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This week’s Vitals is 1,513 words or a 6 minute read, plus a chance to win Grey Cup Tickets! If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:
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HSC Safety: Progress on HSC safety actions at the same time a psychiatrist is brutally assaulted – an unnecessary reminder even more action is needed.
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Referral and Consultation Summit Recap: More than 100 physicians and health system leaders came together to discuss solutions that could make it easier for referring and consulting physicians to collaborate – watch for draft recommendations later this month!
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Respiratory Readiness: The government has opened 323 beds in the last two years, including 10 ICU beds since April. This welcome news responds to our recommendations to add hospital capacity, especially as Manitoba ramps up for the respiratory virus season.
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Hepatitis A Advisory: Public Health has issued advisories this week about a Hep A outbreak and further measles exposures.
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Virtual Integrated Clinical Service Expansion: Health Links phone advice is adding a physician clinical service, and they are recruiting.
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Survey Opportunity: Long Term Care is looking for physician feedback on medical assessments.
Win 2 Grey Cup Tickets! We partnered this year with the Blue Bombers to share expert physician advice on injury and disease prevention, and now it’s your turn to win.
- All members are eligible to enter to win two tickets to the Grey Cup on Sunday November 16, courtesy of Doctors Manitoba!
- You must commit to attending if you win the tickets.
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ENTER HERE by November 13 at 11:59pm – Winner will be chosen and contacted Friday Nov 14.
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HSC Safety
What happened: We were distressed to learn about the serious assault of a psychiatrist by a patient at HSC on Sunday. We have been engaging with the physician to offer our support as they navigate recovery.
- Officers already on-site for another matter assisted HSC security and called in members of the new 24-7 hospital detail.
- A woman in her 30s was arrested and charged with assault with a weapon.
“I’m deeply disturbed about what happened to one of our colleagues at HSC, and our team has reached out to offer support and to hear more about what happened so we can identify opportunities to improve safety,” explained Dr. Nichelle Desilets, President of Doctors Manitoba. “Physicians deserve to be safe in and around every health facility, and during every patient interaction. We won’t stop pressing for changes to improve safety and security for everyone in the health care system.”
In the news: Doctors Manitoba spoke with the Free Press, CBC Manitoba and other outlets this week highlighting our concern and continued advocacy.
Improving safety: HSC and Shared Health have taken several steps to improve safety around the campus, including a Safety App we encourage all physicians, residents and students to download:
However, this brutal assault serves as an unnecessary reminder that more actions are needed—and needed quickly—particularly for higher risk direct care situations.
Learn more about our commitment to ensuring all physicians can work in as safe an environment as possible.
Full article 459 words / 2 min read
| | | | Referral and Consultation Summit Recap | |
Referring and consulting physicians waste an average of 30 – 40 hours per year on inefficient referral and requisition systems, contributing to frustration, moral distress, and burnout. Patients face delays, repeat testing, and potentially falling through the gaps.
We were excited to have more than 100 physicians and health system leaders come together for a day-long solutions-oriented summit focused on addressing these concerns. Doctors Manitoba hosted the first of its kind event in partnership with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and Shared Health.
❓ Missed it? Don’t worry. You will have a chance to contribute – Stay tuned.
Read more about our initial findings.
Full article 331 words / 1.5 min read
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Respiratory Readiness
Manitoba’s health system is ramping up for respiratory virus season, a time when hospitals typically face significant strain from influenza, COVID-19, and RSV cases. The government announced Monday 323 beds have been opened and staffed in the last two years, including 10 additional ICU beds this year. We welcome the news, as we called for more hospital capacity in our 2023 Prescription for Health Care. We are eager to see our other recommendations on hospital bed targets adopted so hospitals are better equipped to handle seasonal admission surges with fewer disruptions to surgery.
Learn more about how every physician can help this respiratory season.
Full article 388 words / 1.5 min read
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It’s Award Season!
