research, and models to deliver Goals Management Training virtually. Learn more here.

    Recognizing and Managing Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care during COVID-19, Feb. 9, 2021
    Ontario Health webinar with experts in the field and resources about how to support patients presenting in primary care with symptoms of anxiety. Register here.

    Personal Resilience for Hospice Palliative Care, Mar. 3, 2021
    Learn how to enhance personal resilience during even the most challenging times.
    Find out more here.

    Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health, Mar. 4, 2021
    The aim of this conference is to bridge this gap and provide information and resources to better equip Nurse Practitioners providing care to Gender Diverse individuals. The highlight is hearing the patient perspective. Find out more.

    Advance Care Planning & Goals of E-Learning Modules, Available until Mar. 31, 2021
    The HPCO is offering their e-modules on person-centred decision making for a limited time. Register before the end of March to access the resources. Learn more here.

  • Follow-up on ED check-in calls Jan. 26 & 27 – and additional tools and resources

    This email is being sent to EDs/Admin Leads, Board Chairs and Lead Clinicians of AFHTO member organizations.

    Dear triad members,

    We had our first 2021 regional ED check-in calls on January 26 and 27. The eight check-ins last year were valuable to AFHTO for our advocacy and support efforts, and teams tell us the calls remain of value to them, so we’re pleased to continue with them this year.

    This is a follow-up communique with the materials promised on the January calls, and some additional reminders, tools, and resources.

    Vaccine roll-out

    • We polled EDs during the calls for input on vaccine roll-out, as well as training topics and hospital partnerships. Thank you to all EDs who participated! The results of the polls are here.
    • AFHTO’s most recent vaccine roll-out update was circulated and posted on January 22. While we hope to make this collaborative communique a weekly event, we will only send an update when there is new information to share. We expect to send a new update out in the next couple of days. Stay tuned!
    • All PHUs were required to submit their regional vaccination plans to the Ministry on January 20; however, we understand some PHUs received an extension for the submission. Each PHU was directed to meaningfully engage with primary care in the development of these local plans.
    • We encourage all of you to reach out to your local PHU to access their regional plan and identify the role of primary care in vaccination roll out.
    • Please continue to share these regional plans and how local organization is proceeding with AFHTO. It is helpful to learn regional strategies and what is going well, as well as concerns or issues that teams are facing.
    • In preparation for wave 2, regional strategies could include developing vaccination confidence/hesitancy tools, stratifying population based on age/illness, obtaining informed consent now, and establishing a list of staff support and capacity for deployment.
    • The most updated vaccine screening and consent form from the Ministry of Health is now posted on our site. Just a reminder that the Ministry is posting ongoing COVID-19 Vaccine-Relevant Information and Planning Resources on their site.
    • On February 1, the Ministry sent a memo to the primary care associations indicating that the COVAXON access and training at the moment is only for health care providers currently engaged with the hospitals and local PHUs that are administering the vaccines in mass clinics and congregate settings. When more vaccines become available in phase 2 and 3, the ministry will issue usernames and login credentials to primary care providers who indicate they will be administering COVID vaccines. This will be done in collaboration with the PHUs so, once again, it is important to connect with your PHU to see what their rollout training plan is. Please let us know if you have any concerns or questions and will try to seek out any answers you need.

    Conversation with the Mental Health and Additions Centre of Excellence (Ontario Health)

    • The Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence updated members on the work they are doing, particularly on psychotherapy hubs and the possible role of primary care in these models. This work is early in development but will build on the current Ontario Structured Psychotherapy program for depression and anxiety.
    • AFHTO and our provincial primary care partners meet frequently with the Centre of Excellence and will continue the conversation. Working groups or other avenues to further primary care partnerships and to support this work will be discussed.
    • The Centre spoke to their first first measurement-based care webinar series that was held in January: “The Why: Why should Ontario apply measurement-based care in mental health and addiction services?” More about this series can be seen here.
    • We know health care workers are burning out and need ongoing supports. OH has developed some tools to help providers cope with COVID:
    • AFHTO, in partnership with the three other interprofessional primary care associations, wrote to Minister Elliott last week regarding the $3M in federal mental health funding that had been committed to last year, but has yet to flow.
      • Given the tight timelines to spend funds by the end of the fiscal year, we have asked the government to permit the funds to spread into the next fiscal year. This will help ensure the money can be spent thoughtfully to support those who need it the most.

    Knowledge Translation and Exchange (KTE) webinars

    As we look at priorities, we ask triad members to please complete a short survey by Wednesday at noon. The survey is one main question:

    “In your role, what do you think is the biggest opportunity for primary care teams to focus on over the next 3 to 6 months?”

    Please provide your input here.

    Thank you, and please reach out at any time with questions or suggestions on how we can continue to support you.

    Stay well,

    Your AFHTO Team

  • Bits & Pieces: primary care virtual groups webinar, immunization for specific groups, and more

    Bits & Pieces: primary care virtual groups webinar, immunization for specific groups, and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Primary care virtual groups – transitioning a CBT program & cardio-pulmonary rehab program to virtual
    • Members’ stories
    • Planning immunization for specific groups, complicated grief and more
    • Online safety and data backup- tips from TechSoup Canada
    • IBS/Low FODMAP diet: video series from Thames Valley FHT RDs
    • Ontario Health Connection newsletter
    • MEQ and MME update
    • Statistics Canada hiring for 2021 census
    • Upcoming events including The Globe and Mail COVID-19 vaccine series and more

    Primary care virtual groups – transitioning a CBT program & cardio-pulmonary rehab program to virtual

    This webinar is in collaboration with two FHTs transitioning in-person programs to virtual. Scarborough Academic FHT will share how they transferred their CBT skills group for depression and anxiety to online along with the benefits and challenges.

