January 11, 2024

In this issue:

• Optimized Prescribing with Seniors: Part 2 - Emerging acute or decompensated heart failure

• Patients requesting Novavax vaccine?

• TD Insurance/AMA Medical Student Bursary: Application deadline extended to
  January 14

• Register today: Online session on physician wellness and mental illness

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

• Expressing our gratitude

• HQCA now publicly reporting hospital care measures

• 2023 EMR Survey - the results are in!

• Join the History of Medicine Committee: online applications now being accepted

• New MD Culture Shift January issue

• MD Financial Management

  • U.S. tax planning considerations for Canadian "snowbirds"

Optimized Prescribing with Seniors:

Part 2 - Emerging acute or decompensated heart failure

Case

Kanwar, a 72-year-old male with acute decompensated heart failure, was initiated on Lasix. Though his symptoms improved, his energy levels remained suboptimal. An echocardiogram was requested and the workup for contributing factors was unremarkable.

Objectives
This is Part 2 of a two-part series. The objectives of Part 2 are to:

1. Investigate guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT).
2. Personalize GDMT based on comorbidity profile.
3. Tailor treatment considering "intrinsic capacity" or "biologic age."

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.

Patients requesting Novavax vaccine?

Starting January 3, 2024, Albertans may call Health Link at 811 to book an appointment to receive the Novavax Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5 COVID-19 (Novavax XBB) vaccine. The administration of vaccine doses started on January 5, and will be available at select Alberta Health Services public health centres across Alberta.

Due to limited quantities, the Novavax XBB vaccine will not be offered at community pharmacies or community medical clinics.

While mRNA vaccines are recommended, Albertans with contraindications or refusals can opt for Novavax XBB if they're 12 or older. Those who've already had an mRNA vaccine are ineligible.

TD Insurance/AMA Medical Student Bursary application deadline extended to January 14!

The application deadline for the TD Insurance Meloche Monnex/AMA Medical Student Bursary has been extended to January 14!

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.

For information about eligibility and who to contact, visit the AMA website.

Register today: Online session on physician wellness and mental illness

On January 24, join Well Doc Alberta, AMA and AHS for
A Conversation - Physician wellness and mental illness in physicians and surgeons. This free online event will examine the challenges that physicians and surgeons face in maintaining their well being, the occupational hazards and expectations of invincibility, and the stigma associated with reaching out for help. Strategies and resources to support well being will also be discussed.

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 2024 MD program interviews.

Time commitment
The virtual interviews are scheduled on Saturday, March 16 or Sunday, March 17, and will take place within 7 a.m. –
2 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 2024 Interviewer Application Form by Monday, January 29. For more information, contact Gisèle Lepage-Wilcox at: lepagewi@ualberta.ca.

Expressing our gratitude

To all Alberta Medical Association members, committee members, section executives and RF delegates: we are genuinely grateful for your contributions to the AMA in 2023! The AMA is strong in part from your efforts, and we appreciate your leadership and commitment to the profession.

This year, in lieu of the annual holiday reception with the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta, the AMA made a $2,500 donation to Food Banks of Alberta. In addition, the AMA and its staff made the following charitable donations:

• AMA annual donation to United Way in lieu of Christmas cards - $1,500
• Fall 2023 AMA United Way campaign – AMA staff donations – $7,945.32
• 2023 AMA Staff Holiday Auction – $6,367.28 (donated to the Edmonton Christmas Bureau and Calgary Food Bank)

HQCA now publicly reporting hospital care measures

Do you see patients and families who want to learn more about the quality of care and patient experience in Alberta hospitals? Direct them to the Health Quality Council of Alberta’s FOCUS on Healthcare website.

In December, 16 measures on patient experience and delivery of care for the 14 busiest hospitals in the province were added to the FOCUS website. Smaller hospitals are reported as a group for specific measures.

2023 EMR Survey - the results are in!

Earlier this year AMA members were invited to participate in an electronic medical record survey on behalf of the Physician Leads Executive and the AMA Informatics Advisory Committee. The themes drawn from the responses were in line with what we’ve been hearing from members.

• The smaller EMRs are more effective in the areas of support and data migrations.
• There are no clear EMR preferences with respect to EMR functionality.
• New and old EMRs must meet Alberta usability and technical requirements and provide robust support before being deployed in Alberta. 

Join the History of Medicine Committee: online applications now being accepted

The AMA is currently recruiting to fill upcoming vacancies (one chairperson and four members) on the History of Medicine Committee. The committee makes recommendations on distribution of funds from the Donor Advised Fund established with the Canadian Medical Foundation to support the research, study, preservation, publication and education of the history of medicine. The term will be June 2024 to July 2027.

Our online application process makes it easy to apply! Visit the AMA committee recruitment web application to view the committee descriptions and to submit your application. Member login required.

The AMA is committed to diversity and inclusion in its committee appointment process. The deadline to apply is
March 31.

New MD Culture Shift January issue

In this issue of MD Culture Shift:

• MD Culture Shift CoP – January 17
• Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe Lectureship – Digital Health Today and Tomorrow – January 23
• Data Privacy Week - January 22-28
• Thriving at the Heart of Healthcare – April 13

Plus:

• Courses to Support Trauma-Informed Workplaces
• CMA Wellness Connection Sessions
• Mindful Practice in Medicine – Sign up Now!

And a lot more!

MD Culture Shift is an AHS publication created by physicians for physicians through the Physician Diversity, Wellness and Leadership Development (MD Culture Shift) stream within the Physician Experience Team. 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.

U.S. tax planning considerations for Canadian "snowbirds"

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In case you missed it...

AMA membership renewal. Renew online

Upcoming events

Pediatric Fractures and Dislocation Course

January 18

26th Annual Rural Anesthesia for GP Anesthesiologists Conference

January 19

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:

January:

Alzheimers Awareness Month

Recommend a special date.

Last issue's top stories

- Provincial Pathways Unit is looking for help from primary care providers

- Vascular surgery joins FAST

In the January 11
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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