Webinar: Get Ready for Respiratory Illness Season
Join us for a special webinar, in partnership with Manitoba Public Health. We will be joined by Dr. Brent Roussin, Dr. Davinder Singh, Dr. Natalie Casaclang, and others from Public Health to discuss preparing for the upcoming respiratory season, including information about the influenza and COVID immunization program. Physicians, clinic managers and staff are welcome to attend.
When: Wednesday, August 28 at 12:00 noon
Where: Zoom
RSVP: Click here to register
The webinar will cover:
- Respiratory Season Outlook
- Vaccine Registration, Ordering and Distribution
- Vaccine Supply and Products
- Immunization Program Goals
- Clinical Information
- Vaccine billing information
- Q&A
Presenters include:
- Dr. Brent Roussin, Chief Provincial Public Health Officer
- Dr. Richard Baydack (PhD), Director, Communicable Disease Control
- Dr. Davinder Singh and Dr. Natalie Casaclang, Medical Officers of Health, Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care
- Inga Hossack, Manager of Policy and Operations, Communicable Disease Control
- A medical remuneration officer from Doctors Manitoba
Please note, the webinar will be recorded and available on demand for those who cannot attend live.
The Right to Safety in Health Care
At Doctors Manitoba, we were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Moumtia Debnath, of a 31-year-old resident doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, India. Doctors across India went on strike to demand sweeping changes to health care worker protections.
This news is heartbreaking and reminds us of how health care workers are at risk all over the world, according to the nature of their work. It is this knowledge that joins all of us together in mourning and inspires greater action. We stand together with physicians across the world, demanding safety in health care and educational institutions for physicians, health care workers, students, and patients.
Safety has been an issue closer to home. Dr. Walter Reynolds was murdered in his clinic in Red Deer Alberta in 2000. In 2021, a knife attack at Seven Oaks left a manager severely injured, with local physician Dr. Ken Hahlweg intervening to stop further attacks.
According to our annual physician survey earlier this year, a third of physicians reported a physical safety incident in the previous year, with an average of two incidents per physician. About half reported a psychological safety incident, with an average of 5 – 6 incidents per physician.
Changes have been put in place, including the introduction of Institutional Safety Officers at Health Sciences Centre, and a pilot program using artificial intelligence for weapon detection.
Please reach out to us here at Doctors Manitoba if you are feeling unsafe at work by emailing practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca. In times of fear, loss, and grief, please remember our Doc360 resources are available to you, a colleague, or a family member in need of support. You can contact Physicians At Risk directly by calling 204−237−8320.
Golf Registration Deadline Approaching!
Our Getting Healthy Golf Tournament is on Tuesday, September 3, and there are still a few spaces left! Experienced and beginner golfers are welcome, with a “best ball” team format.
The event includes access to practice facilities, lunch, 18 holes with a powercart, and an informal dinner. Prizes include an amazing line-up of tickets to the Blue Bombers, Valour FC, Rumours Comedy Club, 2 rounds of Golf at Southwood, or a one night stay at Inn at the Forks.
Feeling confident about your long drive? Compete in the long drive contest sponsored by Manulife for the chance to win a $150 Golf Town Gift Card!
Find out more and register at doctorsmanitoba.ca/golf24
We’re excited to announce the winner of our online give away for students and residents. Congratulations to Sophie Hu, Hannah Foggin, and Talia Ripstein, who each win a pair of spaces.
The tournament is presented by MD Financial and Scotiabank with support from Bokhaut CPA.
Have you claimed our new $1,000 CPD Credit Rebate?
Over 550 members have claimed our new $1,000 CPD Credit Rebate since we launched it last week!
The new rebate is available to all fully licensed physicians as part of a revamp of our rebate program to reimburse physicians for the costs associated with continuing professional development. The new program now includes a $1,000 flat fee rebate for physicians who have completed their minimum CPD credits in the previous year, with an additional rebate of up to $4,000 available for expenses related to CPD. You can learn more about this change in a recent update from our President Dr. Randy Guzman.
