In today’s message you will find:
Cortext Messaging App Extended
The planned discontinuation of Cortext on July 23 did not occur, as previously reported. Instead, Digital Shared Services convinced the vendor to continue the product a little longer to allow more time to support physicians through the transition. As a result, the deadline to a new app for clinical secure messaging will be no sooner than the end of September 2024.
At this time, Shared Health continues to suggest physicians prepare for the implementation of Microsoft Teams for Clinical Secure Messaging. Here’s some key information from Shared Health to help:
Main web resource with Quick Reference Guides and other information.
Memo about the change including the apps needed on your device and the support available to help.
Doctors Manitoba continues to monitor this closely and to advocate for a solution that will provide all of the functionality physicians appreciated about Cortext.
CPSM New Guidance on AI Scribes
Earlier this month, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba issued guidance about the use of artificial intelligence in medicine, particularly generative AI or AI scribes that can be used to help with documentation.
We are reviewing this guidance, and we invite your feedback. Our preliminary review suggests it is very much aligned with earlier advice provided by regulators in other provinces, and from CMPA from a liability perspective. The key considerations include privacy, accuracy, and consent. In the end, whether it’s a human scribe or an AI scribe, physicians are ultimately responsible for their documentation and have a duty to ensure it is correct.
We provided advice earlier this year on AI scribes in physician practices. We know nearly three quarters of physicians see an opportunity for AI to help with charting and documentation in their practice, especially when one considers that physicians spend over 10 hours per week on administrative tasks.
We will be reviewing our advice in light of CPSM’s new guidance, as well as feedback from members about how to effectively obtain consent while still realizing the time saving benefits AI offers.
You can review CPSM’s guidance here, and you can see our existing advice here.
Please contact us with your concerns or ideas. Are you using AI in your practice? Do you want to? Are you concerned about AI? We want to hear it all. Email us at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
Earlier this month, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba posted new advice for the medical community about maintaining your professional obligations when engaging on public platforms, which you can access here.
We understand this advice has been in development for several months. Concerns about public commentary from physicians arose in many jurisdictions during the intense phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. CPSM does receive complaints about physician and medical learner comments on public platforms, and the guidance helps to understand how CPSM responds to such complaints through the lens of professional obligations and the right to free speech.
The guidance from CPSM recognizes that “as members of a self-regulating profession who serve the public, registrants must consider how their words and actions are perceived by others, including those who hold different views.” It outlines the importance of maintaining professional conduct and ensuring public safety, the weight and impact that comments from physicians hold with the public, and the importance of respecting patient and individual privacy.
The availability of public platforms allows for the amplification and wide distribution of individual views. This can happen within a few minutes, or comments from years gone by can be resurfaced and scrutinized. However, the wide use of social media sites, blogs, online reviews, and “rate my doctor” websites, as well as widespread disinformation campaigns by entities far from Manitoba, can make it challenging to have a reasoned conversation.
From Doctors Manitoba’s perspective, we support members using their voices to effect positive change. Our regular surveys of Manitobans confirm that when it comes to health care, physicians are the most trusted source for information. That trust is rooted in Manitobans’ confidence in, and respect for, the medical profession. They trust physicians when you provide advice about preventing and treating diseases, and they trust you when you talk about the challenges in health care. That trust also means they support us when we propose solutions to help alleviate the physician shortage or advocate for the resources physicians need to care for Manitobans.
This is part of the reason we have created Getting Healthy, a public platform and social media presence for our members to share positive, evidence-based advice about preventing disease, living healthy, and responding to viral disinformation campaigns. It’s also why Doctors Manitoba has taken on a stronger public voice on behalf of the profession, to draw attention to challenges in the health system and propose solutions to improve care.
When it comes to social media or other platforms like doctor review sites, CPSM aptly notes that physician comments have “the potential to harm the public’s trust in the profession.” We also want to express caution, as online comments can also result in personal legal or professional difficulties. In Manitoba and elsewhere, physicians have faced regulatory consequences and have lost their hospital privileges.
The CMPA has a useful article about social media opportunities and realities. While the article deals mostly with social media platforms, the advice can apply to any public platform.
Canadians enjoy freedom of expression which is among the most expansive in the world. You have the right to state your views and engage in debate. That being said, there can be professional consequences from comments which can be saved, misrepresented, and used as the basis of a complaint or to generate a tirade of under-informed responses.
If you are commenting on a medical issue, make sure your comments are rooted in evidence, consider the tone, never share anyone’s personal health information or other confidential details, avoid attacking anyone else personally, and disengage if the conversation gets toxic. If your views could be seen as diverging from widely-accepted medical beliefs, you should be very careful. You may need to acknowledge that fact, or not comment at all.
If you are involved in a public platform outside of medical issues, consider carefully how you represent yourself. If your contributions are seen as coming from a physician, it may encourage others to respond in a heightened way, and even goad you into saying something you shouldn’t.
As always, pleasecontact us if you have any questions or concerns. We are happy to provide communications and legal advice to you.
Golf Tournament Giveaway!
