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North Toronto Primary Care Network

Potential ideas to address primary care pain points

We have heard from primary care providers in North Toronto the challenges we are facing in their practice. Potential ideas to address these issues have been identified. We need your input to help us prioritize which ideas to focus on first. We want to better understand which ideas will have the biggest positive impact for you, and how difficult it is for primary care to be involved in these solutions. Please kindly complete the short survey below. Thank you for your input!
1.
What: Support PCPs in assessing use of clinic space and match needs with availabilities
Why: Providers are losing their clinic space due to redevelopments; others have available clinic space to share; explore ability to match needs with availabilities to provide space to PCPs with no space to run clinic and to lower overhead expenses for clinics with space available 
Who/Target: PCPs with space availability / requirements
Pain Points Alignment: Overhead cost
Impact for PCPs
Difficulty for PCPs to participate
Response
2.
What: Explore interest for PCPs without clinic space to operate out of Toronto Seniors Housing Buildings
Why: Seniors Buildings have clinic rooms (rent free) that would be attractive to PCPs without a clinic space; will also support needs of tenants in the seniors buildings
Who/Target: PCPs without clinic space / New PCPs needing a place to practice
Pain Points Alignment: Overhead cost
Impact for PCPs
Difficulty for PCPs to participate
Response
3.
What: Acquire funding from OH to expand North Toronto interprofessional team to support team based primary care; identify profession most needed to support primary care to make practice easier
Why: PCPs not interested in practicing without team supports 
Who/Target: New PCPs / PCPs at risk of leaving comprehensive care due to burnout
Pain Points Alignment: Lack of access to IHP / HHR
Impact for PCPs
Difficulty for PCPs to participate
Response
4.
What health professionals do you need access to the most for your patients (taking into consideration the access you have currently through SCOPE and the Interprofessional Primary Care Team)?
5.
What: Raise awareness of current primary care situation in NT with OH and UofT DFCM
Why: Current primary care situation in North Toronto has impact on short-term and long-term priorities of OH / UofT DFCM, important to advocate for strategies with a focus on high needs areas to help address escalating issues in North Toronto
Who/Target: Ontario Health Toronto Region and UofT DFCM
Pain Points Alignment: HHR
Impact for PCPs
Difficulty for PCPs to participate
Response
6.
What: Understand the barriers and concerns regarding entry into FHO positions and explore opportunity to expand / create one or more FHOs in North Toronto
Why: FHO positions are available but the interest to apply has been low; strategy is needed to support and attract primary care to practice
Who/Target: Existing / New primary care physicians
Pain Points Alignment: HHR
Impact for PCPs
Difficulty for PCPs to participate
Response
7.
What: Creation of a roster of locums
Why: It is increasingly difficult for primary care providers to obtain locums to cover for leaves / vacation, resulting in significant burnout
Who/Target: All primary care providers in North Toronto / new graduates
Pain Points Alignment: Work-life balance
Impact for PCPs
Difficulty for PCPs to participate
Response
8.
What: Provide some admin and tech support to PCPs, in specific areas like cancer prevention or setting up digital solutions eReferral/eConsult. 
Why: Cancer screening is important PCP task, yet targets are not being met, and could be delegated. Likewise eReferral/eConsult are important digital solutions but additional supports are needed to support implementation in primary care.
Who/Target: All NT PCPs
Pain Points Alignment: Lack of access to resources
Impact for PCPs
Difficulty for PCPs to participate
Response
9.
What: Create a mentorship program for new family medicine residents 
Why: To support residents to navigate the primary care world and to provide mentorship as they enter the workforce
Who/Target: Family medicine residents and PCPs interested in mentorship
Pain Points Alignment: HHR
Impact for PCPs
Difficulty for PCPs to participate
Response
10.
What: Explore model to onboard majority of primary care in North Toronto to our network / model to provide support in business operations and to increase negotiating power
Why: Without the critical mass required, primary care groups or clinics alone are not in a position to negotiate for critical things that are needed for the operation to support patient needs; the primary care network needs to be expanded and strengthened with strong connections to OHT members and Hospital Resource Partner to help facilitate conversations and negotiations required
Who/Target: All primary care providers in North Toronto
Pain Points Alignment: Multiple
Impact for PCPs
Difficulty for PCPs to participate
Response
11.
What: Highlight impact of the current PSA in primary are
Why: Advocate for changes in next PSA
Who/Target: NT FHO physicians
Pain Points Alignment: Work-life balance / Negation
Impact for PCPs
Difficulty for PCPs to participate
Response
12.Please share any other comments / suggestions you have to address the challenges in primary care:
Current Progress,
0 of 12 answered