Expert Panel Report: Public Health Within an Integrated Health System

Patients First legislation includes a requirement for the public health sector and the province’s local health integration networks (LHINs) to work together to reduce health disparities and improve access to health care services. The Government of Ontario established the Expert Panel on Public Health (“Expert Panel") in January 2017. Their report, “Public Health within an Integrated Health System” was released on July 20, 2017.

CTV News Article published July 19, 2017. Article in full pasted below. Sheryl Ubelacker, The Canadian Press TORONTO - A small proportion of Ontario doctors who treat people battling opioid addictions prescribe the majority of the medications used to treat the disorder, a study has found, raising concerns about the quality of patient care and access to therapy.

The Petrolia Topic article published July 18, 2017. Article in full pasted below. Melissa Shilz, Postmedia Network This summer marks the fifth year of the Inwood Kids Program, a rural summer camp run through the Central Lambton Family Health Team and other partners like the Oil Heritage District Community Centre.

• Are you proud of what your team has accomplished?

• Do you want your colleagues to be recognized for the amazing work they do?

• Do you think it would be great to see your initiative spread across the province?

If you’ve said yes to any of the above, submit a Bright Lights nomination! They’ve started to pour in so don’t be left out- send in your nominations and supporting documents before the deadline, Wednesday, July 26.

More Ontarians are filling opioid prescriptions now than ever before according to a recent report by Health Quality Ontario. Nearly two out of every 1,000 Ontarians visited an emergency department within a week of being dispensed an opioid and the death rate from opioid overdoses has nearly quadrupled in Ontario in the last 25 years.

Northern News article published on July 6, 2017. Article in full pasted below. Northern News Staff. Northern News KIRKLAND LAKE - The Kirkland District Family Health Team has received a grant of over $70 thousand from Boehringer Ingelheim Canada Ltd. that will assist with funding a position to assist patients with care planning.

The AFHTO office will be closed from Friday, June 30 to Monday, July 3, 2017 for the Canada Day long weekend. We will reopen on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. If you have any questions, please email info@afhto.ca and we will be happy to reply upon our return. Have a great long weekend!

Published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine, May 2017 Abstract Objective/Background: Primary care is where many patients with insomnia first ask for professional help. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended treatment for chronic insomnia. Although CBT-I’s efficacy is well established, its effectiveness in real-life primary care has seldom been investigated.

Calling all AFHTO Members to shine a light on your team’s accomplishments. Nominate an outstanding team or individual for a “Bright Lights” Award by July 26, 2017.

The “Bright Lights” Awards recognize leadership, outstanding work and significant progress being made to improve the value delivered by interprofessional primary care teams across Ontario. Select award recipients will receive an education grant valued at $3,000. “Bright Lights” Award recipients are:

On May 25, 2016, the Government of Ontario launched the Ontario First Nations Health Action Plan (OFNHAP), a multi-year initiative to improve health care for Indigenous peoples in Ontario. A key part of this Plan is the creation or expansion of new primary care teams; community-based models of primary health care that are designed based on the needs and cultures of the communities they will serve. We are pleased to inform you that the Expression of Interest (EOI) process for this important initiative has now opened.