    Arnprior FHT is presenting on how they modified an in-person Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab to Virtual in their rural community. In this webinar they will share their patients’ thoughts and feelings on the program adjustment, discussing wins and struggles along the way. Register here.

    Members’ stories

    Georgian Bay FHT – what it’s like at a COVID assessment centre
    Mount Sinai Academic FHT- Supporting family medicine residents during a pandemic

    Planning immunization for specific groups, complicated grief and more

    Recent updates include:

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

    The Nonprofit Guide to Online Safety: Protectign Your Passwords

     

    Online safety and data backup- tips from TechSoup Canada

    If you’re not signed up for TechSoup Canada’s newsletter, their latest addresses issues of online safety and data backup, among other relevant WFH technical and IT topics for nonprofits.

     

     

    IBS and the Low Fodmap Diet

     

    IBS/Low FODMAP diet: video series from Thames Valley FHT RDs

    Thames Valley FHT RDs have produced a patient education video series on managing IBS. Each video is 4-5 minutes in length.

    Find out more here.

     

    Ontario Health Connection newsletter

    Ontario Health has just sent their first newsletter of 2021. If you haven’t done so already, you can sign up for them to get up to date information on resources available to you.

    MEQ and MME update

    eHealth Centre of Excellence’s Opioid Management Toolkit calculates MEQ and the Telus PS Suite update now features MME calculations. Get the details here.

    Statistics Canada hiring for 2021 census
    The next census will take place in May 2021 and Statistics Canada is hiring approximately 32,000 people across the country to assist in census data collection activities. Please promote this to your patients if they may have been financially affected by COVID-19.

    Now is the Time to Choose Wisely: Advancing Quality Improvement in Primary Care, Jan. 27, 2021

    Engaging primary care providers in QI is particularly relevant now, as the pandemic has further emphasized the importance of resource stewardship given the urgent care needs and constraints related to COVID-19. Learn more and register here.

    Let’s Talk… About the things that make you happy, Jan. 28, 2021

    MindBeacon webinar on Bell Let’s Talk Day for a talk about values, taking positive action and living a more resilient life. Register here.

    Digital Health/EServices for OHTs, Jan. 28, 2021 

    Gain an understanding of the digital supports available and how to leverage eConsult and eReferral to support your OHT’s priority patient populations.
    Learn more about this RISE webcast here.

    Recognizing and Managing Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care during COVID-19, Feb. 9, 2021
    Ontario Health webinar with experts in the field and resources about how to support patients presenting in primary care with symptoms of anxiety. Register here.

    Mental health for adults with developmental disabilities during COVID: A virtual course for family caregivers, starting Feb. 2, 2021
    This course will run for 6 weeks beginning on Tuesday February 2, 2021. Find out more here.

    Changing the way we work: Update on COVID-19 Vaccines, Feb. 5, 2021
    The next in OCFP/DFCM COVID-19 CoP sessions. Find out more here.

    What do Covid-19 vaccines mean for me? Feb. 18, 2021
    Part two of The Globe and Mail and The Royal Society of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine series. Register here.

  • QI in Action eBulletin #103 – Moving Forward with Quality Improvement in the New Year

    QI in Action eBulletin #103 – Moving Forward with Quality Improvement in the New Year

    In this Issue:

    • Quality Improvement on the Fly & QIPs
    • QI Resources
    • Upcoming Events

    Quality Improvement on the Fly & QIPs

    At this time, teams usually start to plan for their annual QIPs submission. We can expect an update in the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, the QI in PC Council has collaboratively gathered the following information about what initiatives teams led this year and hope to do in the upcoming year.

    Will your team(s) submit a 2021/22 QIPS? Unsure 50%, Yes 50% n=16 QIDSS/QIDSS-like

    Did your team(s) submit a 2020/21 QIPS? Yes 50%, No 18.8%, Some 31.3% n=16 QIDSS/QIDSS-like

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Priorities for 2021/22 QIPS - Unsure 13.5%; 7 day post hospital discharge 16.2%; documented assessment of palliative care needs 16.2%; patient involvement in decisions about care 18.9%; timely access to a primary care provider 18.9% n= 14 QIDSS/QIDSS-like

     

    Initiatives on the Go:

    • Virtual care adoption for one-on-one visits along with groups & online booking
    • Social Determinants of Health Training for all team members
    • Reconciliation of prevention care data within EMRs
    • Updated patient demographic information within EMRs
    • Regional lung health projects specifically focusing on COPD
    • Increased influenza vaccination – one team vaccinated 90% of their roster
    • Senior wellness initiatives and home blood pressure monitoring

    COVID-19 Member Initiatives Table

     

    Recognizing that many organizations are very busy with their local COVID efforts, we would anticipate that the 2021/2022 QIPs would have flexibility to allow organizations to reflect what they are doing to manage COVID locally or what they’re doing to maintain services (e.g. tracking access, patient experience, etc.).

    We are continuously capturing these initiatives, in the COVID-19 Member Initiatives Table. If you have an initiative you would like to share, please email improve@afhto.ca!

     

     

    Primary Care Patient/Client Virtual Care Experience Survey

    Given what we have seen in the past year with the huge transition to virtual care, this will be a key factor for measuring access to care and patient experience. To aid teams in capturing this experience, please refer to the Primary Care Patient/Client Virtual Care Experience Survey. The survey was created to help fill informational gaps to inform future planning and further support the implementation of virtual care in primary care.

