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

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

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

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

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

The meeting participants were:

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