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This weekâs Vitals is 1,072 words or a 4 minute read. If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:
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Annual General Meeting: Join us virtually or in person April 15 for the Doctors Manitoba AGM! The new President-Elect will be announced.
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ERs and Urgent Care Centres Need Support: Physicians continue to work in untenable and unsustainable departments. Now that Shared Health has completed town halls, we are keen to see an action plan. A new locum recruitment drive could help, but is a short-term band-aid.
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Measles Watch â All Hands on Deck: As Manitoba measles cases surpass 400 this year, pharmacists will begin providing MMR vaccines for certain patients in the coming weeks, and health care providers are on-site at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon offering vaccines and immunization education.
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2% Remuneration Increase: An across-the-board remuneration increase is now in effect, applying to fee-for-service, alternate funding contracts, and collective agreements. This is the final increase for our 2023-2027 Physician Services Agreement we negotiated with the Manitoba Government.
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April 20 Spring Mentorship Event! Join us at Kilter Brewing in Winnipeg for a Social celebrating our mentors and mentees! There will be a live DJ, games and great prizes!
đ Plus, itâs not too late to get your Jets discount! Youâre invited to purchase discounted tickets to the Jetsâ April 6th home game against the Seattle Kraken for Emergency Services Appreciation Night!
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Annual General Meeting
Join us April 15 for the Doctors Manitoba AGM! You can attend virtually, or join in person for the AGM in Portage la Prairie with a Doctor Connect event immediately following the meeting.
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This yearâs AGM will be brief, featuring updates from the outgoing President Dr. Nichelle Desilets.
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CEO Theresa Oswald will share updates on recent health care legislation and what these changes could mean for physicians across the province.
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The next President-Elect will also be unveiled!
Schedule:
- 5:30â6:00 p.m. â Refreshments & mingling
- 6:00â6:30 p.m. â AGM (virtual option available)
- 6:30â7:30 p.m. â Doctor Connect social hour
We hope to see you there!
Register here.
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ERs and Urgent Care Centres Need Support
Physicians in Manitobaâs ERs and urgent care centres are working in increasingly unsustainable conditions, with direct impacts on patient care and physician well-being.
Overcapacity is constant. Coverage gaps persist. Moral distress is rising.
Temporary fix: This week, we learned the government has contracted a U.S. agency to recruit locum physician coverage.
- Locums might offer short-term relief, but a permanent strategy is needed focused on retaining and recruiting doctors for the long-term.
Whatâs Next: Now that Shared Health has completed physician town halls with the largest ERs and urgent cares, we are eager to see a report and action plan. Weâre not waiting, however, as we continue to advocate for change.
Read our full analysis.
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Measles Watch: âAll Hands on Deckâ
Manitoba has recorded more than 400 confirmed and probable measles cases this year and continues to lead the nation.
New this week:
- Public Health officials are closely monitoring this weekâs Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, expected to draw a total of 100,000 people to Brandon through Saturday.
- Vaccines are being offered on-site.
- Pharmacists will soon be administering measles vaccines for 2 to 19-year-olds as part of an âall hands on deckâ approach to stopping the spread.
We want to hear from you: What do you think of expanding the scope of retail pharmacists to administer MMR vaccines? Please email us in confidence at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
Read our full coverage.
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2% Remuneration Increase
A 2% across-the-board remuneration increase took effect yesterday, April 1.
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It applies to: Fee-for-service, alternate funding contracts, and collective agreements.
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This covers: All specialties including surgical, internal medicine, diagnostic and family medicine.
đ The big picture: The 2023â2027 Physician Services Agreement delivered a series of increases and improvements, including:
- $21K retention payment (2023).
- Market adjustments (Year 1) + annual 2% increases (Years 2â4).
- New tariffs and alternate funding agreements for a variety of specialties.
đŹ Whatâs next: Our preparations to negotiate are underway for the next PSA, with strong physician input shaping priorities.
đ Go deeper: Read the full update from our President, Dr. Nichelle Desilets.
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Jets Discount Offer
Hoping for a playoff spot? Cheering for a tank? Either way itâs still a lot of fun to go to a game.
