September 14, 2023

In this issue:

• Optimized Prescribing with Seniors: Nocturia

• Giving Alberta infants the best start to life possible

• Meet this year's recipients of TD Insurance AMA Scholarships

• New resource guide for physicians for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

• Congratulations to AMA Executive Director Mike Gormley on his retirement!

• New: MD Culture Shift Issue #24

• MD Financial Management

  • Should I invest in a TFSA or leave excess funds in my corporation?

• Community Connections
  • Focus on Caregivers: Active wellness for Calgarians under age 65 with dementia

Optimized Prescribing with Seniors:

Nocturia

Case
Beryl is 76 years old and attends her family doctor as she has been feeling tired. She reports that over the last year she has been woken several times at night by the urge to pass urine and finds it difficult to get back to sleep.

Issue
Beryl is describing nocturia, the complaint of passing urine during the main sleep period, with each urination followed by sleep or the intention to sleep. Why is Beryl waking overnight to go to the toilet and how can this be improved?

Optimized Prescribing with Seniors is a joint communication of the Alberta Medical Association and the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta. Articles are written by physicians for physicians prescribing in the care of older patients.

Giving Alberta infants the best start to life possible

September is newborn screening awareness month. Newborn screening is an essential service that offers screening to all babies in Alberta for serious but treatable conditions. It’s critical to identify and treat these conditions early to help prevent health problems, improve health and development and save lives.

Physicians play a key role in communicating the importance of blood spot and hearing screening with families. Newborn screening is the most effective way to detect serious but treatable conditions before there are symptoms. Infants may have one of these conditions regardless of family history. Finding these conditions early means babies get the treatment they need when it can help the most.

Meet this year's recipients of
TD Insurance AMA Scholarships

A virtual recognition event was held on August 30 to meet and congratulate this year’s recipients of the scholarships.

The AMA wishes them all the best on their supplemental training paths and hopes for more opportunities to work with each of them throughout their careers.

The AMA’s Committee on Achievement Awards reviews the applications and has the privilege of awarding the scholarships each year. If you would like to join the committee and contribute to this exciting process, you can apply on the AMA committee recruitment web application.

New resource guide for physicians for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

In advance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, the Indigenous Health Committee of the AMA has created a resource guide for community physicians that contains links, recommendations and information about the realities facing Indigenous Health. The goal is to help physicians learn more about the importance of this day and support them in their ongoing reconciliation journey so that together, we can work toward health equity for all.

Congratulations to AMA Executive Director Mike Gormley on his retirement!

As previously announced in a President's Letter, Mike Gormley is retiring from the Alberta Medical Association after thirty years with the AMA. His last day as AMA Executive Director will be September 30, 2023.

Mr. Gormley joined the AMA in 1993 in the Health Policy and Economics branch (now known as Health Economics) and progressed to become the Assistant Executive Director of the same branch in 1994. In 2002, he took the helm as Executive Director of the AMA. Mike is the AMA’s fourth executive director and the first non-physician to hold the position.

During his tenure with the AMA, Mike’s contributions and advocacy for physicians have resulted in innovative solutions to challenges in the health care system. He was instrumental in the development of Alberta’s primary care networks and supporting physicians to adopt electronic medical records.

Mike has built a solid reputation for his vision, leadership and innovation; he will be greatly missed personally and professionally.

To celebrate Mike, recognition event planning is underway. Watch for more information.

New: MD Culture Shift Issue #24

In this issue of MD Culture Shift:

• Trauma Aware Culture Training and Trauma Informed Protective Strategies
• Lunch-Hour Physician’s Healing Group – Starting September 20
• Leadership Conversations Course: Accountability Conversations and Managing Physician Concerns
• CMA Wellness Connection:
  • Balance and Boundaries – September 12, 5 p.m.
  • Are you and Medicine on the Rocks? –September 14, 5 p.m.
  • Mindful Disaster Planning: Part of Self-Care – September 28, 5 p.m.
• Addiction & Mental Health Knowledge Bites Lunch & Learn Series
• Changing your Self-Criticism to Self-Compassion
• Canadian Conference on Physician Health
• Resident Wellness Conference 
• Patient Safety Culture & Our People Survey: respond by October 4.
• And a lot more!

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.

Should I invest in a TFSA or leave excess funds in my corporation?

Sponsored advertisement

As an incorporated physician, you have to determine the best strategy for managing your corporation’s excess funds, such as leaving the funds in your corporation to take advantage of tax deferral or withdrawing the funds and investing them in a TFSA.

Why could withdrawing to invest in a TFSA be the better long-term strategy?

Community Connections

This month, the following is available for your consideration:

Focus on Caregivers: Active wellness for Calgarians under age 65 with dementia

YouQuest is a charity founded to support Calgarians with young-onset dementia and their care partners via a wellness day program and access to counseling and peer support. September 27 marks the fifth anniversary since the service launched with just 10 participants!

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.

Reminders

CMA Awards: Nominate in one-step 

AMA committee openings closing soon:

AMA HBTF - apply by Sept. 22

Committee on Achievement Awards - apply by Sept. 30

Upcoming events

Leading Naturally

September 17-20

Connect Care conversation with Alberta physicians

September 19

AMA Fall Representative Forum
September 22-23

FMWC 2023 Educational Conference and AGM

September 23 & 24

5th Annual Radiology Update for Family Physicians

September 23

PFSP: Changing your Self-Criticism to Self-Compassion

October 18

Social media training for AMA members:
 

Social Media 101

September 21
5:30-6:30 p.m.

Media Relations 101

September 27

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Social Media 201

October 11

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Media Relations 201

November 16

1-4 p.m.
 

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:

September:

World Alzheimer's Month

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

September 30

Recommend a special date.

Last issue's top stories

- Members needed for several important committees. Apply online today!

- Investing as a physician: a primer

In the September 14
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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