The Ministry has provided additional one-time funding to augment the Nursing Education Initiative (NEI) to support Ontario’s primary care registered nurses to refine their knowledge, skills and competencies; as a step towards enabling full scope of practice. Full rules are online; however, if a primary care RN has completed an educational program within the past 90 days they are encouraged to apply. Primary Care RNs could be eligible for up to $1500 in reimbursement and do not need to be an RNAO member to apply.

Close to 900 people took part in the AFHTO 2013 Conference – Leadership in Healthcare for Ontarians.

The 2^nd Annual AFHTO Bright Lights Awards celebrate the leadership and significant progress being made to improve the value delivered by AFHTO members to 3 million patients across Ontario. Winners were announced at the October 22 Awards Dinner at the AFHTO 2013 Conference, attended by over 250 people AFHTO members, senior representatives from government, Health Quality Ontario, and some of the associations who, along with AFHTO, work together as the Ontario Primary Care Council.

The 2013 Annual Report gives insight into the progress of Ontario’s family health teams, collectively supported by their association, to move toward their shared vision. This is a vision where all Ontarians would have timely access to high-quality and comprehensive primary care, and that care is informed by the social determinants of health, delivered by collaborative teams in partnership with patients and communities, and anchored in an integrated, equitable and sustainable system.

All who work within an AFHTO member organization or serve on its board are welcome to attend the AFHTO Annual Meeting. It takes place just before the official opening of the AFHTO 2013 Conference, on: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 11:30 AM Harbour Ballroom B+C, Westin Harbour Castle One Harbour Square, Toronto, Ontario. At this Annual Meeting, the AFHTO board will present:

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) announced one-time pilot funding to support inter-professional primary care teams to provide better patient care through more effective treatment and management of Low Back Pain (LBP). Funding is available to teams/ organizations that operate in the following primary care settings: Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics, Family Health Teams, Aboriginal Health Access Centres and Community Health Centres.

The main focus of the meeting was on budget flexibility and accountability. FHT representatives presented to MOHLTC the position proposed by the Executive Director Advisory Council at their meeting of August 28 and endorsed by the AFHTO board and the AOHC’s group of CFHT EDs. Other topics covered in the meeting:

Tuesday, October, 22 and Wednesday, October 23, 2013. The AFHTO 2013 Conference will be at the Westin Harbour Castle, One Harbour Square, Toronto, Ontario

Links to information from Aug.21 “QIDS Program Town Hall” are posted on AFHTO’s Members-Only website.  The Town Hall gave the opportunity to share information and gather input.  Participants raised questions concerning sharing of QIDS Specialist positions, costs, and lines of accountability among other issues.

The Ministry has issued a call for applications for demonstration projects from general and family practice physicians and groups across the province to provide multidisciplinary care for individuals, who have high medical and functional care needs, may have a high number of interactions with the health care system and may have a high risk of hospital admissions and/or re-admissions.