June 2024 Newsletter

June Newsletter Highlights

  • EasT-FPN AGM - Save the Date

  • Ontario Health Updates

    • COVID-19 Antiviral Therapy: Updated clinical recommendations and changes to Paxlovid Funding

    • Secure Messaging Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Pilot

    • Treatment for people with depression and anxiety-related concerns

    • New Cervical Lymphadenopathy (CLA) in Adults Pathway Map

  • Toronto Public Health Updates

    • ALERT: TPH Recommends Meningococcal Vaccination due to increasing cases

  • Job Board

  • Palliative Care Survey

  • Continuing Medical Education (CMEs) + Webinar Recordings

  • Practice Supports & Patient Resources

EasT-FPN 5TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

SAVE THE DATE! 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH 

  • Join your fellow EasT-FPN members at the 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM). Attendees will elect new EasT-FPN Board members and network with primary care colleagues. 

  • Stay tuned for the AGM registration link and additional details.

ONTARIO HEALTH UPDATES

COVID-19 ANTIVIRAL THERAPY: UPDATED CLINICAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES TO PAXLOVID FUNDING

Ontario Health (OH) has updated its clinical Recommendations for Antiviral Therapy for Adults with Mild to Moderate COVID-19. The update includes:

  • Updated guidance for when antiviral therapy is recommended and when it may be considered based on a healthcare provider’s clinical judgment.

  • An updated list of risk factors that are associated with more severe COVID-19 outcomes.

  • Changes to the COVID-19 severity classification.

  • An overview of the real-world evidence for antiviral therapies.

NOTE: Funding for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid®) will transition to typical models in May 2024 including select government drug benefit programs, private insurance, or payment directly by patients. Federal government procurement of Paxlovid® has ended.

More Information:

Physicians in Ontario can register to participate in a time-limited Secure Messaging Proof-of-Concept (PoC) pilot until July 31, 2024

  • The Ministry of Health (ministry) is undertaking a two-year patient-to-physician Secure Messaging PoC pilot, which will run from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2026, that aims to meaningfully complement care within existing patient-physician relationships, increase access to care, and gather a wider scale of evidence related to the use of secure messaging within physician practices in Ontario than has been possible to date.

  • For more information about the Secure Messaging PoC pilot, see the ministry’s INFOBulletin #240103.

  • Physicians interested in participating in the two-year Secure Messaging PoC pilot can register on Ontario Health’s website up until July 31, 2024.

 Treatment for people with depression and anxiety-related concerns

  • Adults experiencing depression or anxiety-related concerns can access free cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and related services through the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program (OSP). Depending on needs and preferences, clients will be matched with an OSP service, which include self-led resources guided by a coach or clinician, and one-on-one or group therapy sessions.

  • Coordinated by ten network lead organizations across the province, services are delivered by select, trained community-based organizations. Individuals can self-refer to the networks or get a referral from a provider.

  • To learn more about the program, including registration and referral information, please visit ontariohealth.ca/osp and refer this handout (also available in French).

New Cervical Lymphadenopathy (CLA) in Adults Pathway Map

The new cervical lymphadenopathy (CLA) in adults pathway map has officially been launched on the Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) website: CLA in Adults Pathway Map. 

Toronto Public Health (TPH) Updates

ALERT: TPH Recommends Meningococcal Vaccination due to increasing cases

TPH is reporting an increase in invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases. To date this year, 13 Toronto cases have been reported which is higher than the total cases seen in any year since 2002. Click here to see the full list of recommendations by 

TPH recommends:

  • Assess vaccination status and ensure the following individuals are protected with meningococcal vaccine:  

  • Travellers six weeks of age and older going to Saudia Arabia if they or their family will be participating in Hajj or Umrah.

    1. Individuals participating in local and international Pride events.

    2. Patients that are not up to date on their routine meningococcal vaccinations, especially children under 5 years old, teens and young adults.

  • Order quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine from TPH. Healthcare providers can order Men Quad vaccine from TPH to provide to those who are publicly funded which includes students in grade 7 and up who missed the vaccine in school, and those who are high risk.

​NOTE: Adults between 18 and 36 years old who have not received a meningococcal vaccine are still eligible for publicly funded vaccine.

