🩺 Share feedback on referral recommendations // Flu Shot Mismatch? // FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus Recall

November 27, 2025

This week’s Vitals is 1,834 words or a 7-minute read. If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:

Referral Summit Recommendations: We need your feedback on draft recommendations aimed at improving referrals, requisitions, and consultations! Have your say before recommendations are finalized and submitted to Manitoba Health and Shared Health.
Seven Oaks Water Main Break: We are advocating for immediate assistance from Manitoba Health after a water main break this weekend severely hampered operations at Seven Oaks. Physicians have gone above and beyond to support their patients and each other during this very challenging time.
Health System Safety: It was disturbing to learn a nurse was sexually assaulted in the St. Boniface Hospital parkade this month and we are monitoring the situation closely. We are also keeping track of safety concerns at Thompson General Hospital and elsewhere.
Talking about the Flu Vaccine “Mismatch”: Your patients may be hearing about an H3N2 “mismatch” and questioning whether their flu shot still works. Manitoba’s Medical Officer of Health has advice on how to talk to patients about their concerns.
Giving Tuesday: There’s still time to support the new Doctors Manitoba Student Bursary! We are 90% of the way toward our goal of helping medical students facing financial hardship focus on learning, not on making ends meet.

Don’t forget to consider nominating a colleague for a Doctors Manitoba Award! Nominations close December 15. Learn more here!

Today is National PA Day! Here’s how you can show your appreciation for Manitoba's Physician Assistants!

TOP STORIES

Referral Summit Recommendations

We need your feedback on draft recommendations to improve referrals, requisitions, and consultations before we finalize our report and submit it to Manitoba Health and Shared Health.

Why it matters: Over 100 physicians attended a Summit meeting earlier this fall, organized by Doctors Manitoba, to focus on how to improve referrals and consultations.

Both referring and consulting physicians are frustrated by the current state, wasting dozens of hours per year on inefficient and unreliable processes. Patients feel the impact too through confusion, a lack of clarity about their test or referral, and ultimately longer wait times due to the inefficiencies.
The Summit was held in partnership with CPSM and Shared Health.

Share your views: Recommendations have been drafted based on the Summit discussions, and we are now inviting your feedback before we finalize them in a report.

Have your say through this survey, where you will be able to review the draft recommendations and provide your feedback. You will also be able to provide your thoughts on possible changes to CPSM’s Collaborative Care Standard.
The survey should take about 10 minutes.
The final report and recommendations will be submitted to the government and other stakeholders to press for improvements to make your work easier.

Recommendations are relevant to all physicians, including suggestions to create a referral directory, introduce true e-referral, considerations for central intakes, improvements to DI ordering, and more.

→ See Recommendations and Provide Feedback by December 8!

Seven Oaks General Hospital Water Main Break

A water main break at Seven Oaks General Hospital this weekend caused major flooding and severely disrupted services, especially in the hospital’s dialysis and kidney health facilities.

We are deeply concerned to hear how severely the operational conditions have been affected.

Physicians have shared with us how challenging the conditions continue to be.

Immediate help is needed to ensure patients are kept safe and doctors and staff are able to provide care of the highest quality.
We extend our gratitude to those who have worked long, arduous hours to help their colleagues and to care for patients, as well as those who have contributed their services from other hospitals during this extremely challenging time.
We have written to Seven Oaks physicians directly. We are also in conversation with government officials to ensure your voice is heard and physicians, staff and patients can give and receive care safely and efficiently.

As a reminder, our confidential Doc360 physician health resources are available to you, a colleague or family member through the self-referral intake line anytime at 204−237−8320, toll free at 1 – 844 – 433-DRMB (1−844−433−3762). You can also use the online intake form.

For situational updates from WRHA, click here.

Health System Safety

We were deeply disturbed to learn a nurse was sexually assaulted in the St. Boniface Hospital parkade this month and we are monitoring the situation closely. We are also monitoring safety concerns at Thompson General Hospital and elsewhere.

Doctors Manitoba is committed to ensuring physicians work in safe environments and we are working collaboratively with health system leaders to make consistent improvements.

As we continue our conversations with the government and health facility leaders across the province, if you feel comfortable sharing any safety concerns, we invite you to write to us, in confidence, at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.

Talking about the Flu Vaccine “Mismatch”

Patients may be hearing about a mismatch and questioning whether their flu shot still works, or if they should get one at all this year.

This is a crucial moment for clear, confident reassurance, as shared by Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Davinder Singh:

The reality: The information from reactivity in the lab doesn’t necessarily mean that is what will happen clinically.
The vaccine is effective: Help your patients understand a mismatch doesn’t mean zero protection against that strain.
Protection against multiple strains: The vaccine provides protection against an H1N1 strain, an H3N2 strain, and a B strain. All three can cause severe disease.

Bottom line: The vaccine offers meaningful protection against severe outcomes.

📈 Stay in the know: You can follow the weekly Respiratory Surveillance Report for current data and surveillance information on COVID-19 and Influenza in Manitoba. You can also see an overview of key trends in influenza activity in Canada with the Canadian Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report.

Read Dr. Singh’s advice on talking to patients about their concerns.

Giving Tuesday

With Giving Tuesday ahead next week, we're reminding members there’s still time to support the new Doctors Manitoba Student Bursary.

The bursary was created for third- and fourth-year students at the Max Rady College of Medicine facing financial hardship and offers direct support so students can focus on learning and not making ends meet.

📈 By the numbers:

Doctors Manitoba has already committed $75,000.
Members are being asked to help raise an additional $75,000 to grow the fund.
We are so close! As of this week, $134,764 has been raised thanks to the generosity of our members! That's 90% of the $150,000 total we'd like to secure before the end of the year.

