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 .

Changes to Nurse Practitioners’ practice

Changes to Nurse Practitioners’ (NPs) practice resulting from legislative amendments will take effect on Oct. 1, 2011; therefore, the College of Nurses of Ontario has released a new Nurse Practitioner practice standard, which includes new expectations for NP practice. Visit www.cno.org/np to download a copy of the new practice standard and to read other information related to the changes to NP practice, including frequently asked questions and NP practice resources.

AFHTO-OMA survey of physicians working in FHTs (due Oct.16)

The purpose of this AFHTO-OMA collaboration is to inform both associations on the experience of physicians working in this model, and gain insight into their needs, ideas, issues and concerns.  The results will be released as part of a joint OMA/AFHTO presentation and discussion at the AFHTO 2011 Conference on Oct. 26. FHT physicians will receive the link to the on-line survey from the Lead Physician or ED of your FHT. If you have not received this link, please send an e-mail to info@afhto.ca .

CIHR Training Grant in Interdisciplinary PHC Research: applications due Oct.31

Transdisciplinary Understanding and Training on Research– Primary Health Care -- “TUTORPHC” Program information and application forms for TUTOR-PHC are now available on TUTOR-PHC’s website at http://www.uwo.ca/fammed/csfm/tutor-phc/applications/applicationforms.html For more information about TUTOR-PHC, go to http://www.uwo.ca/fammed/csfm/tutor-

Citizens' Reference Panel calls for expansion of family health teams in Ontario

Twenty-eight Ontarians who have looked at the inner-workings of the province's health system recommend more collaboration, integration and accountability to help ensure the sustainability of high-quality, accessible and publicly-funded health care. One of these recommendations states, "We urge the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to accelerate the expansion of integrated family health teams throughout the province." The report, released on June 22, 2011, was commissioned by PwC (formerly called PricewaterhouseCoopers).