This week, the ANHP OHT Partner Table lead a discussion on Isolation and Evacuation expenses. The partners were updated on the Ontario Health Data Package as Provincial and Federal funding opportunities for fully integrated data strategy for health and human services is available and that work is already underway. Input was gathered for the Ontario Health Team Q1 Reporting. Dialogue around the Home and Community Care regulations and new timelines took place. To conclude the meeting partners took time to share what was frustrating and what was working well within the ANHP.
Communications
Work has begun to create a social media strategy and content sharing among all participating partners.
Digital Strategy
- Explored the feasibility, implementation timing, costing and resources needed to consolidate electronic medical records.
- Explored virtual care funding opportunities
- ANHP OHT was asked to participate on two project teams and the Digital Strategy Working Group endorsed two applicants: North York General and Hamilton Health Sciences.
- Ministry of Health has an open call until July 29 for organizations who can take existing evidence-based,provincially-endorsed clinical content (including clinical standards, protocols and guidelines) and translating it into digital tools and templates that can be embedded into frontline clinical systems in order to support improvements in care delivery.
Patient Family & Elder Advisory
- Developed recruitment plan to recruit committee members; this included: drafting application, create member matrix, establish interview questions, and approve communications plan to promote opportunity.
Mental Health & Addictions
- Established the vision of the working group for the work that will occur within the sector.
- Identified Goals and Objectives, focusing on the ideal outcomes.
- Determined Intentions for the group and how we will work together.
- Initiated conversations on defining the “problem” properly.
COVID-19 Response Group
- Vaccination rates within Northwestern Health Unit are similar to provincial rates:
- 78.7% of those 12+ have at least 1 dose (provincially 79.7%)
- 66.5% of those 12+ have 2 doses (provincially 66.2%
- Long Term Care Hospital numbers show high vaccination rates in residents (95%) and staff vaccinationrates are also high (94%).
- The province of Ontario has announced that restrictions in Step Three of the Roadmap will remain for at least 21 days and until 80 percent of eligible population aged 12 and over has received one dose of aCOVID-19 vaccine and 75% have received their second, with no public health unit having less than 70% of their eligible population 12 and over fully vaccinated.
- Mass immunization clinics are wrapping up with the last clinic expected on August 5. There are two clinic dates on July 28 and 29. Clinics are then available through the Northwestern Health Unit office clinics, primary care clinics and partner clinics.
- For Kenora the office clinics start on August 10 and are generally on Tuesdays every week. Additional clinics may be added if there is demand.
- Vaccine supply is readily available.
- Recent response for forest fire evacuees hosted in Kenora did allow an opportunity for vaccination of evacuees if there was interest; however, as the evacuees have returned home, this did not occur.