Members react re CaRMS

March 30, 2023

Dr. Fredrykka Rinaldi, AMA PresidentDear Members,

I’ve received many emails from members regarding the first round CaRMS results. This has been my reply:

I am extremely concerned about the initial round of matches. Round two will be watched closely.

There is nothing that can be done to alter this year’s results. We will see how our agreement and other efforts may improve the environment going forward. Government needs to change the landscape to make family medicine - and all specialties - sustainable and attractive in Alberta.

Here is some related information that various members have requested.

You are always welcome to share your thoughts with me. You can email me via president@albertadoctors.org. You can also comment on this letter on the AMA website.

Regards,

fred Rinaldi, MD, CCFP, FCFP, LLB, MBA, MPA(HSA), BCom
President, Alberta Medical Association

"Fate whispers to the warrior, 'You can not withstand the storm.' The warrior whispers back, 'I am the storm.'"

5 comments

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  • #1

    David Smyth

    Physician

    3:57 PM on March 30, 2023

    When is the AMA going to finish fee equity?. The answer is never! Just finally admit it won’t be done.
    The AMA has ruined family medicine with in-action and support of these misguided primary care networks. They have completely failed to alter the primary care landscape to deal with the demands of the population.But at least we can get a deal on a rent a car.

  • #2

    Cody Thomson

    Physician

    3:07 PM on March 31, 2023

    I am flabbergasted as to why no one is clearly stating what the issue is!? I left Alberta for the exact same reason that no students want to train there. And trust me, if there were more options outside of AB for training (especially for highly competitive residency fields), the empty seats in AB would look even more dismal. The UCP destroyed any trust physicians had in contracts, agreements, etc. there was death by a thousand cuts. I would love to see the numbers showing how many docs left due to the Tyler Shandro, Jason Kenny debacle. During this veritable “s” storm the med students and residents were obviously watching closely and listening to the fury/anger and resentment of their preceptors and this was shared throughout the medical students across the country. Why anyone would willingly choose to train in a system that almost collapsed public healthcare while in the midst of a pandemic!? During this time there was also a very toothless AMA that was 3 steps behind in reacting the whole way. Ultimately it took hundreds of physicians leaving and dozens more resigning hospital privileges to actually get any movement. It will take a decade and require a new government for the harms done over the last 4 years to start being undone. It was single handedly the worst thing done to heathcare in Canada (and it was done intentionally!!).

  • #3

    Brian McAlpine

    Physician

    6:34 PM on March 31, 2023

    In response to David Smyth [comment #1]

    David.. how would you feel if Family Medicine separated from the AMA.. nearly half of all the docs in the province.. set our own ‘price of membership’.. set benefits, negotiated with AH re: fees and special programs ie CME, insurances,or anything else of interest to family docs.
    The gulf between specialists needs and wants and those of family docs are quite diverse, and I have always questioned how such diverse groups can be represented by ‘one voice’ ?

  • #4

    Miloslav Bohuslav Bozdech

    Physician

    7:41 PM on April 02, 2023

    This Carms result should not be shocking as it is former Health Minister Tyler Shandro's work when he targeted Alberta physicians with various sanctions such as cut our fees and capped the number of patients a physician could see and get paid for in a day for example among other things such as animosity between his government and us. This was noted by the new grads and thus they are now avoiding Alberta. I for instance heard them ( U of S students specifically) talk back then when they were still medical students and it stuck in their memories. Shandro did a lot of damage to our Health Care system. Another deterrent is our connect care which is unique to Alberta. Grads from other provinces are unfamiliar with it and why put up with having to learn it if they can go elsewhere?

  • #5

    AMA Staff

    Other health care professional

    3:14 PM on April 03, 2023

    In response to David Smyth [comment #1]

    We don't always comment but thought we should make a note regarding this post for those who may want an update:

    With respect to the work on income equity, the RF has directed the Board to complete the work of the full Income Equity Initiative (IEI) urgently. The Board remains committed.

    We have already implemented the IEI Interim Measure, and this was used to help determine each of the first three years of allocation in the AMA Agreement. In those allocations, the AMA requested that five sections receive particular attention given their low ranking in the interim income equity calculations: Family Medicine, Neurology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Psychiatry.

    We continue to make progress. The Hours of Work Study has been completed and data from the Hours of Work Study, along with data from the Overhead Study, the Training and Career Length Study and Compensation Studies will be aligned and incorporated into the full IEI report - which will be brought to the RF in the fall.

    Note that as per RF direction, there will be a full membership vote on the final report and government endorsement is still required for implementation.

Alberta Medical Association Mission: Advocate for and support Alberta physicians. Strengthen their leadership in the provision of sustainable quality care.