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From the Primary Care Alliance
In February, The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) made a parliamentary submission on recommendations for federal action to address Canada’s current health care crisis and to set the course for the foundation of a strong health system moving forward. Key recommendations included addressing the health workforce crisis and increasing access to primary care.
As noted in a recent CMA article, our health care system is on life support and reform is critical.
Two-plus years of practicing in a pandemic environment has ground down physicians and other health care providers with more than half reporting in the CMA National Physician Health Survey that they have experienced intense burnout. That is a 20 per cent increase from a similar survey in 2017. An even more troubling number is that almost half – 46 per cent of respondents are considering reducing clinical hours over the next two years.
With the pandemic and other factors taking their toll on physicians and their teams, we need to acknowledge and thank those who are practicing, those who have stepped in to take on the responsibility for an orphaned patient panel and those who are right now working on the challenge of the backlog in patient care.
It is past time for reform of physician payment models and we have proposed a number of concepts for discussion through the Primary Care Alliance white paper on transforming primary and community-based care. But while health care is a provincial responsibility, the systemic pressures facing the system are national in scope and the need for reform and supports for family practice extend across the country.
It will require cooperative and collaborative solutions at the federal and provincial level to improve the experience of both patients and providers.
The time to act on this issue is now.
Take care,
Dr. Brad Bahler
Chair
Primary Care Alliance
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Two major changes in information sharing
New functionality to enhance information sharing launched in April. You may be seeing some new documents in your EMR inbox and notice something different in Alberta Netcare Portal.
AHS is now routing summative notes from Connect Care to your EMR and the CPAR primary provider now displays in Netcare. Read more at the link.
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Celebrate WONCA's World Family Doctor Day with the ACFP
On Thursday, May 19 the Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP) will celebrate, “Family Doctors - Always there to Care!” – WONCA’s (World Organization of Family Doctors) theme for World Family Doctor Day 2022.
Show your support on the day – wear your #FamilyDocsRock or #HeartofFamilyMedicine Swag, snap a photo, and tag us on social! Join the celebration, visit familydocsrock.ca for more on #WFDD2022!
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Get involved with ACFP
Are you a mover and a shaker?
Alberta College of Family Physicians wants YOU to engage in member program and service development as a committee member.
ACFP is currently accepting nominations for Operational Committees.
Reach out at the link below to learn more! |
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AMA's privacy training gets a gold star
Physicians and health care professionals have rated the AMA’s privacy training 4.5 out of 5 stars. This free training is available to any community medical clinic and PCN in Alberta and is tailored for the roles of physicians, privacy officers and staff.
Courses are accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for CME and by The College of Family Physicians of Canada for Mainpro+.
Register today to equip your team with top-rated privacy training. Learn more at the link. |
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COVID-19 Resources
Paxlovid™ Resource Section
There are now links to Paxlovid™ Resource on the AHS Community Physician webpage Visit COVID-19 Information for Community Physicians | Alberta Health Services. Questions: phc@ahs.ca
Reminder: Paxlovid™ Map and List of Pharmacies
A reminder that a map and list of pharmacies providing Paxlovid™ in their communities can be found on this Alberta Blue Cross web page.
Send questions to phc@ahs.ca.
Novavax availability
Specific Novavax clinics are being held at select sites around the province. Appointment availability may be limited as AHS works to maximize the number of doses from each vaccine vial and minimize wastage (there are 10 doses in a vial and the vial must be used within 6 hours of opening). Contact phc@ahs.ca if you have questions.
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Caring for Ukrainian evacuees: reminders and resources
Reminder: All evacuees from Ukraine will be eligible for health care coverage and will be encouraged to connect with health and primary care on arrival. Healthcare providers are requested not to turn away requests for care, but to respond as needed and submit claims following guidance from Alberta Health.
Resources: Created by Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services, the Primary Care Checklist includes an early assessment tool and guidance for providers when assessing an evacuee for healthcare concerns, including:
- communicable diseases including vaccination and vaccine preventable diseases
- women’s health concerns such as contraception and pregnancy
- non-communicable diseases and conditions such as mental health or dental care
The checklist also includes information on some of the specific health risks this patient population may face. This resource has been shared with PCNs and is available on AHS’s Ukraine website landing page.
The chest X-ray notice letter is a printable resource for evacuees to bring with them when they first visit a family physician or nurse practitioner. It provides the information needed to book a chest x-ray and explains that the evacuee will not be required to pay for the service as it is covered under their Alberta Health card. This letter is on Insite and is available in Ukrainian and Russian on the external evacuee website page.
Questions: PHC@ahs.ca.
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 are 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 will be offered.
Please contact Tanya Barber for more information.
You are invited to join the Chronic Pain Gains in Alberta - An ECHO® Series
The next session in this series features the didactic speaker, Dr. Prin Chitsantikul on the topic — “Migraine: New Therapies”. Join the ACFP’s Collaborative Mentorship Network for Chronic Pain and Addiction on Wednesday, May 18, from 4:30 - 5:45 PM.
Learn more about the series, register, and submit your cases for discussion here.
A clear focus — Using an intersectional lens for gendered chronic pain
Dr. Fiona Webster presents “Gender & Chronic Pain – Women’s Experiences Through an Intersectional Lens” on May 26 at 7:30 PM MT.
This event by the ACFP’s Collaborative Mentorship Network is open to family physicians and other health professionals. Register here.
One-day chaperone course for medical office staff
MacEwan University, with support and guidance from College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta, is offering a one-day chaperone course for medical office staff. During this interactive workshop, medical office staff can learn how to provide chaperone support to physicians and patients, what constitutes a proper versus improper intimate examination, and how to observe and document interactions correctly.
The course runs May 6, 2022, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The format is in-person in a small group setting. Space is limited. Register today!
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