Our goal:

Reduce financial barriers, especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and help ensure the physician workforce reflects Manitoba’s diversity.

Your contribution supports future physicians and strengthens the future of health care in Manitoba.

Donate here!

Nominate Your Colleague!

Each year, the Doctors Manitoba Awards celebrate the very best in our medical community. This week we’re profiling the Dr. Jack Armstrong Humanitarian Award, one of five categories.

This award celebrates outstanding contributions to improving human well-being or a commitment to community service.
Recent winners include Dr. Leif Sigurdson, Dr. John Richard (Dick) Middleton Smith (posthumous), Dr. Tamara McColl, Dr. Joss Reimer, Dr. Maryanne Crockett, and Dr. Neil Craton

📆 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!

HEALTH SYSTEM UPDATES

Recall: FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus

Medical device manufacturer Abbott is recalling certain FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensors after detecting they may provide low glucose readings that could lead to severe complications for patients.

Why it matters: If undetected, incorrect low glucose readings over an extended period may lead to wrong treatment decisions for people living with diabetes, such as excessive carbohydrate intake or skipping or delaying insulin doses.

How to inform patients: Patients should check their sensor’s serial number by visiting www.FreeStyleCheck.com and request a free replacement if affected.

If a patient is currently wearing or has a FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensor that has been confirmed affected, have them immediately discontinue use and dispose of the affected sensors.
Patients should be directed to use alternative devices to monitor blood glucose levels until the replacement is acquired.

👉 This issue does not apply to any other Libre sensors, apps, or readers available in Canada.

Learn more here.

Manitoba Boosts Rural Emergency Medical Responder Recruitment

The Manitoba government is introducing a new $5,000 bursary and expanding in-community training for emergency medical responders. Graduates who receive the bursary will enter a one-year return-of-service-agreement once hired to ensure local emergency services are staffed and encourage them to build a career in rural Manitoba. By next year, the government says 50-60 new responders could graduate.

Learn more here.

CPSM Restorative Practices Webinar

Learn more about the Restorative Practices Program at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba at an upcoming webinar. The program is grounded in the principles of restorative justice, including active accountability, inclusive decision making, rebuilding trust, and repairing harm.

Doctors Manitoba believes that effective restorative justice processes lead to better outcomes, with less adversarial disputes and less disruption for physicians.

📘 What to expect: Join Dr. Jayson Stoffman, medical consultant and leader in restorative justice, for a practical session on applying these principles in real clinical settings.

Review the core themes behind restorative practices.
Learn strategies for leading restorative conversations with patients, colleagues and teams.
Explore approaches that foster collaboration and rebuild trust after harm.

Read a recent profile on Dr. Stoffman’s national leadership in restorative practices in health care, available through CHVN Radio.

🗓️ Date & time: December 2, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Improving Access for Manitoba’s Francophone Communities

The federal government is investing $2.1 million over four years to expand access to French-language health services in Manitoba. The funding comes through the Official Languages Health Program and aims to strengthen bilingual care across the province.

Many Francophone patients struggle to access care in their preferred language, especially in rural and remote regions. Strengthening bilingual services supports safer care and clearer communication. Care delivered in a patient’s chosen language is linked to improved comfort and outcomes.

Next steps: Manitoba will collect data on bilingual capacity and launch new virtual French-language care options.

🌐 The big picture: This funding helps more patients receive care in the language that best supports their health and understanding.

Read the full release from Health Canada here.

CMA Leadership Opportunities

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is looking for Manitoba members and medical learners who are interested in applying for the leadership vacancies below with an initial term starting in 2026. The CMA is particularly interested in having Indigenous leadership represented on the Board of Directors and welcomes Indigenous candidates to reach out for more information through the Indigenous Health team.

The details:

CMA Board of Directors: Medical student (one position)
Awards Committee (one position)
Committee on Ethics: Medical resident and a medical student (two positions)
Governance Committee (two positions)
Nominations Committee: Medical student (one position)
Annual General Meeting Vice-Chair (one position)

Learn more about these leadership opportunities and how to apply.

The deadline for eligible members to apply for all of these positions is Dec. 29, 2025.

CMAT Needs Your Help

Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT) has deployed physicians, nurses and paramedics to support communities in Jamaica severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa. Teams are now on the ground helping stabilize an overstretched health system.

Local hospitals are overwhelmed and many families have lost access to essential care.

CMAT teams are providing emergency and trauma care, wound management, pediatric services and medication support.
Their work fills critical gaps while coordinating with Jamaican health authorities and PAHO to ensure safe, effective care.

📈 The ask: CMAT urgently needs to raise $50,000 to sustain medical operations, replenish supplies and support continued deployments.

Your contribution to CMAT’s Hurricane Melissa Emergency Response Fund directly equips Canadian clinicians delivering life-saving care to communities recovering from this crisis.

WORTH NOTING

$12.5M to Address Gender-Based Violence

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing $12.5 million to strengthen prevention and supports for survivors of gender-based violence.

The details: The investment is being made through Manitoba’s four-year bilateral agreement under the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and funding will support 32 community initiatives across Manitoba, focusing on prevention, education, and healing. Priority groups include Indigenous, Black, racialized, immigrant and refugee women and girls, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, women in northern/rural communities, and people living with disabilities.

Read the release.

PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES

Doctors Manitoba’s job board has 3 new practice opportunities for physicians at Sunshine Medical Clinics, Milestones Medical Clinic and Crocus Medical Centre, along with dozens more opportunities previously listed. Check it out!

Placing a job ad on our site is free – add one here.