Dear Colleagues,
These last weeks have brought us back to another reality that we cannot ignore and must do something about. The atrocious examples of racism are disturbing and require us to listen more, reflect more and do more. We must have the courage to call out racism in our day to day interactions – whether with patients, peers, in our roles as teachers, researchers, and leaders in family medicine. Statements of support must be accompanied by meaningful action, including by the OCFP, if we are to live into our vision of a healthy Ontario.
One way for the OCFP to do this is to ensure our offerings address systemic racism and that we are making you aware of programs that build cultural competencies. The Indigenous Relationship and Cultural Competency courses, developed by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), provide skills-based training in cultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
These courses are available free of charge and have been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 19.5 Mainpro+ credits.
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day – plan something for your place of work!
An equitable profession
The growing disparities in family medicine, and the struggles many of you are facing, are unacceptable and threaten the viability of our profession and the health of our patients.
In the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the OCFP’s perspectives on this inequity across our profession, as part of our written submission to the Primary Care Working Group (PCWG) – the arbitrated bilateral table between the Ontario Medical Association and the Ministry of Health. To all of you who have written to me about your practice challenges, we hear you – your experiences will help shape our submission.
COVID updates
We are now shifting to our new normal and most of you have changed the way your office does its business. Here are some resources to address the most common questions we’ve been getting.
PPE
- Our new one-page visual guide, with tips on PPE use and re-use
- The SGFP has arranged access to Level 1 masks
- Urgent availability of PPE from OH regions: you may request PPE via OH’s digital services website – determine in which of five regions your practice is located
Principles of delivering care during COVID-19. Top three points in Ontario Health’s document are:
- Virtual Care: when possible, virtual care first
- Safety: screening, appropriate PPE with a view to conservation where possible, cleaning, and consideration of in-person flow in office
- Community: keep up to date on cases and rates of COVID-19 in your region
Virtual care tools for family physicians
- A curated list of tools is available at OntarioMD.News
- Get COVID-19 results in your EMR, delivered using Health Report Manager, OntarioMD's digital health service. More info: s[email protected]
COVID-19 Community of Practice for Family Physicians
Join us every two weeks for information exchange about COVID and earn CME credits! Our last session featured colleagues from different practice models sharing their logistical considerations as they ramp up care. Our next session, on June 26, 2020, 8 to 9 a.m. ET, will be on "Patients with Social Challenges", featuring Dr. Jonny Grek and Dr. Ritika Goel.
Consolidated guidance on safely providing more in-office care
We continue to work on an FAQ document with the SGFP and AFHTO – stay tuned.
- The OMA has developed a checklist to help prepare members with community-based practices for the gradual re-introduction of more in-person care
- The Centre for Effective Practice will soon be posting a resource to support primary care providers and their staff as they gradually increase patient services during the pandemic, and will be updating this regularly as part of its COVID tool
WHICH patients to see in person? As I said last time, you know your patients best and the documents linked below, created by family physician colleagues across Ontario, can help support your clinical judgement when considering more in-office care. Your own clinical context (e.g., PPE, staffing, office size/configuration, etc.) will result in solutions that best suit your patient needs and practice realities.
- The Southwest area of OH West has a one-pager, Re-introduction of In-Office Primary Care, with a suggested prioritization based on the phases of re-opening; their website has great resources as well
- Kim Wintemute and Guylène Thériault published a blog in CFP reflecting on evidence from the PEER group
- Tara Kiran published a blog in CMAJ looking at Quality Dimensions as we reintroduce care
Clinical leader needed for our revamped Mentoring for Mental Health, Addictions and Chronic Pain
We are recruiting a clinical leader for OCFP’s mentoring program for mental health, addictions and chronic pain. Find out more about the role of ‘Physician Connector’ and consider applying for this funded position.
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Once again, I am so impressed by the passion and commitment of my family physician colleagues as we adapt to the realities and uncertainties of these times. We do not know how long this new normal will last, but while we wait for a vaccine, we know we need to keep our offices safe for the sake of our patients, ourselves, our families, our staff, our community. We need to provide the essential care of being a family physician, care that saves and improves lives in quiet but very real ways. I will continue to strive to bring you the most relevant information to help you provide safe, effective and patient-centred care.
All the best in the work you do,
Jennifer