April 14, 2022

In this issue

• Reminders

  • AMA membership renewal

  • AMA President-Elect 2022-23: Call for Nominations

• Are there no great Alberta physicians out there? We don’t believe it.

• Update on Paxlovid™ prescription transition to primary care

• Enhanced AHS clinical documentation to be eDelivered to primary care providers

• Help us celebrate physicians and inform the public for #NationalPhysiciansDay

• MD/AMA Insurance webinar: Mistakes, Misconceptions and Solutions

• Register today for the AMA's media relations and social media training

• Remembering Grant Sorochan

• New physician and patient resources available from HQCA

• News from the Alberta College of Family Physicians

  • Chronic Pain Gains in Alberta: An ECHO® Series by the ACFP’s CMN

  • Trauma Informed Care and Repairing Relationships

• New: MD Culture Shift Issue #13

• Interest rate increase: What it means for physicians

• Survey Corner: Feedback on fetal/gonadal shielding practices in diagnostic imaging

Reminders

AMA membership renewal
If you haven't renewed your Alberta Medical Association membership yet, visit the AMA website and log in to renew. You can also sign up for pre-authorized payments (PAP) or update your PAP profile and banking information.

AMA President-Elect 2022-23: Call for Nominations

The Call for Nominations period for the 2022-2023 president-elect is open. Nominations must be submitted by 9 a.m., April 21. Visit the AMA website to learn more about the process and current nominee.

Are there no great Alberta physicians out there? We don’t believe it.

When you got up this morning, we bet that your first thought was not: “I should nominate someone for an award today.” We know you’re busy and tired and with COVID disruption it can be hard to make time for things that aren’t on fire.
 

Every year, we look forward to celebrating those who contribute to quality health care in Alberta with our annual AMA Achievement Awards. These awards honour individuals, but they also provide a message to our profession and to the public we serve, reminding everyone of physicians’ commitment, expertise, accomplishments, leadership and service.
 

We invite you to cast your thoughts to those peers who have really made a difference beyond the course of their normal duties: Perhaps someone who has contributed something unique or ground-breaking to the art and science and practice of medicine. Perhaps someone who has toiled unwaveringly in relative obscurity but with stellar commitment to patients and colleagues during or before the pandemic.
 

Nominate a physician or non-physician for one of the following categories:

• Medal for Distinguished Service
• Medal of Honour
• Award for Compassionate Service

Update on Paxlovid™ prescription transition to primary care

Later in April, prescribing Paxlovid™ to eligible Alberta COVID-19 patients at high risk of severe outcomes will begin transitioning to primary care providers. Primary care providers will have varying capacities to take on this responsibility. It’s an important role involving the patient’s most trusted care provider and promotes continuity of care and access to this treatment.
 

AHS will continue to provide testing and will operate a dedicated Health Link line (1-844-343-0971) and the Monoclonal Antibody Prescription Program (MAPP) for Albertans wanting to access Paxlovid™. Note that MAPP will be important in coordinating and providing care for unattached patients.

Enhanced AHS clinical documentation to be eDelivered to primary care providers

Changes are being made to improve the timely and consistent availability of Connect Care results and documents to community providers.
 

Starting April 19, Summative Notes authored within Connect Care will be automatically sent to the Primary Care Provider captured within Connect Care upon patient registration or admission, via eDelivery.
 

AHS is working with eDelivery-conformed EMR vendors to ensure Summative Notes are delivered directly to the intended provider.
 

In the interim, the documents will be treated as exceptions and manual intervention will be required to link the document to the correct provider or direct the document to the appropriate user within your EMR.
 

AHS has consulted extensively with the AMA on the need for and implementation of this enhancement which is intended to improve patient transitions between AHS and primary care providers.

Help us celebrate physicians and inform the public on specialties for #NationalPhysiciansDay

This year for #NationalPhysiciansDay we want to educate the public about specialties and celebrate how physicians contribute to patient health.

If you're interested, please email us with answers to the short questionnaire below by April 25. We'll use the aggregate responses to inform our social media posts around this topic.
 

Questionnaire

• What is your specialty? 
• Combined with your MD, how many years of education did it take to begin practicing? 
• Who are your patients? (E.g., children, elderly, kidney health, brain health, etc.) 
• What is something you wish your patients knew? 
• How can patients get in to see you? (E.g., walk-in, referral) 
• Are there any favourite memories or interesting facts you’d like to share?

MD/AMA Insurance webinar: 
Mistakes, Misconceptions and Solutions

As physicians, you know that without your input many patients might be missing proactive ways to improve their health outcomes. As financial planners, we know that many investors might be missing ways to optimize their financial plans, particularly with insurance.

Insurance provides a unique way to help you protect, grow and distribute your wealth. But the strategies to adopt aren’t always obvious. Common misconceptions can prevent physicians from taking advantage of everything that insurance can offer.

On April 20, 7 p.m. MDT, join us as MD Financial and the Alberta Medical Association highlight the key misconceptions physicians have about insurance, and how to address them. We will offer solutions and tactics to help you use insurance strategically and cost-effectively, to not only protect you and your family but also your wealth.

