Alberta Medical Association

AMA holiday office hours

November 9, 2018

In lieu of Remembrance Day, the AMA offices and phone lines will be closed Monday, November 12. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, November 13.

Call for applications: AMA Negotiating Committee

November 9, 2018

The Alberta Medical Association is recruiting physicians to serve on its AMA Negotiating Committee. Applications are due November 30.

Important change coming to AMA group insurance renewal process

November 8, 2018

If you participate in any of the AMA group insurance plans (Disability, Professional Overhead Expense, Term Life, Critical Illness or Accidental Death and Dismemberment) and are set-up for automatic monthly or annual pre-authorized premium payments, you will no longer be receiving mailed confirmation premium notices in early December as has been the practice in the past.

Accepting applications: Committee on Achievement Awards

November 6, 2018

The AMA is currently recruiting to fill a vacancy on the Committee on Achievement Awards. This committee reviews nominations and recommends recipients for several of AMA’s prestigious awards. The deadline to apply is November 22.

AMA legislation tabled today

November 1, 2018

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: You may recall that one of the important provisions of the 2018-20 AMA agreement with government was a commitment to entrench physician recognition and representation rights within legislation. I am pleased to let you know that this legislation was tabled today.

Treatment targets for hypertension in older persons

October 31, 2018

Mrs. BB is an 82-year-old female living at home. She has mild cognitive impairment and limited mobility. Her office blood pressure is 162/71. Should she be treated for hypertension? If yes, what would her blood pressure target be?

November 1, 2018 Billing Corner

October 26, 2018

View Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan Schedule of Medical Benefits changes for November 1, 2018.

Changes to AMA/CMA member dues

October 18, 2018

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: I’m writing today as membership renewal notices have been arriving in member inboxes. There are some member dues changes and I wanted to provide a few comments about them for your information.

Coordinator

October 10, 2018

The Alberta Medical Association is currently recruiting for a full-time Coordinator, Events and Governance for our Executive Office. This is a temporary position for an estimated 13 – 18 months.

CMA announces new role: Vice-president of Physician Health and Wellness

October 10, 2018

The Canadian Medical Association has created a new position among its team: Vice-president of Physician Health and Wellness. Dr. Caroline Gérin-Lajoie, a clinical psychiatrist from Ottawa, has taken on the role and will join the CMA in January 2019.

Influenza Immunization Program newsletter - October 2018

October 4, 2018

Alberta Health is offering a four-strain injectable influenza vaccine produced by two manufacturers (Fluzone® Quadrivalent and FluLaval® Tetra) to eligible Albertans six months of age or older. AH refers to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s (NACI) recommendations when making decisions about influenza vaccines.

AMA-CMA relationship and conjoint dues

October 1, 2018

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The Representative Forum had another successful meeting on September 21 and 22 in Calgary. Today, I am writing to update you on an important RF session regarding the relationship between the AMA and the Canadian Medical Association; including the question of continuing conjoint membership dues with the CMA.

Call for applications: Peer Review Committee

September 27, 2018

The AMA is recruiting a physician to serve on the AMA Peer Review Committee. Applications are due October 15.

A new president's thoughts on the year ahead

September 25, 2018

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: My year as president-elect flew by and on Saturday I assumed the position of president of the Alberta Medical Association. I wanted to share just a few thoughts as I begin my term.

Thoughts at the end of my presidency

September 23, 2018

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Wow! That went fast! I was told when I became president that the year would go by very quickly and even still I am blown away by how quickly it has completely disappeared on me. This has been altogether the most rewarding, challenging, exciting, sobering, ego-pumping, humbling and educational experience of my life.

AMA salutes its remarkable honorees

September 20, 2018

The Alberta Medical Association is proud to salute these extraordinary Albertans as they are honoured with the most prestigious awards bestowed by the AMA and the Canadian Medical Association.

Update on allocation and Retention Benefit partial payment

September 19, 2018

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: I’m sure you’ve been wondering about plans for allocation of the retroactive cost-of-living increase to the Schedule of Medical Benefits that was included in our latest agreement with government – in addition to payment of the partial Retention Benefit.

September-October 2018 issue of Alberta Doctors' Digest now available

September 12, 2018

The September-October 2018 issue of Alberta Doctors’ Digest is now available online. Highlights include: Physician burnout is real: Addressing it is a shared responsibility; Optimized Prescribing with Seniors: New diagnosis or adverse effect?; Proposing an iconic name for the Calgary Cancer Research Centre; and more!

CMA and AMA working together

September 6, 2018

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: I think most of you will have heard in recent months about changes at the Canadian Medical Association. The sale of MD Financial Management is one, but the organization is evolving in other ways, too. Since the August 22 annual meeting in Winnipeg, the CMA has communicated about bylaw changes affecting governance in terms of the size, constitution and method of election for the CMA Board of Directors.

We're recruiting for Chair, Physician Compensation Committee

September 5, 2018

Under the terms of the AMA Agreement, the AMA and Alberta Health have joint responsibility to recruit a chair for the Physician Compensation Committee. The previous chair’s term (Mr. Chris Sheard’s) expired earlier this year, and the AMA and Alberta Health have initiated a process to either reappoint or replace this position.

Thoughts about CMA General Council

August 17, 2018

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: As you may be aware, the 2018 Canadian Medical Association General Council and Annual General Meeting is taking place next week in Winnipeg. This promises to be an historic meeting, with key governance changes being voted on at the AGM. I wanted to let you know about some of the important points and considerations that our 31 AMA delegates will be deciding upon as we vote on these governance changes.

Informatics, moving information and Connect Care

August 8, 2018

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: In 2018, the Board of Directors approved a new AMA Policy Statement on Health Informatics. You can view it, or listen to a podcast interview about it. The policy’s purpose is to help guide the AMA through the increasingly complex provincial health information system. Today I wanted to update you on how the policy is helping us address two important questions: How will we maintain and improve the two-way flow of patient data between community-based physician practices and the rest of the health care system? What is Alberta Health Services’ Connect Care and how will your practice be affected?

About the allocation

July 31, 2018

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: I’m writing today with news about payment of the retroactive April 1, 2017, Schedule of Medical Benefits cost-of-living increase, as well as the partial 2017 Retention Benefit payment. This was provided for by the recently ratified 2018-20 Amending Agreement. These are amounts owed to physicians in exchange for reducing the rate of growth in the Physician Services Budget for 2016-18. Since ratification, we have been working with Alberta Health to determine how and when the allocation will occur.