    To help you get started on planning your team’s annual Quality Improvement Initiatives, we have partnered with Choosing Wisely to host a webinar:

    Now is the Time to Choose Wisely: Advancing Quality Improvement in Primary Care  

    January 27, 2021 (12-1 pm EST)

    In this webinar, Dr. Kimberly Wintemute, Primary Co-Lead for Choosing Wisely Canada, and Dr. Peter Kuling, Family Physician at The Ottawa Hospital Academic FHT, provide insights on how to advance resource stewardship and implementation efforts in primary care using Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations and resources.   

    Click here to read more and register.

    QI Resources
    Below are measurement and quality-related tools, resources, slides, and videos. You can flag these emails or bookmark the related posts, so they will be easy to find for future reference.

    Upcoming Events:

    Better Breathing Conference 2021
    January 18 & 22, 2021
    LOCATION: VIRTUAL

    Join the Lung Health Foundation’s Better Breathing Conference! Their conference’s accredited respiratory education programming is 100% free for all Canadian healthcare professionals.

    Click here to register.

    Early ID for Palliative Care: Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
    January 21, 2021 (12-1 pm EST)

    Please join the CoP as they celebrate successes, learn about progress to date on the palliative care indicator, and discuss plans for 2021 to improve palliative care in Ontario.

    Click here to register.

    SCALE Program (Supporting Caregiver Awareness, Learning and Empowerment)
    February 3, 2021 – March 23, 2021

    Back by popular demand, the SCALE Program aims to empower you with practical information and skills to enhance self-awareness with a focus on your own needs and well-being.

    The program consists of:

    • a series of eight weekly webinars
    • online group coaching
    • one-on-one, individualized telephone counselling

    Select just one topic that you are interested in each week or take the entire program – as a caregiver, we understand how valuable your time is and that is why we developed a program to best suit your schedule.

    Click here to learn more and register.

    E-QIP Conference: QI Innovations, Understand – Pivot – Change
    April 13, 2021

    In this one-day virtual conference will offer virtual networking opportunities, poster presentations, concurrent sessions, wellness activities, and more. You will have the opportunity to hear from QI and data experts in mental health and addiction, engage in rich discussions, and ask their experts a lot of questions.

    Click here for more information.

    Interested in sharing your teams’ initiatives in a future webinar? Email Sandeep Gill – Sandeep.gill@afhto.ca to learn more about the AFHTO KTE Webinar Schedule!

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #102 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

     

  • QI in Action eBulletin #102: Choosing Wisely during the Pandemic and Beyond, Health Equity and Provider Experience

    In collaboration with the Alliance for Healthier Communities

    In this Issue:

    • Toolkits – Choosing Wisely Canada
    • AFHTO Resources as You Plan Ahead
    • Provider Experience during COVID-19 – Dr. Catherine Donnelly
    • Health Equity – Public Health Ontario
    • Upcoming Events

    These are unprecedented times. COVID-19 is an era of resource scarcity and deciding which method of care delivery is best can be challenging. In response, and per Ministry directive, we have seen many teams transition to virtual care (mostly telephone) while being available and accessible when in-person care is required. Health care systems and providers are rapidly learning and changing in response to ongoing COVID-19 developments. As we wrap up this year and think of 2021, we have collaborated with Choosing Wisely Canada to provide you with a set of resources that can help shape your new year.

    Toolkits:

    • The Cold Standard:
      • A revised toolkit for Using Antibiotics Wisely in the Era of COVID-19 and Virtual Care
      • A webinar recording to learn more about this can be found here
      • A recent article on Using Antibiotics Wisely and The Cold Standard toolkit written by Drs. Jerome Leis and Allan Grill was published in The BMJ. The article can be found here
    • Drowsy without Feeling Lousy:
      • A toolkit for reducing inappropriate use of benzodiazepines and sedative-hypnotics among older adults in primary care
    • BYE-BYE, PPI:
      • A toolkit for deprescribing proton pump inhibitors in EMR-enabled primary care settings
    • Understand the Gland:
      • A toolkit for appropriate ordering practices of free thyroid hormone testing

    Now is the Time to Choose Wisely: Advancing Quality Improvement in Primary Care  

    January 27, 2020 (12-1 pm EDT)

    Engaging primary care providers in quality improvement can play an important role in improving practice, enhancing patient experiences, and reducing unnecessary tests and treatments. This is particularly relevant now, as the pandemic has further emphasized the importance of resource stewardship given the urgent care needs and constraints related to COVID-19.  

    In this webinar, Dr. Kimberly Wintemute, Primary Co-Lead for Choosing Wisely Canada, and Dr. Peter Kuling, Family Physician at The Ottawa Hospital Academic FHT, provide insights on how to advance resource stewardship and implementation efforts in primary care using Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations and resources.   

    The webinar will:

    • Describe Choosing Wisely Canada as it relates to primary care
    • Identify ways to implement Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations in primary care  
    • Review tools and resources to support implementation of Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations in primary care

    Click here to register.

    AFHTO Resources as You Plan Ahead

    A survey of interprofessional health care providers in Family Health Teams during the COVID-19 pandemic

    We are now nine months since the initial restrictions of COVID-19 and we are interested in hearing about your experiences working in Family Health Teams during this time. IHPs are invited to participate in a brief web-based survey to understand the evolving experiences of interprofessional health care providers in Family Health Teams in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Click on the link here to complete the web-based survey!

    This research is being led by Drs. Catherine Donnelly (Associate Professor, Queen’s University) and Jordan Miller (Assistant Professor, Queen’s University). If you have any questions, please contact Dr.  Donnelly by email at catherine.donnelly@queensu.ca.