  • Maintain a heightened index of suspicion for IMD among symptomatic patients who have recently been in Saudi Arabia and among close contacts of people who have recently been in Saudi Arabia, regardless of vaccination status. 

  • Be aware that patients with invasive meningococcal disease may present with bloodstream infection or septic arthritis and without symptoms typical of meningitis (e.g., headache, stiff neck).

  • Report any suspected or confirmed cases of IMD to TPH:

    • Call 416-392-7411, Monday to Friday (8:30 am to 4:30 pm); After hours call 311 or 416-392-2489 (outside of Toronto).

    • Fax 416-392-0047.

Job Board

Integrated Care Neighborhood Project - Primary Care Leadership Position

  • The East Toronto Family Practice Network (EasT-FPN), together with East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), is in the process of recruiting a Primary Care Lead, to support the delivery of homecare, and the integration of other services in the Taylor Massey and Thorncliffe Park neighborhoods.

  • The Primary Care Lead (s) will work with homecare teams, to co-design care pathways that connect patients to home care, community care services, and other ETHP care models.

  • Please feel free to contact Tach Murray (Tach.Murray@tehn.ca), Margery Konan (Margery.Konan@tehn.ca) or Thivya Sornalingam (TSornalingam@woodgreen.org) to learn more about the position and/or the ETHP Homecare Leading Project. 

Teaching Opportunity at University of Toronto

  • Are you a community-based FAMILY PHYSICIAN interested in getting started in teaching medical students? Or an existing teacher looking for a new opportunity?

  • Recruitment is currently underway to teach the FMLE (Family Medicine Longitudinal Experience) – a 6 half-day clinical experience for all 2nd year medical students at the University of Toronto.

  • With a flexible teaching schedule, preceptors will receive $600 stipend per student. You can take up to 4 students per academic year. No teaching experience required. 

  • Please find additional information on the DFCM website.  Or apply directly:  https://dfcmutorontoca.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0AQ5PjQdLq5qGtn 

Palliative Care Survey

  • Please see below a brief survey aimed at assessing the knowledge, practices, and educational needs of primary care providers regarding palliative care in East Toronto.

  • The survey is designed to gather insights into your experiences, challenges, and preferences in delivering palliative care. Your input is invaluable in helping us understand the current landscape of care provision and identifying areas for improvement.

  • We kindly request that you complete the survey by June 15, 2024. It will only take a few minutes of your time, and your responses will remain anonymous.

Upcoming Webinars

Webinar: Referring Patients to Oncology

On June 20, 2024, from 8:00 to 9:00 am, the Central East Regional Cancer Program, in collaboration with the Durham Regional Cancer Centre, is hosting a webinar on referring patients to oncology.

Education will be provided from the following teams:

  • Diagnostic Assessment Program (DAP)

  • Medical oncology

  • Radiation oncology

  • Hematology

The Prevention and Cancer Screening Multidisciplinary Rounds is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. To register, click here or email: centraleast.csp@lh.ca.

 2024 Primary Care Cancer Connection Lunch and Learn Series

  • The Champlain Regional Cancer Program is continuing their lunch and learn series into 2024 with a great line-up of speakers. Each session is CME accredited and 30 minutes in length. Sessions run on the last Thursday of every month from 12:15 to 12:45 pm.

  • The series will cover key cancer care topics from a family physician perspective. All are welcome to join – even if you don’t live in Champlain! Sign up here.

  • The 2024 line up is:

    • Sept 26: Lung cancer screening

    • Oct 31: Colon cancer screening update

    • Nov 28: Transitioning to HPV screening

Contact – Anna Wilkinson, anwilkinson@toh.ca

Halton Region Public Health Accredited CME Webinar: Risk, Diagnosis, and Management of Tick-Borne Diseases

Halton Region Public Health is hosting an upcoming MainPro+ accredited CME event, Risk, Diagnosis and Management of Tick-Borne Diseases, and has invited Toronto providers to attend.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, June 13, 2024
Time: 7:00-8:00 pm
Location: Virtual via Zoom (Register Online)

Wounds & Limb Preservation CME - Recording

  • SCOPE in East Toronto organized a successful CME on Wounds and Limb Preservation that was held on May 16, 2024.

  • If you have missed the CME, please find the recording here.

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.

East Toronto Family Practice Network