The CPD Credit Rebate is claimed when you renew your Doctors Manitoba membership through our online Member Portal Renewal Option. You will also see our new Rebate Check-Up during your renewal to ensure you haven’t missed claiming any other recent rebates or benefits.
To renew and claim your $1,000 CPD Credit Rebate:
- Go to DoctorsManitoba.ca/RenewOnline
- Log in using your email address and password. If you need help setting up your Member Portal account or accessing it, contact us at portalhelp@doctorsmantioba.ca.
- Have your credit card handy to pay your membership fee. You can also indicate you plan to pay via cheque or internet banking.
During the renewal process, you will be able to update your personal and contact information. If it’s not already on file, you can also add your gender identity and race, ethnicity, or Indigenous identity. This is optional and all responses are stored securely. We have expanded the list of options to include Latin American and Jewish based on physician feedback, in addition to existing options such as Black, Middle Eastern, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Indigenous, and White. Having this information on file helps us better understand the different experiences of physicians, address inequities and discrimination, and ensure our Boards and Committees are representative of the broader medical profession.
Click here to learn more about why we collect this, how we protect your data, and what we use it for.
Health System Updates
CBTm classes for youth
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with mindfulness (CBTm) classes for youth ages 12 – 17 are now available as part of a UM research study to help learn more about the benefits of CBTm for youth in Manitoba. Physicians can refer patients directly to the study, and individuals can also self-refer.
The study aims to find out how CBTm works for youth in Manitoba. Participants will be asked to fill out weekly questionnaires as part of a research study. These questionnaires will be available on Greenspace, an online clinical platform. They’ll ask the individual about their mental well-being and their thoughts on the classes. Any information collected will remain entirely confidential.
Classes are led by a trained clinician and are held virtually over Zoom. Sessions are 90 minutes and occur once per week for 5 weeks. The sessions include a presentation in a classroom format. Parents, guardians, or other support persons are welcome to join!
Mpox in Canada: What you need to know
The World Health Organization has declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern. Mpox is spread by close contact and has recently surged in the Democratic Republic of Congo and emerged in neighbouring Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, none of which had cases of the virus before. An independent emergency committee has warned the WHO about the “potential to spread further across countries in Africa and possibly outside the continent.” One of the main reasons for declaring an international emergency, the WHO said, is the emergence of a new Mpox strain, called clade Ib, which is spreading rapidly and appears to cause more serious illness.
Earlier this week, Toronto Public Health issued a warning about increasing cases of mpox, encouraging at-risk individuals to get vaccinated.
Today, Manitoba Public Health issued a statement that “mpox cases continue to be reported in other Canadian provinces, with an increasing number in Ontario. Vaccination can help prevent infection.” Manitobans are encouraged to find out if they are eligible to be vaccinated and take other steps to prevent infection, with information for the public and health care providers available here.
Cellphone in school ban
Manitoba is the last province in Western Canada to introduce a policy about cellphone use in schools. The bans are designed to reduce distractions and help students focus in class. Studies show it can take up to 20 minutes for a child to refocus on what they were learning once they’re distracted, Manitoba Education Minister Nello Altomare said in the news release.
Schools and school divisions will implement updated policies as students head back to school in September to ensure consistency across the province, which include:
- Banning cellphone use during school hours, including lunch and breaks, for students in kindergarten to Grade 8;
- Banning cellphone use for students in grades 9 to 12 during class time, with cellphone use permitted during breaks and lunch; and
- Clear direction for cellphone use in classrooms for school staff.
Guidelines will include exceptions to support students with medical and diverse learning needs, as well as cellphone use for educational purposes in grades 9 to 12 when directed by classroom teachers.
