Tackling the opioid crisis in Alberta will require new approaches and an immediate response of the entire health system to change its trajectory. The engagement and response of primary care physicians, teams and Primary Care Networks (PCNs) will be essential in defining new primary health care approaches to address the crisis and the systemic issues that contribute to the crisis. This curriculum provides examples of evidence-based quality improvement actions that primary care teams can take to help optimize processes for paneled patients who use opioids.
This training targets primary care physicians, clinical team members and practice facilitators.
This one-credit per-hour Assessment program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Alberta Chapter for up to 4.0 Mainpro+® credits.
Learners require a Learn@AMA account to access this curriculum. For more information and to register, visit the Opioid Process Improvement Training web page.

Transitions in Care PIN: A provincial forum for local work

If you’re working to improve transitions in care, the Transitions in Care Provincial Implementation Network (PIN) is a good resource. Launching in early 2023, this sub-committee of the Inter-Zone Implementation Coordination Committee (I-ZICC) is a silo-free zone where healthcare professionals from across the province can work collaboratively to improve transitions in care. The PIN will help healthcare professionals implement recommendations in the Homes to Hospital to Home Transitions Guideline.
What can the PIN do for you?
Look to the PIN if you want to brainstorm solutions, tailor localized plans, or learn from colleagues about what’s working and what’s not. You can share ideas, find resources, leverage IT systems, and much more.
Pinning down the PIN: built with partner feedback
On December 1, the Home to Hospital to Home Transitions Guideline team and the Alberta Medical Association’s Accelerating Change Transformation Team hosted two engagement workshops with about 150 participants from primary and acute care. Attendees gave the PIN their vote of confidence and offered feedback, including:

The PIN may create equitable representation of stakeholders
Challenges include limited capacity and varying definitions of success
Organizers should ensure all voices are heard and acknowledge localized differences
Organizers should remember that new processes can bring administrative burdens

The PIN team are grateful for this feedback, and will ensure it informs the work of PIN team members.
Staying in touch
More information on the PIN is coming in the new year. If you have any questions, please contact PHCIN@AHS.ca.

New clinical pathways for shoulder, soft tissue knee, and spine (low back) conditions

The Bone and Joint Health Strategic Clinical Network, in alignment with the Alberta Surgical Initiative and in partnership with clinicians from across the continuums of care in Alberta, have employed a co-design methodology to develop new, evidence-based Musculoskeletal Clinical Pathways.
These pathways can help guide clinicians with assessment, patient management, investigations and referrals.
View the Pathways.