AFHTO 2015 Conference: presenter notifications sent out

Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract for concurrent session and poster presentations at the AFHTO 2015 Conference. The working groups have now reviewed all submissions and a notification e-mail has been sent to each contact person. If you are part of a group that has prepared an abstract, please ensure your group contact has received an e-mail including the words “AFHTO 2015 Conference” in the subject this week.

Ontario to introduce patient privacy amendments

Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care aims to introduce amendments to the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) in the fall. If passed, these amendments would include making it mandatory to report breaches to the commissioner’s office; lifting the requirement that offences be prosecuted within six months of an alleged breach, and doubling fines for individuals and organizations.

Optimizing value of and access to team-based primary care

Evidence tells us that, with a team-based approach to primary care, patients experience more timely access to care, better care coordination and improved management of their chronic diseases. At present, about 25-30% of Ontarians can access team-based primary care. The logical question is – how do we expand access to primary care teams and get the best value from this investment?

AFHTO 2015 Conference: Thank you to everyone who submitted an abstract!

Over 170 submissions were received for concurrent session and poster presentations at the AFHTO 2015 Conference. Thank you to all those who applied!

A confirmation e-mail has been sent to the contact person for each abstract submission. If you are part of a group that has prepared an abstract, please ensure your group contact has received the e-mail with the subject: “AFHTO 2015 Conference: thank you for submitting your abstract”.

Superior FHT and Partners’ Neighbourhood Resource Centre has Great Impact in Sault Ste. Marie

May 13 – According to Police Service Chief Robert Keetch, the Neighbourhood Resource Centre has been instrumental in decreasing crime in downtown Sault Ste. Marie. The centre, launched by Sault Ste. Marie police last May, serves as an access point for area residents to medical assistance provided by Superior FHT team members and community agencies, such as Ontario Works, Children's Aid Society and Canadian Mental Health Association. Superior FHT’s lead physician, Dr.

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Central Lambton FHT and partners address young patients’ mental health needs

May 4 – Sometimes wait list times for psychiatric services last up to a year but family doctors are often the first to hear about children and teens’ mental health concerns. With this in mind Central Lambton FHT has partnered with Western University's Schulich School of Medicine in what is believed to be a first-in-Ontario research project. The goal is to better equip them to assist rural youth who have mental health issues.

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HQO Report: Patient experiences of care coordination and communication

April 15- AFHTO welcomes the release of “Experiencing Integrated Care: Ontarians’ views of health care coordination and communication”, Health Quality Ontario’s (HQO) report on patients’ experiences of their transitions between health care providers and the associated care coordination and communication. The report focuses mainly on patients’ experiences of transitions and communication between doctors, specialists and hospitals.