September 29, 2022

In this issue

• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

• Register for the AMA's Annual General Meeting

• Help reduce the spread of communicable diseases

• Want to curl this winter?

• News from screeningforlife.ca

  • Lung cancer screening pilot project launched 

  • Giving Alberta infants the best possible start to life

• CPSA’s Competence Committee is looking for new members

• Clinical opportunities

  • Impact of COVID-19 on colorectal cancer screening in Alberta

  • Cognitive Task Analysis Concept Mapping study on navigating cancer diagnosis

• How to build a credit score in Canada: A guide for international medical grads

• MD Culture Shift Issue #17 now available

• AMA staff announcements: Service milestones and retirement

• Survey Corner

  • Calgary Zone Survey: Primary Care Sleep Apnea Clinical Pathway

  • Medical cannabis perspectives

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

On September 30, AMA offices will be closed as we commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The AMA supports the aims of this important day and is hosting an optional one-hour webinar for AMA staff so that they may learn more about the history of the residential school system. 
 

During this short event, we will view the film, The Unforgotten, which is:
 

"...a collection of stories about the health and well being of Inuit, Métis and First Nations peoples across five stages of life. The film uncovers instances of systemic racism, the impacts of colonialism and the ongoing trauma experienced by Indigenous peoples in the Canadian health care system."

- ©Canadian Medical Association 2021

Following the film, special guest AMA President Dr. Vesta Michelle Warren, who has Métis roots, will talk about her lived experience and reflect on the importance of the day.

We will then close our event with a moment of silence.
 

In honour of survivors, their families and communities, we hope you join us in reflecting on the history and legacy of residential schools in Canada, and what you can do to achieve mutually respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
 

Billing

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a federal statutory holiday but not a provincial statutory holiday in Alberta. Claims for the date of service September 30 will be claimed as a weekday and are not eligible for additional after hours or surcharge payments during the daytime hours e.g., TST, WK, etc. Please email Billing Advice if you have questions.

Register for the AMA's
Annual General Meeting

Join us Monday, October 3, at 7 p.m. for the 117th Annual General Meeting of the Alberta Medical Association.
 

This is an opportunity to hear about important AMA business, as well as your chance to vote on bylaw changes and nominate members for key positions. You will also hear AMA President Dr. Vesta Michelle Warren's valedictory address as well as comments from AMA President-Elect Dr. Fredrykka Rinaldi, about the year ahead.
 

Note: Only AMA members are eligible to vote at the AGM. To allow time to confirm membership status, members must register by 4 p.m., October 3. Member login required.

Help reduce the spread of communicable diseases

Remind your teams and patients of the importance of up-to-date immunizations!
 

The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted routine childhood immunization schedules around the world, leaving many people at higher risk of vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio and measles. This risk is heightened with conflicts and crises such as in Ukraine and Afghanistan, further disrupting basic health care and causing movement of displaced people throughout the world. Increased risk anywhere in the world is also an increased risk to us as imported diseases can quickly spread through our population, particularly in communities with lower immunization rates.
 

How can you help?

• Ask patients about their vaccine history and encourage them to get immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Talk to your staff about the importance of staying up to date with all vaccines and check your own vaccine records to see if you are due for an update.
• Report vaccine-preventable illnesses to your local Medical Officer of Health.

Want to curl this winter?

The Edmonton Doctors Curling League is recruiting local physicians and allied health care workers interested in participating in a social/recreational curling league with peers. No experience is necessary and all are welcome, including physicians and their family members/friends; medical students and residents; and allied health professionals.
 

The Edmonton Doctors Curling League curls on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 at the Granite Curling Club, 8620 107 St. NW Edmonton. The league starts up October 5 and will be running into early March 2023.
 

Interested? Questions?

Please contact Trevor Byers at tjbyers@shaw.ca.

News from screeningforlife.ca

Lung cancer screening pilot project launched 

As of September 1, eligible Albertans aged 50-74 who currently smoke or have quit after smoking for many years can get screened for lung cancer through the Alberta Lung Cancer Screening Program. This new two-year pilot project will offer low-dose chest CT scans to approximately 1,500 at-risk individuals each year. Individuals referred to the program who still smoke will also have access to enhanced tobacco cessation support.
 

One in 13 Albertans will develop lung cancer in their lifetime, and more than 1,500 will die each year as a result, making lung cancer the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women. However, regular screening of high-risk asymptomatic individuals can lower the risk of dying from it by almost 25%.
 

The project is offered through clinics in three primary care networks – Mosaic (Calgary), Edmonton O-day’min, and Grande Prairie. These areas were chosen based on high smoking rates and higher risk populations. The pilot, funded through AHS and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, will inform further implementation of a province-wide program.
 

