Alberta Medical Association

CPSA consultation on job action standard is open

September 18, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Many of you will already have noticed that the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta has opened a consultation on their proposed standards for: job action; closing or leaving a medical practice; and relocating a medical practice. These proposals come in response to a June letter from the Minister, calling on the CPSA to take steps “to require physicians to mitigate the impact of withdrawal of services.”

Exemption for Sunshine List

September 17, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: We know that many members have been anxious to learn more about the exemption process for the Physician Payment Disclosure (Sunshine List). Physician payments are due to be disclosed by November 9, 2020. We have just received notice that the application process for exemption is now open.

Update on correspondence with government

September 16, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Recently, members may have observed a few media reports regarding the status of negotiations between the AMA and provincial government. These media stories refer to what I wrote to you about in my August 21 President’s Letter: a request from the Minister to respond to a formal process of exchanging draft agreements. Our intention was to respond in writing, and we have done so.

Release of Sunshine List regulations

September 11, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: On September 9, government released regulations on physician payment disclosure. The regulations are brief and lay out a 60-day disclosure date, meaning the information can be released as of Sunday, November 8, or anytime before. Transparency is important, as is accountability. Greater transparency for the public through the Sunshine List, in our view (August 10 President’s Letter), does not require the release of individual names. However, we understand from discussions with government that there is a decision to proceed with the release of our names with our gross billing data.

September-October 2020 Alberta Doctors' Digest now online

September 9, 2020

Highlights in this issue: Share the Care campaign promotes quality care during pandemic; Waiting, waiting for the vaccine; Mixing curling with COVID; Saddle Lake First Nation's fight against COVID-19; Laboratory medicine key in Alberta's COVID-19 response; Palliative care has come a long way in the Edmonton Zone; and a lot more!

You are invited!

September 4, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: You are invited to the 115th Annual General Meeting of the AMA to be held on Monday, October 5 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. In this milestone year, with COVID-19 safety top of mind, we depart from tradition. This AGM will be held virtually and is therefore accessible to so many more members.

Factoring in Frailty

September 3, 2020

Anne is 82 years’ old. She visits her physician to discuss her health concerns of low energy, confusion, and feeling shaky and dizzy. Her husband manages the housework and finances while home care provides her with bath assist and medication management. Anne has Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and urinary incontinence. Her medications include metformin, gliclazide, sitagliptin, hydrochlorothiazide, ramipril, rosuvastatin, lansoprazole and mirabegron. How do we address Anne’s complex health issues, balancing her frailty and targets of therapy?

Influenza Immunization Program Update

September 2, 2020

Alberta’s Influenza Immunization Program provides publicly funded influenza vaccine for all individuals 6 months and older who live, work or attend school in Alberta. Outreach influenza immunization services for high-risk Albertans is anticipated to begin the week of October 13, 2020, with the public influenza program to begin the week of October 19, 2020.

Mythbusters: Mythbusting the Government of Alberta’s Position on Doctors' Pay

August 28, 2020

This report from the Alberta Medical Association corrects common myths and misperceptions regarding physician pay. It reflects the physicians’ perspective and the impact on their practices. How much are doctors paid in Alberta? Are doctors asking for more money? Are doctors leaving Alberta? Is the government negotiating with doctors? Why did the government tear up its contract with doctors?

Thank you, CMA

August 27, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: This is a big shout out and THANK YOU to the Canadian Medical Association from Alberta Physicians.

Opinion article published in Postmedia papers

August 25, 2020

It’s hard to imagine a government anywhere waging a propaganda war against physicians during a pandemic, but that’s exactly what’s happening now in Alberta. It’s reckless, demoralizing for physicians and worse still, bad for patients. This letter highlights the message we are hearing from many physicians within the province of Alberta.

Correspondence with government

August 21, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: This President’s Letter is in follow up to my President’s Letters of July 29 and July 30, which reported the results of our referendum on physician confidence in the Minister and my outreach to the Premier.

Understanding and processing our grief when a colleague dies

August 18, 2020

Dr. Jane Loehr, Calgary Family Physician and PFSP Assessment Physician, and Fleur Yumol, unify consulting managing director and MSc., MSW, RSW, discuss the personal impact of the tragic loss of a colleague and how your own personal grief might manifest.

PTMAs send their condolences to Alberta physicians

August 14, 2020

Medical associations across Canada have been expressing their condolences in the wake of Monday's fatal attack on Red Deer family physician, Dr. Walter Reynolds. We'd like to share some of these messages with you.

CMA Foundation Board of Directors seeking Early Career Physician Director

August 12, 2020

The CMA Foundation is seeking an early career physician in their first 5–10 years of practice, with a passion for philanthropy and social impact, to serve on its Board of Directors. Applications are due August 21.

