Priority activity

Update

1. Continue to provide the PFSP service and monitor assistance levels to meet increasing need.

• The three core service areas of PFSP (Assistance Line, Case Coordination and Education, Prevention and Promotion) continued to see growth in 2021.
• Access to the PFSP Assistance Line has seen an increase of 15% over 2020 with record breaking months in September, October and November of 2021.
• Referrals to family physicians via the Assistance Line has seen a notable increase of 48% over 2020.
• PFSP saw an 18% increase in therapy hours over 2020. This increase accounts for the therapy hours used and the administrative time to manage each case file for both the Assistance Line and Case Coordination services.
• PFSP’s Case Coordination service experienced a 16% increase over 2020.
• Group crisis therapy and group therapy have been included in the PFSP Grant Agreement, effective April 1, 2021, between the AMA and the Government of Alberta. Formalizing these offerings within the Grant Agreement supports PFSP in their ability to remain flexible and responsive to the needs of Alberta’s physicians.
• PFSP’s Education, Prevention and Promotion activities continued to remain responsive to the changing landscape of physician health. This has been achieved through collaborations with other organizations that support the physician community such as Alberta Health Services and Well Doc Alberta. In collaboration with the University of Alberta’s Office of Advocacy & Wellbeing and the Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta, the Resident Wellness Conference was held virtually in the fall of 2021 and was open to both University of Calgary and University of Alberta residents. The conference was focused on resident wellness and community building activities to re-charge their residency journey.

2. Operationalize funding from the Affinity Collaboration (BNS, the CMA and MD Financial Management Inc.) to respond to and address the health and wellness needs of physicians and medical learners.

• Components of The Scotiabank and Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Affinity Fund agreement with the AMA are underway. Specifically, service provision to those physicians who fall outside of the eligibility criteria listed in the Grant Agreement is in place. This will ensure that retired physicians and those who may have been too ill to work in the past 12 months are able to receive support. PFSP continues to work towards operationalizing other physician wellness programs that have been developed within the CMA Affinity Fund Agreement project plan.

3. Support Well Doc Alberta’s efforts to renew funding and scale and spread the program nationally through affinity funding made available through the CMA/BNS agreement. 

• Well Doc Alberta meets on April 21, 2022. The agenda includes updates from each participating organization (AMA, CPSA, AHS, Covenant Health, PFSP, PCNs, University of Alberta and University of Calgary) on current and planned wellness initiatives. Other agenda topics include Increasing engagement outside Alberta and an update on current funding and program status.

Priority activity

Update

1. Continue Shine A Light initiative and integrate with other member engagement, governance and recognition programs, e.g., AMA Awards, members advocating through RF, etc. 

• Recognize more physicians more frequently in their everyday settings, quietly going the distance for patients.
• Encourage nominations from the public, colleagues or clinical staff.
• Optimize the stories through multi-media strategies.

• Nominations for Shine A Light slowed during Omicron. Our most recent profile was October 2021.
• Honorees are recognized across our social media platforms and also featured in Alberta Doctors’ Digest.
• Public Affairs has obtained some additional staff resources to seek out honorees and develop profiles for recognition.

2. As students return to schools in a post-COVID environment, maintain or increase the number of participating schools in the AMA Youth Run Club. This includes supporting teachers and schools with programs or activities that can be safely performed.

• To support teachers, coaches and mentors, the YRC Shaping the Future Breakfast returns this spring in person in Kananskis April 23. Comments from the AMA President will highlight the importance of this program for healthy kids and communities.
• The YRC will be the beneficiary of a fun run in Edmonton on May 15 in partnership with several sponsors. The event will feature a 1-mile team race where funds from that race will go to Ever Active Schools initiatives including the YRC. Event details and the registration form can be found here: www.events.runningroom.com/site/15816/
• While helping interested schools to participate now that in-person classes have resumed, YRC has found that there is still an appetite for the virtual and individual events that the program delivered in earlier pandemic times.

3. Administer the Emerging Leaders in Health Promotion grant program.

• Four applicants were successful recipients of the 2021/22 grant program. A total of $11, 617.63 was awarded to the recipients.

Priority activity

Update

1. Advance the AMA’s Healthy Working Environments framework in key areas: 

• Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Operationalize the tool kit developed to support diversity and inclusion goals with a focus on section leadership recruitment.
  • Implement changes to improve equity, diversity and inclusion in AMA appointments.
  • Represent AMA at formal and informal EDI communities and initiatives.
• Psycho-social wellness and safety
  • With the ZMSAs, advocating for the quadruple aim and healthy working environments for physicians within AHS. 
• Leadership 
  • In collaboration with the CMA provide physician leadership and professional development opportunities for members.

• HWEAC members have been provided with access to NorQuest training modules focused on inclusion at work. Their feedback will be used to inform decisions re the use of these materials more broadly.
• The Quadruple Aim has been advanced during negotiations to frame AMA interests related to physician wellness.
• Under the direction of the HWEAC, an environmental scan is underway to outline the supports available to physicians for navigating conflict. Descriptions of these supports, the resources provided, and gaps will be identified as part of identifying future business plan strategies.
• The AMA Nominating Committee is having an EDI specialist review all of the committee descriptions (that report to the Nominating Committee) and update them to reflect the membership’s desire to seek further Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within AMA committees.
• The AMA has received $200,000 in funding for the Physician Leadership and Professional Development Initiative (PLPD). Two cohorts of physicians are participating in a series of four Physician Leadership Institute (PLI) Joule courses over 2021-2022. The courses are:
  • Engaging Others: September 2021 and January 2022
  • Leading Effective Meetings: November 2021 and February 2022
  • Managing People Effectively: January 2021 and April 2022
  • Leading High-Performance Culture: April 2022 and June 2022
• To date, over 100 applications have been received and 47 physicians have completed at least two courses. The final session of the four PLI courses offered will be held in June. 

2. Working with the AMA’s Healthy Working Environments Advisory Committee, identify additional opportunities and possible strategies.

• Further align work of the HWEAC and the Indigenous Health Committee.

• The Indigenous Health Committee identified several priority areas for 2022 including: 
  • Data and Information Gathering and Sharing
    • Highlight the differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous standards of care
    • Identify problems posed by jurisdictional issues
  • Education 
    • Support Indigenous training for medical trainees and physicians
    • Support mentorship for medical trainees with Indigenous physicians
  • Physician Recruitment and Resource Delivery 
    • Consider how to improve physician recruitment to minimize barriers to care for Indigenous people
    • Encourage the presence of the Indigenous perspective into policy and at provincial tables
  • Well being and Holistic Health
    • Acknowledge the grief and loss of the Indigenous community
    • Facilitate learning about traditional medicine
• Work continues to be done to ensure that an Indigenous representative is appointed to the HWEAC.