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:
- Coping with COVID – MHA supports for healthcare workers
- Who is looking after you? (English and French)
- 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
- KTE webinars are being lined up for the year, and members can expect at least one a month! There are two scheduled for February. To see more information and the registration links:
- Wednesday, February 17, from 12 PM to 1 PM: Primary Care Virtual Groups – Transitioning a CBT Program & Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab Program to Virtual
- Thursday, February 25, from 12 PM to 1 PM: Engaging and Supporting Caregivers in Primary Care Teams: Working together to improve outcomes and enhance the patient, caregiver, and family experience, a partnership with The Ontario Caregiver Organization.
- Keep an eye out for the weekly Bits and Pieces e-newsletter and the monthly QI in Action e-Bulletin for information and registration links on other KTE topics as they get posted.
- If you have any questions about these or any suggested topics, please email Sandeep Gill.
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