Mourning a loss together

August 12, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: It has been a dark week since the incomprehensible news of the fatal attack on our colleague, Dr. Walter Reynolds in Red Deer on Monday. The Alberta Medical Association has been in contact with local physician leaders to ensure that all members of our physician community can access assistance through the Physician and Family Support Program as we try to come to terms with such a horrific event. Let me begin with this message to every member: If you need support, asking for help is a sign of strength.

AMA President statement regarding horrific attack on Red Deer physician

August 10, 2020

Today we are saddened to post this note in response to news reports today that a Red Deer physician was attacked and killed in his clinic. AMA President Dr. Christine Molnar stated: I have just learned of this horrific attack on a Red Deer physician. I can’t express my great sorrow for his family, his colleagues and the Red Deer community. The AMA will be reaching out to local medical staff to learn how we can best provide support at this time.

What Alberta doctors bill is not what they earn

August 10, 2020

MEDIA RELEASE: Alberta’s physicians don’t have any issues with a public conversation about what they earn for what they do. They do have questions about the motives behind Health Minister Tyler Shandro’s plan to release a “Sunshine List” for physician compensation. The Alberta Medical Association, which represents the province’s doctors, says it appears the Minister intends, at least in the first phase, to release physician names along with their annual billings to the health care system for the services they provide to patients (raw or gross billing data). Gross billing amounts are an extreme misrepresentation of what physicians actually earn.

Physician payments: Telling the public what’s involved

August 10, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The Minister of Health has stated that he will proceed to release a “Sunshine List” for physician payments. A law to allow this was passed in 2015, but never acted upon.

Possible changes to Health Professions Act: Self-regulation concerns

August 6, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: We have received a consultation document from government regarding proposed changes to the Health Professions Act. In our assessment, some of the options presented in the discussion paper suggest a wholly new, government-led approach to licensing and complaints registration. I am sending you our initial review as some of the possible amendments are a serious threat to self-regulation of physicians if implemented.

Changes to AMA Bylaws and Notice of Elections

August 6, 2020

Members are advised of proposed changes to the AMA Bylaws and elections taking place at 7 p.m., Monday, October 5, at the 115th AMA Annual General Meeting. The meeting will be held virtually; details will be provided with the AGM report circulated prior to the meeting.

Reaching out to the Premier

July 30, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Today I have written to Premier Jason Kenney asking for his involvement in our current impasse with the Minister of Health. This action follows our Confidence Vote Referendum and the overwhelming vote of non-confidence that I announced yesterday.

WCB outage this weekend

July 30, 2020

WCB online services, including electronic injury reporting, will not be available from 5 p.m. on Friday, July 31 to 6 a.m., Tuesday, August 4.

An unprecedented and overwhelming vote

July 29, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The results of our referendum vote are in. There were 8,934 votes from physicians, residents and medical students across Alberta, which represents a voter turn-out of 67%. As for the results: 98% indicated they do NOT have confidence in the Minister. Over the past week, the confidence referendum was conducted with the same rigor as a contract ratification vote.

Alberta doctors overwhelmingly vote non-confidence in Minister Of Health

July 29, 2020

MEDIA RELEASE: 98% (97.83%) of Alberta’s physicians have lost confidence in Health Minister Tyler Shandro’s ability to manage the province’s health care system, according to a referendum conducted by the Alberta Medical Association.

Bill 30

July 27, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Last week, Bill 30, The Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2020 completed second reading in the legislature. There is no doubt that this government-sponsored bill will be passed before the session ends for summer break, likely this week.

News on programs and other matters

July 24, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: On Wednesday, July 22, we received an update on government’s decision-making regarding the future of the programs under the AMA grant agreement. As you are aware, since the spring and end of negotiations, the grant agreement has been unsigned, leaving all involved in limbo. Given the importance of these programs to physicians and the health care system, we have ceaselessly pushed for clarity on their future and underscored the value of retaining them within the AMA. We have now been advised of the following...

Members: Do you have confidence in the Minister?

July 21, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Today, for the first time, I am offering my President’s Letter in both video and written formats. Our relationship with the provincial government has reached an all-time low and in an emergency meeting of the Representative Forum last weekend, by an overwhelming majority, RF took the step of requesting a Confidence Vote Referendum on the Minister of Health. Over the next week, we are asking Alberta physicians to let their voices be heard on this vital matter. This is your choice and your voice. We want every single doctor across this province to have an opportunity to vote, as this grassroots direction will guide our next steps and send a strong message to government.

We are under attack

July 20, 2020

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: On Saturday, a special virtual meeting of the Representative Forum was held to discuss our current situation with government. I want to thank delegates who made themselves available and provided wise counsel for the Board at this very difficult time.