On January 27, 2025, Alberta Health Services implemented a change to improve the electronic delivery (eDelivery) of clinical documents and results from Connect Care to Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) in clinics and medical offices. This change resolves most of the duplication that community providers (including those who also work within AHS) have experienced since the launch of Connect Care. This change will also expand eDelivery to send more letters to EMRs, and ensure clinical information is more consistently delivered to providers based on the preferences they’ve provided.

Routing will take into account provider-patient associations in the care team in Connect Care, as well as the preferences of providers. For mixed-context providers (providers who work both in Connect Care at AHS and in the community), in most cases, results will go to InBasket only if their primary address is an AHS location.

All providers who have eDelivery, regardless of where they work, are encouraged to contact AHS at 1-877-311-4300 if you have not received clinical documents and results as expected.

For support, please call the AHS Service Desk at 1-877-311-4300.

For more information:

Canadian Association of Wilderness Medicine seeking speakers and workshop leaders for 2025 conference

The Canadian Association of Wilderness Medicine (CAWM) is seeking applications for speakers and workshop leaders for its 2025 conference, scheduled to take place October 3-5 in Canmore, with pre-conference activities scheduled for October 1-2. Applications are open to both students/residents and faculty. All wilderness medicine topics are encouraged, please be creative!

Applications close March 6 at 11:59 p.m. MT.

The CAWM sees great value in multidisciplinary presentations and encourages applicants from a variety of disciplines and professional backgrounds to apply. Speaker mentorship is also available for anyone interested. Please visit cawm.ca/ or contact programdirector@cawm.ca to learn more.

Well Doc - Life as a Physician Workshop: Exploring our Experience through Narrative Medicine (virtual)

A growing body of literature supports narrative-based medicine as a tool to share experiences and express emotion. Join a two-hour session where you will be introduced to key concepts in narrative-based medicine, and experience writing prose and poetry.

The session is interactive and participants will be invited to do some writings and sharing. You will be encouraged to have your camera on.

Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 5 – 7 p.m.
Registration link: eventbrite.ca/e/life-as-a-physician-exploring-our-experience-through-narrative-medicine-tickets

Got a minute? Thank a colleague through JPAC Shine On Gratitude Program.

The JPAC Shine On Gratitude Program gives physicians the opportunity to thank their colleagues for their acts of kindness, big and small. The process is as quick and easy as sending an email.

Complete the submission form and we will make sure the message gets to the person you want to express your appreciation to.

AMA member benefits

Use your CME dollars!

Physicians have until March 31 to use their CME allotment and will have until April 15 to submit their claims to the AMA for reimbursement.

AMA members are entitled to a benefit of $2,200 for CME expenses incurred between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. For more information – including tips on how to make an easy and quick CME claim, visit the AMA website.

If you require CME-related assistance, email CME@albertadoctors.org.

Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Save the date – Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry AGM (in-person)

Date: Friday, March 21
Time: 3 p.m.
Venue: Rimrock Resort Hotel, Banff, AB

To reach the Section of Clinical Assistants President, Dr. Muhammad Naseer, please email AMA Section Services.

Section of Emergency Medicine

Save the date - 24th International Conference on Emergency Medicine

Date: May 24-28

Location: Palais des Congres, Montreal

Further information may be found here.

To reach the Section of Emergency Medicine President, Dr. Warren Thirsk, please email AMA Section Services.

Section of General Psychiatry

Save the date - Section of General Psychiatry AGM (in-person)

Date: Saturday, March 22, 11:20 a.m. and to be continued Sunday, March 23 at 8:30 a.m. directly after the APA AGM

Location: Rimrock Resort Hotel, Banff

To reach the Section of General Psychiatry President, Dr. Sudhakar Sivapalan, please email AMA Section Services.

Section of Internal Medicine

Save the date – Section of Internal Medicine AGM

Date: Wednesday, March 26

Time: 7 p.m.

Venue: Zoom

There are several executive positions that will be open for nomination and election. If you are interested but unable to attend the AGM, please reach out to Dr. Pederson for details of the positions or expression of interest.

The section is hoping for a geographically diverse executive and would be very excited to hear from the section’s early career colleagues to help shape the section as it moves through these challenging times.

In accordance with the section’s bylaws, the agenda and Zoom link will be communicated to section members no later than 14 days prior to the meeting.

