Agenda

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Tuesday

May 02, 2023

All times below are Eastern Time
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08:30AM – 09:15AM

In-Person

Registration and Networking Continental Breakfast

08:45 AM

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08:45AM – 09:15AM

Online

Registration

09:15 AM

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09:15AM – 09:30AM

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Opening

Chairs’ Remarks

Steph Ouellet
VP Strategic Partnerships, Middlesex Hospital Alliance

Diana Urajnik
Research Director, Centre for Rural and Northern Health Care, Professor, Laurentian University

09:30 AM

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09:30AM – 09:40AM

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Opening

Opening Remarks

Hon. Sylvia Jones
Minister of Health and Deputy Premier 
Government of Ontario

09:40 AM

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09:40AM – 10:25AM

Session 1

The Health of A Population

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Many factors affect the health of a population. This session will examine global influences on the health of all populations as seen through the geopolitical lens of the last twenty years.

Sean Wachtel
Chief Public Health Officer, Nunavut

10:25 AM

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10:25AM – 11:00AM

Session 2

Virtual

Queen’s University Medical School and Weeneebayko Area Health Authority Partnership

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Health transformation for Indigenous peoples in Northern Ontario requires more than the transformed systems of healthcare delivery; it requires transformed health professions education.

Queen’s Health Sciences and the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority have partnered with the MasterCard Foundation to co-create a new, interprofessional model of health professions education, one where training is situated in community, for community, and led by health professionals from community.

David Taylor
Senior Advisor, Queen’s – Weeneebayko Area Health Authority Partnership, Queen’s University Medical School

11:00 AM

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11:00AM – 11:30AM

Break

Morning Break

11:30 AM

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11:30AM – 12:15PM

Session 3

Mental Health and Addictions: Integrated Care in Thunder Bay and District First Nations Communities

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The Rapid Access Addictions Medicine (RAAM) teams supports the Thunder Bay clinic, the City of Thunder Bay and Fort William First Nation. Additionally, they support the Greenstone clinic, which in turn supports Longlac, Geraldton, Long Lake 58 First Nation and Ginoogaming First Nation.

Each RAAM support team consists of RNs, NP/MDs, social workers and peer support workers.

Key Session Takeaways Include:

  • Why was the partnership created and how was it developed
  • What is RAAM, how did the team work together to engage the communities, including First Nations communities
  • What mental health and addictions successes have been realized to date, and what are the next steps

James Anderson
Family Health Team Manager​, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care​

12:15 PM

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12:15PM – 01:15PM

Break

Lunch

01:15 PM

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01:15PM – 02:00PM

Session 4

The Importance of Cyber Security Education and Awareness Regardless of Organizational Size

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With the flow of health information growing and becoming more digital, properly protect that information when in your custody is vital. Almost every provider out there uses an electronic medical record or similar platform to store and manage client/patient information. Many of you have resorted to cloud-based platforms and the general trend is moving in that direction for everyone.

Regardless of where or how information is stored, or the size of the organization, it is important to understand that the user is the weakest link when it comes to cyber security. Hackers have long realized that it is much easier to hack the user than to hack a system.

Providing cyber security awareness training for staff is an absolute must and is likely the cheapest and easiest to introduce safeguard for protecting the sensitive information healthcare providers hold.

In this session, Simeon Kanev, Privacy Officer and Business Lead of the Alliance for Healthier Communities will share his experience in addressing this need with over 100+ member organizations of the Alliance. The emphasis will fall on doing this for organizations that have limited funding for any cyber security initiatives and creative ways of addressing this not-so-exciting topic with staff.

Key session takeaways:

  • Addressing cyber security awareness (or cyber hygiene) with front line staff
  • Using different approaches to keep retention for longer
  • Providing relevant examples and interactivity can make a training session that much more memorable

Simeon I. Kanev
Privacy Business Lead, Alliance for Healthier Communities

02:05 PM

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02:05PM – 02:50PM

Session 5A

Reconnecting with the Land: Developing Land-Based and Culturally Relevant Programming with Indigenous Communities in Simcoe Muskoka Region

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Land-based programming offers an important avenue through which to support the reconnection of Indigenous Peoples with the land, their culture, and with cultural approaches to healing and wellness. This type of programming offers a unique to integrate land-based activities with wholistic healing and wellness services to provide physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits for participants.  

The Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team, part of the Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle, is implementing land-based programming as a central part of primary care services in the Simcoe Muskoka region. In addition to land-based activities, cultural gatherings and camps, and life promotion initiatives, Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin has been developing an effective Horse Support Wellness Program (HSWP). Participants in this presentation will come away with a deeper understanding of the potential of land-based programming in a community setting, as well as practical information about implementing HSWP programs.

Key Session Takeaways Include:

  • Program Implementation: How did the program begin and how is it being developed; what are some key results so far
  • Facilitators of Connection: How the program supports access for urban Indigenous clients to reconnect with the land and their culture
  • Relationships are Medicine: How land-based programming helps with trauma recovery – and why are horses supported wellness programs are especially supportive
  • Wholistic Care: How land-based programming and HSWP make up a foundational part of wholistic primary care

Germaine Elliott
Executive Director, Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin

Leah Lalonde
Social Worker Psychotherapist, Addictions and Trauma Recovery Program Lead, Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin

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02:05PM – 02:50PM

Session 5B

Building Resilience: Incident Management Systems (IMS) and Responding to Hospital Emergencies

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All hospital staff should understand what to do when an emergency occurs. And although there are various codes to denote emergencies, the response is quite similar. Understanding this response, can help you perform well under pressure, and be a vital part of the response.

Key Session Takeaways Include:

  • What is an IMS and why is this model the gold standard in hospital emergency response
  • What are the main critical components of an IMS, regardless of scale or complexity of the situation
  • Practical examples of some of the case studies where it has been deployed, and some of the lessons learned

Kassondra Stockman
MFS, CBCP, Emergency Preparedness Advisor, Halton Healthcare

02:50 PM

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02:50PM – 03:15PM

Break

Afternoon Break

03:15 PM

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03:15PM – 04:00PM

Session 6

Case Study: Renfrew County Virtual Care Initiatives – The Future is Hybrid: Increasing Access to Care While Building Attachment to Family Physicians

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To support all residents of Renfrew County, a community-based, hybrid model of in-person and virtual care was launched in March 2020. This innovative initiative has improved equity in access to traditionally underserved populations.

VTAC combines virtual care with in-person care, care from family physicians with care from paramedics, and care at home with care in clinical assessment centres.

Key Session Takeaways Include:

  • How was the system was introduced, promoted, and evaluated
  • How did the hybrid model perform, from emergency department visits to healthcare costs
  • How was the primary care role integrated, and what were patients’ responses to the hybrid model
  • What are the next steps for the program, and how and where will it be expanded
  • What are the lessons learned over the past couple of years

Dr. Jonathan Fitzsimon
Medical Lead, Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre, Medical Lead, Renfrew County Integrated Virtual Care, Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa Department of Family Medicine, Clinician Researcher, Institut du Savoir Montfort

04:00 PM

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04:00PM – 04:10PM

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Closing

Closing Remarks

Steph Ouellet
VP Strategic Partnerships, Middlesex Hospital Alliance

Diana Urajnik
Research Director, Centre for Rural and Northern Health Care, Professor, Laurentian University

04:15 PM

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04:15PM - 05:45PM

Activity

Networking Reception

Wednesday

May 03, 2023

All times below are Eastern Time
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08:15AM – 09:15AM

In-Person

Registration and Networking Continental Breakfast

08:45 AM

}

08:45AM – 09:15AM

Online

Registration

09:15 AM

}

09:15AM – 09:30AM

v

Opening

Opening Remarks

Steph Ouellet
VP Strategic Partnerships, Middlesex Hospital Alliance

Diana Urajnik
Research Director, Centre for Rural and Northern Health Care, Professor, Laurentian University

09:30 AM

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09:30AM – 10:15AM

Session 7

Case Study: North Bay Regional Health Centre – Delivering and Growing More Effective Integrated Care Models: Challenges and Lessons Learned

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Collaborative care and integrated care have become the preferred model for healthcare providers across Canada, with the goal of improving patient outcomes and experiences.

