Joint Letter on Ensuring Equity in Ontario’s Vaccination Campaign
March 1, 2021 To: Premier Doug Ford Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier, Minister of Health Cc: General (Ret.) Rick Hillier, COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force Dr. Dirk Huyer, Coordinator, Provincial Outbreak Response Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health Alison Blair, Associate Deputy Minister, Pandemic Response and Recovery Patrick Dicerni, Assistant Deputy Minister Nadia Surani, […]
Bits & Pieces: cultural safety toolkit, many vaccine resources and more
Your Weekly News & Updates In This Issue Creating a safer environment for Indigenous Peoples Reminder- Supply Ontario survey Reminder- primary care virtual groups webinar tomorrow Saegis cybersecurity clinic update webinar Mar 4 PHAC COVID-19 vaccination toolkit for HCWs, many Ministry resources, and more Wellness Together Canada OCFP Awards – call for nominations CPSO […]
AFHTO’s 2021 Pre-Budget Submission
AFHTO has submitted recommendations to the Ministry of Finance as part of the 2021 Ontario Pre-Budget Consultations. The submission is entitled “The Heart of Health Care: Delivering Better Primary Care for Ontarians.” This submission was done in collaboration with the Ontario College of Family Physicians, the OMA Section on General & Family Practice, and the Nurse […]
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 […]
Joint Letter on Vaccination roll-out and Community Providers
Wednesday, January 27th, 2021 Subject: Vaccination roll-out Dear Premier Ford and Minister Elliott: Our members/staff are engaged community health providers who have been fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic since it began. We are aware that vulnerable and home-bound individuals in the community are slated as the next priority group to receive […]
Bits & Pieces: Free PPE portraits, STBBI funding opportunity, and more
Your Weekly News & Updates In This Issue Free PPE portraits Togetherall funding ended, vaccine education for patients and more Members’ stories Joint letter on paid sick leave Apply for HIV and Hepatitis C funding by Jan. 29 Reminder- Now is the Time to Choose Wisely: Advancing Quality Improvement in Primary Care, Jan. 27, […]
Joint Letter to release Mental Health and Addiction Funding
January 19, 2021 Dear Minister, We would like to thank you and your team for your ongoing work in ensuring the people of Ontario stay safe as we combat the pandemic. Your tireless efforts are greatly appreciated. We are writing about a commitment of funding that was made by your government in the Fall 2020 […]
Joint Letter on Paid Sick Leave
January 14, 2021 Sent via email Premier of Ontario Legislative Building Queen’s Park Toronto ON M7A 1A1 Dear Premier Ford, Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the evidence has become clear: paid sick leave is essential to protecting our province from the catastrophic impacts of unchecked virus transmission, and its toll on marginalized populations. We are a […]
COVID vaccine update: what you can do to prepare
Dear members, We know that you are already receiving many questions about the COVID-19 vaccine(s) and the distribution plan from your communities. The people you care for are going to see many messages from a variety of sources. Your communities look to you for trusted advice. As a united partnership, we are advocating for […]
Critical Role of Comprehensive Primary Care in COVID-19 Wave 2 Response
To: Helen Angus, Deputy Minister of Health Alison Blair, Assistant Deputy Minister Matt Anderson, CEO, Ontario Health David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Re: Critical Role of Comprehensive Primary Care in COVID-19 Wave 2 Response Our calls to action in a joint letter to the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health Prioritize flu […]
What you need to know now that Health Canada has approved the first COVID vaccine
Dear Members, This week, the Public Health Agency of Canada released Canada’s COVID-19 immunization plan, and Health Canada approved our first COVID-19 vaccine. Both represent significant progress in our COVID-19 efforts and are a testament to our scientific community worldwide and the power of unity. As provinces look to deploy vaccines, your voice and the […]
Bits & Pieces: always open, updated primary care guidance and more
Your Weekly News & Updates In This Issue We may be working differently, but we never stopped working Celebrating Nurse Practitioner Week Designing integrated care and indicators for older persons’ health services QSC patient advisor needed 2020 Ontario Budget overview Updated primary care guidance and more Diabetes Awareness Month Upcoming events on advancing diversity […]
Bits & Pieces: member stories in AFHTO annual report, call for stricter measures to address COVID-19 & more
Your Weekly News & Updates In This Issue AFHTO annual report featuring your stories Letter to the Premier for stricter measures to address COVID-19 Two days to the #AFHTO2020 early bird deadline Indigenous relationship and cultural safety (IRCS) courses COVID-19 testing guidance update and more Survey of IHPs in FHTs during the COVID-19 pandemic […]
A Joint Open Letter for stricter measures to address COVID-19
September 29, 2020 The Honourable Doug Ford Premier’s Office Room 281, Legislative Building, Queen’s Park Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 Dear Premier, Ontario has now surpassed the highest number of daily cases that were identified during wave 1 in the spring. With 700 cases reported yesterday, it is time to look at stricter public health measures […]
Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020 (Bill 175) – AFHTO’s Submission
