May 2024

From the Primary Care Alliance

Spring arrived with very dry conditions around our province, and as a result we’ve seen increased incidences of wildfires and the attendant risks to health and property. While recent weather changes have helped lower that risk temporarily – the risk still remains. My thoughts are with the communities affected and our colleagues who are providing patient care in these areas under difficult circumstances. Smoke and wildfires are only one area of alarm as we continue to be heavily concerned about the crisis in health care, particularly the high burden on acute care as a consequence of primary care challenges that have been accumulating over the past several years. Thank you to all primary care clinicians for the important work you do taking care of communities during times of trouble (like our current wildfires) and in the long-term to reduce the strain on the health care system.

The Strike Team continues to progress work on implementation of the Physician Comprehensive Care Model (PCCM). This new model will provide family physicians and rural generalists with a new compensation option that better supports the provision of comprehensive, life-long patient care. The AMA is working to ensure that physicians are supported and set up for success in this new model so that every Albertan can find and benefit from a medical home.

The government has committed to implementing the PCCM by the fall of 2024 and the Strike Team will be updating family physicians soon on the latest developments. Please keep an eye out for a new newsletter (Strike Team Brief) that will provide regular updates on the work taking place to move toward the implementation of the PCCM.

May was also a great month to highlight all our family physician colleagues with National Physicians’ Day  on May 1 and World Family Doctor Day on May 19. Additionally, May 27 to May 31 is Rural Health Week in Alberta. Let us honour and appreciate the comprehensive role played by all family physicians, rural generalists and family medicine overall!

Dr. Ema Gye

Chair

Primary Care Alliance
 

EMR strategies and AI a focus for Physician Champion Network webinar

Is your EMR working as hard for you as it could be? Join this Working Smarter, Not Harder series session in June for a discussion on tips and strategies for letting the computer do more of the heavy lifting, including EMR-specific breakout rooms. There will be a demonstration on how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used/integrated with EMRs to help with charting.  
The webinar takes place on June 5 from 7:30 - 8:30 A.M. OR June 11 from 6:00 to 7:00 P.M.
As the content is repeated you can choose the date/time that works best for you. Join the Network to access the webinars at the link below.

Practice Facilitator Core Training: Self Directed is available!

Do you have PCN team members that don’t work directly with clinics but would benefit from learning more about quality improvement, facilitation skills or the primary care landscape in Alberta? The Practice Facilitator Core Training: Self-Directed curriculum could be just the things you are looking for. Learners can work through the content of the 35 courses at their own pace to accommodate busy schedules.

Those interested in learning more about the curriculum or enrolling can visit the AMA ACTT website below.

Volunteer for the 2024 Student Shadowing Program

The Alberta College of Family Physicians, together with the Alberta Medical Association’s Sections of Family Medicine and Rural Medicine, are looking for family physician volunteers to be part of the 2024 Student Shadowing Program.

Whether you practise in rural or urban settings, share your enthusiasm, and inspire students to make family medicine their specialty of choice. Placements will occur between June 8 to 28 and August 10 to 25.

Read more details and complete the intake form to sign up for this program at the link below.

Connect. Learn. Explore: NEW Clinic Managers Network launches

The AMA Accelerating Change Transformation Team (ACTT) and the Alberta Association of Clinic Managers (AACM) are excited to announce the launch of a Clinic Managers Network! The organizations  have partnered to provide clinic managers with an opportunity to connect and learn alongside colleagues from across the province. The first webinar “Team-based Care” will be held Thursday, June 20, 2024 – Noon to 1 P.M.

Please visit the AMA ACTT website link below and share with your clinic managers for details on joining the network and participating in webinars.

Other news

Reminder on measles

Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL) is asking primary care providers to take the following action regarding measles prevention and testing:

• Ensure you and your staff are fully vaccinated to prevent acquiring measles
• Familiarize yourself with the clinical presentation of measles
• Check that you have sufficient supplies of nasopharyngeal swabs, Universal/Viral Transport medium and sterile urine containers for sample collection, and ensure the transport medium has NOT expired (expiry date on container)
• Familiarize yourself and your nursing staff with how to collect a nasopharyngeal swab
• Ensure you have sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment, especially N95 respirators
• Before sending a suspect measles patient to have their blood collected, first contact the APL Appointment Booking line at 1-877-702-4486 

Refer to the APL Guide to Services for additional information 
Refer to the AHS IPC Acute Care Resource Manual for additional information 

Read the 05-14-2024 lab bulletin. 

Measles specimen collection - viral transport medium reminder

Please ensure that you are using the Puritan UniTranz-RT UTM.  
Get more information.

Wildfire Response – Latest Updates from Alberta Health Services

Get situation updates and recovery information on major active emergencies that require a coordinated provincial response. Find more information.

Join NAPCReN and contribute to CPCSSN!

Northern Alberta Primary Care Learning & Research Network (NAPCReN) is a family physician and multidisciplinary collaboration of researchers and clinicians in primary care. The Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (PCCSSN) cleans and structures your patient data which can then be used to evaluate, improve and inform your practice. Through validated algorithms, CPCSSN can correctly identify patients with chronic diseases commonly seen in your practice.
Learn more. 

Alberta’s Pathway Hub – Pathway of the Week

Provincial Lung Testing Clinical Diagnosis Pathway: A new lung testing pathway is available for use by family physicians to help in selecting the right pulmonary function diagnostic test at the right time. Specifically, it offers practical recommendations to guide testing for diagnosis in those over age six, and for the six most common respiratory presentations to primary care (asthma, chronic cough, COPD, dyspnea NYD, interstitial lung disease, and Post COVID). Provide your feedback and explore more pathways www.albertapathways.ca.

FAST launching gynecology in Calgary, Central, North and South Zones on June 10

The Facilitated Access to Specialized Treatment (FAST) program will begin accepting gynecology referrals in Calgary, Central, North and South Zones on June 10, 2024. FAST currently accepts referrals for general surgery, orthopedic surgery, urology* and vascular surgery. 
Edmonton Zone continues to intake colposcopy referrals and plans to add all gynecology reasons for referral in Fall 2024. 
FAST is a provincial central access and intake program. Learn more at AHS.ca/FAST.  
*Urology referrals in Edmonton Zone should continue to be submitted through eReferral

Celebrate Alberta Rural Health Week

This is Alberta Rural Health Week: a great opportunity to honour the contributions of the rural Alberta healthcare providers and community volunteers who help keep health care close to home.

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