Interprofessional teamwork, by way of family health teams (FHTs), shows promise as a strategy to facilitate optimal primary health care.
A number of leading experts from Canada and abroad comment on Ontario's experience in setting up Family Health Teams. The Annals of Family Medicine has published these responses to an article on FHTs in the March 2011 edition of this American journal. The original article had been written for the benefit of Americans trying to come up with models of their own, by a team led by Walter Rosser of Queen's University. This publication was reported by Canadian Press, and the story picked up in a number of Ontario newspapers.
AFHTO's membership year begins on April 1. Notices and registration forms were e-mailed to all FHT leaders on March 3. Why join? - click here. What are AFHTO's plans? - click here to see the AFHTO Strategic Plan 2011-2013. What are the fees? - click here. Need a registration form? - click here. AFHTO is the only group that advocates on behalf of ALL family health teams.
The most recent posts include: · Ideas and resources for FHT planning · The Progress of FHTs in Ontario, recently published in Annals of Family Medicine · AFHTO Strategic Plan 2011-13 and FHT Survey Results · Updated information on learning events On our Members Only website, you’ll find new posts on the following pages: · &nb
This strategic plan charts the next steps in the journey to establish FHTs as a highly-valuable and valued model for delivering primary health care to Ontarians, and to develop the capacity for its representative body, AFHTO, to be their strong and effective voice. A draft plan, built upon the consensus achieved among 150 FHT leaders in November 2009, was sent out to all FHT leaders for consultation at the end of January.
A web-based meeting attended by over 70 FHT leaders on February 9 indicated agreement with AFHTO’s general direction. We would like to hear more from you about where we place our priorities and how we resource the work needed to advance them.
The Minister of Health Promotion and Sport just announced a new program here. The Ministry of Health’s FHT Unit is sending out a “Question and Answer” package to help staff in FHTs respond to public inquiries about this program. In the next week or two, FHTs that want to participate will be invited to complete and submit an expression of interest document.
AFHTO works with FHTs and for FHTs as the advocate, champion, network and resource centre for this innovative model of care. Our membership is our strength. We need your help to determine AFHTO’s path for the next 2-3 years to ensure it captures and reflects the key priorities shared by FHTs across Ontario.
AFHTO has just launched a Members Only feature -- click on the Member Login tab to enter. Here you’ll find a wealth of resources to help members in governing, managing and delivering care in their FHTs. Resources on AFHTO’s Members Only website includes 27 presentations from the AFHTO 2010 conference, guides and toolkits prepared specifically for FHTs, convenient links to resources from QIIP and the Quality in Family Practice Project, and Members Only news.
Apply by December 10 to join QIIP’s Office Practice Redesign Action Group. QIIP (Quality Improvement and Innovation Partnership) is a non-profit organization funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, focused on advancing improvement in primary healthcare in Ontario.