🩺 Specialist Wait Reporting // Insurance Invoices // HIV Report

December 6, 2024

This week’s Vitals: 918 words / 3.5 min read

See top stories this week about specialist wait time reporting, a new HIV report with important clinical reminders, news for members expecting insurance invoices with the mail strike, and an opportunity for a medical consultant with Doctors Manitoba to support physician health.

TOP STORIES

Specialist Wait Time Reporting?

446 words / 2 min read/ For specialists and other members

Legislation was introduced this week by the Official Opposition that would require Manitoba Health to report wait times for specialty consultations, sometimes called the “wait before the wait” or “T1”. We see some potential for this, provided it doesn’t create additional administrative burden, but we need to know what you think before we respond.

Learn more and share your views.

Online Insurance Invoices Available

161 words / 1 min read / For Practicing Physicians & Residents

Members have a new way to view their insurance invoices. We have been building this new online service in our member portal for a while now, which is timely as the Canada Post strike means we are not able to mail members their invoices this year.

Invoice notices were emailed this week to members who have life, disability, dental or extended health coverage. Your invoice can be viewed here (add link) if you received one. Most members do not need to take any action as they are already set up on pre-authorized payments. For the small minority who pay by cheque or online banking, we recommend signing up for pre-authorized payments. If you are a resident doctor with insurance, you should also have received instructions to set up a Member Portal account to access secure documents, such as insurance invoices.

If you did not receive an email invoice from us this week, please check your email including your junk or promotions folder. If you cannot locate it, email us at insurance@doctorsmanitoba.ca. If you need help setting up your access to our DRMB Member Portal, contact portalhelp@doctorsmanitoba.ca.

HIV Report & Clinical Reminders

476 words / 2 min read / For all physicians

Manitoba had the second highest rate of newly diagnosed HIV cases in Canada in 2023. That’s 20.2 cases per 100,000 – three times the national rate. This represents a 41% increase from 2022. See this summary of a new report out this week on HIV, along with clinical reminders from Public Health.

Good Tidings

Thanks to everyone who stopped by our holiday open house at our DRMB@Bannatyne office on Monday, including doctors, learners, and a visit from Minister of Health Uzoma Asagwara. We enjoyed sharing holiday cheer, and some great GettingHealthy.ca gear as door prizes.

Medical Consultant Opportunity with DRMB

WHAT’S NEW: Doctors Manitoba is looking for a Medical Consultant – Physician & Medical Learner Health and Wellness, a new and rewarding role that will work closely with the Doctors Manitoba Physician Health Team to support physicians and medical learners throughout Manitoba.

OF NOTE: This role is for a medical doctor who will contribute to designing and delivering services that meet the needs of individual clients and the broader community of Manitoba physicians.

APPLY NOW: The deadline to apply is December 20.

Read about the position.

Nomination Deadline Draws Near

The Doctors Manitoba annual awards are the highest honour bestowed upon physicians by physicians. Nominate a deserving doc today!

NOMINATION DEADLINE: December 15, 2024

🏆 Click here to learn how to nominate a colleague for a Doctors Manitoba Award

Updates this week include information on the postal strike’s impact on CancerCare Manitoba screening programs, improvements to access for gender-affirming care, and recommendations for health care providers following the first case of mpox clade lb in Manitoba.

Go to Health System Updates.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Here are the most read and important recent stories, in case you missed them:

Help fix burdensome insurance and employer forms. Doctors Manitoba needs your input. Find out how you can help.
Rural Health Care Check-Up — with focus on the lack of staffing at the Brandon ER, we’re also hearing concerns about ER coverage in other communities. Let us know how physician coverage an health care capacity is in your community by taking a brief 3-question survey.

EVENTS & CPD

Billing for Addictions in Primary Care Webinar

Interested in incorporating Addictions Care into your practice? Join Doctors Manitoba's Billing for Addictions Medicine in Primary Care Webinar, December 16 beginning at 5:30pm. Register here!

CBTm for Physicians and Medical Learners

CBTm is a set of courses designed to offer education and skills training in evidence-based self-management strategies to support the mental well-being of physicians and medical learners, delivered in a supportive peer environment. All courses are CPD accredited.

Choose the course option that best fits your scheduling and learning needs. :

A set of five 90-minute facilitator-led Zoom classes. The next set of zoom classes will be Tuesdays January 14 to February 11, 2025, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
A set of 10 90-minute facilitator-led Zoom classes. The next set of Zoom classes will be Tuesdays March 4 to May 6, 2025, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
An online self-directed course with five modules (mirroring the facilitator-led classes but offering more scheduling flexibility).

Learn more & register

The Hippocratic High Notes Winter Concert

The first female physician choir in Winnipeg is having a mini concert on Sunday the 8th of December at 2pm at the Bethel Mennonite Church at 45 Stafford street in Winnipeg. The concert is free, but donations of non-perishable food items are encouraged and appreciated.

Browse our Events Calendar

Year-end tax planning tips for physicians