To reach the Section of Internal Medicine President, Dr. Troy Pederson, please email AMA Section Services.

Section of Laboratory Physicians

New ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration clinic in Red Deer

Alberta Precision Laboratories are pleased to announce that they are offering a NEW ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) outpatient clinic at the Red Deer Regional Hospital, which opened January 1, 2025. The clinic operates bi-weekly on Mondays 12-4 p.m. This is a new service offered to all Central Zone physicians and patients to assist with wait times in the region, especially for thyroid FNAs.

Using ultrasound guidance, FNA can be performed on superficial palpable and non-palpable lesions up to 3 cm deep. Clinicians just need to complete the FNA Clinic Patient Referral Form. There is a chance that the patient may not meet criteria set out and will be rejected. Such examples include not providing all the necessary information on the referral form or if the lesion is deemed too deep (>3cm) or is located too close to critical anatomical structures. If the patient has two no-shows, they will be discharged from our clinic and a new referral will need to be made.

If you have any questions, please contact: Dr. Marcia Abbott, marcia.abbott@albertaprecisionlabs.ca

Section of Neurology

Save the date - Section of Neurology AGM (in-person)

Date: November 7-9
Venue: Banff Springs Hotel

To reach the Section of Neurology President, Dr. Lisa Rosenegger, please email AMA Section Services.

Section of Occupational Medicine

Save the date - Section of Occupational Medicine (virtual)

Date: Friday, April 11
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Venue: Zoom

We invite you to attend our upcoming virtual Occupational Medicine Conference Friday, April 11, 2025. The conference will take place via Zoom.

For further information, including how to register, please click here.

This conference is open to all AMA members.

To reach the Section of Occupational Medicine President, Dr. Sebastian Straube, please email AMA Section Services.

Section of Otolaryngology

Save the date - Section of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery AGM (in-person)

Date: Friday, March 7

Time: 1 - 3 p.m.

Venue: Alberta Room, Banff Springs Hotel

To reach the Section of Otolaryngology President, Dr. Trina Rosaasen, please email AMA Section Services.

Section of Pediatrics

Section of Pediatrics Grants are now open

Greetings everyone. Now that we are in a new year, we are once again letting people know about the Section of Pediatrics Grants which are now open to members of the AMA who are also members of the Section of Pediatrics. Research projects aimed at pediatric populations under the age of 18 years of age are eligible for these grants, which could be funded for up to $10,000 per applicant. A maximum of $30,000 will be awarded this year. Please visit AMA Section of Pediatrics Grants for more information on the grants and the application form.

Deadline for applications is midnight, April 1.

To reach the Section of Pediatrics President, Dr. Sam Wong, please email AMA Section Services.

Section of Respiratory Medicine

NEW RESIDENT category in the section: free for resident physicians to join

Did you know respiratory medicine residents can join the section for free? If you know a resident who would benefit from this new section membership category, please encourage them to reach out to the AMA’s membership team at membershipgeneral@albertadoctors.org. Involving medical learners in the AMA and our section early in their career is essential for fostering our future colleagues and leaders. Residents can bring a fresh perspective to help drive innovation and positive change within our specialty. In turn, they have an opportunity to network and learn from experienced physicians, plus, they will be eligible for the NEW AMA Respiratory Medicine Travel Scholarship (more information below)! It’s a win-win!

NEW AMA Respiratory Medicine Travel Scholarship

The section has recently established a new scholarship of $3,000 to support trainees within respiratory medicine with travel electives abroad in order to observe and learn a unique skill within respirology. Stay tuned for more information including eligibility criteria. The section plans to begin accepting applications May 1 of this year.

To reach the Section of Respiratory Medicine President, Dr. Jonathan Liu, please email AMA Section Services.

Section of Rheumatology

Congratulations go to the following Section of Rheumatology members who have been selected by the awards committee as the 2024 recipients of this year's awards:

Carrie Ye: Research Paper of the Year
Olga Ziouzina: Distinguished Rheumatologist
May Choi: Innovation of the Year
Andrea Johnson: Future Leader
Alison Clifford: Educator of the Year
Martha Decker: Long Service Award

To reach the Section of Pediatrics President, Dr. Jason Soo, please email AMA Section Services.

The opinions expressed in AMA publications are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the Alberta Medical Association, its Board of Directors or members.

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