Spring RF and accessing the PAD webcast

March 10, 2016

Dear Member:

The spring meeting of the Representative Forum (RF) of the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) will be our usual two days of association business on behalf of the profession.

In addition to “business as usual,” however, we will also take the opportunity to examine some larger topics. These subjects are about more than the AMA. In exploring them, we are facing not only issues that affect the profession and our patients, but also society at large.

Here are some of the topics on the agenda. You’ll hear from me following the meeting about what occurred.

• Indigenous health: The Honorable Justice Murray Sinclair and Treaty Six Grand Chief Tony Alexis will meet with the RF to discuss the health-related recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. RF delegate Dr. Alika Lafontaine will also participate in the session. Understanding and conversation are part of reconciliation, but finding ways to deliver the care that indigenous Canadians require and deserve, will be fundamental to a new and better future.
• Physician Assisted Death (PAD): As has been mentioned in previous letters, we will host a special information session regarding implementation of PAD in Alberta. This two-hour session will follow adjournment of the RF meeting, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday,
  March 12. I will moderate a panel session including:
  
  • Canadian Medical Association: Implementation issues with Dr. Cécile Bensimon, Director of Ethics.
  • Alberta Health Services: Operationalizing PAD in Alberta with Dr. Francois Belanger, Acting Vice-President, Quality and Chief Medical Officer; and Dr. James L. Silvius, Provincial Medical Director, Community, Seniors, Addiction and Mental Health.
  • College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta: Regulatory issues with Dr. Trevor W. Theman, Registrar.
  • Alberta Health: Legislative aspects with Ms Denise Perret, Corporate Counsel.

  The PAD session will be available live on the AMA website at www.albertadoctors.org/infopad. If you are unable to join us live, an archived copy of the video will be available early next week.

• Stewardship of health system resources: In current negotiations with Alberta Health, there is an opportunity to redefine the relationship between the profession and government. The fact that we have an agreement in place that both parties respect and have committed to, is a significant advantage as we work together to meet the fiscal challenges facing the province. Our agreement provides the opportunity to review what we already have in place and also to look for improvements that serve the needs of both parties. Among other things, for example, we can proactively consider issues of sustainability (defined in terms of both financial factors and quality of care), with those of stewardship and physician leadership within the system, to improve the care delivered to patients.
  The RF leaders will receive an update on the early discussions.
• Health care system funding: An information session to examine the funding of Canada’s health care system will include a current state overview from Owen Adams, Chief Policy Advisor with the Canadian Medical Association. Other panelists will speak in favor or against amending the current model. They will be, respectively: Dr. Robert M. Hollinshead, Chair, Board of Directors, Canadians for Sustainable Medicare and former president of the AMA; and Colleen M. Flood, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa and University Research Chair in Health Law and Policy.

With topics like these before us, it will be an interesting and informative two days. I should also note while looking outward at all these societal issues, we are also taking a good look inwards. It’s best practice to periodically review the governance structure of an association. By this I mean how we make decisions, set direction and work together. The fall 2015 RF approved a motion to form an RF Governance Review Group (GRG), chaired by board member Dr. Kathryn L. Andrusky. The GRG’s work so far will be one of our agenda items with delegate workshop sessions to gather input and advice for the next phase.

I look forward to good information, discussion and, as always, the wise guidance of the RF. Your comments and insight are always valued. Please email president@albertadoctors.org or leave a comment below.

Kind regards,

Carl W. Nohr, MDCM, PhD, FRCSC, FACS
President