June 27, 2024

In this issue:

• Preventing Invasive Pneumococcal Disease: Two new vaccines
• Avoid excess lab testing: How you can help
• New AMA award celebrates rural/remote medicine
• Discounts on driver's medical exams: How will this affect your practice?
• AHS Updates:
  • Active health advisories
• MD Financial
  • The tax rules for common-law partners
• Community Connections

Preventing Invasive Pneumococcal

Disease: Two new vaccines

On June 24, Prevnar 20™ (Pneu-C20) will be offered to children and adults at increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), through AHS Public Health Centres and in First Nations communities. Pneu-C20 will replace both Pneumococcal Conjugate 13 Vaccine (Prevnar®13/Pneu-C13) and Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (Pneumovax®23/Pneumo-P) for individuals at increased risk of IPD.

Non-high-risk children under 18 years of age will be offered Vaxneuvance® (Pneu-C15) at AHS Public Health Centres as part of the routine immunization program.

It is anticipated that a vaccine distributor will be secured for physician vaccine distribution in the fall. In the meantime, please refer your eligible patients to either pharmacy or AHS.

Avoid excess lab testing: How you can help

Lab testing volumes are increasing at an alarming rate, placing pressure on an already overstretched health care system. Excess testing can increase health care costs and create medicolegal liability for practitioners through delayed diagnoses and treatment and missed or misinterpreted result.

There are several drivers of increased use of lab testing and three examples of lab test utilization recommendations that have been implemented in Alberta and supported by Choosing Wisely Canada.

New AMA award celebrates

rural/remote medicine 

Rural and remote medicine is a unique specialty within the profession. Rural generalist physicians are integral to the care of rural Albertans. Across our beautiful province, these physicians are essential to – and deeply ingrained in – their home communities.

The AMA Board of Directors has established the Medal for Excellence and Achievement in Rural/Remote Medicine. This honour will recognize a physician(s) who has made an outstanding personal contribution to patients of rural/remote Alberta and to the rural/remote community(ies) in which they live.

Our hope is to bestow the inaugural medal at the Fall 2024 Representative Forum. We invite members to recognize rural colleagues with this award, or to spread the word in your communities so friends and neighbors around them may make worthy nominations.

To nominate an outstanding rural or remote physician, visit the AMA website to view the criteria and learn more about submitting a nomination.

The deadline for nominations is August 16.

Each year the AMA accepts nominations for its Achievement Awards, the highest awards which lie within the power of the association to bestow. In addition to the new medal, these awards include:

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

Discounts on driver's medical exams; how will this affect your practice?

Starting July 1, Alberta seniors will be eligible for a 25 per cent discount on driver’s medical examinations. The discount will be provided by Alberta registry offices as a reimbursement.

This means that seniors who took a driver’s medical examination from April 1, 2024 to date may be asking for a receipt that includes this information from their practitioner.

To obtain the 25 per cent discount, seniors will be required to present a receipt issued by their practitioner that outlines the following:

• type of service provided;
• senior’s name;
• date of service;
• physician’s details (e.g., clinic, address, phone number) and;
• amount paid for the service.

For more information on the seniors’ discount on registry services, visit Alberta.ca/seniors-discount.

AHS Updates

The following AHS updates have been provided for your information:

• Active health advisories

The tax rules for common law partners

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Community Connections

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...

Apply to join the AMA Rates Committee

Inside Scoop member-only town hall - recording of the June 25 meeting available to watch.

Upcoming events

Media Relations 101

July 11

Micro-Aggression training for physicians

On demand

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:

July:

National Injury Prevention Day

July 5

International Self-Care Day

July 24

Recommend a special date.

Last issue's top stories

AHS Updates

The new Physician Comprehensive Care Model: Stay informed

In the June 27
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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