b"TEAMWORK IN ACTIONOne of the educational programs offered by OLTCC is the annual Medical Director Course, now in its seventh year.Effective medical leadershipThe course provides long-term care medical directors with a thorough knowledge of the sector and appropriate skillsHere are recent examples of effective medical to aid in improving quality of care for residents. Twentyleadership before and during COVID-19:high-yield topics relevant to the role of the medical director are covered, including the Ontario regulatory environment, n a nursing home implementing a new Icompliance and inspections, resident rights, capacity andelectronic record, all physicians/nurse consent, documentation, ethics, RAI-MDS, minimizingpractitioners were expected to switch to of restraining and prevention of abuse and neglect.electronic rather than paper documentation Knowledge and practical application of the material isof progress notes and assessments. The achieved through interactive e-learning and facilitatedmedical director was able to facilitate this case-based learning. Past evaluations of the course havetransition, offer dictation or other solutions demonstrated increased knowledge, engagement andfor physicians without keyboard skills, and communication with administrators/directors ofcare (DOCs). engage physicians in designing their own assessment templates.An effective medical director can enhance medical services within long-term care by supporting the engagement ofMedical director working with the DOC andthe attending physicians, accessing external resourcesadministrator to identify those residents on such as specialist consults and participating in or leadingantipsychotics who are stable and possible quality improvement initiatives that include antimicrobialcandidates for antipsychotic reduction, then stewardship, goals of care conversations, palliative andengaging the physicians to begin gradual end-of-life care, infection prevention and control, fallsreductions with monitoring by staff usingprevention and antipsychotic deprescribing, among others.a template.How do you engage your medical director to collaborate Medical director calling in to the daily in multidisciplinary efforts to improve care? (Hint: it might not be simply by adding them to a committee.) huddle with the DOC and administrators to provide support for outbreak management.One practical tip when asking medical directors to attend meetings is to recognize that they often have busyMedical director liaising with emergencyschedules with other professional commitments. Theirdepartments to establish whether transfer to schedule can be booked six months in advance and soacute care was necessary versus managing the flexibility of meeting times is limited. Meetings usuallyresidents at the home.need to be efficient, scheduled in advance, start on time, and allow for attendance of the medical director only for those topics that are relevant to the medical care. VirtualMedical director assisting in the development meetings have been very helpful during COVID-19, as theyof virtual consult services and virtual care, when cut out travel time and can be attended during an virtual care is deemed timely and appropriate.office day.Medical director working with the DOC toWe should all have one goal: improving care for ourchange rounds routine to a combination residents. Understanding the role and responsibilities ofof virtual care and in-person assessment of the medical director and the interplay with the homesacutely ill residents.leadership team is a significant step toward achievingthat goal. LTCT Medical director working with attendingphysicians/pharmacy to review and reduce/Dr. Rhonda Collins is Vice President of the compress medications to reduce frequency Ontario Long Term Care Clinicians (OLTCC) andof medication passes during outbreaks, Chief Medical Officer of Revera. Dr. Benot Robertthereby reducing risk of transmissionis President of the OLTCC and Medical Directoron outbreak units and staff time on of the Perley and Rideau Veterans' Health Cen- medication administration.tre. Dr. Jobin Varughese is Medical Director of Medical director working with the local Holland Christian Homes. Dr. Evelyn Williams is Medical Coordinator, Seniors Services and Long- hospital to help update the homes physicians Term Care, City of Toronto. All four physicians arein infection prevention and control practices, members of OLTCCs Medical Directors including appropriate personal protective Curriculum Committee, chaired by Dr. Williams. equipment (PPE) donning and doffing.www.oltca.com LONG TERM CARE TODAY 17"