Interprofessional Primary Care Funding- Approach for Round 1 Applications

To: All SOHT Partners, Scarborough Family Physician Network Members
From: Scarborough Ontario Health Team and Scarborough Family Physicians Network
Date: April 15, 2025
Subject:  Interprofessional Primary Care Funding – Approach for Round 1 Applications 

Dear Primary Care Leaders in Scarborough,

The targeted call for proposals by the Government of Ontario for the Interprofessional Primary Care Teams with six Forward Sortation Areas (FSA) in Scarborough being identified is an incredible opportunity for our community. 

SOHT has been asked to support the submission of five (5) distinct proposals for Interprofessional Primary Care Team (IPCT) expansion – one for each of the FSA designated by Ontario Health. The OHT and Primary Care Network (PCN) are responsible for determining which proposals will be submitted, supporting the development of proposals, and providing a formal attestation along with each proposal. 

As there is a great interest in this opportunity, SOHT has identified factors and processes to help us position our collective ability to serve Scarborough well for Round 1 of targeted call that is due on May 2nd and plan for the upcoming round of funding to be announced in Fall 2025.

Factors: 

1. Time-constraints: Recognizing that the proposals are due on May 2nd for Round 1, we need to prioritize, coordinate, and support organizations/groups that are ready to implement/attach individuals to primary care in the targeted FSAs beginning Summer 2025.
2. Managing conflict of interest: S-OHT will exercise the conflict of interest clause of the Collaboration Decision Making Agreement by establishing a group from its decision-making body that will not be applying for Round 1 to identify applicants that can be prioritized for Round 1. 
3. Selection approach: Use a survey that’s aligned with OH’s expectations for Round 1 (link below) to assist with prioritizing proposals
4. Longer Term opportunities: S-OHT will also work with all interested parties to support their growth and development including those that require longer term conversations (establishing new Family Health Teams, Nurse-Practitioner led clinics, Community Health Centres) for the call for proposals to be announced in September. 

Selection, Submission Approach, and Timeline: 

• April 16-22: Communication will be sent out to all partners, including the survey, requesting all interested parties to submit their responses by 12pm, Tuesday, April 22.
• April 22: To mitigate conflict of interest, SOHT’s Collaboration Council has established a small group from its Council that are not applying for Round 1 (primary care physician leaders, client and family advisory group, and sector table). Mindful of time constraints, these individuals will review the survey responses:
  • To recommend groups/organizations that will be prioritized for Round 1. 
  • To offer recommendations for collaboration and partnerships, where possible to increase potential reach of all applicants interested in attaching people to primary care.
• April 23: SOHT staff will follow-up with all interested groups with an update on the outcomes and engage in critical conversation to support all applicants, including consideration for those who need to be supported for Round 2.
• April 23 – May 1: SOHT staff will provide coordination and any additional support needed by those identified to proceed with Round 1 applications.
• May 2: SOHT will work with Round 1 applicants and submit five applications to OH. 

As an immediate ask of you, if you are interested in this opportunity, please complete this survey (https://forms.office.com/r/peCHAN8EW1) by 12pm, Tuesday, April 22. 

If you have any questions, then please write to me at speerzada@shn.ca or please register for one of these webinars where additional questions that you may have about this approach, timeline, and other considerations can be discussed: 

1. Webinar 1: April 17 – 8:30am to 9am: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5432a377-88fd-40fa-ae22-9371816961f8@239d3523-d847-433f-9d99-351ef6109122
2. Webinar 2: April 22 – 8:30am to 9am: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/64b86575-761c-4ed9-a1f3-ec190fe39d92@239d3523-d847-433f-9d99-351ef6109122 

We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to working together to enhance our community’s health services.

Thank you for your interest in this incredible opportunity. We look forward to collaborating with you.  

Sincerely,

Surkhab Peerzada
Director, Scarborough Ontario Health Team

Drs. Donna Vlahos and Rosemarie Lall
Co-Chairs, Scarborough Family Physicians Network