Your Biweekly News & Updates


In This Issue  
  • Infant and high-risk children RSV prevention program
  • AFHTO 2024 Conference: we need your help to break the tie
  • 2025 Compensation Planning Survey
  • HPV testing implementation: online resource hub available
  • Reminder- UpToDate discount available to members
  • News and updates including COVID-19 XBB vaccine market withdrawal and covert racism with AI
     
  • eHealth Centre of Excellence and the Health Innovation Group Practice Facilitation Program
  • ECHO Programs at UHN
  • Upcoming events including Leadershift Fall Leadership Training and Leveraging Practice Reports Data to Drive Change

Infant and high-risk children RSV prevention program 

As announced July 25, 2024 the Ministry of Health is launching the Infant and High-risk Children RSV Prevention Program for the 2024-25 season. This program includes a monoclonal antibody for infants and a vaccine available for pregnant individuals to protect their infants from RSV.

The implementation package for the program is now available for download. It includes the following documents:

  1. CMOH Letter to Health Care Providers (EN and FR)
  2. Infant RSV Guidance for Health Care Providers – Abrysvo (EN and FR)
  3. Infant RSV Guidance for Health Care Providers – Beyfortus (EN and FR)
  4. RSV Fact Sheet (EN and FR)
  5. Immunity Fact Sheet (EN and FR)
  6. Abrysvo in Pregnancy Fact Sheet (EN and FR)
  7. Beyfortus Fact Sheet (EN and FR)

All documents will be posted in the coming days to:


AFHTO 2024 Conference: we need your help to break the tie

2023 session in Sheraton ballroom

We asked you to vote for your favourite sessions to livestream at the conference. The deadline was August 30, but right now it’s too close. We even have a tie. So, the deadline has been extended to tomorrow, Sep. 5

In addition to our plenaries and awards ceremony, we’ll livestream one concurrent session per timeslot (descriptions here) for our virtual attendees, for a total of SIX sessions.

Pick your favourite sessions. The winners will be streamed from the main ballroom.


2025 Compensation Planning Survey

AFHTO is inviting member EDs and Admin Leads to complete this survey on HHR. This survey will inform an update to information contained in the grid in the 2023 Eckler report, to ensure that any recent changes in compensation are reflected in our continued advocacy on HHR. This update is being done by Eckler at no additional cost to AFHTO. A number of FHTs have already completed the survey, and we encourage all teams to complete it at your earliest convenience.  


HPV testing implementation: online resource hub available

“Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) is pleased to announce that the human papillomavirus (HPV) test will replace cytology as the primary test for cervical screening and will also be used for follow-up testing in colposcopy beginning in spring 2025.

The introduction of HPV testing will result in important changes to the Ontario Cervical Screening Program (OCSP)’s screening and colposcopy recommendations. To help you prepare for these changes, we have launched a website with HPV testing resources at ontariohealth.ca/hpvhub.

Currently, you can find frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the hub covering key information about:

Additional resources, such as updated requisitions and tools summarizing the updated screening and colposcopy recommendations, will be added to the hub as they become available. In addition, you will receive these resources via email along with the launch date for HPV testing in the OCSP in early 2025. 

If you have any questions, please contact Ontario Health toll-free at 1.866.662.9233 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday or email us at cancerinfo@ontariohealth.ca

Thank you for supporting the successful implementation of HPV testing in Ontario.”


Reminder- UpToDate discount available to members

AFHTO members can save on an individual subscription to UpToDate® and optional add-on products. (*Savings on annual and longer subscriptions only and based on subscription type).

EDs and Admin leads, for additional information, please visit our site (access available to triad only).


News and updates including COVID-19 XBB vaccine market withdrawal and covert racism with AI


eHealth Centre of Excellence and the Health Innovation Group Practice Facilitation Program

“The eHealth Centre of Excellence and the Health Innovation Group are partnering to deliver two options for Practice Facilitation certified training: both an in-person/virtual hybrid option starting September 30th in Toronto and a virtual course starting online October 4th. Practice facilitation is an approach to supporting improvement in primary care practices that focuses on building organizational capacity for continuous improvement. During the program, individuals or teams identify a project and employ practical tools to implement changes to improve access, build reliable tracking systems, enhance patient care, and support efficient and resilient healthcare teams.”


ECHO Programs at UHN

You can register for any of these ECHOs at UHN here.


Leadershift Fall Leadership Training, various dates

Register here.


Using Data for Quality Improvement – Leveraging Practice Reports Data to Drive Change, Sep. 19, 2024

Part of Ontario Health’s accredited quality improvement webinar series in which they discuss the significance of using data for improved patient care with a panel of expert clinicians and quality champions. Join the upcoming session “to understand how practice-level data, including the MyPractice Primary Care Report data can be leveraged for improvement initiatives, and the value of teams in supporting change. Register here.


Farmer Wellness Initiative webinars, Sep. 18 and Nov. 26, 2024

Webinars designed specifically for healthcare professionals to provide valuable insights into the Farmer Wellness Initiative and how it can be a crucial resource for your patients. Register here.


OMGMA Conference 2024: Rooted in Leadership in the Forest City, Sep. 25-26, 2024

Hosted by OMGMA in London. Learn more.


AFHTO 2024 Conference, Oct. 24- 25, 2024

Join your peers from across Ontario and beyond, as we empower teams to focus on patient-centred care.

Members get just under 50% off registration. Register with your verification code here.


Policy Workshop: A Path to High Quality Respiratory Care, Oct. 16, 2024

Hosted by Asthma Canada. Find out more.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *