Are you transitioning from residency to practice? MD Financial Management is offering an incorporation seminar in Edmonton on November 20, where you’ll get an opportunity to learn about the benefits of medical incorporation and ask questions to incorporation and tax specialists. Can’t attend the seminar? MD will be hosting two webinars December 11 and/or 12: Introduction to medical incorporation and/or Optimizing your finances as an incorporated physician.
This course is designed for rural practitioners to learn the knowledge and skills necessary in the initial management of paediatric fractures.
This intensive one-day course for GP anesthesiologists features a blend of expert-lead didactic teaching and practical skill-development workshops and offers opportunities for networking and exchange of information and ideas between leaders in the field and rural GP anesthesiologists.
This workshop includes a systematic approach to systematic interpretation, axis determination, ischemia, injury and infarction, differential diagnosis and case studies.
This course is designed to learn hands-on skills to deal with complicated fractures and dislocations seen in the rural emergency departments.
This two-part course uses a blend of preparatory work, followed by intensive expert-lead didactic teaching and individually supervised skills practice.
Join Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton for their 12th Annual Autism Conference: Practical classroom strategies, managing challenging behavior, recent research topics and trends, neurodiversity and parent-led topics.
This six-part program provides an overview of key concepts and skills for clinicians facing common challenges in the management of patients with chronic pain, including reducing the risks of opioids and addressing opioid use disorder.
MIC Medical Imaging invites family physicians to a one-day session that provides attendees with an opportunity to: learn more about the latest advances in radiology; interact with MIC’s radiologists during the “Ask Us Anything” sessions; attend an informative session on nuclear medicine imaging; and participate in highly rated, small group, live ultrasound demonstrations.
If your event meets our criteria, we can add it to our event listings. Review our criteria and submit your event.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The special meeting of the Representative Forum took place on Saturday, December 7 in Calgary. Delegates received a full update on the current negotiations with government for a new financial agreement. There was a presentation on the evolving AMA response to the 11 consultation proposal items that government has released and that were the subject of my November 29 President’s Letter. The RF also endorsed the Board of Directors’ proposed plan to respond to these challenges and ensure that government hears our concerns.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER: This is in regard to recent developments in our negotiations with government that are deeply concerning for the profession. I want to provide you with information regarding what government has proposed, what work the AMA is doing to review these proposals and how you can contribute. On November 14, government tabled several proposals which, in their view, were outside the negotiations. They asked the AMA to respond by November 20 as to how we would like to be consulted.
As of November 9, 2019 936,675 doses of influenza vaccine have been administered in Alberta.
Three delegates were elected by acclamation November 8, with the close of nominations for zonal/regional delegates to the AMA Representative Forum. Elections are now underway for zonal/regional delegates in the Edmonton and Calgary Zones. If you are a member of one of these zones and haven’t yet voted, you may access your ballot package now.
Highlights in this issue: Efficient referrals for better patient care; Shine A Light: Dr. Mzikayise Tshatshela; 50 years after Medicare began in Alberta; Physicians, the law and MAID ...And a lot more!
PRESIDENT'S LETTER: On November 7, a United Conservative Party MLA tabled a private members bill: Bill 207, Conscience Rights (Health Care Providers) Protection Act. I wanted you to know that I have written to Minister of Health Tyler Shandro to express the opinion that this legislation is unnecessary and inappropriate. You can review my letter here.
We are now accepting online applications for the 2019-20 TD Insurance Meloche Monnex/AMA Medical Student Bursary! Please submit your online application by December 31, as applications received after this date will not be accepted.
Over the weekend Alberta Netcare Portal implemented a release to support the November 3 launch of Connect Care. Please ensure to share this communication with your colleagues as they may be impacted by this release.
Elaine is a 78-year-old woman with hypertension and is on multiple medications. She is concerned about memory changes and has read that well-controlled blood pressure will protect her from dementia.
This past Sunday, November 3, the Wave 1 implementation of Connect Care launched. Continue reading to find out how this is affecting community physicians and AHS physicians.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Our rural physician colleagues have recently been in the media with concerns related to reductions in on-call payments by Alberta Health Services. Our rural members, who are already stressed by a heavy burden of service, know that reducing on-call support will make it even more difficult to recruit and retain physicians to rural areas.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Government has tabled legislation: Bill 21 Ensuring Fiscal Sustainability Act. This omnibus bill amends a number of statutes. Having received it late Monday afternoon, we have been exploring its implications. There are important provisions relating to the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act.
The Section of General Practice officially became the Section of Family Medicine at its Annual General Meeting on September 26. The new name more accurately describes the work being done by family physicians every day. The term "family medicine" recognizes the specialized care offered by family physicians and communicates the important role they play in the lives of their patients and in the health care system as a whole.
PROactive: Partners in Professionalism (or "the PROactive Alliance") is seeking proposals from qualified project management consultants to design and implement a series of demonstration projects in Alberta's health care workplace with the goal of improving culture and promoting high-functioning team-based care. The PROactive Alliance is comprised of partners from the Alberta Medical Association, Health Quality Council of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta and the Faculties of Medicine at the University of Alberta and University of Calgary.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER: On November 3, Alberta Health Services will launch the first wave of Connect Care in the Edmonton Zone. Supported by a fully integrated clinical information system, Connect Care will consolidate the patient’s story, including goals, problems, plans, investigations, treatments and all prior AHS health records. Connect Care is the AHS record of care.
The Alberta Medical Association is currently recruiting for the temporary position of Coordinator with our Accelerating Change Transformation Team (ACTT). This is a temporary position until March 31, 2020, and will be located out of our Edmonton office.
PRESIDENT's LETTER: Many of you will have received an Alberta Health Services bulletin last week: Physician On-Call Program Changes Effective October 1, 2019, that highlighted changes in the number of on-call categories from five to three, and a reduction of stipends paid for those services.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER: It is a great honor to represent our profession as AMA president. I have been a physician for 43 years. I have practiced my dual specialty in Calgary at the Foothills Medical Centre and in EFW Radiology’s community clinics for 34 years. I now come before you simply as a physician devoted to our profession.
A recent breach has brought the risks of emailing (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Shaw, etc) personal health information to the forefront. What appears to be a secure and convenient tool has many potential risks that can result in the exposure of personal health information and along with that, liability issues for physicians.
The Alberta Medical Association is proud to salute these extraordinary Albertans as they are honored with the most prestigious awards bestowed by the AMA and the Canadian Medical Association.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER: As my tenure as President comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on a challenging and rewarding year. Looking back, I am proud of what the Alberta Medical Association tackled this year.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER: This week we will hold the 114th Annual General Meeting of the Alberta Medical Association, in conjunction with our Fall Representative Forum. We will have many discussions at both events about the challenges and opportunities facing physicians in caring for our patients.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The all-party Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship is conducting a review of the Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act, better known to physicians as the sunshine list legislation. The bill became law in 2015 and provided for regular legislative reviews. The committee has invited public submissions to inform its 2019 review and the AMA was asked to comment.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER: AMA/CMA renewal notices will be sent out later this week. AMA and CMA dues remain unchanged from last year and we want to remind members that, starting this year, membership in the CMA will be optional for Alberta physicians. Through our renewed partnership, the AMA and CMA are working together to advance our shared priorities and to advocate for physicians at the national and provincial levels, and that is why we want to encourage all AMA members to continue to support the CMA when they renew this year.
What is substance use disorder (SUD) and how can the AMA's PFSP help Alberta physicians? The Physician and Family Support Program and partners have created a video to educate physicians about SUD: what it is, how to identify it and where to seek help.
The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta is looking for a physician leader to become part of its executive team as the Assistant Registrar of Registration and Hearings Director.
PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Yesterday you will have heard about the release of the Report and Recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Alberta’s Finances. The report details government’s concerns over the growth and level of health expenditures, i.e., the issue of affordability. It conveys many of the same messages contained in the government’s election platform, although the focus there was more on value for patients and included creating a medical home for each Albertan, as well as issues related to seniors’ care, mental health and addiction.
"Voice of the AMA" on critically important issues.
Contact the PFSP for confidential help with personal and professional issues. Call us 24/7/365 at 1.877.767.4637.