Our golf tournament is coming up on September 3 at Southwood Golf & Country Club. Watch our new member-focused Instagram and Facebook page next week, where we will be giving away six sponsored spaces to students, residents or physicians who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend. We will also have an opportunity in an upcoming newsletter.
If you would like to register to attend, you still can! Compete for the chance to enjoy two rounds of golf at Southwood, share laughs with your team at Rumor’s Comedy Club, or cheer on Valour FC with two game tickets. Wrap up your day with a one-night stay at the Inn at the Forks.
The tournament is presented by MD Financial and Scotiabank with support from Bokhaut CPA.
Public vs. Private Health Care
The Canadian Medical Association has released a draft policy on managing the balance of public and private health care across the country, following months of consultation with over 10,000 physicians, patients and health care providers.
While various viewpoints were expressed on the issues, the CMA found a national consensus emerged that the health care system should not favour those who can afford to pay for services. Equity remains a bedrock value that is shared by all – physicians, patients, and the public. There was acknowledgement that private health providers funded by government are helping to address gaps in certain areas of health care, but also that in some circumstances, this occurs at the expense of the public system. This model of privately delivered but publicly paid health care has been operating in Canada for decades, with an increasing reliance on this approach, as wait times and primary care doctor shortages continue to plague the public system in many jurisdictions.
“In our dialogue with thousands of health providers, patients and caregivers, we heard a strong call for solutions that focus on equity, access and quality of care,” say Dr. Joss Reimer and Dr. Kathleen Ross, CMA co-presidents. “Given that the status quo is simply not an option, our health system must adapt and evolve with a commitment to creating accessible, cost-effective, high-quality, sustainable solutions.”
The draft CMA policy can be found here. You can send feedback about the draft to yourvoice@cma.ca and copy us at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
Capital Gains update
We continue to work with the Canadian Medical Association and other partners to reverse a federal decision to increase capital gains taxes on medical corporations. Earlier this month, CMA President Dr. Kathleen Ross published a story in Macleans about why physicians should be excluded from capital gains increases. Doctors Manitoba has been working behind the scenes, writing to the lead federal cabinet minister for Manitoba, Dan Vandal, and all other Manitoba Members of Parliament, about the risks of these changes to physician retention and to international recruitment.
You can see an earlier story from us about the changes here.
Keeping Health on Premiers’ Radars
Doctors Manitoba joined with other provincial medical associations at the CMA in calling on Canada’s premiers to take urgent action to stabilize the health system. This includes investing in team-based care, reducing administrative burdens, expediting training and licensing for internationally trained physicians, and creating a true health workforce strategy to end the shortages that plague our system. Read more in this joint communiqué.
Canada’s premiers meet annually as the Council of the Federation each summer. CMA President Dr. Joss Reimer attended the summit and met with Premiers and other partners.
Fantastic Physicians
Dr. Ken Murray received one of two 2024 Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Murray is a teacher, mentor, colleague and friend to countless residents who have passed through the University of Manitoba Plastic Surgery Residency Program over the last four decades.
His contributions were not only tremendous at The University of Manitoba but also to Canadian Plastic Surgery as a whole. He was Chief Examiner for Plastic Surgery at the Royal College from 1993 – 1995 and examiner at the American Board of Plastic Surgery until recently. He has held executive committee memberships in every major international hand surgery society, and has held almost every major Canadian presidency in plastic surgery. You can read more about Dr. Murray in the CSPS News here.
Doctors named to Order of Manitoba
Dr. Marcia Anderson and Dr. Brent Roussin have been chosen to receive the 2024 Order of Manitoba, the province’s highest honour.
The Order of Manitoba was established in 1999 to honour Manitobans who have demonstrated excellence and achievement, thereby enriching the social, cultural or economic well-being of the province and its residents.
Read more about the appointments here.
2024 Paul Wawryko Memorial 5K
The Paul Wawryko Memorial 5K event is being held in loving memory of Dr. Paul Wawryko September 21 in Assiniboine Park. Dr. Wawryko passed away in December of 2023. He was a beloved friend, coworker, and family member to countless people. He was an avid runner, completing the Chicago Marathon three times, the Boston Marathon twice, and a half Ironman in Chattanooga.
The proceeds from the event will be used to fund an annual scholarship for the Department of Pathology, where Dr. Wawryko worked and won a prestigious teaching award as the educator of the year. The remaining funds will be donated to the International Conservation Fund of Canada, a cause dear to Paul’s heart. A post-race event will be held at the Cargo Bar in Assiniboine Park, featuring a beer created specifically for this event.
Follow the Paul Wawryko Memorial Run Instagram for updates and register now.
Health System Updates
Family Practice Executive call for nominations
The following is a message from Dr. Jessie Marantz, Chair, Family Practice Executive:
“A call for nominations was sent out in May 2024. We are pleased to announce the following appointed positions, Dr. Omolayo Famuyide to the position of Urban-at-Large and Dr. Kristen Wareham to the position of Rural-Member-at- Large.
There were no nominees for the Vice-Chair position. As a result, we are issuing a second call for nominations. The Vice-Chair is an essential role for the FP Executive. It is a three year term, 2nd year as Chair and 3rd year as Past Chair.
