Family Doctor Day Newsletter - May 19, 2021
Dear EasT-FPN physicians,
On this World Family Doctor Day, the East Toronto Family Practice Network (EasT-FPN) would like to thank all family physicians in their dedication and contribution to the well-being of not only their patients, but the entire community.
The last year all of you have just shown that family doctors matter because they work everywhere: From attending at long-term care homes and emergency room, to ensuring vaccinations in all thinkable locations, to ensuring safe access to care in our clinics, virtually, in COVID-19 assessment centres, on call to COVID-19 positive patients through the Virtual Ward and the IPAC team, leading change and innovation in our community, dealing with mental health crisis of our own patients during a really hard year while our own kids were next door being homeschooled...THANK YOU for all that you do, all the time, everywhere!
To recognize family doctors, the EasT-FPN would like to highlight the many “firsts” of the EasT-FPN that would not be possible without your dedication and commitment to our East Toronto Community.
First COVID-19 Assessment Centre Opened in Ontario
EasT-FPN was the first to run and staff an assessment centre early in the pandemic at the South East Toronto Family Health Team (SETFHT) to provide easy and accessible COVID-19 testing for individuals in the East. It later moved across the street to Michael Garron Hospital (MGH), and has increased to 9 separate sites across East Toronto.
First Primary Care Vaccine Deliveries: (partnership with MGH)
Family physicians have long-term, high-trust relationships with their patients, and are key advocates in addressing vaccine safety and suitability. Thank you to our family physicians and the leadership from Michael Garron Hospital in trusting us to deliver vaccines in primary care.
First Homebound Vaccination Visits: On March 11th, the EasT-FPN initiated vaccination drives to vaccinate homebound patients across East Toronto. Over 188 patients have been vaccinated through this ongoing drive. Please add your patients that need vaccination HERE.
First Chinese Speaking Turn-key Vaccination Model
EasT-FPN with the help of our East Toronto Health Partners- created the first Chinese (both Cantonese and Mandarin) language-specific primary care vaccine clinic allowing for individuals with language barriers to easily access the COVID-19 vaccine. The EasT-FPN was the first to implement turn-key style clinics where solo/small family group MDs are able to vaccinate their patients at strategic sites in East Toronto.
If your clinic is interested in operating/hosting as a turn-key clinic or wish to vaccinate your patients at an existing turn-key clinic, please complete the following form.
First Vaccine Clinic in a Decommissioned Jail: On March 17th, the Bridgepoint Family Health Team in partnership with the EasT-FPN and MGH ran its first primary care vaccine clinic in the decommissioned Don Jail.
First Primary Care Clinic Vaccinating the General Population (80+): See here how SETFHT helped vaccinate the 80+ population in East Toronto.
First Primary Care Support School – Clinical Liaisons (partnership with MGH/TPH/CHCs and School boards)
To provide schools in East Toronto with practical COVID-19 information regarding implementing various health guidelines and a Q&A opportunity with Dr. Janine McCready, the EasT-FPN and MGH, created the Toronto East School Support (TESS) forum.
Family physicians were also involved in our other firsts:
First to finish vaccinating in LTC homes - January 5, 2021
First Mobile Congregate Site Testing Event - June 4, 2020
First Mobile Vaccination Event (Congregate Site Testing) - Initially started off with congregate living setting building and later moved to mobile as of February 23, 2021
Largest Single Vaccination Event within Canada – Thorncliffe Park Hub - March 24, 2021
If you haven't already, please click here to become an EasT-FPN member. Once again, we would like to thank all family physicians for all their hard work and dedication!
The EasT-FPN