On June 17, AFHTO presented its submission to the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly on Bill 175: Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020. Our key recommendations are: Delay the passage of Bill 175, Connecting People to Home and Community Care Act, 2020– Delay the passage of Bill 175, Connecting People to […]
Bits & Pieces: open letter on pandemic pay, updated primary care guidance & more
Your Weekly News & Updates In This Issue Joint open letter on pandemic pay, updated primary care guidance and testing memo AFHTO 2020 Conference: switching things up Nominations to the AFHTO Board of Directors open until July 3, 2020 Updated symptoms document and more Update on COVID-19 testing- Primary Health Care Branch Reminder- Ontario […]
A Joint Open Letter on Pandemic Pay
May 25, 2020 Premier Doug Ford Queen’s Park Toronto, ON M7A 1A1 OPEN LETTER Dear Premier Ford, As a broad group of healthcare stakeholders whose members employ tens of thousands of front line workers in the fight against COVID 19, we write to you today to seek immediate clarity on the implementation details and timing […]
Bits & Pieces: partnership to improve access to psychological services for the front line & more
Your Weekly News & Updates In This Issue Partnership to improve access to psychological services for front line workers Letter from AFHTO’s President Pandemic Pay Update to critical supplies & equipment survey portal- training sessions Mental Health Week Updated screening and testing guidance and more Infection prevention and control CoP in Ontario Central West […]
Bits & Pieces: BounceBack free CBT program, primary care guidance update & more
Your Weekly News & Updates In This Issue BounceBack free CBT program available AFHTO on The Agenda Members’ stories Updated primary care guidance and more Evidence of value- Health Tapestry Seeking IHP input on current practice Understanding Bronchiectasis webinar audio Primary Care Dietitian Association Doctors’ Day is May 1 Nominations open for the N4’s […]
An Open Letter from AFHTO, NPAO and the OCFP on PPE in Primary Care During COVID-19
April 15, 2020 An open letter regarding PPE in Primary Care during COVID-19 was released today from the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO), Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO) and the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP). On behalf of our members – who are caring for patients in communities across Ontario […]
H+K Memo on Ontario Government’s Mental Health and Addictions Strategy
MEMO: To: Public Affairs Clients From: Hill+Knowlton Strategies Subject: Ontario unveils its mental health and addictions strategy, Roadmap to Wellness: A Plan to Build Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions System Date: March 3, 2020 Today, Minister of Health Christine Elliott and Associate Minister of Mental Health Michael Tibollo unveiled government’s mental health and addictions strategy, […]
Bits & Pieces: New PPE survey deadline, Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance Queen’s Park Day & more
Your Weekly News & Updates In This Issue New PPE survey deadline and other novel coronavirus (COVID-19) updates Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance Queen’s Park Day Minister announces changes to home and community care Members’ stories Improving cancer screening rates slides and video Psychology Month Public Health Infection Prevention and Control resources Hypertension focus […]
Bits & Pieces: meeting the Minister, working together for change tools & resources & more
Your Weekly News & Updates In This Issue Meeting the Minister to discuss pre budget recommendations Working together for change Members’ stories Managing urinary incontinence in women: clinical tool Novel coronavirus updates Northern opioid learning community webinars, Mar. 5 & 26 Seeking volunteers for Early Chronic Kidney Disease priority panel OASW call for proposals […]
Plan to Build Ontario Together Act, 2019 (Bill 138)
On November 6, 2019, Finance Minister Rod Phillips introduced his first Fall Economic Statement: Plan to Build Ontario Together Act, 2019 (Bill 138). Bill 138 includes the Supply Chain Management Act (Government, Broader Public Sector and Health Sector Entities). The introduction of the Supply Chain Management Act (Government, Broader Public Sector and Health Sector Entities), […]
Premier Ford Shuffles Cabinet
MEMO To: H+K Clients From: Hill + Knowlton Strategies (H+K) Date: June 20, 2019 Almost one year since the Executive Council was sworn-in, the Ford government has made the most significant shuffle of cabinet to date. This larger, 28-member cabinet includes some new faces, while promoting those who have performed well over the past year. […]
First interim report released by Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine
The first report of the Premier’s Council on Improving Health Care and Ending Hallway Medicine was released on January 31, 2019. The Council, chaired by Dr. Rueben Devlin, provides an assessment of Ontario’s health care system and lays the groundwork for future reports that will speak to recommendations for health system restructuring. The first report […]
Draft legislation and other leaked documents on health system transformation
A draft bill from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care was leaked to the media at the end of January. The Health System Efficiency Act, 2019 appears to be in early stages, but the draft provides a high-level overview of what may be a major structural overhaul of health services in the province. A […]
MPP Meetings – Advocacy Tools & Resources
A new government and many new Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP) were elected in June 2018. AFHTO members are encouraged to meet with their local MPP. Establishing a relationship with new MPPs – or building on existing relationships with longer-serving MPPs – and communicating the value of team-based primary care is key to helping see […]