Each year, the Doctors Manitoba Awards celebrate the very best in our medical community. This week we’re profiling the Distinguished Service Award, one of five categories.
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This award recognizes a long career of services to patients and the community that embodies the highest standards and ideals of the medical profession. Typically, nominees have practiced for at least 20 years and have promoted the art and science of medicine through teaching, writing and administration.
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Recent winners include pediatric dermatologist Dr. Jill Keddy-Grant, anesthesiologist Dr. Stephen Kowalski, obstetrician gynecologist Dr. Maggie Morris, and former Dean and health system leader Dr. Brian Postl.
📆 Nominations are due by December 15, 2025.
Awards are presented at our Annual Awards Gala, planned for Friday, May 1, 2026.
➡️ Learn more and start a nomination!
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Federal Budget
The federal government introduced its first budget under Prime Minister Mark Carney, with a focus on massive economic investment funded in part with significant cuts including reducing the federal workforce by 40,000. The budget marks a shift away from program spending towards industrial and infrastructure development.
Good news: Health transfers to provinces will continue to increase as planned, and a new $5 billion Health Infrastructure Fund will help to revitalize aging hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centres, and medical schools.
- Doctors Manitoba agrees with CMA President Dr. Margot Burnell’s take: “the Canadian Medical Association is pleased that the federal government listened to health care providers and patients and will maintain planned health spending increases in Budget 2025.”
What we’re watching: While health transfers remain intact, the focus on economic investments and public sector spending restraint is part of a broader trend we are seeing. This could mean provincial governments, including Manitoba, will focus on containing health spending as they focus on economic stimulus and balancing the books. This is something our staff monitor closely.
Read CMA’s statement.
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New Physician Leadership Institute Course
Doctors Manitoba is pleased to offer a new course from the CMA’s Physician Leadership Institute (PLI), called Mobilizing Change in Healthcare.
📆 November 21, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (virtual)
🖊️ Accredited for up to 3.5 hours
📚 Faculty: Shazma Mithani, MD, FRCPC
It is open to all physicians who want to proactively inform, shape and influence at the local, provincial and federal levels by discussing strategies and learning more about navigating institutional and government pathways.
Sign up today to reserve your spot.
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Hepatitis A Outbreak in Island Lakes Area
Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care is responding to a hepatitis A outbreak in the Island Lake region of Northern Manitoba including Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point, Wasagamack, and Red Sucker Lake.
The response: To help contain the outbreak, all residents aged 6 months or older in these communities are now eligible for two doses of hepatitis A vaccine.
- Eligibility also extends to anyone travelling to or working in these communities.
- Public health teams continue community immunization efforts and contact tracing.
🩺 What physicians can do:
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Stay alert: Watch for potential local hepatitis A transmission in patients presenting with compatible symptoms.
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Test and report: Early identification, testing, and prompt reporting to public health are key.
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Vaccinate: Review immunization records and offer hepatitis A vaccine to eligible individuals.
- Vaccines can be ordered using the Manitoba Health Vaccines and Biologics Order Form, then faxed or emailed to the Provincial Vaccine Warehouse.
- For clinical details, consult the Hepatitis A Communicable Disease Protocol.
📞 Need support?
Questions can be directed to vaccines@gov.mb.ca.
✔️ Reminder: Shared Health has important new information on Manitoba’s Hepatitis C protocol as well. View the memo to health care providers we shared last week and find more information here.
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Physician Expansion to Health Links
As part of the provincial government’s plan to eventually transition Health Links—Info Santé into an easier-to-dial 811 service, they are enhancing the phone-based health advice service to include medical advice from physicians when needed.
This new part of Health Links will be called the Virtual Integrated Clinical Service (VICS). VICS will launch on November 12, initially with limited daytime hours (8 am to 4 pm). The initial implementation will include one family doctor providing virtual (telephone or video) consultations to callers who have been triaged by Health Links nurses.
