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This week’s Vitals is 1,449 words or an 5.5 min read. If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:
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Flu & COVID Vaccine Registration Due August 15: To receive publicly funded flu and COVID vaccines, physicians are required to register with the province. Manitoba Health strongly recommends registering by August 15 and has issued important guidance on how to do so. Vaccines will be distributed as soon as they become available this fall.
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811 Opportunity: Shared Health is seeking physician feedback on plans to expand Health Links - Info Santé into a 24-hour Virtual Integrated Clinical Service staffed by family doctors and nurse practitioners. The service will also be available through a more accessible three-digit phone number: 811. Join a webinar Wednesday, July 23, to learn more about how you can help.
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Take on the SummerToba Challenge! We’re calling on all members to join our brand new Getting Healthy SummerToba Challenge and help spread the word to your patients and community. We hope you’ll join us at upcoming events, including a free run club on July 30, or contribute content to our online resources to provide trustworthy medical facts in a sea of misinformation!
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Physician Safety and Well-Being: We continue to advocate in public and in private meetings for broader supports to address long-standing safety concerns at hospitals and clinics across the province. Bottom line, doctors and medical learners should feel safe and be free from physical and psychological harm.
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Register Today for the 2025 Getting Healthy Golf Tournament! Don’t miss your chance to hit the links with us on Tuesday, September 2, at Southwood Golf and Country Club. A portion of the proceeds will go toward supporting our Getting Healthy Public Awareness Initiatives, as well as the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba’s School Breakfast Program.
Plus, we're hiring! Do you know someone who can help? Doctors Manitoba is looking for an experienced therapist to provide individual and group counselling and support for physicians. Share this job posting, with a reminder to apply by Aug 8.
And if you’re newer to practice or a member of our mentorship program, grab your spot for a special Goldeyes outing on Tuesday, July 29.
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811 Opportunity
Shared Health is seeking physician feedback as plans develop to expand Health Links - Info Santé into a 24-hour Virtual Integrated Clinical Service staffed by family doctors and nurse practitioners. The service will also be available through a more accessible three-digit phone number: 811.
As part of the government’s Lower Wait Times Strategy, the transition to 811 is intended to support better telephone advice and triaging, redirecting some low-acuity cases away from ERs, while also supporting continuity with primary care providers by information sharing with Home Clinics. The VICS is billed as another step in strengthening primary care access in Manitoba.
Join a webinar Wednesday, July 23, to learn more about how you can help shape this new program.
Learn more and register here.
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Take on the SummerToba Challenge!
We’re calling on all members to join our brand new Getting Healthy SummerToba Challenge, and to help spread the word to your patients and community. This initiative showcases physicians as the experts when it comes to health and reminds Manitobans how much you care about their well-being.
Plus, we have special opportunities for you to lend your expertise to Manitobans. Write or review a Getting Healthy Guide article, share the word, or stop by and say hi at an event!
Learn more here!
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Physician Safety and Well-Being
In the wake of five sexual assaults on and around HSC campus this month, and a Free Press story this week respecting a report that details significant safety concerns at Klinic in downtown Winnipeg, we have been urging provincial and health system leaders to ramp up efforts to ensure you are able to practice in the safe environments you, your patients, and staff need and deserve.
Bottom line, doctors and medical learners should feel safe and be free from physical and psychological harm. Remember that our Doc360 health and wellness resources can be accessed by physicians, medical learners, and your families at any time.
Learn more about our advocacy efforts and resources here.
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Step away from the hustle and soak up some fresh air at the Getting Healthy Golf Tournament happening Tuesday, September 2, at the beautiful Southwood Golf and Country Club. Beginners are more than welcome!
A portion of the proceeds will go toward supporting our Getting Healthy Public Awareness Initiatives, as well as the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba’s School Breakfast Program.
⛳ Don’t miss out! Register here today!
Learn more here.
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Wildfires & Measles
We continue to monitor the impact of Manitoba’s record wildfire season and measles outbreak on our health care system.
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Wildfires: Lightning from recent thunderstorms has caused an uptick in fire activity in the last few days, officials said Thursday. Fire danger is considered high to very high across most of Manitoba, with a portion of the northeast under extremely high threat. There are currently 118 wildfires burning across Manitoba, part of a total of 313 for the year. Check out the latest on our Doctors Manitoba Wildfires page which is updated regularly with information curated for physicians.
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Measles: Manitoba now has 146 confirmed measles cases, with a total of 27 so far for the month of July. HSC has introduced new screening protocols too. We’re keeping track of the province’s updates and resources for you and your patients on the Doctors Manitoba Measles page.