    COVID-19 and Health Equity
    Health Equity and COVID-19 Website:

    • Social determinants of health (SDOH), such as gender, socioeconomic position, race/ethnicity, occupation, Indigeneity, homelessness, and incarceration, are factors that potentially increase risk and severity of COVID-19 infection.
    • Incorporating SDOH into risk considerations and assessments is crucial for supporting an equitable COVID-19 response.

    Take the health equity impact assessment course to understand how to measure the impact of SDOH in your community and learn how to use the tool.

    Learn more from the webinar: Introduction to race, income, and language data collection, hosted by PHO.

    Upcoming Events:
    Virtual Learning Exchange in Virtual Primary Care
    The virtual learning exchange will be delivered in three 90-minute webinars and will focus on the following identified priority topics within the overarching theme of virtual primary care:

    • Enhancing Equity and Access (January 29, 2021, 1:30-3:00pm ET)
    • Patient and Family Centred Care (March 5, 2021, 1:30-3:00pm ET)

    To find out more information please click here.

    Choosing Wisely Canada’s 2021 National Meeting (May 12-13, 2021)

    • Choosing Wisely Canada in collaboration with the Canadian Medical Association will be hosting a two-day virtual event on May 12 & 13, 2021. Please save the dates! More details about the meeting can be found here
    • Choosing Wisely Canada is now accepting abstract submissions for the National Meeting. Please click here for more details and to submit your abstract

    Interested in sharing your teams’ initiatives in a future webinar? Email Sandeep Gill – Sandeep.gill@afhto.ca to learn more about the AFHTO KTE Webinar Schedule!

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #101 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

     

  • Bits & Pieces: apply for messaging pilots, free registration for legal webinars and more

    Bits & Pieces: apply for messaging pilots, free registration for legal webinars and more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Teams can apply for messaging pilots
    • Enter to win free registration to Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams series
    • Mental Health Works modules available from CMHA Ontario
    • Urgent need for physio student placement
    • Quality standard placemats- low back pain and osteoarthritis
    • Recommendations for resuming spirometry, Supply Ontario & PPE, and more
    • Registered Respiratory Therapist job descriptions
    • Upcoming events on increasing older adults’ access to care and more

    Sustaining virtual care-Dr. Ed Brown

    Teams can apply for messaging pilots

    Primary care teams are eligible to apply for funding for tech licenses and fee-for-service messaging as part of Ontario Health’s COVID‐19 funded projects. If you are interested, please contact Vivian Henderson – vhenderson@otn.ca. As a bonus, you can also see Dr. Ed Brown’s recent presentation on sustaining virtual care here.

     

    Enter to win free registration to Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams series

    AFHTO members have the chance to win one (1) free registration to the 2021 Legal Issues for Primary Care Teams series, with Kate Dewhirst and Maria McDonald. Topics include employment law, OHTs, employees as patients and more. The deadline to enter is Nov. 27, 2020. A winner will be randomly drawn and announced Dec. 1, 2020. Enter today!

    Mental Health Works modules available from CMHA Ontario

    Mental Health Works is a nationwide social enterprise of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division. It offers 13 individual ‘essentials’ training modules that provide workplaces tools to foster mental wellness. Topics range from depression and anxiety, to substance use and addictions, to trauma, to psychological health and safety.

    Urgent need for physio student placement –request from Dr. Jane Philpott

    The Physiotherapy Clinical Education Team at Queen’s is in the process of coordinating clinical placements for 2021. Learning opportunities have been hit hard by the impact of COVID-19 and they are now reaching out for support from clinical partners across the province.

    Does your team have a PT who could supervise a student? Read here to find out what’s required.

    Quality standard placemats- low back pain and osteoarthritis

    In response to feedback from primary care, Ontario Health (Quality) has shared a newly developed tool called the Quality Standard (QS) Placemat. The placemat is a quick-reference tool that concisely summarizes key information from its corresponding quality standard in an at-a-glance format.

    Since acute low back pain and osteoarthritis represent two of the most common clinical conditions in the primary care setting, their first placemats have focused on these. They’re posted on Quorum.

    They also have a list of tools and resources that support the implementation of quality standards related to pain and associated symptoms, including chronic pain, low back pain, and osteoarthritis.

    Recommendations for resuming spirometry, Supply Ontario & PPE, and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

    Registered Respiratory Therapist job descriptions
    Respiratory Therapy Society of Ontario has recently released RRT job descriptions across multiple settings. They are now listed as a resource in our library of organizational policies & procedures page -Staff roles, recruitment and development.

    Race, Racism, And COVID-19: The Institute For Pandemics Inaugural Lecture, Nov. 24, 2020
    This panel will explore evidence and examine the implications for using policy and other strategies to dismantle structural racism.
    Learn more here.

    Increasing older adults’ access to care: Lessons learned from the pandemic response, Nov. 25, 2020
    In this webinar hosted by CAMH, Sara Bhatti , Alliance for Healthier Communities and Alvis Choi, Yet Keen Seniors’ Day Centre describe specific responses taken by CHCs to address the needs of older adults during the pandemic. Register here.

    Cultural Safety and Indigenous Partnership, Nov. 27, 2020
    Join the first webinar of this Virtual Learning Exchange in Primary Care series held by the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement. Learn more here.

    End of Life with ALS and assisted non-invasive ventilation, Dec. 1, 2020
    This webinar is the first of a 3-part webinar series on End-of-Life. Learn more alongside the HPCO and Proresp starting on Dec. 1. Find out more here.

