Dear Colleagues,
I hope you are keeping well. I am pleased to share February’s President’s Message with you.
It has been a very busy time for the OCFP and I want to start by highlighting a few key initiatives that we have been working on. First off, thank you to those who attended the Family Medicine Summit. I’m sharing a link to the keynote I delivered – I want you to know that I understand how challenging these days have been, and that the OCFP will continue to stand up for family physicians.
Just recently, we saw some positive signals from the Ontario government in response to our advocacy work when the Minister of Health announced a new plan, which included several of the proposals we put forth. We know that more work needs to be done and we will continue to advocate to government.
Please read on for more updates to support you in your practice.
In this Email:
Provincial PPE/Testing Supplies Stockpile
Tools to Support Your Practice
Advocacy
- The OCFP continues to advocate to the Ontario government to ensure family doctors’ issues are top of mind and that our solutions are being considered. Through extensive consultation with family doctors, we developed Solutions for Today: Ensuring Every Ontarian Has Access to a Family Physician.
- The provincial government announced Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, which notes that family physicians are the foundation of the healthcare system and includes an investment in team-based care. The OCFP will continue to advocate on behalf of family doctors to see real change. Our response.
- Government has communicated that funding decisions for new primary care teams will be through a targeted expression of interest process, focusing on areas with the greatest number of unattached or underserved patients.
- The SGFP is working toward addressing the important intersection between family physicians and specialists – a significant pain point. Review and participate in their survey.
COVID-19
- The MOH has confirmed that a Paxlovid prescription from a family physician may be logged at the pharmacy for a non-COVID-positive patient who would be at risk for severe illness if infected. The patient must meet eligibility criteria, including being symptomatic and having a positive test result, at time of dispensing. See #28 in the Ministry’s FAQs for pharmacists.
- Resharing this summary of booster eligibility which highlights that the optimal interval for most is six months from the last dose or last confirmed COVID-19 infection, and a minimum interval of three months is most appropriate for those at high risk of severe infection.
- Join our upcoming COVID-19 CoP with UofT DFCM, February 24 at 8:00 a.m. We will discuss the latest on Long COVID including diagnosis, assessment and treatment with Dr. Kieran Quinn, and supporting your patients who need disability income supports with Dr. Gary Bloch. Register.
- Here are new Long COVID resources from the OCFP:
- Answers to Long COVID FAQs, updated February 14.
- A summary of papers on diagnosis, assessment and treatment by Dr. Quinn et al, published in CMAJ January 17.
- Access this tool developed to help patients who have Long COVID and require disability supports.
Recruitment is underway in Ontario for the CanTreatCOVID study of COVID-19 medications. The study is open to adults aged 18-49 years with one or more chronic condition(s) or adults 50+ who tested positive with symptoms starting within the last five days. Learn more.
Provincial PPE/Testing Supplies Stockpile
- The current Remedy ordering platform will be sunset by April 1 and replaced with a new system. Each primary care practice will need to set up an account to access the new system by February 28. Register here.
Mpox or MPX (formerly Monkeypox) vaccination
- With the possibility of subclinical transmission of Mpox, test where symptoms align. Remind eligible patients to receive a full two-dose vaccine series for protection and that smallpox vaccination may not be protective.
- Access a list of vaccination clinics Ontario by region. The VaxFacts clinic, which enables patients with additional questions to book one-to-one phone consultations with a doctor, can support patients who have additional questions about Mpox and the vaccine.
From the OCFP
- A reminder that members can still register for the 2023 Family Medicine Summit (FMS). Content will remain on-demand until July 2023. Register now.
- OCFP’s CFPC Certification Exam Orientation workshop provides an introduction to the CFPC certification exam components. Our next session takes place March 3-5, 2023. Learn more.
- 2023 OCFP Award Nominations are now open. Nominate a colleague today.
- Clinical Application of the Long-Term Care Fracture Prevention Recommendations for Frail Older Adults is on February 17. Register now.
- Register for the next Practising Well Community of Practice session, Life Beyond Trauma: A discussion on PTSD and Trauma-Informed Care, scheduled for February 22.
Tools to Support Your Practice
- See eHealth Centre for Excellence catalogue of digital tools and resources to help you in your practice.
- Ontario Health has introduced a new quality standard on Sickle Cell Disease. A webinar is being offered on February 22, 12 – 1 p.m.
Other Opportunities
- The Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine (FAFM) of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is now accepting submissions for many 2023 grants, awards and scholarships. Learn more.
- The Foundation has also launched a Workplace Integrated Demonstration Project Grant program. Learn more.
- On March 10, join CPSO’s Medical Advisor, Dr. Ted Everson along with Dr. Saroo Sharda and Dr. Jennifer Bryan to learn about applying equity, diversity and inclusion principles within a quality improvement framework. Register here.
We are committed to continuing to work on your behalf. In the coming weeks, you will receive a member survey from the OCFP. Your responses will help us to continue to support you in the most effective manner possible. Please look out for this email and be sure to participate! Your voice matters.
With thanks for all that you do for your patients,
Mekalai