May 2021
From the Primary Care Alliance

What a difference a month can make! In the past couple of weeks there has been great progression in COVID-19 vaccination numbers across the province. We’re beginning to see hospitalization rates, ICU numbers and other indicators trending downwards which is reason for cautious optimism at this stage in the pandemic. As patients are stepping up to receive first and even now, second doses of vaccine, family physicians are there to support them. I’m pleased to report nearly 150 clinics have signed up for the new COVID-19-specific AVI (Alberta Vaccine Inventory) account that is needed to order COVID vaccines, and that approximately 80 clinics were receiving vaccine in the past week. 

Amidst the stresses of the past year, it is also fitting to acknowledge the efforts of our fellow health care professionals and colleagues across the province in recognition of the recent
World Family Doctor Day and Alberta Rural Health Week. If you need a reminder of the positive impact you are making in patient lives, I would suggest reading some of these many heart-warming stories

I am also encouraged by the tone of discussions underway between the Alberta Medical Association and the province (see May 26,
President’s Letter) aimed at rebuilding and renewing stakeholder relationships as we move through the summer and into the fall.
I remain hopeful this will result in a refocus on the critical importance of primary care as the backbone of a high-performing healthcare system. 

Take care and stay safe,

Dr. Brad Bahler
Chair 
Primary Care Alliance

FEATURE STORIES
Patients make record use of Alberta Find a Doctor Website

Thousands upon thousands of Albertans visited albertafindadoctor.ca in the last year in a record effort to find a family physician. More than half of those patients were female, and the largest number of users were in the 25–34-year-old category. The joint Primary Care Network/Alberta Health Services website launched in 2019 with development supported by the Alberta Medical Association Accelerating Change Transformation Team.

Read the release and check out the infographic at the link below. 

COVID Talks for Docs - Evidence Review

The next webinar in this important series on the care and management of COVID-19 patients in the community is coming up on June 9.  Webinar #8 focuses on the topic of evidence to help answer questions such as:

  • How will the results from recent studies impact vaccination plans in the province? And

  • What are the current and future COVID-19 strategies in Alberta? 

Learn more and register at the link below.

 

Are you a Med Access EMR user?
 
If so, you can sign up for the Community Information Integration/Central Patient Attachment Registry.

There are close to 400 physicians using Med Access who are fully live on CII/CPAR with another 150 in progress.

In this third article of a five-part series highlighting implementation experience with conformed EMRs, learn more through Dr. Barney Truong’s story at the link below.
You can also check out the other EMR articles
here.
Check-in and Check-up: One year later with Dr. Jody Carrington

In the Virtual Doctors’ Lounge this next month, reconnect with Dr. Jody Carrington and your fellow peers as we on reflect on the year that was 2020.

Join the ACFP on Tuesday, June 8 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. (MST). 

Read more details and register to attend at the link below.

 
IN OTHER NEWS
Aiming to strengthen the Patient's Medical Home
Would you like to know more about the Community Information/Central Patient Attachment Registry initiative, but find the jargon and acronyms confusing?  If you answered yes, a great, short read is this Dr. Gadget article in the latest issue of
Alberta Doctors’ Digest. The article condenses the important details into understandable information.

Looking to get started in CII/CPAR?
The newly improved CII/CPAR for Primary Care webpage is reorganized with easy-to-find information like how to get started with CII/CPAR! Better structured and easier to navigate, this webpage will also help you find resources related to EMRs, paneling, privacy, and more. Questions? Email continuity@albertadoctors.org.

Vaccination data to be added to physician panel reports
Family physicians will soon get a more accurate view of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance by their patients.
The
Health Quality Council of Alberta is augmenting its Primary Healthcare Panel Reports to include vaccination data. Physicians can see how many of their patients have received a COVID-19 vaccination, by age and chronic conditions, and whether a patient is partially or fully vaccinated. It’s expected the COVID-19 vaccination data will be available in the HQCA’s Primary Healthcare Panel Reports in June and updated on a weekly basis throughout 2021.
Physicians who currently request a report will be notified via email as soon as the data is available. If you do not currently request a report, please visit
request.hqca.ca
In addition to the COVID-19 vaccination data, physicians can use the HQCA Primary Healthcare Panel Reports to review patient continuity rates, various screening measures for chronic conditions, and other panel management data. Please note lab utilization data, and the metrics that use lab data, are not currently available. The HQCA is working with Alberta Health Services to complete an update to this section of the report.
 
HQCA Patient Experience Awards - RIFS project a winner
Congratulations to the Life Medical Clinic and the McLeod River PCN in the North Zone for receiving a HQCA Patient Experience Award for their work to reduce the impact of financial strain (RIFS) on their patients. Check out all the details on awards and the other deserving winners.
Does financial strain impact your patients? We invite you to watch
Tara's and Lacey's digital stories developed by the Life Medical Clinic and the McLeod River PCN. You’ll see how reducing financial strain, in partnership with community, can change patients’ lives for the better.  
Are you wondering how a team might document financial strain in the EMR?  Look no further, as our
EMR guides provide recommendations. If you have any questions, please email christal.lacombe@albertadoctors.org.
 
Dealing with COVID-19 conflict
It’s easy for debates on masking and distancing to get heated – even with friends and family. If you or your patients are looking for resources to keep COVID-19 discussions productive, consider this short video from AHS – it offers tips on using compassion to
de-escalate pandemic-related discussions. 

 
Are you interested in helping patients to better understand medication sick day guidance in Alberta?
Research teams at the University of Alberta and Calgary are conducting a study exploring the use of an eHealth application as a contactless way to provide individualized, on-demand medication sick day guidance to acutely ill patients with chronic conditions. The team would like to engage with primary care physicians in one 40-minute or two,
20-minute virtual interviews to learn more about barriers and facilitators to delivering this information to patients. A honorarium will be offered. For more information visit the
PAUSE App Co-Design Study and complete the consent to contact. 
 
Handout for pediatric patients prescribe short-term opioids
When an opioid is prescribed for management of pain in pediatric patients, a new handout is now available for primary care providers to share with families to support them in managing the safe use of opioids. The handout was originally created for use in the Stollery Children’s Hospital. Download a PDF copy of the handout.
 
New cognitive screening resources now available
Gain further knowledge and skills for the clinically appropriate use of alternative cognitive screening tools. Visit Cognitive Screening on AHS.ca. For questions or support, contact practice.consultation@ahs.ca
 
Download the new version of the Bugs & Drugs app today!
Bugs & Drugs is an app for physicians and nurse practitioners offering the latest recommendations for use of antimicrobials and treatment /prevention of infectious diseases. Download the 2.0 version of Bugs & Drugs as the previous app is not supported. Visit bugsanddrugs.ca or download from the app store.
 
Practical Evidence for Informed Practice Conference - Fall 2021
Circle Oct. 22-23, 2021, in your calendar for the 10th annual Practical Evidence for Informed Practice (PEIP) Conference! To learn more about what this year has in store for you, visit the ACFP conference information page.
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