Quitting smoking is one of the best things individuals can do for their health and to reduce their risk of lung cancer – cigarette smoking is the cause of 8 out of 10 cases. Talk with your patients about options available to help them quit or go to albertaquits.healthiertogether.ca.
 

Patients requiring chest imaging for specific symptoms should be managed per current clinical processes rather than through the screening program.

Giving Alberta infants the
best possible start to life

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, and finding these conditions early means babies get the treatment they need when it can help the most.
 

There are two population-based programs that offer newborn screening free of charge:

• Alberta’s Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Program
• Alberta’s Newborn Metabolic Screening Program

CPSA’s Competence Committee is looking for new members

Apply by Friday, October 7
 

If you are a rural family physician or general practitioner with a clinical practice outside of Edmonton or Calgary, consider an active role in profession-led regulation by joining CPSA’s Competence Committee.

Clinical opportunities

Impact of COVID-19 on colorectal cancer
screening screening in Alberta

The pandemic has caused delays in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in Alberta – from pausing fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) during the initial waves, to increased wait times for FIT positive patients to undergo colonoscopies.
 

A research study led by Dr. Steven Heitman (gastroenterologist and researcher with the University of Calgary and AHS) is conducting interviews with primary care providers and endoscopists to understand how the pandemic has impacted physicians and their patients, and what can be learned from this experience to improve CRC screening across Alberta. Honorariums will be offered.
 

Please contact Michelle Stiphout for more information.

Have your say in improving cancer care

A team of researchers at the University of Alberta led by Dr. Lee Green, and in collaboration with the AHS Cancer Strategic Clinical Network, is inviting physicians to participate in a Cognitive Task Analysis Concept Mapping study which will help to gain insight into the experience of navigating a cancer diagnosis.
 

Your voice will help the team understand and improve cancer care, experiences and outcomes in Alberta.
 

The team is looking to conduct a 90-minute Zoom interview of family physicians, using a tool called concept mapping. Honorariums may be offered.
 

Please contact Tanya Barber for more information.

How to build a credit score in Canada:
A guide for international medical grads

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New: MD Culture Shift Issue #17

In this issue of MD Culture Shift:

• National Recovery Month
• World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10)
• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30)
• National Health Survey 2021 Report Released
• Courses, conferences and sessions:
  • AHS Physician Leaders’ Healing Group
  • Inner Critic - University of Alberta
  • Crucial Conversations for Women in Medicine
  • PLI: Talent Management for Exceptional Leadership
  • Mindful Practice in Medicine
  • International Conference on Physician Health
• And 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.

AMA staff announcements:
Service milestones and retirement

We are congratulating nine AMA staff members who, over the last two years, reached a significant service milestone. Additionally, we are celebrating the retirement of one long-term AMA employee.

Survey Corner

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

Primary Care Sleep Apnea Clinical Pathway

Are you a Calgary and area primary care physician? Share your thoughts on Calgary's new clinical pathway for sleep apnea, whether you have used the pathway or not. Results from this 10-minute survey will guide pathway enhancements. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete, and after completing it, you may enter a prize draw for a chance to win an iPad. For every completed survey $10 will be donated to Alberta Lung. Study approved by the University of Calgary Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board (REB21-1978). Questions? Please contact sleepresearch@ucalgary.ca.
 

Research study: medical cannabis
Are you a health care provider (physician, resident, nurse, or pharmacist) interested in participating in a medical cannabis survey? Researchers are inviting providers to complete a 10-minute online survey to learn about medical cannabis perspectives, experiences prescribing, training needs, legalization impacts and pandemic impacts. Study approved by the Research Ethics Board at CAMH (REB#095/2021). To access the consent form and survey, please visit the link above. Questions? Please contact: jessica.wiese@camh.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.

Reminders

Membership renewal
If you have not yet renewed your AMA membership, you may do so on the AMA website. 

AMA HBTF: Time to enrol!
Now is your opportunity to enrol in our popular AMA Health Benefits Trust Fund. Our annual open enrollment period runs until October 31.

Media relations and social media training

The AMA is offering its members training in social media and media relations:
 

Social Media 101
October 26
5:30-6:30 p.m.
 

Social Media 201

November 22
5:30-6:30 p.m.
 

Media Relations 101
October 13
5:30-6:30 p.m.
 

Media Relations 201
October 20
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 awareness:

- Arthritis

- Childhood Cancer

- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

- Ovarian Cancer

- Prostate Cancer

- World Alzheimer's Month

September 30: 
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
 

Recommend a special date.

Last issue's top stories

- Alberta implementing HPV Test of Cure
 

- Reduce anticholinergic burden to improve safety in older adults

In the September 29
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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The opinions expressed in AMA publications are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the Alberta Medical Association, its Board of Directors or members.
 

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