June 25, 2026

In this issue: 

• Meet Dr. Brad Bahler: Medical Director, Primary Care
• Affected by recent severe weather? Submit an insurance claim
• ECG Written Textual Reports via eDelivery
• Sign up for Primary Care Alberta's new Dementia Advice Line newsletter
• Derived Day Approach: Alberta’s new rate-setting methodology for annualized cARPs
• New PPIP support sessions for summer now available
• Primary Care Alberta updates:
  • Hand and wrist osteoarthritis patient pathway available
  • Two new urinary tract pathways
  • Alberta Virtual Pain Program fax number update
  • Changes to parking placard program for people with disabilities
  • Alberta funds groundbreaking drug for rare disease
  • Mobile mammography services: June & July
  • Lab bulletins:
    • Apolipoprotein E (APOE) Genotyping Companion Testing for Anti-amyloid Therapies (Provincial)
    • Replacement of Urinalysis Instruments: Community Hub and Urban/Regional Hospital Laboratories (Provincial)
    • Micro Collections: Appropriate Storage and Handling of Expired Tubes (Calgary)
    • New Hematology Analyzers –Central Zone- Sysmex XN530 (Central).
    • Viral haemorrhagic fever (Ebola) testing and outbreaks
• Community Connections
  • Survey for physicians: Why your opinion matters to caregivers
  • Facilitators and barriers to discussing sexual health with cancer survivors

Meet Dr. Brad Bahler

Medical Director, Primary Care

Our physician profiles spotlight Alberta physicians whose work is helping transform the health care system.
 

Dr. Brad Bahler has joined the AMA in the position of Medical Director, Primary Care. Read more about why this role is important to him and a little-known fact about his family history.

Affected by recent severe weather?

Submit an insurance claim

On Saturday, June 20, Alberta experienced severe thunderstorms that brought heavy rain, hail and high winds across parts of the province.

Events like this can be stressful and disruptive. AMA members who have been affected by the severe thunderstorms can start a claim online or through the TD mobile app.
 

AMA will use our social media platforms and website to share important information. Members can also contact us at amamail@albertadoctors.org.

ECG written textual reports via eDelivery 

Effective June 23, when eDelivery is a provider’s preferred delivery method, ECG written textual reports (interpretation only) can be sent to the EMR of the ordering/authorizing provider and any copy to providers.
 

Note that no waveform tracings will be included in the reports sent to EMRs. Reports including waveform tracings will continue to be faxed according to current practice and will remain available in Alberta Netcare.

Sign up for Primary Care Alberta's new Dementia Advice Line newsletter

The Dementia Advice Line through Primary Care Alberta’s Health Link 811 is a telephone resource for patients and their caregivers. Nurses conduct assessments and provide supportive listening and short-term psychosocial support. They also link callers to dementia-related resources, education and health advice.
 

Sign up to receive the Dementia Advice Line newsletter quarterly. For more information about the Dementia Advice Line, visit the website or call 811 Monday – Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Derived Day Approach: Alberta's new rate-setting methodology for annualized cARPs

The Derived Day Approach (DDA) aims to increase fairness across physician compensation models and better align Annualized cARP rates with fee-for-service (FFS). Watch our new explainer video and explore how the DDA methodology uses adjusted FFS claims data to inform daily rates. New specialist rates will be shared soon, pending ministerial approval.

New PPIP support sessions for summer

now available

Why wait until the busy fall season? Start working on your College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) Physician Practice Improvement Program (PPIP) requirements now with the help of AMA-ACTT's support webinars.
 

Visit the website to choose the topics and dates that work best for you.

Sign up to receive notifications when new dates are posted.

Primary Care Alberta updates

The following updates from Primary Care Alberta (PCA) have been provided for your information: 

• Hand and wrist osteoarthritis patient pathway available
• Two new urinary tract pathways
• Alberta Virtual Pain Program fax number update
• Changes to parking placard program for people with disabilities
• Alberta funds groundbreaking drug for rare disease
• Mobile mammography services: June & July
• Lab bulletins:
  • Apolipoprotein E (APOE) Genotyping Companion Testing for Anti-amyloid Therapies (Provincial)
  • Replacement of Urinalysis Instruments: Community Hub and Urban/Regional Hospital Laboratories (Provincial)
  • Micro Collections: Appropriate Storage and Handling of Expired Tubes (Calgary)
  • New Hematology Analyzers –Central Zone- Sysmex XN530 (Central).
  • Viral haemorrhagic fever (Ebola) testing and outbreaks

Community Connections

Survey for physicians: Why your opinion matters to caregivers
 

The Department of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is conducting an evaluation of the Employment Insurance (EI) Family caregiver benefits and the Compassionate care benefits.  
 

They are kindly asking physicians to set aside 10 - 15 minutes to complete a short survey. The survey will remain open from June to October 2026. THey are seeking your feedback on the requirement for a medical doctor or nurse practitioner to fill out a medical certificate for a patient who is critically ill or injured or in need of end-of-life care. 
 

Complete the survey

Facilitators and barriers to discussing sexual health with cancer survivors
 

Researchers at the University of New Brunswick are seeking Canadian health care providers to participate in a doctoral dissertation examining the factors that facilitate or hinder discussions about sexual health with cancer survivors.
 

Participants must be 19 years of age or older, currently work directly with cancer survivors and have resided in Canada for at least the past five years.
 

The anonymous online survey takes approximately 15 -20 minutes to complete. Participants may choose to enter a draw for one of ten $10 Amazon gift cards through a separate survey link to maintain anonymity.

The survey will remain open until the target sample size is reached, which is anticipated to be by December 2026.
 

Complete the survey

Promoting a local charitable health-related event?
 

Recruiting physicians and medical learners for a medical study?
 

Seeking AMA member participation in a survey?
 

The AMA receives many requests to promote local events, research participation opportunities and surveys to our members. We consider all requests based on specific criteria and general relevance/appropriateness.
 

*Please note that, unless explicitly stated, the AMA is not associated with or responsible for items listed in Community Connections.

In case you missed it

Alberta Lighthouse Initiative now accepting expressions of interest

Introducing the Quality Stewardship Committee

Upcoming events

Working through conflict: Mastering the process

August 24
 

10th Annual Recovery Capital Conference

September 22-24

View all upcoming events on the AMA website

Have an event you'd like to promote?

Review our criteria and submit your event

Recognition Roundup

Canada Day

July 1
 

Canadian Injury Prevention Day

July 6

Recommend a special date

Last issue's top stories

Primary Care Alberta updates
 

2026 ADIUM student elective travel grant recipients

In the June 25
MD Scope Classifieds
you'll find listings for:
 

- Physicians wanted

- Locums wanted

- For sale or lease
- Services

More AMA publications

© 2026 Alberta Medical Association; All rights reserved
 

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.
 

The Alberta Medical Association does not assume responsibility or liability for damages arising from any error or omission or from the use of any information or advice contained in these materials. Advertisements included in our publications are not necessarily endorsed by the Alberta Medical Association.
 

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