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This week’s Vitals is 1,000 words or a 4-minute read. If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:
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Health System Safety: This week’s news included reporting about a Winnipeg physician’s experience of criminal harassment. Intimidation and abuse are never acceptable. As we continue our advocacy work, if you feel comfortable sharing your experience, we invite you to reach out to us to ensure your concerns are being addressed.
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Checking Up on Campaign Promises: Two years since taking office, we’re taking stock of the government’s campaign promises on health care.
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Referral and Consultation Summit: Join us on October 31 for a special event, our Referral and Consultation Summit, to discuss the challenges for physicians collaborating on patient care, and the solutions needed to make it work better!
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Help Your Patients Make the Right Choice: We have a new email template, social media graphics and posters to share with patients as you help them make an informed choice about vaccinations this winter.
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Fall Mentorship Meet at the MET: Become a mentor today! Are you ready for the October 23 dinner and an improv show at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre? Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
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Have you been audited? If you receive an audit letter, or have responded to an audit letter yourself and have now received further documents from the CCU, please reach out to us.
Plus, our friends at the Winnipeg Jets are offering you a special discount for the October 30th game against the Chicago Blackhawks! Grab your tickets today!
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Health System Safety
This week’s news included reporting about a Winnipeg physician’s experience of criminal harassment. Intimidation and abuse are never acceptable, and we share our members' distress when incidents like this occur. Unfortunately, safety is a growing concern among physicians and health care workers in Manitoba. While stories do make the news occasionally, most do not. Our Annual Physician Survey earlier this year found nearly one third (32%) of physicians reported experiencing at least one physical safety incident in the previous 12 months, and nearly half (47%) experienced at least one psychological safety incident.
We want to work together to enhance safety and respect in all interactions with your patients. As we continue our advocacy work, if you feel comfortable sharing your experiences, we invite you write to us, in confidence, at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
Read our full coverage and learn more about resources available to you here.
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Health System Check-Up: Two Years After the Election
Manitoba's government has reached the midpoint of its mandate two years after taking office. A key pillar of their 2023 campaign was improving the province's health care system for all Manitobans and the physicians and other health care providers who serve them. We're taking stock of the progress, issues that still need work, and how Doctors Manitoba is helping to shape what comes next to ensure physicians' concerns are raised and addressed at the highest levels. We regularly meet with senior officials to advocate for physicians’ priorities. Please take the time to share what you have seen working well in the last two years, and what needs more attention and investment.
Let us know what you think of the government’s progress by emailing us at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
Read our analysis here.
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Referral and Consultation Summit
How many referrals and requisitions did you send or receive this week? There are thousands every single day, and we know the process is a major frustration for consulting and referring physicians. Let’s fix it. Join us on October 31 for a special event, our Referral and Consultation Summit, to discuss the challenges for physicians collaborating on patient care, and the solutions needed to make it work better. More than 90 physicians have registered so far. Don’t miss this important opportunity to contribute to how the system can work better for you!
Learn more and register here.
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Vaccines: Help Your Patients Make the Right Choice
With respiratory virus season underway, we want to make sure you have what you need to serve your patients best! Please visit the Doctors Manitoba Vaccine Program Updates page for new resources to share with your patients to help increase vaccine uptake.
It’s important for all Manitobans to know that receiving vaccines for flu and COVID is a choice, and it’s a choice that doctors strongly recommend because they are safe and protect against viruses that can be harmful to you and those around you.
We are providing the following resources for physicians offering vaccines to patients:
If a member of the press requests an interview about vaccines, let us know! We can provide you with key messages and a brief media training session. Email us at communications@doctorsmanitoba.ca to set up an appointment.
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RSV Webinar
Dr. Aaron Chiu, Neonatologist and Associate Dean for Quality Improvement and Accreditation at the Max Rady College of Medicine, hosted a grand rounds this morning on the Past, Present, and Future of Manitoba’s RSV vaccine program.
