In this issue:

New AMA website enhances member experience
Alberta Precision Laboratories merging duplicative requisitions
Connect Care clinical documents: Address delivery method update
Got a minute? Thank a colleague through JPAC Shine On Gratitude Program
AMA in the news
Save the date! AMA Annual General Meeting October 8

News and updates from:
Section of Emergency Medicine

Save the date – Section of Emergency Medicine Annual General Meeting (virtual)

Section of Family Medicine

SFM Election Results
PCCM Panel Prep Webinar Series - Register Now for Part 1!
Save the date – Section of Family Medicine Annual General Meeting

Section of General Surgery

Registration now open – AAGS Review in the Rockies 2024

Section of Generalists in Mental Health

Generalists in Mental Health Discussion Board
Addictions and Mental Health Subcommittee

Section of Laboratory Physicians

Save the date – Banff Pathology Course
Save the date – ASLP Annual General Meeting (hybrid)

Section of Palliative Care

Registration now open – Palliative Care Education & Research Conference

General news:

New AMA website enhances member experience

The new Alberta Medical Association website is now live with a modern look and feel, updated features, improved search and better navigation.

If you have any questions, concerns or notice content missing, please use the in-page feedback form (just click the thumbs-down and enter a comment) or email us directly, webmaster@albertadoctors.org.

Your new login will be required to access the “member-only” pages. Please visit Login Help or contact our Help Desk if you need help or want to create an account. Keep in mind, your password must be strong and not be in use elsewhere, e.g., on social media.

Alberta Precision Laboratories merging duplicative requisitions
When a requisition for the same test is submitted by two or more providers, Alberta Precision Labs (APL) is now merging those duplicative orders whenever possible, instead of collecting separate specimens for requisitions that ask for the same tests.

As of July 22, 2024, labs will only collect enough blood for one test, and the results will be sent to all providers who ordered the test. As a result, patients will have less blood drawn and may see shorter wait times.

Community providers will notice that they will be listed as an Authorizing Provider or Coordination of Care Recipient on result documentation, simply to note that there is more than one provider ordering the tests.

All providers who order the test results remain clinically responsible for the results, and all ordering providers will get a call from APL about critical test results.

For details, see the Community Provider FAQ

Connect Care clinical documents: Address delivery method update
Starting August 25, 2024, Alberta Health Services (AHS) Connect Care will be able to deliver more clinical documents and results to providers at specific locations/clinics (typically where you see the patient, rather than a single default community location). To facilitate these improvements, your location and delivery method set-up in Connect Care may need to be updated. In early July, providers who work at more than one location/clinic and/or have electronic delivery (eDelivery) direct to their EMR inbox were sent a letter via fax (or in a few cases, by mail) to the location which AHS has on record as your primary/default location. This letter asks you to confirm results delivery methods and locations. Changes to this information needed to be returned to AHS by August 19, 2024.

Full details: Document and Results Routing Optimization Address-level Delivery Method (Specific to Provider Location/clinic) (albertahealthservices.ca).

Got a minute? Thank a colleague through JPAC Shine On Gratitude Program
The JPAC Shine On Gratitude Program gives physicians the opportunity to thank their colleagues for their acts of kindness, big and small. The process is as quick and easy as sending an email.

Complete the submission form and we will make sure the message gets to the person you want to express your appreciation to.

AMA in the news
View ongoing media coverage of AMA President Dr. Paul Parks and other physician leaders who have been actively speaking to the media and providing interviews and insight about our health care system.

No time to keep up with health care news? Every day, the News for Docs team scours local, national and international news sources to find articles and leading opinions relevant to Alberta physicians. This curated media clipping service is available to all members at no charge. Subscribe today!

Save the date! AMA Annual General Meeting October 8
Members are advised of proposed changes to the AMA Bylaws and elections taking place at the 119th AMA Annual General Meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The meeting will be held virtually; details will be provided with the AGM report and circulated to members prior to the meeting.

For more information, please visit the AGM page on the AMA website.

Section of Emergency Medicine

Save the date – Section of Emergency Medicine Annual General Meeting (virtual)

Date: September 26, 2025
Time: 7 - 9 p.m.
Venue: via Zoom link

To reach the Section of Emergency Medicine President, Dr. Arun Abbi, please email AMA Section Services.

Section of Family Medicine

SFM Election Results

The election for the SFM President and Executive Member-at-Large closed on August 23, and the election results have been made official by scrutineers, as per the SFM By-laws.