We heard from a number of pediatricians in the lead up to this policy announcement. Restrictions on cellphone use during classroom learning can be part of a solution, along with education about responsible use and social media literacy, as well as resources for parents. The U.S. Surgeon General has issued an advisory about social media and youth mental health, highlighting concerning evidence about the impact of social media on young people, and identifying steps policymakers, parents, and students can take.
We are working with pediatricians to summarize the evidence and offer guidance to parents and students at GettingHealthy.ca, our public resource for living a longer and healthier life.
Gender Affirming Care
Klinic is offering a workshop for physicians about providing gender-affirming care, including information about hormone therapy. This interactive workshop will encourage participants to explore patients/clients’ gender journey and goals, partake in informed consent discussions with clients/patients requesting hormone therapy, assess readiness for hormone therapy, prescribe and monitor hormone therapy, manage side effects and common concerns about hormone therapy, and seek ongoing clinical support.
The session is planned for Saturday, September 14 at Klinic. You can learn more and register here.
ICYMI
Here’s the latest and most popular stories, in case you missed them:
Province Introduces Biosimilars Initiative: We received feedback from several physicians about the province’s new Biosimilars Initiative, including raising concerns about transitioning patients from designated biologics to biosimilars by the January 31, 2025, deadline. Please continue to send us your feedback as we raise these concerns with the government.
Scope of Practice Expansions: Several physicians have expressed an interest in joining our working group to look at the opportunities and concerns related to scope of practice expansions for other professions. Please read more and contact us if you are interested.
Other recent updates of note:
- Cortext Update
- CPSM Advice on AI
- Taking a cautious approach to social media
- Public and private health care
Upcoming Events
You can always review upcoming events on our events calendar page.
CADDRA 2024 Early Bird Registration
Registration is open for CADDRA 2024 at the Fairmont Hotel in Winnipeg this September. The educational event is for professionals in ADHD research and healthcare. Pre-conference options on Friday, September 27th, include ADHD Research Day and ADHD Primer for Healthcare Professionals. The main conference is on Saturday and Sunday, September 28 – 29. Check the schedule and register by August 23rd for early bird rates!
Canadian Surgery Forum
For the first time ever the largest surgical meeting in Canada will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba from September 25 – 28. To help celebrate, the Canadian Surgery Forum will do a draw of all Manitoba surgeons who register and attend to receive a refund of their conference registration post event.*
Held at the RBC Convention Center at 375 York Ave., the Canadian Surgery Forum includes scientific and educational sessions offered through interactive symposia, panel discussions, postgraduate courses, debates, plenary sessions, video sessions, and ‘Meet the Fellowship Director.’
The theme of CSF 2024 is “Surgery Through Inclusive Innovation.” Delegates can expect over 50 accredited sessions across all participating sub-specialties, with full and half-day post graduate courses, content geared towards community and rural surgeons, and free child care!
Visit canadiansurgeryforum.com for speaker bios, the conference program, travel and accommodation information, and to register!
Members of CAGS and CSF partner sub-specialty societies qualify for special discounted member rates!For all conference information, including registration information and pricing, and the scientific program, please visit the CSF 2024 website.
*Draw excludes the cost of post-graduate courses.
Youth Mental Health Conference
The 44th Annual Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Conference is happening in Winnipeg this fall. The focus is Innovative Treatments in Child and Youth Mental Health. You can learn more about the September 21 – 24 event here. See the conference program here, and register today! Early bird deadline for registration is August 23.
Providing Gender Affirming Care — Klinic Workshop
This full-day (September 14) interactive workshop will encourage participants to explore patients/clients’ gender journey and goals, partake in informed consent discussions with clients/patients requesting hormone therapy, assess readiness for hormone therapy, prescribe and monitor hormone therapy, manage side effects and common concerns about hormone therapy, and seek ongoing clinical support. The morning workshop will cover “Transgender and Gender Diversity Awareness & Inclusion” and the afternoon workshop will cover “Gender-affirming Hormone Therapy”. Learn more and register here.