July 25, 2024

In this issue:

• Get ready for a brand new AMA! (Website, that is)
• Time to update your AMA website login credentials
• Be aware! Blood culture bottle shortage
• Additional diagnostic reports for patients available through My Personal Records
• Interim fax routing - Changing Connect Care provider communication method
• Changes to AHS DI appointment notifications sent to ordering providers
• Have your say in improving the new Pathway Hub digital tool
• Attend the ADM town hall on PCN transition
• AHS Updates:
  • Active health advisories
  • APL merging duplicative requisitions
  • Alberta wildfire information update
  • Cardiac test results available in My Personal Records
• MD Financial
  • What's the best order for drawing your retirement income?
• Community Connections
  • AI scribe tools in health care study

Get ready for a brand new AMA!

(Website that is)

The AMA is in the process of building a new website, and we are on track to launch later this summer!

What are some of the improvements designed to improve your experience?

Time to update your AMA website login credentials

We are upgrading our password requirements to improve our login services and provide a more secure login experience.

Shortly, users will be prompted to update their login credentials upon logging into the AMA website. Here is what you can expect:

Log in with your email address
You will no longer log in with an ID number. Use the email address associated with your existing AMA account to login. If you need assistance, or to create an account, please visit Login Help or contact our Help Desk or Membership team.

Update your password
Soon all users be asked to update their password. There will be a strength metre in place to ensure your password meets the following standard:

• minimum eight characters
• one lowercase letter
• one uppercase letter
• one number
• one special character, e.g.,!*@#$%^()+=

One method to create a strong, but easily memorable password is to make a passphrase. This is a combination of words that are meaningless together, but meaningful to you. For example, mouse-hat-printer, which you can then strengthen by adding numbers and special characters as required. E.g. MouHatPrin3!

Don’t reuse passwords
To reinforce the security of your new password, make sure you are not using it elsewhere, such as on social media, webmail, etc.

Be aware! Blood culture bottle shortage

The AMA Section of Laboratory Physicians would like to make physicians aware that there is a shortage of blood culture bottles (up to 50%), and this shortage is expected to last over the next several months. Clinicians across the province are being asked to adhere to best practice recommendations when ordering blood cultures. A bulletin from Alberta Precision Laboratories suggests that if provincial mitigation strategies are insufficient to counteract the reduction in supply, additional measures, such as restricting routine blood culture orders to a single set (one aerobic and one anaerobic bottle) instead of the current two sets, may need to be considered.
 
For more details, please read the full Laboratory Bulletin. 

Additional diagnostic reports for patients available through My Personal Records

As of June 18, 2024, Albertans can view additional diagnostic reports in MyHealth Records. The recent release includes electrodiagnostic reports such as ECGs, EEGs and EMGs as well as stress tests and Holter monitor reports that were not previously available. These reports are viewable as soon as they become available through the My Personal Records application.

Physicians and other providers will continue to have access to reports through their usual channels, including Alberta Netcare.

Interim fax routing - Changing Connect Care provider communication method

An interim routing solution is now available that may be beneficial for community providers who also have a Connect Care In Basket (mixed-context providers) who have limited, intermittent work in a Connect Care context and do not want all their results and documentation sent to Connect Care In Basket. Mixed-context providers can request their default communication method for results and documentation be changed from Connect Care In Basket to fax, either for all information currently sent to their Connect Care In Basket that can be faxed, or for diagnostic cardiology results only.

Read the summary or dive into details with this FAQ.

Changes to AHS DI appointment notifications sent to ordering providers

As of June 10, 2024, the AHS diagnostic imaging (DI) notification of appointment letters sent to community providers by AHS DI no longer include the patient notification letter. Prior to this change, provider notifications included a copy of the notification letter that is sent to the patient. Provider notifications continue to include the appointment details and process instructions. This will shorten the provider notifications sent by one to three pages. The AHS DI team will continue to contact the patient directly with preparation instructions prior to their appointment.

Have your say in improving the new Pathway Hub digital tool

AHS is aiming to make referral, clinical and patient pathway information easy to access and consume for health care providers by replacing the current PDF format referral pathway with a new digital tool, 'Pathway Hub'. This will improve clinic operations and the workflow between primary care physicians and AHS services. 
 
Physicians are invited to participate in a one-hour virtual 1:1 to evaluate the new digital tool. Eligible participants will be remunerated as per the AHS Medical Staff Remuneration for AHS Committee and Project Participation Policy. Usability testing will occur between July 22 and August 9.
 
If you're interested, please fill out this short survey. At the end of the survey, you will be able to select a convenient date and time for the 1:1 evaluation session. Someone will follow up to confirm your appointment and provide further details. Thank you for considering this opportunity to help shape the new pathway tool. 

Attend the ADM town hall on PCN transition

Work is underway to gather information that will inform the plan for transitioning Primary Care Networks to Regional Networks.

The Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of Primary Care is hosting a town hall on July 31, following the first round of PCN engagement sessions. The town hall will be used to provide an overview of results from the engagement sessions and answer questions about next steps of the project.

Please note registration is required to attend the town hall and spaces are limited.

If you have any questions, please reach out to pcnleads-exec@albertadoctors.org.

AHS Updates

The following AHS updates have been provided for your information:

• Active health advisories
• APL merging duplicative requisitions
• Alberta wildfire information update
• Cardiac test results available in My Personal Records

What's the best order for drawing your retirement income?

Sponsored article

If you’re a physician nearing retirement, we can help you plan for a smooth financial transition when you stop earning income from your practice. Each retirement income source has tax implications if drawn earlier or later, or left to your estate. Learn what to spend first and what to save for as long as possible. It all depends on your financial priorities and your primary objective once retired.

Community Connections

AI scribe tools in health care study

This study aims to explore the integration of AI scribe tools in health care, particularly their impact on reducing administrative workload and enhancing the quality of patient care. Understanding the effects of these tools will help improve health care practices and potentially reduce physician burnout. This study has been approved by the University of Alberta REB - Pro00139738.

Please contact Dr. Amira Aissiou for more information

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...

Physician leaders wanted

Upcoming events

Physician Practice Improvement Program (PPIP) Virtual Care Standard of Practice

August 22

Physician Wellness Workshop: Your life in retirement

August 28

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

Below are special dates deserving recognition:

August:

International Overdose Awareness Day

August 31

Recommend a special date.

Last issue's top stories

Optimized Prescribing with Seniors: Managing falls

AHS Updates

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

- Physicians wanted

- Locums wanted

- For sale or lease
- Services

More from the AMA

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