We need a motivated and active Executive to ensure that we continue to have a strong voice in Manitoba.
Direct involvement on the Family Practice Executive Committee allows you to influence the medical, political and economic issues that affect Family Practice. Membership on the Executive Committee provides an opportunity to represent the best interests of family practitioners to the Doctors Manitoba Board of Directors as well as other external agencies. ”
I encourage you to consider the position or nominate a colleague. Nominations should be submitted by August 23, 2024 deadline. Attached is a list of all Doctors Manitoba members who are in the Family Practice Bloc, and eligible to nominate and be nominated.”
Minor injury clinic proposals
The government has extended the opportunity to submit proposals to operate the minor injury and illness clinic at Grace Hospital. The government has clarified that the operator is responsible for the physician coverage and staffing and minor non-clinical supplies (e.g. pens and paper), but the government does cover rent, equipment, medical supplies and access to Accuro EMR.
The RFP is available on MERX, a site used to post government tenders, and we have downloaded a copy you can access here. There have been amendments posted and questions answered, so it’s valuable to register for a MERX account to log on and download all the updated forms and information.
The deadline for submissions for the location at Misericordia closed on July 24.
Breast cancer screening guidelines
The Canadian Task Force for Preventive Health Care has extended the comment period for its draft updated guidelines for breast cancer screening to August 30. There has been extensive public critique of the proposed guidelines, which currently state that screening should be available to women starting at age 40, but stops short of expanding systematic proactive screening to women in their 40s. We provided a summary of the changes back in May, which you can view here.
The Task Force issued a bulletin this week with additional information and context about their draft guidelines. You can view it here and a link to a story in Medscape that explains the thinking of how the Task Force has approached the issue of screening for women in their 40s.
The Task Force is requesting feedback on the draft guidelines. You can review the guidelines on their site and take a survey to offer your feedback.
You can also send your feedback and concerns to us at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
Nominations open for Manitoba Healthy Aging Awards
The Manitoba Healthy Aging Awards (MHAA), celebrate Manitobans aged 65 and older who have made an outstanding voluntary contribution to improve the health and well-being of older adults as they age in their homes and communities.
Awards will be presented in three categories. The Older Adult of the Year Award recognizes older adults who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in advocating for seniors in their communities. The Healthy and Active Living Ambassador Award will recognize older adults helping their peers stay physically active and healthy. Lastly, the Intergenerational Impact Award will recognize the voluntary contributions of Manitobans that have created innovative solutions to improve the health of older adults in the community through meaningful intergenerational activities.
Nominations close August 19. Find more information here.
Supporting gender-affirming care
The Manitoba government is taking steps to support gender-affirming health services for Manitobans and helping all health-care providers familiarize themselves with the latest information on standards of care for the trans and gender-diverse community.
The government announced it is taking a number of steps to improve wait times for trans patients seeking care, including removing the requirement for a patient to obtain two medical referrals to access specialist care, and expanding the number of primary-care providers who are able to refer patients, including nurse practitioners, for gender-affirming care.
The government will also create a working group that will aim to connect services to communities provincewide. These steps were designed in collaboration with Klinic Community Health for patients, which align with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s latest clinical guidelines.
You can read the full release here.
Weapon detection tech trial at HSC
For the safety of staff, patients and visitors, HSC_Winnipeg and Crisis Response Centre are trialing the use of weapon detection technology at a number of entrances.
Please note that this change will not affect the speed with which patients are triaged or assessed.
To learn more about this technology, provide your feedback, here.
ICYMI
Here’s the latest and most popular stories, in case you missed them:
Upcoming Events
You can always review upcoming events on our events calendar page.
Manitoba Association of Asian Physicians 2024 Summer Symposium and Retreat
This year’s symposium will take place August 23 and 24, at Elkhorn Resort in Clear Lake. The CME is accredited for 7 Mainpro credits and will focus on Psych Health, Gyne, Geriatric medicine and Emerging technologies. It will not only help updating knowledge on these topics but will also give opportunity to the attendees for networking. Register now.
Neonatal & Pediatric Winnipeg Interactive POCUS Workshop — October 10 — 12, 2024
The focus of this workshop will allow participants to engage in interactive sessions, hands on practice and presentation, ensuring a well-rounded and practical learning experience.
The sessions are crafted to cater both beginners and those with some experience, making it the perfect fit for all levels of NICU Practitioners.
Canadian Surgery Forum early bird deadline July 31
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!
Early bird rates: Secure your spot by July 31 and save on registration fees.
You don’t want to miss this premier event featuring cutting-edge surgical advancements, networking opportunities with leading professionals, and invaluable workshops.
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!
Don’t forget, Doctors Manitoba members are reimbursed for continuing medical education expenses.
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.
Federation of Medical Women in Canada Educational Conference & AGM
The FMWC conference is set for the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel in Ottawa September 27 – 28, 2024, a special ACCREDITED event to celebrate the organization’s 100th anniversary. Come and network with medical leaders from across Canada including award winner Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, CMA Co-Presidents Dr. Kathleen Ross and Dr. Joss Reimer, plus Globe & Mail health columnist André Picard and a special virtual presentation by Dr. Jane Philpott! Register here.