January 2021
From the Primary Care Alliance

Usually when we enter a new year, we are looking at what we want to do differently, improvements we want to make personally, professionally, or both. Well last year was chock full of rapid changes and family physicians rose to meet those challenges most admirably. 2021 has already shown us that we will continue to face numerous changes in our environment even as we work towards an eventual end to the pandemic. The need for system evolution remains, and we acknowledge that improvements must be made even with, and in some cases, because of the current cost restraints.

Physicians leading those transformative system changes are essential to the future of primary care in Alberta. Successful health care systems around the world and
here at home demonstrate the value that physicians as leaders bring to the table. 

2021 is providing more opportunities for us to be driving the efforts. Whatever your strengths, physicians are needed at the decision-making tables whenever there are policy, funding, or quality issues to be discussed, and even more so in times of crisis to deliver the best outcomes for both patients and the system.

There is support available to physicians through the Physician Champion Network. This growing network of your peers offers a focus on both health system transformation and leadership development. Check out some of the most recent virtual sessions and consider joining us.  

The Alberta College of Family Physicians also offers leadership resources. Learn from primary care leaders at the upcoming Family Medicine Summit (see article below). If you are interested in project leadership check out Engage Primary Care, and you will find support for growing your skills through the Collaborative Mentorship Network.

If you are looking for assistance for both yourself and your colleagues as we navigate the next challenges in the health care system, the Joint Task Force at the AMA is there to help. Learn about their efforts and find resources to help you share your voice.

Take care and stay safe,
Dr. Brad Bahler
Chair 
Primary Care Alliance
FEATURE STORIES
Section of Family Medicine/Section of Rural Medicine update

See the latest information on physician compensation activities in the recent update from Section of Family Medicine President, Dr. Craig Hodgson.

Click the "learn more" link below for details.
Home to Hospital to Home transition improvements
 
The Home to Hospital to Home Transitions Guideline was recently released and outlines the supports Albertans need to safely transition within the health care system. The Primary Health Care Integration Network, along with stakeholders from across the system including patients and families, developed the guideline to identify best practices in facilitating effective transitions of care.

An overview webinar entitled "Building blocks to successful transitions of care" was held Jan. 21. You can watch that webinar and others, and access webinar resources by visiting the link below and scrolling to "Past webinars"
New Year – New Progress for the CII/CPAR initiative
 
Growing participation in Community Information Integration and the Central Patient Attachment Registry (CII/CPAR) is making a difference to continuity of care for Albertans.

Do you want to join almost 1000 other family physicians and specialists who are engaged in the initiative?  See the latest progress and read more at the link below about the opportunities to participate.
Celebrate your colleagues – 2021 ACFP Awards

Honour the exceptional family physicians, clinics, residents, and medical students, who advance excellence in family medicine and contribute to the health of communities across Alberta.

Click the link below and nominate a colleague or peer today!
IN OTHER NEWS
Register for the ACFP’s VIRTUAL Family Medicine Summit!
Topics for the 2021 Summit (March 5-7) program include: an MSK pre-conference program presented by the AMA's Section of Sports Medicine, antibiotic resistance, dementia, mental health impacts of COVID-19, ADHD in adults, and much more. Read on for more details and registration. 

What a clinic needs to be privacy compliant 
As Primary Care Networks we know how important privacy is – we support our member clinics, our staff and our patients with the best privacy practices. We also know how challenging it can be to educate, train, and develop policies and procedures. The AMA/ACTT has partnered with Alberta Health to launch a new program called Security, Privacy and Data Sharing (SPaDS).
The program aims to build capacity in community clinics so that they can successfully implement all of the elements of a sound clinic privacy and security program. This will enable them to provide the best security, privacy and data sharing practices, and equip them with the tools and knowledge they need to secure and prevent security breaches. Read more about how a Clinic Privacy and Security Program can benefit PCNs and member clinics.  

Are you interested in the integration of cancer clinical care pathways in primary care?
The Enhancing Alberta Primary Care Research Networks (EnACt) research team, led by Dr. Lee Green, is conducting a qualitative research study seeking to understand how family physicians think about and approach the use of Clinical Pathways for Cancer Diagnosis in their practice. This knowledge will inform how to better integrate co-developed (primary and specialty care) pathways into primary care physicians’ workflow. 
How do physicians become involved? You would be invited to a one-hour, virtual interview to know more about your approach and thinking when using (or not using) Cancer Clinical Pathways. The interview will be arranged at a time of your choice. You will also be asked to fill out a brief five-minute demographics questionnaire. Honorariums will be offered to fee-for-service physicians who do not hold paid positions through AHS stipends or ARPs. Contact Lynn Toon for more information.
 
Perceptions and use of PALS course cognitive aids
Alberta physicians are invited to take part in a short 10-minute survey on assessing and improving the current Pediatric Advanced Life Support cards for pediatric resuscitation. Information gathered will be used to complete a needs assessment, address deficiencies and areas of improvement in the current card and create a new version of the PALS card which will be tested for efficacy. This study has been approved by the University of Alberta Human Participant Research Committee for ethical acceptability (Protocol 00089889). Complete the survey here. For further information email Dr. Lynn Jacoby.
 
Unsatisfactory Pap test results: what to know
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. The AHS Alberta Cervical Cancer Screening Program (ACCSP) is sharing information about unsatisfactory (or ‘unsat’) Pap test results with health care providers who conduct cervical cancer screening. What are some reasons for ‘unsat’ results?
 
2021 ACFP Clinical Connections Conference webinars
Only five webinars remain in the ACFP’s Clinical Connections Series! Learn about team-based back pain management, appropriate prescribing for the elderly, screening tools for diabetes complications, lung testing, and building connections for aging well.
Register for ACFP's Clinical Connections.
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