Contact Us Member Area

Search

In today’s message you will find:

Admin Burden – WCB, EIA and SWIM, oh my!

Physicians are being asked for feedback on a few different administrative tasks, with some mini surveys to help guide work to reduce administrative burdens. This work is being sent on behalf of the Joint Task Force to Reduce Administrative Burdens, which Doctors Manitoba co-leads with Manitoba Health. 

Workers Compensation Board Requests

The Joint Task Force is working with WCB to improve their processes and forms. As a first step, WCB is trying to reduce the frequency of requests to physicians for progress reports. They are open to additional suggestions as well about their forms and processes more broadly. 

Please complete this four-question quick survey to provide feedback about progress reports, including how often you receive these requests and how long they take to complete. You will also be asked for suggestions on how to improve progress reporting, as well as any other advice to improve WCB forms or processes. 

If you have any questions, or if you would prefer to have a call to discuss WCB requests, please contact the Task Force project manager, Gbenga Davies, at Gbenga.​Davies@​gov.​mb.​ca.

EIA Disability (Manitoba Supports) Requests

The Department of Families, which is responsible for Income Support Disability benefits, is working on reducing administrative burdens related assessments and other related requests to physicians. Some changes were made earlier this year, and the program is open to making further improvements based on feedback from physicians. 

Please complete this short survey to provide feedback about the disability impact assessment form and process. You will be asked about the new Disability Impact Assessment form, which replaced the previous EIA Disability Assessment Report. You will also be asked about other requests physicians received, and ideas for further improvements. 

If you have any questions, or if you would prefer to have a call to discuss, please contact the Task Force project manager, Gbenga Davies, at Gbenga.​Davies@​gov.​mb.​ca.

SWIM for Surgeons

We have heard from some surgeons concerned about the impact of SWIM is having on their administrative load. SWIM, or the Surgical Wait list Information Management system, was announced last year by Shared Health and the Department of Surgery with the objective of improving the quality, accessibility and efficiency of surgical services in Manitoba. An application, called Novari Access to Care, is being rolled out to manage surgical and endoscopy bookings and wait lists. Manitoba is one of the last provinces, we understand, to roll out a system like this.

We’ve heard concerns from surgeons about the initial workload involved in getting existing cases set up in SWIM, as well as concerns about the administrative work required on a go-forward, ongoing basis. Because of this, we have a short questionnaire to learn more about your experience with SWIM, and your suggestions for how it could be improved. These results will be summarized and shared with Shared Health and the Department of Surgery. 

You can take the short survey here to share your views.
If you are still getting set up on SWIM, you should be able to access extra administrative help. The clinic can request the support by emailing SWIM@​sharedhealthmb.​ca. You can learn more about SWIM, including resources for surgeons and surgeons’ office staff, here.

Health System Updates

rTMS Treatment for Adults with Depression

Psychiatrists are now accepting referrals for rTMS, or repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. The treatment is now covered for patients under Manitoba Health thanks to our negotiations under the Physician Services Agreement. 

The rTMS programs at St. Boniface and Brainwave Clinic are accepting referrals for patients seeking treatment for treatment resistant depression.

See this memo from the Department of Psychiatry to learn more about rTMS, patient eligibility and exclusion criteria, and referral instructions. 

Update on AIM Family Medicine Initiative

The Family Medicine Forum (FMF) was held between November 8th-14th in Montréal this year, with the AIM project being invited to present in front of colleagues from across Canada; it was truly an unforgettable experience. 

Our session, titled ​“Tackling Barriers to Access in Primary Care,” generated a lot of buzz and excitement. We delved deep into the concepts of change management, quality improvement, and team building; all aimed at enhancing patient access. What made our presentation stand out was our commitment to a tailored approach, where we emphasize the importance of customizing our strategies to suit the unique dynamics of each clinic. The response from attendees was fantastic, with participants expressing their genuine appreciation for our personalized training approach. 

And guess what? The excitement continues! We’re thrilled to announce that our 2023 Fall/​Winter cohort kicked off in October and we’ve got a stellar group of clinics lined up all the way until the spring of 2024.

If you would like to explore AIM in further detail, please visit the AIM website and be sure to contact the team at aim@​umanitoba.​ca.

CanTreatCOVID Study

The CanTreatCOVID clinical trial is officially launched in Manitoba. If you have a patient eligible for COVID therapeutics such as Paxlovid, they can obtain it simply and easily by enrolling in the trial by emailing info@cantreatcovid.or or calling or 1−888−888−3308 .

You can refer patients directly to the study, and they will be screened to ensure eligibility. CanTreatCOVID is a randomized controlled trial; if eligible, patients will be randomized to either active treatment or usual care. You will receive $40CAD through e‑transfer per eligible patient. 

This study is the fastest way to answer whether these medications are effective, particularly in a highly vaccinated population.

This is a trial being conducted by primary care providers, for primary care providers! CanTreatCOVID is also helping us launch the new Canadian Primary Care Trials Network, to create real world evidence for primary care.

