May 2024 Newsletter
May Newsletter Highlights
Ocean e-referral Updates
New sites accepting Ocean e-referrals
e-referral expansion update
Ontario Health Updates
Physiotherapy Services Removal of Requirement of a Primary Care Clinical Referral
Helping Family Doctors Put Patients before Paperwork
Ontario's COVID-19 Spring Campaign
EMR Searches for Measles
Supplemental Screening for people with BI-RADS D density
Resources for Measles Prevention & Management
Toronto Public Health Updates
Shingrix Vaccine back in stock
REMINDER: Return Unused or Expired Publicly Funded Influenza Vaccine
Toronto Regional Arthroplasty Collaborative
Update from Ontario Medical Association
Upcoming Webinars
Primary Care Feedback on Integrated Care Pathways
Join MGH’s new Inpatient Medicine Patient Experience Panel
OHT Acceleration Updates
Practice Supports & Patient Resources
Ocean E-Referral Updates
New sites accepting eReferrals
The following Women’s College Hospital Dermatology Program clinics are actively accepting referrals via eReferral:
Mohs Surgery Centre: surgery for aggressive non-melanoma skin cancers on the face and neck)
Wound Care Centre: consultation or treatment of chronic wounds
Ricky Kanee Schachter Dermatology Centre: consultation for general dermatology conditions, male genital skin disease, HIV dermatology, autoimmune skin diseases, pediatric dermatology, hidradenitis suppurativa, and diverse skin
Phototherapy Education and Research Centre: treats skin diseases with light and systemic therapies
SHN Kids Care Specialty Clinics at Centenary Hospital is accepting pediatric dermatology referrals
DermCafé and GetSkinHelp are virtual dermatology clinics offering services in Ontario; services are OHIP covered
MGH continues to accept referrals via eReferral across all specialties and departments; search the Healthmap here for “MGH” to see all the services available!
eReferral Expansion Updates
As part of the continued growth of the Ontario eReferral network, Ontario Health has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for other eReferral platforms to support sending and receiving eReferrals across the province
Following the completion of this process in late 2024, it is expected that clinicians who are sending eReferrals will be able to access these new eReferral platforms without disruption to existing workflows
In the meantime, new eReferral receiving sites continue to go live (specialist clinics, diagnostic imaging facilities etc) and will continue to be added to the Healthmap
And, if you’re ready to start sending eReferrals? You can start here to begin the process, and you can also reach out to us at contact@eastfpn.org for more information on how we can support your onboarding.
Ontario Health Updates
Physiotherapy Services – Removal of Requirement for a Primary Care Clinical Referral
Please click here for a memo from the Ministry of Health Physician Relations & Contract Oversight Branch with important information regarding the removal of the requirement for a referral from a primary care clinician for government-funded physiotherapy services.
Ontario Helping Family Doctors Put Patients before Paperwork
On April 24, 2024, the Ministry of Health sent out a formal news release providing a high-level overview of the Patients before Paperwork Initiative. For more information, please read here.
Ontario's COVID-19 Spring Campaign
Click here to read more about Ontario's COVID-19 Spring Campaign and recommendations from the Ministry of Health.
EMR Searches for Measles
In partnership with Ontario Health and Public Health, The eHealth Centre of Excellence has developed search toolkits for PS Suite, Oscar Pro and Accuro, to support the identification of patients at a high priority for needing a measles vaccination. Patients can be identified through the searches and then contacted (e.g. emailed) to receive their vaccination.
To get started, locate the applicable EMR below and follow the instructions to download, install and run the searches. https://ehealthce.ca/measles.htm
For support please email emrtools@ehealthce.ca
Supplemental screening for people with Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) D density
For updates on supplemental screening information for people with extremely dense breasts, you can visit our website.
You can also refer to the memo here or visit the Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) provider website for information in English and French.
Resources for Measles Prevention & Management
Review resources from Public Health Ontario and the recent memo from the Chief Medical Officer of Health on infection prevention and control, vaccination, and identification and management of individuals suspected to have measles.
Review the Ontario College of Family Physicians' measles resources for the latest information and tools for primary care providers.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) Updates
Shingrix® Vaccine back in stock
TPH is notifying healthcare providers that the following product is back in stock at the Ontario Government Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Service (OGPMSS):
Zoster Shingrix® 0.5 ml vial (1 per box)NOTE: Healthcare providers who placed orders during the out-of-stock period, will need to place new orders.
For questions, contact customer service at 416-327-0837 or OGPMSS.MOH@Ontario.ca .
REMINDER: Return Unused or Expired Publicly Funded Influenza Vaccine to OGPMSS
Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health is reminding healthcare providers to return publicly funded influenza vaccines that cannot be used to the Ontario Government Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Service (OGPMSS).
Healthcare providers are reminded to:
Return influenza vaccine using the Non-Reusable Vaccine (spoiled or expired) Return Record - Toronto Clients, available on the government's form repository.
Maintain minimal stock of influenza vaccine in cold chain to accommodate individuals who are still seeking influenza immunization between April and August, if applicable.
Contact OGPMSS at OGPMSS.MOH@ontario.ca if you have any questions regarding the vaccine return process.