    Osgoode Professional Development, Oct. 5, 2020 – Apr 28, 2021
    AFHTO is partnering with York University’s OPD to provide members 10% off a variety of health law programs for professional development. For discount code and course offerings, click here.

     

  • QI in Action eBulletin #101: Primary Care Team Lessons and Patient & Provider Virtual Experience During COVID-19

    QI in Action eBulletin #101: Primary Care Team Lessons and Patient & Provider Virtual Experience During COVID-19

    In collaboration with the Alliance for Healthier Communities

    In this Issue:

    • Crossing Chasms: Primary Care Teams’ Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
    • Thank You for Sharing Your Teams’ Experiences During The COVID-19 Pandemic
    • Primary Care Patient/Client Virtual Care Experience Survey  
    • Primary Care Experience Surveys – Updated Version for OH QIPs
    • Provider virtual care experience survey
    • IHP experience during COVID-19
    • Coordinating Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Evaluation of Providers’ Perspectives of their Practices (The CONCEPT Study)
    • Survivors of Homicide Victims and Mental Health Project FOCUS GROUPS WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS
    • Upcoming Events

    Crossing Chasms: Primary Care Teams’ Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

    Crossing Chasms

    In July we asked teams to participate in an AFHTO Research Project to look at how teams stepped up during the pandemic and we received an overwhelming response. A special thank you to our teams for participating in this very important work!

    Click here to see a recap of how teams stepped up during the first wave of the pandemic and continue to do so. We have also recorded your experiences within a video!

    trillium day presentation 2020

    Thank You for Sharing Your Teams’ Experiences During The COVID-19 Pandemic

    We are sharing your experience! AFHTO along with our research partners presented at Trillium Research Day demonstrating the value of primary care teams’ response to COVID-19 and patients’ experience with virtual care. Please see the video for the poster presentation and visit our site to see the other research we presented!

     

    Primary Care Patient_Client Virtual Care Experience Survey

    Primary Care Patient/Client Virtual Care Experience Survey  
    In August, we launched the Primary Care Patient/Client Virtual Care Experience Survey for teams to implement in order to capture the patient experience with virtual care. Moving ahead we are collecting teams’ aggregate responses as we create a narrative of how virtual care could be permanently included in the patient care journey – submit your data here!

    Another option of patient experience data collection is to provide the survey link created by Women’s College Hospital Institute of Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV). WIHV is conducting a third-party evaluation of virtual care in the COVID-19 era on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Health. If you would like to share your current virtual survey and results, please email Rebecca Liu – Rebecca.Liu@wchospital.ca.

    NOTE: Participation in this survey should only take 10-15 minutes and includes the option to enter a draw for one of four $50 gift cards to Amazon, the Bay or Shoppers Drug Mart. This data will go directly with WIHV and you will not have access to the data.  

    This research will be important as the Ministry looks at the future of virtual care – please spread the word and encourage your patients to participate!

    Primary Care Experience Surveys – Updated Version for OH QIPs
    We have heard from multiple teams that they would like to see an updated version of the Patient Experience Survey. We have had conversations with our partners about next steps as many of the questions within are aligned with QIPs. To do this update, there will be a thorough review of all current teams’ surveys. Please share your current survey with Sandeep Gill at Sandeep.gill@afhto.ca, to help support this important initiative!

    Provider virtual care experience survey
    Women’s College Hospital Institute of Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV) is conducting a third-party evaluation of virtual care in the COVID-19 era on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Health, measuring the provider experience on virtual care. The objectives are to provide the Ontario Ministry of Health anonymous feedback on:

    • Health care Provider experiences with and preferences for virtual care during the pandemic;
    • The types and features of virtual services which provide the most value for health care providers;  
    • The clinical utility and appropriate uses of virtual services in Primary Care; and
    • Policy recommendations related to virtual care services in Primary Care for the provincial government.  

    You can participate in providing feedback by filling this short 10-15 mins online survey, which includes the opportunity to enter a draw to win one of four $50 electronic gift cares to the Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart or Amazon. Your participation will remain completely anonymous and confidential. Feel free to reach out to Jamie Fujioka (Jamie.fujioka@wchospital.ca) if you have any questions or concerns.

    This research will be important as the Ministry looks at the future of virtual care – please spread the word and we really encourage you to participate!

    IHP experience during COVID-19

    IHP experience during COVID-19

    At the beginning of COVID-19, Dr. Catherine Donnelly reached out to IHPs to hear their experience during the pandemic. You can review the findings from the earlier survey here. We are now seven months since the initial restrictions of COVID-19 and Queen’s University researchers are interested in hearing about your experiences working in Family Health Teams during this time. You are invited to participate in a brief web-based survey to understand the evolving experiences of interprofessional health care providers in Family Health Teams in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. Complete the web-based survey here.

    Coordinating Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Evaluation of Providers’ Perspectives of their Practices (The CONCEPT Study)
    Researchers are writing to invite you to participate in an exciting research endeavour evaluating existing complex care programs within team-based care models, and how these programs have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study will evaluate providers’ perspectives on existing care coordination practices for patients with multiple comorbidities and adaptations made during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

    If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete an electronic survey which should take about 10 minutes to complete. You are asked to answer each question based on your opinion of the care coordination provided in your team before and during COVID-19. You may also seek clarification from your physicians, NPs or IHPs within your team in order to answer some of the questions.
     
    Your participation in this study is voluntary. You may decide not to be in this study, or to be in the study and then change your mind later. You may refuse to answer any question you do not want to answer. You may choose to end your participation at any time without having to provide a reason.

