December 2025

In this issue: IHI Forum Showcase | AI in Medicine | New Team-based Care Resources | plus more!

Showcasing Alberta’s innovation on the international stage

The Accelerating Change Transformation Team (ACTT) is thrilled to share that Alberta’s work will be featured at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Forum December 7 – 10, one of the world’s leading gatherings for health system innovation.

Our presentations will showcase two stories of meaningful system change:

• Transforming primary care compensation: When primary care faced a crisis of stagnant physician compensation and growing patient complexity, many physicians felt undervalued and considered leaving practice. Alberta’s new Primary Care Physician Compensation Model (PCPCM) changed that. In its first month, 40% of eligible physicians applied, driven by physician co-design and data-informed tools.
• Advancing access to care: More than 247 learners have enrolled in ACTT's Access Training. This program helps clinics take manageable steps to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction by ensuring patients can get the care they need from their physician, when they need it.

This recognition reflects the dedication of Alberta’s physicians and clinic teams who continue to shape a stronger health system. We’re proud to represent Alberta at IHI in Anaheim and to celebrate the people who make this work possible. Read more.

Digital Health Innovation Series #2

AI in Practice: Tools That Work

December 4 | 7:00 - 8:15 p.m.
There is still time to register! Go beyond the hype and discover the real-world impact of AI in health care! Join Session #2 in our new Series and learn how Canadian-made tools are reshaping care, leadership and clinical decision-making.

Featured Speakers:

• Dr. Muhammed Mamdani, one of Canada’s most influential voices in AI and medicine.
• Dr. Jake Hayward, an ER physician and clinician-scientist.
• Dr. Mike Weldon, a family physician combining emergency medicine and electrical engineering with AI integration.

Digital Health Innovation Series #3

AI in Medicine: Legal Responsibility & Ethics

January 15 | 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.

For our third session in our Digital Health Innovation Series, join Dr. Trevor Day for an essential conversation on the legal and ethical challenges of integrating AI into health care. Dr. Day will be joined by guests from the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) and the legal sector to help you navigate the evolving digital health landscape.

You'll Gain: 

• Real world legal and ethical strategies for AI in health care.
• Practical guidance on implementation and risk management.
• Insights from top experts at the intersection of medicine, law and technology.

Featured Speakers: 

• Dr. Christine De Maria, CMPA Physician Advisor – Expertise in pharmacy, medicine and digital health
• Rebecca Bromwich, Lawyer & Legal Scholar – Perspectives on law, ethics and societal impact

Future-proof your practice! Whether you're tech-wary or tech-savvy, this session will leave you informed, energized and ready to make confident, ethical decisions about AI in your practice. Register today!

Updates to the Screening Maneuvers Menu

In November, the Alberta Screening and Prevention (ASaP) Screening Maneuvers Menu for Adults was updated to align with the Alberta Cervical Cancer Screening Program recommendations and policy. This means there are new guidelines on recommended test and interval for cervical cancer screening for those aged 50-69. Find full details on these changes and more here.

AMA-ACTT is pleased to introduce new team-based resources on our website!

These tools are designed to support collaborative care and include:

• Team-Based Care Change Package Summary
• Team Assessment accompanied with a facilitator guide
• Debrief Guide to help facilitate meaningful discussions

Visit Team-based Care to explore these resources and others and empower your team today.

Explore the AMA-ACTT Resource Centre to find tools designed to help physician practices and health care teams excel.

Leadership update: Dr. Bestard Joins AMA as EVP, Physician Workforce & Stewardship

Name: Dr. Jennifer Bestard

Neurologist 

The Alberta Medical Association is excited to welcome Dr. Jennifer Bestard to our team! This past October, she stepped into the role of Executive Vice President, Physician Workforce & Resource Stewardship. In this position, Dr. Bestard will work closely with leaders and partners across the province to strengthen physician leadership, support workforce planning and champion professional development.

Dr. Bestard brings more than 10 years of experience in physician leadership, hospital operations and performance improvement. Previously, she was Central Zone Medical Director and Associate Medical Director of Clinical Operations on the Alberta Health Services Executive Leadership team.

Dr. Bestard also holds an Executive MBA, complementing her clinical expertise with strategic leadership skills. Since opening her practice in Red Deer in 2009, she’s stayed deeply connected to clinical care and community education.  

Attend PPIP support sessions before year's end!

• Register now to have your College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) mandated Physician Practice Improvement Program (PPIP) questions answered at our new 60-minute virtual drop-in session on December 8 at 6 p.m. 
   
• Learn the ins and outs of billing, liability and patient location with Virtual Care Excellence: Understanding the Standards of Practice on December 10 at 6 p.m.  
   
• At Facing the Drain of Medical Practice on December 15 at 6 p.m., explore the relationship between burnout and medical culture using your personal results from the Maslach Burnout Toolkit™ for Medical Personnel.  

PPIP webinars are open to all CPSA-registered physicians, including those in administrative roles. Sign up now to be notified of 2026 session dates.

Central Patient Attachment Registry (CPAR) Conflicts continue their gradual decline! Take a look at our Conflicts dashboards to see the progress being made in each zone and our province as a whole. Thank you to everyone who contributed to an impressive 46,000 conflicts resolved in October. Let's keep it going! 

Ready to begin conflict resolution work at your clinic? Why not make it PPIP activity? Our sample PPIP Action Plan for Conflicts can help clinics and teams get started and fulfill a CPSA requirement.

Uninsured Services Guide updated

The AMA’s 2025 Uninsured Services Guide is now available to members on the AMA website (login required). To support physicians and their teams, we have also updated two companion resources:

• Transfer of, and Access to, Medical Records guide.
• Poster for clinic waiting rooms to help patients understand what uninsured services are and why fees apply.

Uninsured services, such as medical-legal reports, insurance forms, sick notes, driver’s medicals and transferring medical records, fall outside the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). The Guide provides suggested rates and billing guidance to help physicians manage these services consistently and ethically. Learn more about uninsured services here.

PCPA statement: What's the family physician's role in team-based care?

As Alberta moves toward integrated care, the role of family physicians is evolving. The Primary Care Physician Alliance (PCPA) has released a united statement that defines how physicians collaborate and lead in team-based care and why that leadership is critical. It provides clarity on leadership expectations and principles for effective team-based care. 

The PCPA is a physician-only group focused on advancing primary care and strengthening physician leadership. Learn more.

Specialty Care Alliance (SCA)

The ACTT team welcomes three leaders to their new roles in the Specialty Care Alliance:
                                                  
Dr. Joe Bergman – SCA Chair
An upper extremity orthopedic surgeon and biomedical engineer and member of the SCA executive since 2023, he is passionate about health system design, especially in resource-constrained environments.

Dr. Rajesh Narula – SCA Deputy Chair
A community-based general internal medicine specialist and hospitalist. He currently serves as Vice President of the South Zone Medical Staff Association.

Dr. Bertus Eksteen – SCA Past Chair
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Eksteen for his outstanding leadership and contributions as Chair. We look forward to his continued support in this new role!

These SCA leaders will work alongside nine other Executive members to ensure the specialist voice is strong and heard clearly within the AMA. As significant system changes are underway, including Dual Practice and other recent government actions, this is a critical time for physicians to work together and influence effectively. 

Learn more about the work of the SCA.

Accelerating Change Transformation Team (ACTT)

Supporting Alberta physicians and teams to create a high-performing health system.
We're trusted, local advisors with the AMA physician benefit program, funded by the Government of Alberta. 

albertadoctors.org/actt

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