The Winnipeg Jets invite all physicians, residents and medical students to attend their April 6th home game against the Seattle Kraken for Emergency Services Appreciation Night! Each ticket purchased comes with a $10 Concession Voucher that can be used at the game!
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Get your discounted tickets today.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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This Weekâs Clinical Practice Changes
Shared Health advises the following clinical practices changes are coming into effect for the following:
All Clinical Communications can be found under Clinical Practice Changes for Health Providers.
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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 Zâdrugs, and youâre 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 donât 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.
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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!
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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 doctorsâ 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.
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Doctors Manitobaâs job board has 2 new practice opportunities for physicians at Astro Medical Center and Trucare Clinics Group, along with dozens more opportunities previously listed. Check it out!
Placing a job ad on our site is free â add one here.
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Here are the most-read and important recent stories, in case you missed them:
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Whatâs in the 2026 Provincial Health Care Budget? This yearâs budget carries direct implications for physician recruitment, specialty care, and system pressures youâre navigating every day. Our team was on-site at the Legislature, with Dr. Nichelle Desilets meeting the Premier and speaking to media. Read our analysis.
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eChart Enhancements: Thanks to those who have sent over feedback so far! Microbiology results from Dynacare are now available on Manitoba eChart after requests from specialists and our advocacy. Let us know what else youâd like to see by emailing practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
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Rural Medical District Election: Results are in for the five rural and northern districts up for election to the Board of Directors this year! New terms begin after the AGM. Read last week's issue for results.
| | We feature events planned by Doctors Manitoba, as well as other events submitted by the medical community to share and connect with their peers. | | |
Featured Event: Spring Mentorship Social
Join us at Kilter Brewing in Winnipeg for a Social celebrating our mentors and mentees! There will be a live DJ, games and great prizes!
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April 20
đ 6 - 9 p.m.
đ 450 Rue Deschambault, Winnipeg
Learn more and register today!
If you are not part of the mentorship program, but would like to attend, email Cynthia Okojie at cokojjie@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
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Tools for Thriving: A Series for Women in Medicine, a leadership offering designed to support and empower women in medicine (students, residents and physicians). Stop Charting at Night April 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. is one of three in the webinar series, with other sessions including Presence and Influence (April 22 at noon) and Advocating from a Position of Strength (April 24 at noon). Learn more and register.
HIV Prevention Canât Wait: HIV Prevention and Treatment for Women and Priority Populations April 27 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Convention Centre or online (hybrid event). Learn about current HIV trends and hear from experts in the field. Learn more and register.
Resident Physicians | Physician Health and Wellness Roundtable Discussion, April 28, 6 â 8 p.m., Winnipeg, in person at Doctors Manitoba. Our annual survey data tells us that burnout in Manitoba remains high, particularly among residents. Join us for a roundtable discussion to understand how burnout, moral distress, and other wellness challenges are affecting residents. Dinner will be provided. Learn more and register here.
New to Manitoba Medical Practice â A CMPA Presentation, May 7, 5:45-8 p.m., Winnipeg, in person at Doctors Manitoba. Join us for a CMPAâled session supporting physicians new to practice in Manitoba. Learn more and register here.
Cancer Day for Primary Care 2026, May 8, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Hybrid from Winnipeg, focuses on enhancing primary care provider knowledge on early diagnosis and work up of suspected cancer, and enhancing communication and relationship building between primary care providers and oncology specialists. Learn more and register.
Winnipeg Francophone Medical Symposium, May 29, 8:15 a.m.- 4:20 p.m., Virtual. The first of its kind event offers interdisciplinary training sessions and was developed with Francophone physicians from across Manitoba. Learn more and register today!
The Canadian Women in Medicine Conference, June 11-13, Winnipeg, RBC Convention Centre Hear from an impressive lineup of speakers, including best-selling authors, physicians, founders and other inspirational women leaders. Make connections that will last a lifetime! Learn more and register today!
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We are here to support the whole physician.
Every step of the way.
Your health & well-being are important to us.
Visit DRMB.ca/HELP to connect to support services or call 1.844.433.3762
For all other support, including benefits and insurance support,
ï»żcareer resources or practice advice please
email general@doctorsmanitoba.ca or call 204.985.5888
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ï»żVisit DRMB.ca/Bannatyne for more information on our Bannatyne office and to view the full calendar.
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