Interested? VICS is recruiting family physicians who are interested in learning more about the service and opportunities to join the team. If you are interested, please fill out the VICS expression of interest form. You can also email the VICS team at VICS@sharedhealthmb.ca for further information.
An initial cohort of physicians have been trained on the processes and tools available, including the Electronic Patient Record, On Demand Contact Center Phone System and Tiger Connect messaging platform. They are now in the process of scheduling 4-hour physician shifts. Remuneration is based on the hourly rate set out in the Physician Services Agreement.
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Medical Assessment in Long-Term Care (LTC) Survey
What’s happening: As part of Shared Health’s ongoing efforts to strengthen patient safety and enhance care processes, the organization is conducting a Medical Assessment in Long-Term Care (LTC) Survey to better understand the current assessment form, identify challenges, and explore opportunities for improvement.
👉 Your voice matters: Please take a few minutes to complete the anonymous survey by 21st of November 2025.
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Measles Update
What’s new: Manitoba Public Health is notifying the public about a new measles exposure sites:
- Emerado Centennial School on October 29
- Dairy Queen in Winkler on October 24, 25 and 28
- Boundary Trails ER on October 26
- Grunthal Auction Service on October 20, 21 and 22
- Garden Valley Collegiate in Winkler on October 22 and 23
- Northlands Parkway Collegiate in Winkler on October 22
Learn more: We’re keeping track of measles updates and resources for physicians on the Doctors Manitoba Measles Update page, including links to all exposures sites and symptom monitoring windows.
📈 Manitoba has seen 240 measles cases this year as part of the worst outbreak in decades. In the 25 years prior, there were only 18 cases total.
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Doctors Manitoba’s job board has three new practice opportunity for physicians in Manitoba this week at Family Care Medical Centre, McPhillips Medical Centre and Trucare Minor Injury and Sport Medicine Clinic. Check them out!
Placing a job ad on our site is free – 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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Doctor Shortage Improving — But Retention at Risk: Manitoba is climbing out of a record physician shortage, thanks to record recruitment gains. But new data from Doctors Manitoba’s 2025 Physicians in Manitoba report shows a looming retention risk if things don't improve. Learn more.
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Quebec’s Bill 2 Detrimental to Province’s Health System: Doctors Manitoba joins the CMA in its staunch disapproval of new legislation in Quebec that is equally as hostile to physicians as it is to patients and the overall health care system. Learn more.
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Peer Support for Physicians: On Thursday, November 19, join us for a webinar on how peer support leads to stronger social networks, reduced isolation and improved ability to navigate stress and burnout. Register today!
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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:
In Our Own Words: Stories of Identity in Medicine
📅 When: December 4, 2025, 5:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Where: Doctors Manitoba, 20 Desjardins Drive
📢 Who: All BIPOC identifying members (physicians, residents and medical learners)
💰 Cost: Free
Join us for an evening of reflection and storytelling to explore identity, culture and lived experience in medicine. Register today.
Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine (RAAM) Knowledge Exchange Days 2025, November 12 – December 3. Virtual. This weekly series will explore the challenges, success and future of addictions medicine in Manitoba. Learn more and register here.
Opioid Agonist Therapy 101: Introduction to Clinical Practice, November 13 – 14, Thompson, and November 20-21, Winnipeg. These workshops will equip you with new knowledge and skills around opioid addiction and the resources available to support patients. Learn more and register here.
Sport Medicine Football Symposium, November 15, presented by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Medical team in partnership with CASEM. Develop and enhance knowledge of and skill in the care of athletes and common musculoskeletal problems seen in primary care. Learn more and register here.
Movement Disorder Clinic Conference for Healthcare Providers, November 20, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Deer Lodge Centre. Learn more about Parkinson’s disease. Learn more and register here.
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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,
career resources or practice advice please
email general@doctorsmanitoba.ca or call 204.985.5888
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Visit DRMB.ca/Bannatyne for more information on our Bannatyne office and to view the full calendar.
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