North Bay Regional Health Centre has experienced some success in this area, and continues to branch out, integrate, and innovate to provide the right care to the right patient at the right time.

Key Session Takeaways Include:

  • Why we need to focus on growth with a critical thinking lens to build better collaborative care
  • The importance of process improvement philosophy and working through problems
  • Speeding up the decision-making process to build good will in the community
  • Some of the positives and drawbacks and how to approach them to ensure long-term success

Paul Heinrich
President & CEO, North Bay Regional Health Centre

10:15 AM

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10:15AM – 11:00AM

Session 8

PaCER and Alberta Health Services Research Insights: Rural Patient Perspectives on Transitions Home from Urban Hospitals

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From cancer treatments to complex surgeries and even some outpatient treatments, many health services are only delivered at large urban hospitals. Patients from rural areas travel, sometimes great distances, to receive these treatments. But what happens when they return home to their rural communities? How do patients view these transitions?

Patient and Community Engagement Research (PaCER) is a novel approach to patient and family engagement in which individuals with lived experience receive formal training in patient-engaged health research methods. Supported by Alberta Health Services Strategic Clinical Networks, collaborative research was conducted by, with and for patients in Alberta on their transitions from urban hospitals back to their rural homes, including, in some cases, follow up care.

Key Session Takeaways Include:

  • What matters most to patients in their transitions from urban hospital to their rural community
  • What were the 4 key gaps identified by patients in the research
  • What three themes emerged from the research
  • What are 4 solutions could ease these gaps and improve patient experience and outcomes

Kim Giroux
Patient/Partner Advisor, Alberta Health Services

JackLynn Trifaux
Workplace Wellness Advisor, Inveniam Leadership Inc.

11:00 AM

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11:00AM – 11:30AM

Break

Morning Break

11:30 AM

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11:30AM – 12:15PM

Session 9

Ontario Health – Cancer Care Ontario: Improving Cancer Care and Health Outcomes for First Nation, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous Patients, Families and Communities  – Strategies for Success in the Indigenous Cancer Journey

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Rural and northern health care providers are focused on providing the highest quality of care to all their patients. Yet there are multiple challenges due to available resources as well as cultural considerations and geographic distances.

Delve into some key insights on how to improve the indigenous patients experience with the with respect to cancer screen, treatment, and health outcomes.

Key Session Takeaways include:

  • Best practices with engaging Indigenous Patients and being sensitive to traditional healing methods
  • How to effectively engage with Indigenous Patients and Elders
  • How to discuss screening of various cancers, differ treatment options, and outcomes, while being culturally sensitive

Alethea Kewayosh
Director, Indigenous Cancer Care Unit, Clinical Institutes and Quality Programs, Director, Indigenous Health Equity and Coordination, Ontario Health

12:15 PM

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12:15PM – 01:00PM

Session 10

Access to Care in Rural Communities: Strategies for Overcoming Financial Barriers to Essential Healthcare Needs

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We know from research that as distance to health services increase, we see a corresponding decrease in use of those services. Distance to much needed services can be a contributing factor in deciding to seek treatment, in part because of the extra costs incurred on patients and their families.

As services become more centralized, as a cost concern, added costs are passed onto the patient in terms of travel. And although Provinces provide some reimbursement, it varies greatly across the country. How then, should Provinces respond to provide equal access to care for rural and northern residents?

Key Session Takeaways Include:

  • How provincial travel subsidies are provided for rural patients
  • The beneficial role of technology in building access to care
  • Alternative needs-based models to access subsidies
  • How subsidies improve access to care – and healthcare outcomes

Maria Mathews
Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Theme Leader, Canadian Health Force Network

01:00 PM

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01:00PM – 01:10PM

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Closing

Closing Remarks

Steph Ouellet
VP Strategic Partnerships, Middlesex Hospital Alliance

Diana Urajnik
Research Director, Centre for Rural and Northern Health Care, Professor, Laurentian University

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