    Responses will be kept strictly confidential. No identifying information is being collected and only aggregate data will be presented or published.

    The survey can be accessed using this link:  The CONCEPT Study Survey
                                     
    Thank you for considering this request.  If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Joanne Permaul, Study Coordinator, at jpermaul@msh.on.ca or Dr. Donatus Mutasingwa, Principal Investigator, at dmutasingwa@msh.on.ca.

    Survivors of Homicide Victims and Mental Health Project FOCUS GROUPS WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS

    Led by The Centre for Research and Innovation for Black Survivors of Homicide Victims (The CRIB), the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, and the Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario (CMHA Ontario), the Survivors of Homicide Victims and Mental Health Project is exploring the impact of supporting surviving family members and friends of murdered victims (survivors), and the service providers (i.e. clinicians, law enforcement, legal services, medical professionals, etc.) that support them. They are recruiting for providers from the Brantford, Toronto, Thunder Bay, Ottawa, and Windsor regions.

    LINK TO REGISTER: SERVICE PROVIDER FOCUS GROUPS Or visit:https://serviceprovfocusgroups.eventbrite.ca

    If you have any questions, please contact Megan McPolland at megan.mcpolland@mail.utoronto.ca.

    Upcoming Events:
    Health Promotion Ontario conference
    Nov. 5- 26, 2020
    The Annual Health Promotion Ontario conference will be a free virtual experience this year. There will be a four-part webinar series on Health Promotion in a Global Pandemic in November. Find out more here.

    Employing Digital Health Tools During COVID-19 – and Beyond
    November 16, 2020 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm EST
    As part of Digital Health Week, eHealth Centre of Excellenc will be hosting a webcast/webinar that provides a comprehensive overview of how their suite of digital health tools can be used during COVID-19 and beyond.
    You’ll have an opportunity to learn more about their innovative EMR decision support tools, virtual visit platforms, Ontario eServices Program (eReferral & eConsult), eCE Automates “bots”, tablets, and ePrescribing, as well as hear from a primary care physician on how these tools have impacted his practice.
    Please join Ted Alexander, VP of Partnerships and Clinical Innovation, for this webinar (with an interactive Q&A session to follow). Register here.

    2020 CMHO Virtual Conference
    Nov 23-Dec 4
    Register today for 2020 CMHO Virtual Conference sessions. They’re covering the latest in innovating and advancing child and youth mental health, with short, engaging sessions and leading speakers spread over two weeks. Click here to find out more.

    Virtual Learning Exchange in Virtual Primary Care
    The virtual learning exchange will be delivered in three 90-minute webinars and will focus on the following identified priority topics within the overarching theme of virtual primary care:

    • Cultural Safety and Indigenous Partnership (November 27, 2020, 1:30-3:00pm ET)
    • Enhancing Equity and Access (January 29, 2021, 1:30-3:00pm ET)
    • Patient and Family Centred Care (March 5, 2021, 1:30-3:00pm ET)

    To find out more information please click here.

    Interested in sharing your teams’ initiatives in a future webinar? Email Sandeep Gill – Sandeep.gill@afhto.ca to learn more about the AFHTO KTE Webinar Schedule!

    In Case You Missed It: Check out eBulletin #100 or other back issues here!
    Questions? Comments? Contact us at improve@afhto.ca.

     

  • Bits & Pieces: your COVID-19 survey results at Trillium Research Day & more

    Bits & Pieces: your COVID-19 survey results at Trillium Research Day & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Trillium Research Day – AFHTO posters and presentation
    • Primary care patient/client virtual care experience survey
    • #StopTheSpread communications toolkit
    • Provider virtual care experience survey
    • IHP experience during COVID-19
    • Fecal immunochemical test kit update and reminder regarding breast cancer and cervical screening
    • Top ten flu Q & A and more
    • HPCO 2021 conference call for abstracts
    • CEP type 2 diabetes tools and academic detailing
    • Upcoming events regarding processing trauma experiences and more

     

    Responding to COVID- primary care teams

    Trillium Research Day – AFHTO posters and presentation

    On Friday, Oct. 23, AFHTO along with our research partners presented at Trillium Research Day demonstrating the value of primary care teams’ response to COVID-19 and patients’ experience with virtual care. Posters and presentations are now on our site. A special thank you to our teams to participating in this very important work!

     

    Primary care patient/client virtual care experience survey

    In August, we launched the Primary Care Patient/Client Virtual Care Experience Survey, for teams to implement. As a reminder, we will be collecting aggregate responses from your team to this survey the week of November 1st, here.
    Another option of patient experience data collection is to provide the survey link created by Women’s College Hospital Institute of Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV). WIHV is conducting a third-party evaluation of virtual care in the COVID-19 era on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Health.

    NOTE: Participation in this survey should only take 10-15 minutes and includes the option to enter a draw for one of four $50 gift cards to Amazon, the Bay or Shoppers Drug Mart. This data will go directly with WIHV and you will not have access to the data.  

    This research will be important as the Ministry looks at the future of virtual care – please spread the word and encourage your patients to participate!

    #StopTheSpread

    #StopTheSpread communications toolkit

    The Ontario Hospital Association launched a social media campaign that we encourage members participate in. The #StopTheSpread of COVID-19 campaign is targeting three audience groups: (1) ages 20-30, (2) broad audience 40s+, and (3) health care workers. Find a communications toolkit on our site.

