Brandon Critical Care Centre to Open in May 

A new critical care centre at Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) is set to open in May, with the hope of reducing the need for transfers to Winnipeg and easing pressure on the health system to improve patient flow. 

The $120 million renovation will:

• Increase ICU capacity from 10 to 16 beds. The first 12 beds would come online during the initial phase and the remaining four would follow as staffing and system capacity grow. 
• Create a new 30-bed internal medicine unit, with 15 beds opening initially and the remaining 15 to follow as capacity grows. 

The project was initiated in 2021. 

Read the announcement.

This Week’s Clinical Practice Changes 

Shared Health advises the following clinical practices changes are coming into effect for the following: 

• Anti-Phospholipid Profile

All Clinical Communications can be found under Clinical Practice Changes for Health Providers.

CPSM Update: Review of Prescribing Standards 

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) has started a review of its standards on prescribing opioids, benzodiazepines, and Z‑drugs, and you’re invited to take part in a survey to share your insight. 

How you can help: CPSM is asking registrants to share their experiences and perspectives through an anonymous survey. 

• You can send feedback directly to CPSM via this survey
• We encourage you to send us a copy of your feedback to practiceadvice@​doctorsmanioba.​ca, to help inform our response on behalf of the profession. 
• If you don’t feel comfortable sending feedback directly to CPSM, you can send it to us in confidence instead 

The feedback survey will stay open until April 19 at 11:59 p.m. CST, at which point all reviews are due.

Reminder: Help Improve DI Requisitions 

We have shared concerns from physicians with Shared Health about the new CT requisition form and process, and they have asked to partner with Doctors Manitoba to gather constructive feedback from physicians with the goal of improving their requisition forms and processes. 

Are you interested in participating? We are looking for both referring physicians and radiologists to participate. Please let us know by April 17. 

Learn more and sign up to help!

Minimum Wage Increases 

The provincial minimum wage will increase by 40 cents to $16.40, effective Oct. 1. 

This new mandate affects all workplaces, including clinics and doctors’ offices. Our Practice Advice team is available to advise you on how to efficiently and effectively ensure compliance with this initiative and other workplace requirements. 

Contact us at practiceadvice@​doctorsmanitoba.​ca.

Read the announcement.