Register today for the AMA's media relations and social media training

Wondering how to create strategic and engaging social media content for advocacy efforts? Want to learn how to amplify positive messages, mitigate criticism and more? Need some news media tips and tricks, do's and don'ts or perhaps practice with mock interviews? The AMA is offering members training in social media and media relations (beginner and intermediate) with several sessions to choose from:

Social Media 101 – Learn more and register
Dates: May 24, August 23, September 15
Times: All sessions are 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
 

NEW: Social Media 201 – Learn more and register

Dates: April 21, June 22, September 19
Times: All sessions are 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
 

Media Relations 101 – Learn more and register
Dates and times:

• June 8 – 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
• July 14 – 12 - 1 p.m.
• October 5 – 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Media Relations 201 – Learn more and register
Date: June 21, October 20
Times: All sessions are 1 to 4 p.m.

Remembering Grant Sorochan

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Grant Sorochan (Director, Accelerating Change Transformation Team) on Tuesday, March 29.
 

Grant was an individual who interacted with many AMA members across the profession in his role and we thought this news should be shared with members. Our hearts go out to Grant’s family during this difficult time.
 

Grant has been a valued team member with the Alberta Medical Association for over 13 years and will be greatly missed. He was more than just a co-worker to many of us and was an inspiring, vibrant and compassionate member of our team.

New physician and patient resources available from HQCA

The Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) has launched a new campaign to empower Albertans to take an active role in their health care.
 

Resources for patients and families are available on the HQCA website, such as tips for before, during and after a visit with their health care team, questions to ask and a symptom tracker. These may also be useful for physicians to share, print or distribute at locations where they deliver care.
 

Physicians who would like to support their patients in becoming active participants in their health care can visit hqca.ca/info-for-providers.

News from the

Alberta College of Family Physicians

Chronic Pain Gains in Alberta: An ECHO® Series by the ACFP’s CMN
 

Registration is now open for "Chronic Pain Gains in Alberta: An ECHO Series." This interactive, online program features real cases submitted by YOU. Work through these complex cases with fellow colleagues and receive feedback from an interdisciplinary hub team of experts. The next session is April 20, featuring a short presentation on motivational interviewing.
 

All primary health care providers are welcome! Learn more, register, and submit your cases for discussion.

ACFP's CMN hosts webinar April 28 on Trauma Informed Care and Repairing Relationships
 

The Alberta College of Family Physicians’ (ACFP) Collaborative Mentorship Network for Chronic Pain and Addiction (CMN) is hosting this free session on April 28 at 7:30 p.m. Join Kara Irwin MSc RPsych and Marie Ferraro from AAWEAR to learn about trauma-informed care and patient relationships.
 

Following this session, Kara Irwin returns for an action packed sequel on May 12! Register for Trauma Informed Treatment Planning: The Tools & How to Use Them (Q&A). 

New: MD Culture Shift Issue #13

In this issue of MD Culture Shift:

• Insights from the CMA National Physician Health Survey 2021
• AHS recognizes Neurodiversity Month

Upcoming events:

• Trauma Informed Leadership
• MD Culture Shift Community of Practice
• Canadian Conference on Physician Leadership
• Canadian Women in Medicine & Equity in Medicine

MD Culture Shift is an AHS publication created by physicians for physicians through the Physician Diversity, Wellness and Leadership Development portfolio. It shares news of the constructive efforts happening in Alberta that support physician diversity, wellness and leadership. Visit ahs.ca/mdwellness to learn more and read previous issues.

Interest rate increase:

What it means for physicians 

Sponsored advertisement
 

For the first time since the pandemic started, the Bank of Canada has raised interest rates.
 

As inflation remains high in this period of economic recovery and growth, interest rates will likely rise further. Learn how it could impact your student loans, line of credit, mortgage and more.

Survey Corner

Health care partners and other organizations often seek physician feedback through surveys. This month, the following is available for your consideration:
 

Seeking feedback on fetal/gonadal shielding practices in diagnostic imaging
AHS is seeking feedback as part of its post-implementation plan for the changes to fetal and gonadal shielding in diagnostic imaging. Please take a moment to complete a three-question survey, which will assist AHS in understanding how the implementation process has gone and if possible, how it could have been improved. Fetal and Gonadal Shielding - Providers (albertahealthservices.ca).

Editor's note: "Survey Corner" presents survey requests received and reviewed by the AMA, that may be of interest to our members. We will publish new opportunities as we receive them.

Spring 2022 RF
Reports & Resolutions

are now available online. Member login required.

Upcoming Events
 

- April 20: Insurance: Mistakes, Misconceptions and Solutions
 

- April 27: Webinar #9 - COVID Talks for Docs
 

- May 9 & 10: SASHA Virtual Geriatric Grand Rounds Presentation
 

- And more!
 

View all upcoming events on the AMA website. 
 

Have an event you'd like to promote?
If your event meets our criteria, we can add it to our event listings. Review our criteria and submit your event.

Last issue's top stories
 

- Become a PaRx prescriber: Canada's National Nature Prescription Program

- How to claim the small business air quality improvement tax credit

In the April 14
MD Scope Classifieds
you'll find listings for:
 

- Physicians wanted

- Locums wanted

- Space available
- For sale
- Services

More from the AMA

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