Online Appointment Booking Funding Survey & Other Updates
Hi,
Happy Friday! Below are several important updates including a funding opportunity for implementing online booking in your office for your patients.
Online Appointment Booking Funding Survey
The Ministry of Health has approved up to $6.75M in funding for Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) to enable more patients to schedule an online appointment with their primary care provider.
The EYRND OHT plans to submit a proposal. Successful applicants can receive one-time funding for FY21/22 and if implementation is successful by March 2022 then applicants are eligible for continued operating funding in FY22/23.
If your family practice office is interested in this opportunity, please complete ONE survey per office here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XQJT8KC. If your office already has online appointment booking, please feel free to complete the survey and we will ask Ontario Health if your costs can be funded for the duration of the program. Surveys are due Friday, October 8th. I have attached further information about the funding criteria.
OHT Annual General MeetingOur EYRND OHT's AGM is on Thursday October 7th at 5:30PM. We will highlight the initiatives and successes of our OHT over the last year. Please register here: https://msh-on-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/u5Msc-itpzkqGtfdYq8c9shMbG0hyos5NLUm.
Primary Care PackagesOur OHT has developed some primary care engagement documents that I have been sharing with new members at site visits. For those of you who have already joined the Primary Care Association, we will be mailing out these packages very shortly with information about our OHT governance, strategic plan and initiatives including brochures and referral forms. If you do not receive the package in the next 2-3 weeks and would like one, please let me know.
Don't forget to add K301A or K300A to your Virtual Care Codes!
Starting today, when you submit virtual care codes K080, K081 or K082, you must submit a modality indicator tracking code (K300A for video or K301A for phone) to identify the technology used to deliver the service. Virtual care claims for services rendered on or after Oct 1, 2021 submitted without a modality indicator tracking code will be rejected.https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/ohip/bulletins/redux/bul210904.aspx
COVID-19 Community of Practice Webinar
Registration is open for the next webinar on Friday, October 8th 8-9AM focusing on Flu shots, managing ILI, COVID vaccine boosters, and more. Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_swT-mCkhTjeMfpZJY4zZDA
NACI COVID-19 Vaccine Update
NACI now recommends that COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as, or any time before or after, other vaccines, including live, non-live, adjuvanted or unadjuvanted vaccines.” This change will allow for co-administration of COVID-19 and Flu vaccines, which will be of great benefit as we enter our cough and cold season. Summary of statement here: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci/recommendations-use-covid-19-vaccines/summary-updates-september-28-2021.html
Flu Shots
The latest update we've received from York Region Public Health is to expect flu shots starting mid-October, but to hold off on any large-scale flu shot clinic until the first week of November to ensure a large enough stable supply.
Enjoy your weekend and especially the summer-like weather that's forecasted for tomorrow!
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