     

    Provider virtual care experience survey

    Women’s College Hospital Institute of Health Systems Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV) is conducting a third-party evaluation of virtual care in the COVID-19 era on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Health. The objectives are to provide the Ontario Ministry of Health anonymous feedback on:

    • Healthcare Provider experiences with and preferences for virtual care during the pandemic;
    • The types and features of virtual services which provide the most value for healthcare providers;  
    • The clinical utility and appropriate uses of virtual services in Primary Care; and
    • Policy recommendations related to virtual care services in Primary Care for the provincial government.  

    You can participate in providing feedback by filling this short 10-15 mins online survey, which includes the opportunity to enter a draw to win one of four $50 electronic gift cares to the Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart or Amazon. Your participation will remain completely anonymous and confidential. Feel free to reach out to Jamie Fujioka (Jamie.fujioka@wchospital.ca) if you have any questions or concerns.

    This research will be important as the Ministry looks at the future of virtual care – please spread the word and we really encourage you to participate!

    IHP experience during COVID-19

    We are now six months since the initial restrictions of COVID-19 and Queen’s University researchers are interested in hearing about your experiences working in Family Health Teams during this time. You are invited to participate in a brief web-based survey to understand the evolving experiences of interprofessional health care providers in Family Health Teams in Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click on the link here to complete the web-based survey.

    And here’s the earlier survey results for your review as well.

    Fecal immunochemical test kit update and reminder regarding breast cancer and cervical screening

    As of October 20, 2020, primary care providers can expand screening with the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to all eligible people at average risk for colorectal cancer.  

    Due to ongoing COVID-19 safety precautions and potential delays in FIT kit mailing, people may experience delays in receiving a FIT kit. To avoid longer wait times, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) asks that primary care providers do not batch fax requisitions.

    Reminder regarding breast cancer and cervical screening
    Ontario Health (CCO) is recommending that routine breast and cervical screening tests be resumed in a gradual manner. As a reminder, primary care providers are encouraged to consider initiating cervical screening at age 25, which is aligned to best evidence.

    If you have any questions about resuming cancer screening, please contact cancerinfo@ontariohealth.ca.

    Top ten flu Q & A and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

    HPCO 2021 conference call for abstracts

    Hospice Palliative Care Ontario is now accepting submissions for workshop, poster, and oral paper presentations for their virtual conference, April 18-20, 2021. The 2021 conference theme is The New Normal of Hospice Palliative Care in a Pandemic World. For complete details and to submit visit their site. Deadline Dec. 4.

    CEP type 2 diabetes tools and academic detailing
    CEP has just launched clinical tools and opportunity for one-on-one clinical education (academic detailing) visits on type 2 diabetes: non-insulin pharmacotherapy and providing care during COVID-19.

    Processing Trauma Experiences With Palliative Care Clients And Their Families, Nov. 4 – Dec. 2, 2020

    Join the HPCO in this 5-part series intended for all sectors of hospice palliative care. Focuses for sessions include work with veterans, refugees and first nations.
    Learn more here.

    Strengthening Families Together Virtual Series, Nov. 5 – 26, 2020

    Caregivers providing support to someone living with schizophrenia or a psychosis related illness are invited to this 4-session family education group.
    More details can be found here.

    Health Promotion Ontario conference, Nov. 5- 26, 2020
    The Annual Health Promotion Ontario conference will be a free virtual experience this year. There will be a four-part webinar series on Health Promotion in a Global Pandemic in November. Find out more here.

    Diabetes Care and Management for Ontario, Nov. 12, 2020

    This HeathcareRounds virtual event will be a discussion with leaders devoted to the health and care of those living with diabetes to discuss next steps and action items.
    Find out more here.

    Race, Racism, And COVID-19: The Institute For Pandemics Inaugural Lecture, Nov. 24, 2020
    This panel will explore evidence and examine the implications for using policy and other strategies to dismantle structural racism.
    Learn more here.

    Osgoode Professional Development, Oct. 5, 2020 – Apr 28, 2021
    AFHTO is partnering with York University’s OPD to provide members 10% off a variety of health law programs for professional development. For discount code and course offerings, click here.

  • Bits & Pieces: address from incoming president Dr. Allan Grill, COVID checklist for primary care & more

    Bits & Pieces: address from incoming president Dr. Allan Grill, COVID checklist for primary care & more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • Address from incoming president Dr. Allan Grill
    • #AFHTO2020: following up
    • Immediate need for case and contact management
    • Member stories- COVID-19 EMR screening, virtual clinic and SDOH
    • New BounceBack client resources available
    • OMA’s OHT white paper
    • Togetherall social media content and mini videos
    • COVID-19 checklist for primary care and more
    • Upcoming events regarding processing trauma experiences and more

     

    Allan Grill

     

    Address from incoming president Dr. Allan Grill

    Our new president and chair Dr. Allan Grill shares his perspective as he starts his new term after our annual conference. Find out about his goals here.

     

     

     

     

     

    #AFHTO2020: following up

    Now that the conference is over, we’re in the process of editing the recordings and compiling the materials. We hope to make these available soon. If you were a presenter and you haven’t sent in your slides or poster, please email them to conference@afhto.ca.

    Immediate need for case and contact management

    On Oct. 19 we sent an email on behalf of the Ministry of Health to EDs and Admin Leads regarding the immediate need for case and contact management. Read it here, along with a new FAQ (available at the triad level only).

    Member stories- COVID-19 EMR screening, virtual clinic and SDOH

    COVID-19 EMR screening tool

    City of Lakes FHT: case study on efficiently screening for COVID 19 in Northern Ontario

    Elliott Lake FHT: ELFHT marks first anniversary of Virtual Clinic

    St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT: how the pandemic inspired a primary care model for addressing social needs

    New BounceBack client resources available
    To help your patients manage their heightened anxiety, stress and worry related to the pandemic or other long-term stressors, the BounceBack team has developed some new resources, available in English and French.

