News

AFHTO’s submission to Drummond Commission on Broader Public Sector Reform

AFHTO was invited to present to the Commission on Broader Public Sector Reform, chaired by economist Don Drummond and announced in the 2011 Ontario Budget speech last spring.  The Commission is to report in early 2012, in time to inform development of Government’s 2012-13 Budget, on its mandate to examine long-term, fundamental changes to the way government works including:

Registrations now being accepted for Wave 4 of HQO's Advanced Access and Efficiency for Primary Care

AFHTO is pleased to support Health Quality Ontario’s (HQO) Learning Community Wave 4 in Advanced Access and Efficiency for Primary Care.  I'm writing to let FHTs know about an upcoming opportunity to participate in this valuable learning experience. An important goal for a clinic implementing advanced access is that patients calling to schedule a visit are offered an appointment with their provider on their day of choice, which may be the same day or a prebooked appointment for a future day .

Walk to Wellness

2011 AFHTO conference presentation PRESENTER (S): Heather Hadden, BSc Phm FHT/ORG: Credit Valley FHT ABSTRACT: The Credit Valley Family Health team works with many patients who have chronic disease states. These include but are not limited to Diabetes, COPD, Asthma, Hypertension, Obesity, Arthritis and Osteoporosis. Many of these patients do not lead an active lifestyle and do not meet the Canadian recommended requirements for daily activity.

Point of Care INR

2011 AFHTO conference presentation PRESENTER (S): Katharine De Caire RN (EC), MN; Jennifer Scott, RPN; Mary Park, RPN; Joan Morris, RPN; Brian Hemens, RPh BScPhm; Shelly House RPh BScPhm FHT/ORG: McMaster FHT, Stonechurch Family Health Centre ABSTRACT: Monitoring the international normalized ratio (INR) is a key component of using Warfarin therapy effectively and safely. Traditionally, measuring an INR has involved routine visits to laboratories for venipuncture. Point-of-care testing is an effective alternative.

Patient Centred Access

2011 AFHTO conference presentation PRESENTER (S): Margaret Tromp MD, CCFP, FCFP, FRRMS; Karen Brooks, RN, BScN, CRE FHT/ORG: Prince Edward FHT ABSTRACT: Patients who have primary care providers often perceive that they are unable to get timely appointments. Open Access is proposed as a response to this, but does not meet the needs of patients with chronic disease or those requesting health maintenance visits (well baby, prenatal, periodic health review).

It Takes a Team

2011 AFHTO conference presentation PRESENTER (S): Dr. Pauline Pariser, Physician Lead; Dr. Nadiya Sunderji, Consulting Psychiatrist FHT/ORG: Taddle Creek Family Health Team ABSTRACT: The Complex Medical Care Clinic is a partnership between the Taddle Creek Family Health Team and the Centre for Innovation in Complex Care at UHN. The clinic proactively addresses patients with complex co-morbid disease in order to improve their quality of care.

Innovative Community Partnership Reduces ER Visits

2011 AFHTO conference presentation PRESENTER (S): Katherine Campbell, BSc., MHS FHT/ORG: Dryden Area FHT ABSTRACT: An innovative program was developed to address senior community service needs providing the opportunity to reduce ER visits while focusing on supporting seniors in their home setting of choice. The Dryden Area FHT in partnership with Patricia Region Senior Services (PRSS) has developed a position that has evolved to assist in service integration through a Community Service Guide (CSG).