For more information, please click here.
Toronto Region Arthroplasty Collaborative
Click here for more information on Toronto Regional Arthroplasty Collaborative which enables quick access to hip & knee specialty care & joint replacement surgery
Update from Ontario Medical Association
May 6th marked the start of the arbitration hearing for Year 1 of the next Physician Services Agreement. Click here to read the full update.
Upcoming Webinars
SCOPE CME - Wounds & Limb Preservation
WHEN: MAY 16th, 6.00-7.00PM
WHERE: Virtually via Zoom
SCOPE in East Toronto is hosting a Continuing Medical Education (CME) event.
The SCOPE team has curated a panel of three distinguished experts who will be addressing various topics surrounding wound and limb preservation. The panel includes Dr. Andrew Dueck, Dr. Ahmed Kayssi and Dr. Karim Ravji.
For more information, please see the CME Poster
Webinar: Important Considerations in Organized Breast Screening: Breast Density, Supplementary Screening and Screening Under 50
On May 24, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm, the Central East Regional Cancer Program (RCP) is hosting a webinar on important considerations in organized breast screening. Dr. Rola Shaheen, Regional Breast Imaging Lead for Central East RCP will be facilitating a discussion around the evidence on this topic.
To register, please email centraleast.csp@lh.ca or click here. The deadline to register is May 23, 2024.
Recording available: Navigating Patient Questions During Pap Tests
On March 28, 2024, Dr. Naana Jumah, North West Regional Cervical Screening and Colposcopy Lead, presented a webinar on Navigating Patient Questions During Pap Tests.
A recording of the webinar is available here.
Ontario Sickle Cell Disease Community of Practice
Ontario Health's Regional Clinical Quality Improvement Program is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. EDT on the topic: Vaso-occlusive Acute Pain Management using Sublingual Fentanyl Ontario.
Click here to register.
Delirium Aware Safer Healthcare (DASH) Drop-In Session
On May 30 at 12 p.m. EDT, the DASH team will be hosting a drop-in session on the Delirium eReport, describing how to access, use, and interpret it for quality improvement efforts.
Conversations with Clinicians
The final episode of the 4-part audio series “Conversations With Clinicians” is now live!
This series spotlights data-driven quality improvement champions discussing the power of data and the challenges and opportunities of collecting and using data for quality improvement in primary care.
The complete series is available on the Primary Care Quality Improvement Hub on Quorum as part of Ontario Health’s ongoing efforts to support primary care clinicians in quality improvement
Hypertension Quality Standard Webinar Recording
On March 28, Ontario Health hosted a provincial webinar on the recently released Hypertension quality standard. Access the webinar recording from the Quality Standards Webinar Library on Quorum.
Palliative Care Quality Standard Update
In April, Ontario Health published an update to the Palliative Care quality standard.
Originally published in 2018, the quality standard has been updated to align with the most recent clinical evidence and current practice in Ontario. There are many opportunities to improve care for people with a serious illness.
Primary Care Feedback on Integrated Care Pathways
Timely access and integrated care for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), diabetes lower limb conditions, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is critical and is a priority for the ETHP.
The ETHP has brought together primary care (via the EasT-FPN), vascular specialists, respirologists, cardiologists, patients, community and social care providers, and other stakeholders to provide insight on ways to improve and develop new care pathways (diagnostic/treatment criteria), supports and services, and resources for patients with, and at risk of, CHF, COPD, and diabetes lower limb conditions.
Click here to provide feedback on Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs).
Have questions or want to learn more about the ICP work? Please contact us at contact@eastfpn.org
Join MGH’s new Inpatient Medicine Patient Experience Panel!
Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) is recruiting patients, family members and caregivers for its new Inpatient Medicine Patient Experience Panel! Please share the below information with your patients or loved ones who might be interested in this opportunity.
Have you or a loved one been a patient in or visited Michael Garron Hospital’s (MGH) inpatient medicine units (T9, T8, T7, A3 and B3) within the last two years? Do you want to make a difference in your community? If so, please think about joining MGH’s new Inpatient Medicine Patient Experience Panel!
As a member of this panel, you will:
Share your ideas, feedback and experiences to help improve care in MGH’s inpatient medicine units (T9, T8, T7, A3 and B3).
Collaborate with other patients, family members and caregivers.
Participate in virtual or in-person meetings once every two months for one year starting in summer 2024 on a volunteer basis.
People of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. Visit tehn.ca/InpatientMedicinePEP by May 17, 2024 to apply. Click here for the flyer.
OHT Acceleration Updates
On March 26th 2024, Ontario Health hosted an OHT Acceleration event for the Initial 12 Accelerator OHTs. For more information, you can view the OHT Acceleration Event Master Deck and the OHT Acceleration Event Summary Deck.
Session 4 on Clinical Leadership & Primary Care Networks can be found slide 42 onwards in the OHT Acceleration Event Master Deck.
Practice Supports and Patient Resources
Become an EasT-FPN member to receive clinical and practice support, and opportunities to engage with the East Toronto community. Please fill out the Membership application form to become a member.