November 28, 2024

In this issue:

• Last hours to complete CPSA survey re freedom of expression and CPSA's role
• Physician Recruitment and Retention Support Program (PRRSP) launched this week
• President's tour postponed
• Physicians needed to interview applicants for the University of Alberta Doctor of Medicine Program
• Apply for the 2024-25 TD Insurance Meloche Monnex/AMA Medical Student Bursary
• AHS Updates:
  • Active health advisories
  • Important notice: Canada Post disruption 
  • Change to distribution of reports for second trimester prenatal risk assessment
  • North, Edmonton and Central Zones only: Change to distribution of reports for first trimester prenatal risk assessment performed in Edmonton 
  • Free rapid antigen COVID-19 tests no longer available
• MD Financial
  • U.S election update
• Community Connections
  • Are you a clinician providing care to a person receiving home care services?

Last hours to complete CPSA survey re freedom of expression and CPSA's role

In her November 14 President’s Letter AMA President, Dr. Shelley Duggan, wrote about government’s survey regarding “legislative changes to safeguard freedom of expression for regulated professionals.” Although the AMA has not received a reply back from government, the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta is conducting a survey that provides an opportunity for you to express your opinion about freedom of expression as a physician and a self-regulated professional. 

The survey closes at noon on Friday, November 29 and is seeking your opinion as to whether the current guidance of CPSA aligns with the perspectives of regulated members and what the role of the regulator should be in this space. Responses will be kept confidential and aggregate, anonymized responses will help to guide policy and inform applicable Standards of Practice at CPSA. 

This survey should take roughly 10-minutes to complete.

Physician Recruitment and Retention Support Program (PRRSP) launched this week

The PRRSP is a temporary program, funded by Alberta Health, which provides eligible physicians with financial support to continue practicing in underserved rural communities in Alberta. This program provides $15M per year, for two years to eligible physicians. That works out to two payments of roughly $4,500 per eligible year for every eligible physician – plus a top up at conclusion of the program. To qualify for payment through this program, you must have provided insured medical services in an eligible rural community in Alberta for at least 100 days during one or both of the 2022/2023 or 2023/2024 fiscal years. Note that if you declare that you are eligible, please allow two to three weeks for your eligibility to be reviewed and payment to be processed. 

For more information about the program, eligibility and payment details, visit the AMA website.

President's tour postponed

Due to unavoidable scheduling conflicts, the last three stops on the AMA President’s Local Doctors, Local Issues tour will be postponed until the new year. AMA President, Dr. Shelley Duggan and AMA Executive Director, Karina Guy will visit Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie and Red Deer in the new year to host town hall meetings and hear directly from members about their local issues, concerns and ideas. 

Members will be informed when new dates are set. The most up-to-date information can always be found on the Local Doctors, Local Issues page on the AMA website (member login required). 

Physicians needed to interview applicants for the U of A Doctor of Medicine Program

MD Admissions at the University of Alberta is recruiting volunteers to be interviewers for its 2025 MD program interviews. 

Time commitment

The virtual interviews are scheduled on Saturday, March 15, 2025, or Sunday, March 16, 2025, and will take place within 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. The start time will be confirmed closer to the interview weekend but interviewers are required to commit to one full day. 

Interviewer training

Training sessions are mandatory for all interviewers – dates/times for these sessions TBA (likely to be in February). 

Apply

If you are interested in volunteering to be an interviewer, please complete and submit the 2025 MD Program Interviewer recruitment form.  For more information, contact Gisèle Lepage-Wilcox at: lepagewi@ualberta.ca.

Apply for the 2024-25 TD Insurance Meloche Monnex/AMA Medical Student Bursary

Online applications are now being accepted for the 2024-25 TD Insurance Meloche Monnex/AMA Medical Student Bursary. 

The bursary program helps to reduce financial pressure from escalating medical school tuition fees and is made possible through a significant contribution by TD Insurance Meloche Monnex as well as donations from generous physician members. Funds are apportioned to each Alberta medical school based on the number of students enrolled. 

Applications will be accepted until January 12, 2025.

AHS Updates

The following AHS updates have been provided for your information: 

• Active health advisories
• Important notice: Canada Post disruption 
• Change to distribution of reports for second trimester prenatal risk assessment 
• North, Edmonton and Central Zones only: Change to distribution of reports for first trimester prenatal risk assessment performed in Edmonton
• Free rapid antigen COVID-19 tests no longer available

U.S. election update

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The recent U.S. election has significant implications for the economy and your investments. MD Financial Management’s update provides essential insights into the election results, potential policy changes and their impact on the market. Learn how these developments could affect your financial strategy and what steps you can take to stay ahead. 

Community Connections

Are you a clinician providing care to a person receiving home care services?

Canadian clinicians, including physicians and other members of the health care team, are invited to participate in the study, ‘The influence of gender at the intersections of cognitive, social and sensory vulnerability: Perspectives of home care providers.’ 

This one-time focus group will take place over Zoom and will ask questions about the different types of clients that you typically see in practice; how gender, social, sensory and cognitive vulnerabilities present together; how this may influence your approach to care; and how information from a new prediction tool regarding cognitive performance decline could be utilized with various home care clients. For more information or to participate, please contact Fernanda Dal Pizzol toll-free at 1-877-692-5909 or email fenglerd@ualberta.ca. This study has been approved by the Research Ethics Board at the University of Alberta (Ethics ID: Pro00137224).

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...

Time is running out to submit your speaker proposal for the 2025 Primary Care Strategic Forum

Upcoming events

Media Relations 201

December 5

Common Fractures and Dislocations Course

January 23 

26th Annual Anesthesia for GP Anesthesiologists Conference

January 24 

41st Annual Emergency Medicine for Rural Hospitals

January 24 - 26

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: 

December: 

World AIDS Day

December 1 

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 3 

Recommend a special date.

Last issue's top stories

Billing Tips: Claiming for after-hours work over stat holidays 

Optimized Prescribing for Seniors

In the November 28
MD Scope Classifieds
you'll find listings for:
 

- Physicians wanted

- Locums wanted

- For sale or lease
- Services

More AMA publications

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