EYRND OHT Primary Care Updates
Hi Everyone,
Happy Friday! Hope everyone has been enjoying the sunshine.
A few updates to share
Ontario Health Team Updates
Staying Connected Newsletter. This is the inaugural edition of our OHT's online quarterly community newsletter for all our OHT partners, which will keep subscribers informed of the latest news and initiatives from the OHT. Please subscribe to this newsletter to make sure you are Staying Connected.
Health and Community Support Directory. This directory has information on health, social and government services, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in the Eastern York Region, North Durham and across the GTA.
COVID-19 Vaccination
Boosters
The following populations are eligible for booster dose if at least six months (168 days) have passed since receiving their second dose
- Individuals aged 70 and over (born in 1951 or earlier)
- Health care workers and designated essential caregivers in congregate settings as identified by the Ontario Ministry of Health (this includes the staff in our primary care offices)
- Individuals who received a complete series of a viral vector vaccine (2 doses of the AZ or 1 dose of J&J)
- First Nation, Inuit and Métis adults and their non-Indigenous household members (16 years of age and older)
Age 5 to 11 Years
We are expecting Health Canada approval for COVID vaccination in the age 5 to 11 soon, and public health units are preparing their vaccination plan for this age group. While we wait, here are some resources
Max the Vax
A huge shout out to Dr. Amanda Adams, a family practice colleague of mine at Markham Medical Centre who founded the Instagram account @covidvaccinefacts and has now teamed up with Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies to launch Max the Vax, a campaign to educate and increase vaccine confidence in kids and their caregivers. Please visit the website https://www.oacas.org/maxthevax/ where you can also order Max the Vax stickers.
COVID-19 CoP: COVID-19 vaccination in children age 5 to 11 years
Please join us for the 32nd in our series 'Changing the way we work' on Friday, November 19th at 8:00-9:00am. We’ll be speaking more about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5 to 11, how we can effectively counsel parents, and the role of family doctors in the roll out. We’ll answer your questions about the COVID-19 vaccine in kids and touch on boosters, variants, and where we are in the pandemic.
DATE: Friday, November 19, 2021, 8:00-9:00am EST
Register in advance for this webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tjqE1lfCQS-dnB6SgxsyLg
Cornell Community Centre Vaccination Clinic
As boosters get ramped up and with the anticipated approval of the age 5 to 11 age category, we will be moving COVID-19 vaccinations from the trailer near the Assessment Centre, back to Cornell Community Centre on November 23rd.
COVID-19 Vaccine in Pregnancy
Despite the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and the heightened risk for pregnant individuals who contract COVID-19, vaccination rates among pregnant individuals have remained consistently low with recent data showing only 68% of pregnant individuals have received a first dose of the vaccine and 59.8% are fully vaccinated. Further information at Ontario.ca/covidvaccinepregnancy
Recruitment of Specialists and Family Physicians for Total Health Management Medical Centres
Total Health Management is recruiting new physicians to practice at our Family Practice clinics (3 locations in Markham and Thornhill) and the Total Health Specialists Clinic in Markham. (Full time, part time or sessional working arrangements)
Dr. Ken Ng and Total Health Management Inc. have excellent reputation and track record in providing top quality integrated health care and social care services for the past 3 decades. We will provide the medical practitioners with a quality work life without the need to shoulder the burden of administrative work and office management.
Working time and scheduling is flexible, including hours and days, full or part time. Starting time with us is flexible and can be immediate or at a suitable time for you. New Grads, post leave or semi-retired: all welcome. We currently have a large patient base, and have many new patients waiting to join our clinics’ roster.
This is a great opportunity to join a thriving practice group in multicultural areas. Please let me know if you are interested. You can reach me through email: drkenng@hotmail.com, phone: (905) 294-4990.
Family Physicians and Medical Specialists are welcomed to contact us.
Dr. Ken Ng
Medical Director
Total Health Management Inc.
Regional Geriatric Program: Opportunity to implement Stretch, Lift, Tap toolkit
The Regional Geriatric Program (RGP) of Toronto is seeking organizations who want to implement the Stretch, Lift, Tap toolkit for older adults living with frailty.
Please see attached call for partners for more information about the toolkit and the expectations. This does not have to be a new or separate program, but instead a sustainable initiative that can enhance your current offerings and encourage older adults with frailty to stay active on their own.
The RGP is pleased to offer funding of up to $10,000 to support organizations over a 2-month period (January – February 2021).
Application Deadlines:
Interested organizations can submit a proposal (max 2 pages) electronically by November 30, 2021 at 5pm to info@rgptoronto.ca
Questions? Submit any questions you have about this opportunity to info@rgptoronto.ca
Primary Care Advisory Council (PCAC) Elections
Finally, looking ahead to next year, PCAC members will be coming to the end of our two year terms on February 28th. We will be running elections for the Chair position which is stipended 0.2 FTE and PCAC members which is a 2 hour/month time commitment with an honorarium. More information to come on this. Please start thinking if you or a colleague want this great opportunity to help steer and shape our local health system, and represent primary care in our OHT. Happy to answer any questions you might have: emilielam@gmail.com.
Have a great weekend!
Em
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Dr. Emilie Lam MD CCFP(PC)Primary Care Lead, Eastern York Region North Durham Ontario Health TeamPhysician Lead, Evergreen Palliative Care Physicians