    This includes handouts for: new parents, youth 15-18, caregivers, and individuals experiencing chronic pain. You can also download their tip sheet for managing your mental health during COVID-19.

    You can find all the resources on the Care Providers section of their website.

    As a reminder, you can now easily refer your clients to BounceBack in three ways, including directly on the website using the online referral form, through your EMR, or by sending an eReferral in your EMR through the Ocean eReferral Network.

    And finally, to ensure that the BounceBack program is meeting your needs and the needs of your patients, they invite you to take their survey. The survey should only take 5 minutes, and your responses are completely anonymous.

    Please reach out to the BounceBack marketing and communications team if you have any questions.

    OMA’s OHT white paper
    The Ontario Medical Association has just released its Ontario Health Teams White Paper: Early Learnings and Recommendations for the Evolution of OHTs. Read it here.

    Togetherall social media content and mini videos
    This month’s themes include staying connected, combating seasonal changes and balancing your thinking (they have a free course on this topic):

    COVID-19 checklist for primary care and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

    Choosing Wisely Webinars, Oct. 22, 2020
    Choose from 3 webinars that will explore how you can choose wisely when using antibiotics
    More details can be found here.

    Advanced Privacy Officer Training, Nov. 3, 2020

    Get your privacy officer certificate in health law using this training module offered by Kate Dewhirst Health Law. Find out more here.

    Processing Trauma Experiences With Palliative Care Clients And Their Families, Nov. 4 – Dec. 2, 2020

    Join the HPCO in this 5-part series intended for all sectors of hospice palliative care. Focuses for sessions include work with veterans, refugees and first nations.
    Learn more here.

    Strengthening Families Together Virtual Series, Nov. 5 – 26, 2020

    Caregivers providing support to someone living with schizophrenia or a psychosis related illness are invited to this 4-session family education group.
    More details can be found here.

    Physician Leadership and the Future of Community Care, Nov. 5, 2020
    Join the Ivey Academy’s panel discussion around the challenges, learnings, and adaptations to the pandemic for primary care providers. Find out more here.

    Osgoode Professional Development, Oct. 5, 2020 – Apr 28, 2021
    AFHTO is partnering with York University’s OPD to provide members 10% off a variety of health law programs for professional development. For discount code and course offerings, click here.

  • Bits & Pieces: check your junk mail, how to get up to $150,000& more

    Bits & Pieces: check your junk mail, how to get up to $150,000& more

    Your Weekly News & Updates

    In This Issue  
    • How to get up to $150K to rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID
    • #AFHTO2020: yes, we’re asking you to check your junk mail
    • Virtual mental health tools demonstration & video testimonial for Mental Health Awareness Day

     
    • Dr. Elizabeth Muggah now President of the Ontario College of Family Physicians
    • COVID-19 screening tool for children in school and childcare and more
    • Upcoming events regarding Arts on Prescription and more

    How to get up to $150K to rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID

    Resilient Communities Fund webinar

    The Ontario government is investing $83 million to provide grants through the Resilient Communities Fund to help eligible non-profit organizations, including family health teams and primary care organizations, recover from COVID-19 and continue the delivery of vital programming in their communities. All teams are eligible to apply for this financial support!

    On September 29, we hosted a webinar about how teams can tap into these funds. The submission deadline is December 2. Slides and video now available.

    #AFHTO2020: yes, we’re asking you to check your junk mail

    AFHTO 2020 Conference logo-cropped

    If you registered for the conference by Oct. 2, your login information was sent by in an email titled “AFHTO 2020 Conference login Information and tips for your conference experience” by Sunday, Oct. 4. Please check your junk mail if you haven’t seen this email.

    If you did not receive the email please contact regAFHTO@mosaicevents.ca.
    And if you haven’t registered yet, you still can- join your peers from Ontario and beyond!

    Virtual mental health tools demonstration

    Virtual mental health tools demonstration & video testimonial for Mental Health Awareness Day

    On Sep. 24 we hosted a demonstration of Togetherall, BounceBack and Beacon, all provided free of charge.

    Slides and video available

    Togetherall also has video testimonial and graphics to be released on Mental Health Awareness Day Oct 10. Find materials here.

    Dr. Elizabeth Muggah now President of the Ontario College of Family Physicians

    Congratulations to Dr. Elizabeth Muggah of Bruyère Academic FHT, who has been installed as the OCFP president.

    COVID-19 screening tool for children in school and childcare and more

    Updates recently released include:

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

    Arts on Prescription: Improving health and wellbeing through arts participation, Oct. 6, 2020

    Explore considerations from experts working with diverse youth on considerations for health and service providers.
    Learn more here.

    AFHTO 2020 Conference, Oct. 8-9, 2020

    You can still register for Tectonic shifts: rebuilding primary care in a new world, our 2020 virtual conference! Members receive a significant discount so contact your administrator for your member access code. Find out more here.

    COVID-19 Community of Practice for Ontario Family Physicians, October 16, 2020

    Join the OCFP and Department of Family and Community Medicine at UofT for their 10th CoP meeting in their series ‘Changing the way we work”, focusing on rising case counts, respiratory assessment centres, flue shots and more during COVID-19.
    Learn more here.

    Respiratory Health Forum, Oct. 21, 2020.

    This year’s forum will be held virtually and is completely free! Learn more about lung health alongside other primary care professionals.
    Learn more here.