Dear Colleagues,

My newsletter starts with an apology to members. Along with other professional associations and family physicians, I participated in drafting a letter to be sent to the Ministry of Health about virtual care. The intent was to specifically address the potential risks of private companies providing stand-alone virtual care. A copy of a draft letter, which had not been sent, was released on social media before it had been fully reviewed and signed off. 

We heard back swiftly from members with concerns, particularly from those working in FFS/FHG/CCM models as well as in walk-in and urgent care clinics, who felt the letter did not recognize or value their work or perspective. I can appreciate why there was this reaction. I am sorry for this as it was not the intent. I’m grateful to those members who have reached out to speak to us.  

In terms of next steps, we discussed this at our recent Board of Directors meeting. We will review the revised draft letter to ensure it fully includes and represents the voices of the diversity of our membership. Until we feel it appropriately reflects these perspectives, we will not sign off. To understand our position on virtual care, I would point you to recent submissions we have made to the OMA/MOH Primary Care Working Group and to the OMA Negotiations Task Force.

You can share your experience providing virtual care through this 15-minute survey from the Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care. We are pleased to be partnering on this effort.

Our mandate at the OCFP is to provide education, leadership, advocacy and research initiatives that will support family physicians across Ontario. We are firmly committed to this work and to the value of ensuring that family physicians are visible leaders in the delivery of primary care across the province. More below about our recent initiatives, new tools for practice as well as our upcoming annual conference, the Family Medicine Summit, which begins January 30, 2021. 

I always welcome your feedback; feel free to email me directly at [email protected].

Thank you.

Liz

In-person care – who, what, where, when?

We know the vast majority of family doctors are providing a combination of in-person and virtual care and that total encounters are approaching pre-pandemic levels. We have updated our in-person guide to help you consider who to bring in for care.

Based on member questions, we have also prepared answers to the top 10 questions about PPE and IPAC/environmental cleaning. My sincere thanks to Occupational Medicine physician Dr. Sidney Siu for his insights. 

COVID vaccines

Join the next COVID-19 Community of Practice session (CoP) on December 11th, 8 to 9 a.m. (ET), when we are discussing COVID vaccines and partnerships with public health. The CoP is a partnership between U of T Department of Family and Community Medicine and the OCFP. Register now. 

There is a light at the end of the tunnel with the impending approvals of COVID-19 vaccines. The OCFP and other stakeholders in primary care are now meeting to discuss communications and distribution, and we are all united in the need for a strong primary care role.

Mental Health resources for patients and for doctors

We've collected a list of mental health resources for your patients based on work from the U of T Department of Family and Community Medicine and the OCFP.

Who looks after you? Here is a list of physician-specific wellness supports for yourself or a colleague.

#FamilyDocsCare campaign

Let's give the public a glimpse of the many ways family doctors have been ‘open to change, open for care’ during this pandemic! Please send us your stories or share them on Twitter #FamilyDocsCare. We want to highlight your essential role to patients, healthcare colleagues and other organizations.

Watch for registration opening! Family Medicine Summit: Knowledge for the Now

Registration opens next week for our first-ever fully virtual conference. The OCFP Family Medicine Summit (the former ASA) will offer an innovative format, running from Jan. 30 to Feb. 27, 2021, with sessions available to registrants on-demand until July 31, 2021.

Plan now to join your colleagues and get the information you need to meet the demands of today – with relevant, thought-provoking spotlights and keynotes including Dr. Onye Nnorom discussing systemic racism, Dr. Isaac Bogoch exploring the public health implications of COVID-19, Dr. James Makokis looking at Indigenous health and ways of healing, and so much more. Stay tuned for your invitation to register next week!

Fracture Prevention in Long-Term Care

Here is a great opportunity to learn a comprehensive approach to applying long-term care fracture prevention recommendations and helping patients avoid the devastating consequences of fractures. Our Dec. 9, noon (ET) webinar is presented by Dr. Sid Feldman and Dr. Alexandra Papaioannou, and certified for up to one Mainpro+® credit. There is no cost to attend. Learn more and register now.