We have received approval from the University of Manitoba Health Research Ethics Board. For more information, please contact info@​cantreatcovid.​org or 1−888−888−3308

Online Survey for Healthcare Professionals Working with Spinal Cord Injuries

Researchers from the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation are conducting a brief survey study to better understand healthcare providers perceptions of weight and its management among individuals living with a spinal cord injury. The survey will be used to determine whether you are eligible to participate in the study. Data from the eligibility survey will not be analyzed in the current study. 

Take the survey.

View the poster here.

Physician of the Week

Dr. Rizqa Sulaiman-Baradien’s passion for medicine stems from her love for people and her desire to serve humanity. She feels called to serve her fellow humans and says​“working with families, doing the detective work around trying to figure out their unique and rare conditions, is most rewarding, especially when we find a diagnosis.Her proudest professional accomplishment is being a​“Doctor-Mom.” Balancing the demands of medical specialization while raising four children, she sees her family as an integral part of her journey, motivating her to push boundaries and continually grow in her medical career. Read about Dr.Sulaiman-Baradien.

Fantastic Physicians

Congratulations to medical student (and Top 40 under 40 recipient) Nolan De Leon, who was awarded the Rady Faculty Dean’s Prize. The award was created in 2019 to recognize exceptional academic achievement, notable personal service and strong leadership skills of 6 graduate students in the Rady Faculty of Health. Nolan isan MD/​PhD student in the Max Rady College of Medicine, is studying how circular ribonucleic acids contribute to the development of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and how these microscopic rings can be used to diagnose CDH early in pregnancy, predict health outcomes and as a potential prenatal treatment.

Supporting Your Financial Wellbeing with Scotia Households 

Sponsored Content — Scotia Households is an exclusive program that supports physicians and their families. As a valued Scotiabank Physician customer, when you open an Ultimate Package as a benefit of the Scotiabank Healthcare+ Physician Banking Program Δ, you’ll pay no monthly account fee, and can invite your family to your Scotia Household so they too can enjoy savings on their banking. Offer ends March 31, 2024. Conditions apply. Create a household.

Physician Leadership Supports For Future and Current Leaders

Doctors Manitoba is pleased to present NEW in-depth learning opportunities for physicians, residents, and learners interested or involved in leadership: 

  1. Physician Leadership: Supports for Future Leaders 
  2. Physician Leadership: Supports for New and Established Leaders 

Participants will engage in 3 – 4 workshops and 3 group coaching sessions with experienced facilitators Tom Lloyd, MD and Dawn Martin, PhD.

Space is limited! All sessions are virtual. See details here and REGISTER NOW.

DRMB Book Club

A memoir about intergenerational trauma, healing, and connection. Facing up to a story nearly erased by the designs of history, father and son journey together back to the trapline at Black Water and through the past to create a new future. Join us for our fourth virtual book meeting on Thursday, March 7, 2024, from 7:00pm – 8:30pm as we read the Globe and Mail Top 100 Book of the year,​“Blackwater” by David A Robertson. We are thrilled to announce that the author will be joining our virtual book club for a Q+A. There will also be a chance for the group to discuss the book and share thoughts. Register Here!

The Doctors Manitoba Physician Health and Wellness committee is committed to providing opportunities for building connection and community in medicine.

In Case You Missed It

Here’s our most popular recent posts, in case you missed them:

Upcoming Events

Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge, increase your awareness, or build leadership skills, we have many sessions planned!

Mindful Practice in Medicine Workshop ‑February 21 – 24, 2024 in Banff

Direct from the renowned University of Rochester, the Mindful Practice in Medicine Core Workshop, developed by physicians to help medical practitioners and educators respond to the erosion of joy in their work, provides an experiential and interactive learning environment. The approach is evidence based – as it lessens the effects of burnout and improves well-being, engagement with work, and patient-centered compassionate care. 

Register for a retreat-like workshop designed to energize your clinical work while helping you find joy and resilience, through honing your self-awareness and deep listening skills that are keys to navigating stressful and demanding situations you face daily. 

  • Learn How To
  • Find meaning in your work
  • Effectively manage challenges in clinical work
  • Improve communication
  • Experience clarity and focus
  • Be part of a larger community
  • Be more resilient
  • Listen more deeply
  • Cultivate compassion and gratitude
  • Become more self-aware

Registration deadline is January 21st, 2024. Register here.

Cases in Cancer — Gastric Cancer — an Update in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Issues — Webinar — December 19 — 8 – 9am

Join the CancerCare Manitoba Community Oncology Program Cases in Cancer Webinar on December 19 2023. Dr. Benjamin Goldenberg and Dr. Farhana Shariff will be presenting on the topic entitled ​‘Gastric Cancer: an Update in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Issues’. Webinar is worth 1.0 Mainpro+ Certified Credits. View the event poster.

Register in advance here for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

2023 Market Update – MD Financial Webinar - Monday, December 11, 2023 6 p.m. CST

MD Financial Management is pleased to invite you to their exclusive market update webinar tailored specifically for Canadian physicians. During this virtual session they will cover:

  • A year in review: An in-depth analysis of the economy in the past year
  • Emerging trends: Insights into the future and how they could affect you
  • Financial planning strategies: Practical advice to navigate the changing landscape. Register here to reserve your spot.
Need help?