December 2024

From the Primary Care Alliance

Note: Primary Care News is being published early due to the holiday period. Watch for the NEW Primary Care Alliance Bulletin coming in 2025!

2024 has been quite a year with significant changes to our healthcare system. As the year winds down and we go into the holiday season, I wish you and your household, a restful and blessed time.

I trust you will be recharged and invigorated for the coming year, which holds promises for significant advancements, particularly in primary care. Specifically, I’m referring to team-based care and new remuneration models for physicians.

It is my hope that the system changes will help us improve our recruitment and retention, which will ultimately improve patient care.

I am very much looking forward to the new Primary Care Alliance Bulletin newsletter launching in the new year!

Dr. Ema Gye
Chair
Primary Care Alliance

On behalf of the PCA, Accelerating Change Transformation Team, Alberta Medical Association, and the editorial contributors to this newsletter, we wish you and your family all the best for a safe, peaceful holiday season and a happy, healthy New Year!

Riverbend Medical Clinic – Compassionate Care Meets Comprehensive Health Services

The Alberta College of Family Physicians is honoured to acknowledge the Riverbend Medical Clinic as its 2024 Patient’s Medical Home – Outstanding Family Practice Award recipient.

Click the link below to learn all about how the Riverbend Medical Clinic utilizes a team-based approach to serve its diverse community needs and how you can nominate the ACFP’s 2025 clinic award recipient.

Learn More

More webinar options to help you complete PPIP requirements coming in 2025!

AMA-ACTT webinars can help you meet your College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSA) Physician Practice Improvement Program (PPIP) requirements.

Visit the website and choose from several topics, some with multiple date and time options.

Learn More

Join the AMA ACTT Physician Leadership Network (PLN) and earn CME credits in 2025

Sign up today and join the AMA-ACTT PLN webinar: New Year, New Approach: Taking Action on Burnout Prevention on January 21 OR January 22. These one-hour virtual interactive sessions provide practical information and tools, as well as opportunities to connect with your peers. Sessions are repeated on two dates and times to give you attendance flexibility.

Interested in the content? Check out past session recordings.

PLN members receive calendar invitations to all webinars.

Learn More

Register by December 31 to save on ACFP FMS!

Join the Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP) for its 70th annual Family Medicine Summit at the Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff March 7-9, 2025.

This year’s program features keynotes on artificial intelligence in primary care, infectious diseases, trauma-informed care, and so much more!

Register before 11:59 pm (MT) on December 31 with the discount code: PCA368 to save $100.00* on in-person registration!

*Conditions and restrictions may apply

Other news

Transitions in Care Talk: Patient Access to Information

In the second Transitions in Care Talk from AHS’ Primary Health Care team, you’ll find out how enhanced patient access to health information can improve transitions in care.

Hosted by AMA-ACTT as part of the Networks of Practice, this webinar takes place January 14, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Attendees can expect to:

Hear from a MyAHS Connect expert on how it keeps patients informed
Learn from AHS patient advisors about how increased access to health information can help patients feel more involved in their care
Get tips on how you can help patients access information that improves transitions in care.

Learn more and register.

Sign-up for Access Training notifications and forget about it til 2025!

New AMA-ACTT Access Training is launching in early 2025. The programming will offer strategies supporting timely access to care for your patients. Sign-up to be notified about readiness activities and when training goes live. Then, relax over your holiday break knowing you’re all set for when Access training is available next year.

Attend PCN Governance Training Essentials in the new year

Are you looking to learn more about effectively contributing to and influencing governing body performance while earning CME credits?

A virtual interactive session for PCN Governance Training – Essentials is offered on February 26, 2025. This curriculum from AMA-ACTT introduces the governance of PCNs in Alberta, the structure PCNs operate within and the many functions, roles and responsibilities that contribute to optimal boards and committees.

Enrol today.

Calling all clinic and operations managers: Understanding Cultural Diversity in Team-based Healthcare webinar

Join the Clinic Managers Network supported in partnership by AMA-ACTT and the Alberta Association of Clinic Managers to access this January 22, 2025 webinar.

It is critical to acknowledge the cultural diversity that exists within healthcare teams and within the patient populations we serve. This webinar will support healthcare teams in learning how to develop cultural awareness and the impact this has on patient care. Participants will learn the skills needed to facilitate effective communication and interactions across multiple cultures.

Learn more and register.

New Calgary and Edmonton cohorts added for Practice Facilitator Core Training: Comprehensive

New cohorts have been added for Practice Facilitator Core Training: Comprehensive this winter in Calgary and Edmonton.

This training introduces the core competencies Practice Facilitators need to support clinic teams including the context of primary care, the Patient’s Medical Home and Health Neighbourhood, and knowledge and practical skills in quality improvement and modes of influence.

The training begins in February and runs until June.

For more information and to register, visit the AMA-ACTT website.

New communication channels in 2025

Watch your inbox for the brand-new ad hoc Primary Care Alliance Bulletin coming in 2025. You don’t have to take any action. All current subscribers will be migrated to the new bulletin, and you can manage your subscription choice from within the bulletin when you receive it.

Also launching next year will be the new Alberta Medical Association’s Accelerating Change Transformation Team (AMA-ACTT) newsletter. This interactive and timely publication will include training, webinars, events and other important information for physicians and clinic teams. Stay tuned for more information!

Mailed and faxed cardiology results being resent

Community providers may see duplicates of non-invasive cardiology results and cardiology diagnostic imaging (DI) results, as AHS resolves a delivery problem and re-delivers affected results via fax. If you normally receive test results via mail or fax and are waiting for any of the results listed below, you can find them in Netcare. Please also check your Connect Care InBasket, or your EMR.

Provincially: cardiac echo, Holter monitor, cardiac monitor, stress test, nuclear stress test
In Calgary Zone only: cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), chest angio MRI, and nuclear medicine perfusion

AHS has reviewed the relevant records and is following up with the ordering healthcare providers as necessary. AHS apologizes for the inconvenience that checking these redelivered results will cause.
Read the Connect Care bulletin for more information.

Primary Care Alberta Chief Medical Officer job posting

Primary Care Alberta is inviting applications for its Chief Medical Officer position. This is a key executive leadership position, and the successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the integration and coordination of a complex health delivery model across various functions.

Read the full job posting
Email CMO@primarycarealberta.ca with questions