Alberta Medical Association

Roe v. Wade decision an attack on women’s right to health

June 24, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Today the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling. While we have anticipated this possibility with dread, the actual overturning of this decades-old jurisprudence decision on abortion is much worse for women of our neighbouring nation. It may be a harbinger of further erosion of equity, diversity and inclusion in that society. The immediate effects will be felt most keenly by already marginalized populations.

No changes to stipend programs on June 30

June 21, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: We know many physicians are affected by the upcoming June 30 planned deadline for stipend contracts. Via a joint statement this morning, government and the Alberta Medical Association are announcing that “no action will be taken on June 30, 2022, with respect to Alberta Health Services (AHS) stipends or AHS overhead.

Further progress toward income equity

June 17, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: I’m writing today to provide members with an update on the Income Equity Initiative. A comprehensive physician compensation framework remains a key priority for the AMA. We have kept our commitment to membership and have continued our work on income equity so that we can be ready to incorporate it into possible outcomes of an agreement, such as allocation of new monies.

Care Deficit and Dermatology

June 14, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Today I am sharing a new issue in the Care Deficit Assessment Series. Issue 5 Dermatology is an interesting example of the care deficit manifesting in specialized care with the potential to affect many patients.

Having trouble accessing PatientsFirst.ca?

June 9, 2022

UPDATE: "The PatientsFirst.ca website is back in operation. Thank you for your patience.

Parents need help; Alberta Cancer Care docs vote

June 1, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Pediatric mental health has emerged as one of the primary concerns of the current care deficit. As colleagues who care for children tell us, these patients are distressed. Adding to that toll are the families and friends of unwell children who are their support networks, themselves dragged into stress, anxiety and ill health by the burden of caregiving.

Negotiations, waiting patients, member survey

May 30, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: We have kept the Representative Forum up to date on details of negotiations with government for a new agreement. Your leaders have heard that the interests-based approach to negotiations has allowed us some progress. The physician interests brought forward by the AMA still hold true to what members have told us really matters for patients, practices and the profession.

AMA continues to advocate for physician and patient interests in Connect Care rollout

May 26, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The biggest Connect Care launch to date (Wave 4) is happening on May 28, at sites in both the Edmonton and Calgary zones. Connect Care is the clinical information system that will house all AHS medical records, prescriptions and care history at AHS facilities. While impact to physicians practicing in AHS facilities is to be expected, it’s important to remember that these systemic changes will also impact the flow of information to community physicians, and there is a risk of adverse outcomes to patients if this flow is interrupted.

AMA PFSP presents virtual keynote session featuring General Roméo Dallaire

May 24, 2022

On the evening of June 7, PFSP is inviting all physicians and their friends, colleagues or family members to a virtual keynote session, Hope and Healing after Trauma: Reflections for Physicians, featuring the remarkable General Roméo Dallaire.

Emergency Departments under strain; something for patients

May 20, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: I wrote to you a few days ago to report on the May 13-14 Representative Forum, talk about our advocacy with patients and system partners and highlight that the next paper in our Care Deficit Assessment Series is coming out. Today I am releasing that paper.

Celebrating Alberta’s family physicians on World Family Doctor Day

May 19, 2022

The Alberta College of Family Physicians and Alberta Medical Association are proud to celebrate Family Doctor Day, which occurs annually on May 19. First declared by WONCA (World Organization of Family Doctors) in 2010, World Family Doctor Day recognizes the outstanding contributions of family doctors in health care systems around the world.

Report from RF: Urgent care needed for system

May 17, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The Representative Forum met Friday and Saturday (May 13-14) and received updates, deliberated and provided direction regarding government discussions and the Income Equity Initiative.

Heading into Spring RF; advocacy for care of the elderly

May 12, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The Spring Representative Forum, Part Two will take place at the end of this week (May 13-14).

Alberta Doctors' Digest

May 11, 2022

The May-June 2022 issue of Alberta Doctors' Digest is now available! Highlights include: Supporting seniors and their caregivers; Understanding the care deficit and its impact on Albertans; Socioeconomic determinants of health podcast episode - Geriatrics; PFSP Perspectives - Humanity and poetry in medicine; In a different vein - Putin and his siloviki; and a lot more!

MD Financial Management and Scotiabank support the Alberta Medical Association

May 10, 2022

The Alberta Medical Association has joined seven other provincial and territorial medical associations, now representing more than 44,000 physicians, in choosing to enter an exclusive five-year partnership agreement with MD Financial Management and Scotiabank.

AMA committees now accepting applications

May 4, 2022

The leadership of the AMA comes directly from the talent and passion of our members who are the volunteer workforce that drive so much of what we do. The AMA is currently recruiting to fill positions on the following committees: AMA Compensation Committee; Committee on Bylaws; Fees Advisory Committee; and Health Issues Council. The AMA is committed to diversity and inclusion in its committee appointment process. Apply by May 31!

