Dear AFHTO teammates,
I just wanted to reach out to all of you while I have a moment to thank you for your tremendous efforts over the last couple of weeks. Like you, I have been busy working with our team to realign services, develop innovative ways to contend with COVID-19 while also continuing to provide essential care to our patients.
In addition, working with public health and our hospital to martial resources to meet the pending demand has been a daunting planning process. I know all of you have also been working hard to make sure we can be as prepared as possible for this pandemic.
Through this, I have observed firsthand the dedication and commitment of all our IHPs, physicians, nurse practitioners and administrative staff as we strive to contend with something that we have never before experienced. Everybody has made the patient’s interest and well-being their first priority as we plan and prepare for COVID-19.
Your association continues to be here to support you. They have responsibly embraced social distancing and are trying to work as much as possible from home but continue to represent and assist you with matters that are of critical importance to team-based care.
As many of you may know, the Ministry email from March 18th allows interprofessional primary care teams to re-deploy any clinical resources where they are most needed to contend with COVID-19. We are all encouraged to work closely with Public Health experts to facilitate a coordinated and effective response to this virus.
Additionally, the Ministry has decided to delay the Annual Operating Plans and has loosened reporting timelines as they understand the challenges we are all facing now.
I know many of you may be feeling anxious and tired, but I can assure you that our ability to adapt and confront this pandemic as a team puts us in a much stronger position to mitigate the eventual impact. By supporting our patients and each other, we will get through this and be successful in demonstrating the great value that team-based care brings to Ontario.
Last night as I reviewed my many emails, I came across one from a grocery store chain about how they were contending with the difficult circumstances they faced as a result of this pandemic. A phrase that caught my eye was “TOUGH TIMES DON’T LAST, TOUGH TEAMS DO!” I thought this captured perfectly that attitude we must all embrace in these uncertain times.
Look out for your patients and look after your colleagues. Support each other in the coming weeks and not only will we succeed in dealing with this pandemic, but we will also ensure that team-based care is the model of care that should be offered to all in Ontario.
Take care,
Dr. Tom Richard
President and Board Chair
Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
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