AFHTO has awarded nine innovators for their work in making meaningful improvements in patient health, how patients experience their care, and how efficiently healthcare resources are used. The awards recognize individuals for their leadership and the work being conducted to improve the value of services delivered by primary care teams in Ontario. Winners were selected from over 50 nominations. The Bright Lights Award recipients are listed below.  Click on the links in the names below to read a summary of their achievements.

The Oxford Situation Table is a panel of 15 agencies including the OPP, Woodstock Police, the Ingersoll NPLC and community organizations working together to mobilise services in rapid response to potential crisis situations. Recently released results from the Oxford County pilot project chaired by an Ingersoll NPLC staff member show a positive impact in the community.

On September 25, 2015 the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO) held their Awards and Celebration Dinner as part of their annual conference. Nurse practitioners (NPs) from different organizations were honoured, with half of the awards presented to NPs from member FHTs and NPLCs.

Congratulations to:

Huronia Nurse Practitioner Network Bursary Ann Kerr - Alliston Family Health Team

July 16 – St. Michael’s Hospital Academic FHT has opened the Sumac Creek Health Centre to help serve Toronto’s downtown east region, including Regent Park, Moss Park and St. James Town. A densely populated area, it’s been underserved with an estimated 10,000 unattached patients who don’t have a primary care provider. A community engagement specialist will help determine the area’s specific needs and ensure the clinic is connected with other community agencies to provide more holistic health care.

July 9 – The Peterborough Examiner described the Peterborough Networked FHT partnership with the YMCA “as the next step toward a healthy community. It should also be the next step toward a comprehensive "green prescription" program across Ontario.” The first of its kind in the province, The Prescription ... to Physical Activity ... to Better Health initiative aims to address the increase in sedentary lifestyles with more than 100 family doctors, nurse practitioners and dietitians prescribing exercise for patients who need it.

July 3 – Dr. Ruth Wilson, a Queen’s FHT physician and former AFHTO board member, was named a member of the Order of Canada on Canada Day. The recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Wilson, who’s also a professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Queen's University, was moved by the honour, saying “it's not specific to my profession, it's an award on behalf of the nation.” According to The Kingston Whig- Standard, Wilson said family medicine's biggest accomplishment is the establishment of new models of care.

July 3 – Mothers attending the Waterfront Festival in Cobourg will have no trouble finding a comfortable spot to breastfeed and change their babies. The Northumberland Breastfeeding Coalition, of which Northumberland FHT is a member, has arranged a line-up of hot pink Adirondack chairs in an open-sided tent for their convenience. Coalition members will also be available to offer information about breastfeeding and community resources that support families. Their aim is to increase positive attitudes toward breastfeeding in public.

A new Electronic Medical Record (EMR) query to identify patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is available to all primary care providers using Accuro EMR. The query was developed by QIDS Specialists from the Windsor FHT and East GTA FHT and validated by other QIDS Specialists.

June 26 - Essex County NPLC is promoting cervical cancer screening for women in Ford City, a Windsor neighbourhood with a low rate of regular checkups. Residents experience multiple barriers to health care such as transportation issues, poverty and not having a family doctor, which is why an outreach office was opened there three years ago.