Dr. Sarah Bates is the successful candidate for the role of SFM President.
Dr. Trevor Day is the successful candidate for the role of SFM Executive Member-at-large.
Dr. Richard Hanelt is acclaimed for the role of SFM Nominating Committee Member-at-large.

Their positions will commence on September 19, 2024, immediately following the SFM Annual General Meeting.

PCCM Panel Prep Webinar Series - Register Now for Part 1!

Was your panel size estimate for the Panel Management Support Program smaller or larger than you expected?

Join Dr. Ernst Greyvenstein, ACTT Medical Director and AMA-ACTT staff for this webinar series and learn about practical steps you can take to improve the accuracy of your panel size estimate. This is also a great way to prepare for the launch of the new Physician Comprehensive Care Model (PCCM) (member login required), which has a panel-based payment component. Register for this webinar to take control of your panel size today.

This webinar is being offered twice to maximize participation:

September 3, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. OR September 4, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Visit the Webinars and Events page (under Networks of Practice) of the AMA website to view other opportunities.

Members should note that a potential condition of joining the PCCM is that physicians will need to maintain their panel on CPAR within 12 months of the model launch. Learn more about CII/CPAR, including supports and the CII/CPAR Acceleration Grant, which provides funding to physicians for their time and the administrative requirements to enrol and participate in CII/CPAR.

Save the date - Section of Family Medicine Annual General Meeting

Date: September 19, 2024

Location: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Calgary

Time: 6 p.m.

To reach the Section of Family Medicine President, Dr. Sarah Bates, please email familymedicine@albertadoctors.org.

Section of General Surgery

Registration now open – AAGS Review in the Rockies 2024
Please register for the annual Alberta Association of General Surgeons Conference which is again at the beautiful Banff Springs Hotel. Please visit the registration link below for further details and advantageously-priced accommodations.

The agenda will be updated soon, but topics should be of interest to the broad array of general surgeons in Alberta.

Date: October 25-27, 2024
Location: Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Section of Generalist in Mental Health

Generalists in Mental Health Discussion Board

There has been a slight delay in setting this up due to the new AMA website being implemented. The discussion board should be up and running within the next few weeks and will be available via the ‘Secure section content’ link on the Section of Generalists in Mental Health page. Stay tuned for updates.

Addictions and Mental Health Subcommittee
The Addictions and Mental Health Subcommittee of the Edmonton Zone PCN is developing a strategy to improve access to mental health services in that community. They are attempting to compile a list of psychiatrists and generalists in mental health in the Edmonton Zone to collaborate on strategies to improve access. Please consider adding yourself to the list! You can do so by emailing: medicaldirector@edmontonareapcns.ca.

To reach the Section of General Surgery President, Dr. Lloyd Mack, please email AMA Section Services.

Section of Laboratory Physicians

Save the date - Banff Pathology Course

The main topic this year is Endocrine Pathology.

Date: October 9 - 12, 2024
Location: Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Registration now open.

Save the date – ASLP Annual General Meeting (hybrid)
Date: Friday, October 11
Location: Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and virtual via Zoom
Time: 12:15 – 1:45 p.m.

The ASLP’s next annual general meeting is being held in conjunction with the annual Banff Pathology Course. The ASLP executive committee is seeking the following:

President-Elect for 1-year term (Calgary zone)
Secretary-Treasurer for 1-year term
Member-at-Large for 1-year term (Edmonton zone)
Member-at-Large for 1-year term (Calgary zone)
Member-at-Large for 1-year term (Rural)
Member-at-Large for 1-year term (Medical Microbiology)

The ASLP executive committee is an active committee that advocates for laboratory physicians and promotes the Practice of Laboratory medicine in Alberta. If you are interested in applying for any of these positions, or need more information, please contact Dr. Humaira Khanam, Dr. Todd Chaba or Dr. Chris Naugler at AMA Section Services.

To reach the Section of Laboratory Physicians President, Dr. Humaira Khanam, please email AMA Section Services.

Section of Palliative Care

Registration now open – Palliative Care Education & Research Conference

Date: Monday, October 21, 2024
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Virtual Event

Covenant Health is proud to continually support and provide delegates with the opportunity to gather, share experiences and exchange ideas about Palliative Care. Join us on our online platform this October to connect with colleagues representing many disciplines from all over Alberta, nationally and internationally.

Conference information and registration link available here.

To reach the Section of Palliative Care President, Dr. Marisa Dharmawardene, please email AMA Section Services.

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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