Our first Annual General Meeting took place at the Faculty Club, University of Toronto, on June 7th, 2022. There was a mix of in-person and virtual attendance with 58 members attending. Twenty-five percent of attendees completed the evaluation which was positive regarding the relevance, organization and opportunity for participation.

Our Board of Directors were introduced and an inspiring video of a sampling of primary care practices in Mid-West Toronto was shown. If you missed it, check out the video here. (Click Here).

The agenda covered:

• Review of governance structure for both the MWT FP Network and the MWT OHT

• Accomplishments and opportunities for primary care involvement in our Family Practice Network

• Finance report

• Motion passed to appoint an auditor

• Overview of our Mid-West Toronto Ontario Health Team

• Initiatives to support primary care practices (mental health supports, support for homebound older adults and on-line appointment booking)

• Opportunity to hear from participants regarding their specific needs.

The following summarizes the discussion regarding primary care needs in Mid-West Toronto as well as the event evaluation:

• Digital Technology: focus on enabling secure email and encouraging the uptake of the OCEAN e-referral platform. There is appetite to work with Teramach for a preferential rate for Mid-West Toronto FP Network members and this possibility is currently being explored. Members were also encouraged to sign up to receive OH funding to support Online Appointment Booking (OAB) in primary care offices.

• Quality Indicator Dashboard – Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM): Information was shared on an initiative between the DFCM and Ontario Health to make a dashboard available to all primary care providers that will help them track how their practices are managing a range of chronic conditions. This initiative is still pending and further updates will be provided.

• Collaboration with other networks: A question was raised whether our FP Network might work more closely with other established Networks. We are open to and exploring potential collaborations.

• Integration with Specialists: Another question focussed on whether there is a specialist network. Though no formal network of this kind currently exists, prior to the formation of the OHT, there was a joint working group of 6 specialists and 6 family physicians that met to discuss improvements in our joint initiative. This is an initiative our members would like us to promote and advance. Please see below for our upcoming Specialist/Family Practice joint event in October.

Open Meeting – November 2022:

At the request from some members to attend some of our Board of Directors’ meetings and learn more about how we are building this Network, you are invited to join us for our November meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15th  from 5:00 to 6:30 pm. For any who are interested, we will forward the last set of minutes and our forthcoming agenda. Please also feel free to reach out to either one of your Co-Chairs: Michelle Naimer michelle.naimer@sinaihealth.ca and Pauline Pariser paulinepariser@gmail.com

Please RSVP with Karen Burke (Karen.burke@uhn.ca)