🩺 Surgical backlog lingers // Billing & unpaid claim frustrations // Nominate a resident!

October 31, 2024

This week’s Vitals: 1,173 words / 4.5 min read

See top stories this week including a possible Canada Post Strike, sharing your views on billing and accounts receivable, the surgical pandemic backlog, and more.

And save the date for our Annual Open House on Dec 2 (details below)!

TOP STORIES

Share Your Billing Experience

8 min survey / For all physicians and resident doctors with billing or accounts receivable concerns

We want to hear from physicians and your billing staff about your experience submitting claims to Manitoba Health. No one wants to have a high amount in accounts receivable, especially when the amounts are sustained beyond 60 and 90 days.

It’s important that we understand what you’re experiencing, to improve the process for our members, and for the impact it has on your bottom line and ability to pay other health care staff on your team or at your clinic, along with the administrative burden weighing on physicians. How physicians are paid and their experiences with the system affect the retention and recruitment of doctors here in the province and the care provided to patients.

Participating in this survey is confidential, and results are aggregated. Our hope is your feedback will improve billing and accounts receivable with Manitoba Health. This initiative is being undertaken jointly with the province as part of what we negotiated last year under our Physician Services Agreement

📣 Take this short 8-minute survey to share your views.

Take Survey Now

Surgical Backlog Still Massive

305 words / 1.5 min read / For all members

A new national report shows Manitoba’s surgical pandemic backlog still tops 40,000 cases, and is the second largest of all provinces. While surgical volumes finally returned to pre-pandemic levels last year, the report revealed troubling disparities with some groups still further behind, including children, rural and remote patients, and lower income groups. Read more here.

Whether it’s surgery, testing, or waiting to see a family physician or specialist, patient access continues to be a challenge in many areas. Take our 4 minute survey to share your views and help inform our advocacy.

CMA backs Doctors Manitoba Push to Eliminate Sick Notes

432 words / 1.5 min read / For all members

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) released a position statement this week calling for the elimination of sick notes for short-term minor illnesses. “We appreciate the CMA’s new policy statement, reinforcing recommendations from here in Manitoba,” explained our President, Dr. Randy Guzman. Read the full story .

You're Invited: Bannatyne Office Open House

December 2 / In-Person / Open to all members!

Save the date! Medical students, residents, practicing, and retired physicians are invited to attend our Doctors Manitoba Open House at the Bannatyne office on Monday, December 2 from 3:30 to 7 p.m. The office is located on the second floor of the Basic Medical Sciences building, across the hall from the lecture theatres. View the map .

Nominate a Resident of the Year

Nominations Due by December 15

Nominations have opened for the Doctors Manitoba Awards. You can help recognize and celebrate a colleague's accomplishments. The deadline is December 15.

This week, we are profiling one of the awards available: Resident of the Year. This award recognizes excellence in academic and clinical training and noteworthy contributions to the resident’s home program/specialty or residency program.

WHO CAN NOMINATE: Nominees can be recognized by fellow residents, physician mentors or others who have direct insight into their clinical and academic training and practice as a resident physician.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO WIN: Resident physicians completing their residency in Manitoba who are members of Doctors Manitoba are eligible.

Recent winners include:

Dr. Lerly Luo (2024) for her dedication to improving the health of populations by building bridges between the worlds of acute care, community medicine, and public health.
Dr. Alwyn Gomez (2023) for his support for medical education, helping to develop new programming in dissection, and showcasing Manitoba’s post-graduate medication education program to prospective learners.
Dr. Dorothy Yu (2022) for her leadership on initiatives to reduce wait times for psychiatric consultation, and collaboration on national research projects.

Learn More Here

HEALTH SYSTEM UPDATES

Possible Canada Post Disruption

In anticipation of a potential Canada Post labour disruption, which may begin as early as November 3, Shared Health has advised all staff and clinics to cease use of Canada Post as of Tuesday, October 29. Monitor this Shared Health page for updates on how the strike may affect your practice.

Key points include:

Clinics may wish to transition to the use of telephone or email depending on the urgency and type of information to be shared/gathered. Please refer to Shared Health’s guidelines for appropriate protection of personal health information.
In certain areas, an increased use of couriers may occur. Please note: Confirmation letters for appointments after January 31, 2025 may be held for a period. Clinics/programs are asked to revisit the distribution of these appointment letters every two weeks.
Pre-appointment directions, clinic/facility maps and other more urgent items may be sent by phone or email. If your clinic/program has information or materials that you believe needs to be posted on a patient-focused website, please contact communications@sharedhealthmb.ca.

IPAC seeks Membership and Mentorship Manager

The Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada (IPAC) has an opening for a Membership and Mentorship Manager (remote position). This leadership role involves managing two key portfolios—Membership Services and the Mentorship Program—and requires a high level of responsibility, attention to detail, and follow-through. It’s a fantastic opportunity for someone passionate about supporting our mission, strengthening connections, and cultivating new relationships. This position does involve travel.

Apply here by November 15, 2024: IPAC Membership and Mentorship Manager.

Order of the Buffalo awarded to Carberry Bus Crash First Responders

Premier Wab Kinew awarded one of Manitoba’s highest honours, the Order of the Buffalo Hunt, to the first responders of the Carberry bus crash to recognize their bravery and courage following a tragic collision, which took the lives of 17 Manitobans on June 15, 2023.

A total of 134 first responders were inducted into the Order of the Buffalo Hunt following a ceremony held this week at the Legislative Building.