Alberta’s health system is under extraordinary pressure. Physicians are feeling that pressure across the system, but the fundamental question for Albertans remains simple: can patients get the care they need, when they need it?
Primary care – The foundation we cannot afford to weaken
The AMA's second annual State of Health Care report shows Albertans are confident in the quality and skill of their physicians and health care teams, but have less confidence in the system's ability to provide timely access to care when and where it's needed.
Today, government announced a $172.3 million investment in physician compensation as part of the final year of the current Master Agreement (2022-26).
Last week, you should have received a link to complete the latest AMA Member Tracking Survey. I encourage you to take a few minutes to share your experience. Your feedback gives us timely insight into the realities you are facing in practice and helps ensure our advocacy, priorities and member support reflect what physicians are experiencing right now.
Over the past several months, many of you have raised important questions about what expanded dual practice could mean for patients, physicians and the future of our publicly funded health care system — especially since Bill 11 (Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2)) was introduced.
Below you will find previous issues of The President's Letter. For older issues no longer on the website, contact us.
The development of COVID-19 vaccines has brought together some of the brightest minds around the globe and has made history by getting vaccines approved and to market within a year. The initial excitement and optimism surrounding the vaccine, however, has evolved into frustration due to limited supply and criticism over the staged roll out. It has been the topic of conversation in the media, around many dinner tables and of course within the profession.
As I’m sure most of you are aware, Alberta Health Services has indicated that stipends for contracted services will end. Implementation of this component of the Physician Funding Framework has been delayed, but as things stand today, many of the groups affected will see their contracts for stipend services end on March 31, 2021, or sooner.
As of February 5, more lab results will be accessible to Albertans through the My Health Records (MHR) portal. These lab results will be viewable through the My Personal Records (MPR) application, giving patients immediate and direct access to more of their own health information. This change will also serve as an additional safety net for patient care within the system.
Last week we welcomed in 2021. While the new year often sparks feelings of hope, I met the new year with a sigh of relief that 2020 was over. There is, of course, the optimism provided by the vaccine, but it is tempered by the prospect of a long year ahead that will involve many challenges related to the ongoing pandemic.
As this letter was completed, we were advised that Alberta Health has decided to postpone the implementation of new rates for Z codes, scheduled for January 1. The implementation of these reductions has now been postponed until April 1.
As discussions continue with government toward a negotiated agreement, new payment models are emerging and are being offered to physicians. This move toward new payment models seems to be accelerating, which has caused me to think about why alternative models matter in the first place.
As we settle into a new phase of restrictions to check the spread COVID-19, I wanted to write to you about the impact of the pandemic on patient care and the health care system. While the arrival of vaccines in Alberta is truly encouraging, we face a long road back to whatever the new normal will be.
Some of you may have seen the letter I wrote to Albertans urging them to do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19. This letter was published in both the Calgary Herald and Edmonton Journal this week.
I wrote to you on November 26 about the explosive rates of COVID-19 in Alberta and the new measures that have been taken to slow the virus down. It is too early to know how effective these will be. Promising news about vaccine availability and provincial logistical planning for roll out may provide a little daylight, but it does not change our current situation and the pressure on our health care system.
Since I wrote to you earlier this week, additional public health measures have been announced to slow the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been a lot of debate on the probable effectiveness of these plans and what needs to happen next.