15 student-run initiatives awarded funding from sponsorship program

May 3, 2022

The Committee on Student Affairs recently met to review sponsorship applications and chose 19 student-run projects/events to receive funding. An email from the AMA to all organizers will be sent out with more information. The sponsorship program provides support of student-run initiatives targeted at career advancement of medical students. The AMA allocates a budget annually for support of this sponsorship and all Alberta-based medical students are eligible to apply.

Women's Health in the Care Deficit - Issue 2 in our series

May 2, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Today I am releasing a new topic in the AMA’s Care Deficit Assessment Series Issue Papers.

Happy National Physicians Day!

May 1, 2022

May 1 is Canada’s day to celebrate the contributions of physicians to their patients, communities and the profession. We are grateful for the hard work, passion and dedication put forward by Alberta's physicians, resident physicians and medical students. We are celebrating National Physicians Day by shining a spotlight on specialties. Learn more.

Medical student testimonies - TD Insurance Meloche Monnex/AMA Medical Student Bursary

April 26, 2022

The TD Insurance Meloche Monnex/AMA Medical Student Bursary helps to reduce financial pressure from escalating medical school tuition fees. The boost this bursary provides helps qualified students afford to attend medical school. Four of this year's recipients, University of Calgary medical students Bree Kullman and Tina Nash as well as University of Alberta medical students Marc Beaudin and Aaron Chung, want to express their gratitude.

AMA President-Elect 2022-23 acclamation

April 22, 2022

Dr. Paul Parks has been acclaimed to the position of Alberta Medical Association President-Elect for 2022-23. Dr. Parks will assume the President-Elect role at the close of the 117th AMA Fall AGM. Member login required to view Dr. Park’s CV.

Information on Paxlovid™ in pharmacies

April 20, 2022

Not all pharmacies in Alberta are handling Paxlovid™. Prescribers are responsible for confirming that the pharmacy to which they are sending a Paxlovid prescription is dispensing it and has it in stock. If a pharmacy receives a prescription for Paxlovid and is unable to fill it, they are responsible for identifying another dispensary that can fill the prescription. How can you verify which pharmacies in your community are dispensing Paxlovid™? Learn more.

#NationalPhysiciansDay: Help us celebrate Alberta physicians

April 19, 2022

This year for #NationalPhysiciansDay we want to use the AMA's social media accounts to educate the public about specialties and celebrate how physicians contribute to patient health. If you're interested in participating, please send us answers to a short questionnaire by April 25. We'll use the aggregate responses to inform our social media posts around this topic.

Keep yourself informed on negotiations

April 12, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: On Tuesday, April 5 we held a webinar to update members on the status of negotiations with Alberta Health for a new agreement. As promised, the presentation portion of the webinar was recorded (member login required) for those unable to attend.

Are there no great Alberta physicians out there? We don’t believe it.

April 11, 2022

When you got up this morning, we bet that your first thought was not: “I should nominate someone for an award today.” We know you’re busy and tired and with COVID disruption it can be hard to make time for things that aren’t on fire.

Joint AMA-AH statement:

April 1, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Update on physician negotiations — joint statement from Minister of Health Jason Copping and Alberta Medical Association president Dr. Michelle Warren

Providing care to Ukrainian evacuees and a negotiations webinar

March 30, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: As Alberta welcomes displaced Ukrainians – with hundreds more expected to arrive in the coming weeks – I know as physicians we will do everything we can to enable their access to care until they can safely return home or permanently relocate to Canada.

Stipend changes paused during AMA-AH negotiations

March 27, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The AMA has continued to raise stipends, AHS overhead charges and other issues with Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services with the goal of bringing all aspects of compensation to the broader negotiations table so they can be dealt with through a comprehensive physician compensation framework. To do this, however, both parties needed to agree to not make any changes to the status quo while negotiations are occurring.

Enhanced virtual care codes improve access to mental health care

March 25, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: I am pleased to inform you that today the AMA and Alberta Health are jointly announcing changes to virtual care billing codes that will allow psychiatrists to provide additional virtual care.

A new phase of advocacy

March 24, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: As promised, a new phase of AMA advocacy is beginning to help Albertans better understand what is happening in health care in Alberta. We are also hoping to identify ideas – with partners and stakeholders – for resolution, innovation and solutions.

The RF: Negotiations, a webinar and income equity

March 18, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The Virtual Spring Representative Forum Part One was held March 11. The Spring RF Part Two will be held May 13-14 in person, COVID-state permitting. In this letter I want to share the March 11 highlights.

Scholarship helps physicians meet Alberta's changing medical needs

March 16, 2022

The deadline for applications is March 31, 2022. Could you use an extra $7,500 for additional training in a clinical area of recognized need in Alberta? Every May we award four physicians with a $7,500 scholarship! The TD Insurance Meloche Monnex/Alberta Medical Association Scholarship was established to help physicians meet Alberta's changing medical needs.

Presidential ghosts in your inbox?

March 15, 2022

Are you seeing the names of AMA past-presidents in the “From” field in your email whenever AMA President Dr. Vesta Michelle Warren sends out her President's Letters? The problem may be haunting your personal address book, which might still be connecting the email address president@albertadoctors.org with a past president’s name. Learn more.