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Discovery Day 2025
Help inspire the next generation of physicians! The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame’s Discovery Day program aims to educate, encourage, and inspire high school students who are curious about careers in medicine and health sciences.
For Thursday, November 13, 2025, organizers are looking for presenters to host an engaging workshop in the morning and/or afternoon, or to take part in the “Health Pros Tell All” panel discussion representing your field of work at the University of Manitoba.
You will find more information, including the submission form here.
Deadline for submissions is Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
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We’re in the news ensuring physicians’ perspectives are part of the story. See the latest:
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Billing with No PHIN: News coverage of Manitoba’s new Good Faith Billing protocol has served as a good reminder to patients without a Manitoba Health Card yet that they should indeed seek hospital care if they need it, and to those with coverage to keep their Health Cards on them at all times. As Doctors Manitoba President Dr. Nichelle Desilets told CBC she’s seen “dramatic, life-threatening situations develop due to folks not seeking care as early as they could have for this reason.” We have also noted to media outlets that this move is really about reducing your administrative burden which is good for you, good for your patients and good for Manitoba’s health care system.
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NDP Doubling Doctor Training Spaces at BU: As the Brandon Sun reported, the Manitoba government is doubling the size of its medical training program at Brandon University by adding 10 new seats to train doctors. As we dug into this, we found that these aren’t net new medical training seats, but part of accommodating the increased class size in later years from past expansions, allocating more of the clerkship (3rd / 4th year) seats to Brandon. As we mentioned to the Sun, it will be important to learn the details of these plans to ensure there is enough support for local physicians in taking on more learners, and that they will be consulted to help with the training. Are you a concerned Westman doctor? Share your thoughts at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.
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Why Doctors Worry About AI as Your Primary Care Source: On the heels of an Ontario Medical Association press conference last week about the risks of patients using AI for psychiatric and other medical concerns, CBC Radio spoke with Dr. Desilets about the risks of misinformation, the shortage of family doctors, and how tools like GettingHealthy.ca aim to provide trustworthy guidance. Listen here.
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Financial planning for physicians: Why you're different
Financial planning for physicians involves unique challenges, such as managing significant debt and optimizing tax strategies. A tailored financial plan can help you navigate these complexities and achieve your goals. Learn how to balance debt repayment, savings and investments to secure your financial future and make informed decisions throughout your career. Learn more.
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Here are the most-read and important recent stories, in case you missed them:
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ER Crunch Continues: We are monitoring coverage in Manitoba’s ERs and Urgent Care Centres very closely. In addition to sharing the feedback from rural, northern, and Winnipeg ER and Urgent Care physicians with RHA, Shared Health, and provincial health leaders we’ve held several meetings to press for more support and resources. Check out last week’s article for more.
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If you participate in Family Medicine Plus, consider taking part in this cross-Canada study about new longitudinal family medicine payment models.
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Prepare for Changes to Codeine Product Classification: Starting this fall, all M3P prescriptions, including Tylenol #3, must be recorded under the new Standard. The CPSM advises this can be done by using the free-type field in your EMR. CPSM also reminds members that the old triplicate forms are no longer needed. Read our June article on how to prepare and minimize your administrative burden.
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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.
Goldeyes Outing for Mentorship and New-to-Practice Members!
Are you a member of the Doctors Manitoba mentorship program, in your last year of residency or within your first five years of practice? We’re taking you out to a ball game!
âšľ Join us Tuesday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m. for a Skysuite experience
đź‘“ The Goldeyes will face off against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
đź“Ś Mentorship Program and New-to-Practice members are welcome to register here today!
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More events:
MD Financial: Residency Is Just the Beginning — Let’s Talk Finances! July 23, Virtual, Reserve your spot today!
Dr. Pawel Garda Memorial Golf Tournament, Tuesday, July 29, St .Boniface Golf Course, Come together for a day filled with connection, fun, and creating the opportunity in honour of Dr. Pawel Garda. Learn more and register here.
Information on Peer Support for Physicians: Evidence and Ways to Access Support, Tuesday, September 16, Virtual, Join Dr. Alexis Botkin for an overview of peer support. Learn more and register here.
Cultivating Wellbeing for Health Professionals, September 21 – 26, Cortes Island, Strathcona, BC, Canada. Learn more and register here.
2025 Paul Wawryko Memorial Run, September 27, 6 p.m., Andrew Currie Park, Wellington Crescent (at Renfrew St.), Winnipeg, MB. Learn more and register here.
Women Physicians Empowering for Change, September 27 – 28, OMNI King Edward Hotel, Toronto. Learn more and register here.
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.
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.
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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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