Watch the recording here!
Please direct any questions you may have to rsvprogram@exchange.hsc.mb.ca or call 204-787-2535.
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Fall Mentorship Meet at the MET
Are you ready for the October 23 dinner and an improv show at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre?
🎠Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the MET at 281 Donald St. Register today!
🌱 Mentors and mentees can also look forward to the December holiday terrarium workshop taking place on December 12, with more details to follow!
Residents and practicing physicians are invited to take part in the Medical Learner Mentorship Program as mentors. No previous mentoring experience is required. Learn more and register.
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Get Your Jets Discount for Emergency Services Appreciation Night
Our friends and partners at the Winnipeg Jets invite physicians, residents and medical students to attend their October 30th Halloween game against the Chicago Blackhawks for Emergency Services Appreciation Night!
Use this link to buy your discounted ticket, starting at $75 CAD.
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Have You Been Contacted by an Auditor? Call us!
Any physician billing fee-for-service is potentially subject to an audit by the Comptrollership and Compliance Unit (CCU), a division of the Manitoba government. Audits can be stressful and - if ignored - expensive.
If you receive an audit letter, or have responded to an audit letter yourself and have now received further documents from the CCU, please reach out to us. You can email practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca or our General Counsel Andrew Swan at aswan@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
Learn more about how we can help you.
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Connect with Us Next Week in Vancouver!
Doctors Manitoba Board Executives and staff will be attending the Canadian Conference on Physician Health in Vancouver next week! We would love to see you and provide you with an informal space to connect with Manitoba colleagues.
Join us for a snack and beverage:
đź“… Thursday, October 16
⏰ 5:30-7:30 pm (PST)
đź“Ť Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
All Manitoba physicians and learners are welcome, so please extend this invitation to them.
Please let Trina Larsen know if you plan to attend, by emailing her at tlarsen@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
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PAR Client Survey
Have you accessed counselling, peer support and/or addictions medicine services at Physicians at Risk (PAR) in the last year? Please consider completing this 4-minute survey. All responses are anonymous.
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Sponsored Content
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Doctors Manitoba’s job board has 2 new practice opportunities for physicians in Manitoba this week at the following clinics: Alshifa Medical Centre and Aurora Clinic and Pharmacy. Check it out!
You can find more opportunities listed by the Manitoba government here.
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Here are the most-read and important recent stories, in case you missed them:
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Administrative Burden Report – One Year Later: We are making progress on reducing your administrative burden through initiatives to get fax machines out of the health care system, maximize your note-taking efficiency and eliminate sick notes in Manitoba. We are also happy to announce our new Medical Lead for Reducing Administrative Burden! Read more about our progress.
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Canada Post Strike Update: Canada Post is still on strike, so we encourage you to sign up for direct deposit to ensure you receive CPD rebates and other payments from us. Sign up today!
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Simpler Insurance Form: We have been working with the national insurance industry to share your concerns and advocate for a better process that currently includes excessively long requests and different forms from different companies. The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association released a new standard disability form. Learn more and download it here.
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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.
Bug Day, October 23, 7:55 a.m. – 4 p.m., (Virtual) Nationally and internationally recognized experts will present timely topics in infectious diseases and public health at Manitoba’s largest healthcare education event. Learn more and register here.
Black Physicians of Canada Conference, October 24 – 26, Toronto. This year’s theme is Stronger Together, drawing on BPC’s new 2025 – 2030 strategic plan. Learn more and register here.
Family Medicine Forum (FMF), November 5 – 8, Winnipeg. FMF is Canada’s largest and most comprehensive annual conference for family physicians hosted by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). 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.
Peer Support for Physicians: Evidence and Ways to Access Support, November 19, 5 – 5:45 p.m. Virtual. Join Dr. Alexis Botkin and Doctors Manitoba for an overview of peer support, and the evidence for how peer support benefits physicians. View event details and register.
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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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