November 8, 2024

This week’s Vitals: 1,192 words / 4.5 min read

See top stories this week including proposals to improve patient access, the political shift in the U.S., an invitation to a BIPOC peer support group and paint night, and health system reminders including about endoscopy referrals. Plus, a reminder to nominate a colleague for the annual Doctors Manitoba Awards, with nominations due Dec15.

This week, the nation lost an important leader, the Honourable Murray Sinclair, who made many contributions towards reconciliation and better patient safety. The province, alongside the Government of Canada, is organizing a memorial for the Honourable Murray Sinclair, which will take place Sunday, Nov. 10 at Canada Life Centre. Doors open to the public at 1 p.m. and the service will begin at 2 p.m. Books of condolences will also be available to sign at the memorial. You can read our statement on the passing of Senator Murray Sinclair here.

TOP STORIES

01

Improving Patient Access - Your Prescription

434 words / 2 min read / For all members

We hear from physicians every single day who are frustrated and distressed about the delays and poor access to medical care that patients face across Manitoba. Our analysis of patient access found that the modest increase in physician visits and surgeries we are seeing barely keeps up with population growth. That means the health system, at this rate, is very limited in its ability to improve access for patients.

Guided by physician feedback, we have drafted a submission to the Manitoba government with bold proposals to make meaningful improvements on improving access for your patients. This includes recommendations to help family physicians and specialists add capacity for more visits, testing and surgeries. Read more here.

02

Political Shift in the U.S.A.



With the election of Donald Trump as the next U.S. President, we have received inquiries concerned about what this could mean for medical care south of the border. We’ve heard from physicians worried about family in the U.S., and we’ve heard from members concerned about Manitoba’s capacity to provide reproductive care to Americans. 

We’ve also heard from physicians about reaching out and recruiting colleagues from the U.S., noting that there is heightened uncertainty about political interference in medical care, such as abortions, fertility treatment and gender-affirming care. There is also the potential for an erosion of insurance coverage with potential changes to The Affordable Care Act. 

We are interested in hearing your views. Share them by emailing practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca.

03

BIPOC Peer Support

Join Doctors Manitoba monthly online conversations for medical students, residents, and practicing and retired physicians who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour.

Peer support groups provide a confidential, non-clinical, supportive space to listen without judgment, share insights, and provide encouragement to each other. You can learn more about the group here.

SPECIAL IN-PERSON EVENT: Paint night!

BIPOC learners and physicians (practicing or retired) are invited to a paint night on November 29 from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. at Doctors Manitoba’s Desjardins Drive offices. You’ll be able to learn more about the peer support group and have some fun painting together. Painting supplies, instruction and light refreshments provided.

04

Nominate a Colleague for a Distinguished Service Award

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 another award bestowed annually to a deserving physician: the Distinguished Service Award. This award recognizes a long career of service to patients and the community that embodies the highest standards and ideals of the medical profession and in the promotion of the art and science of medicine through teaching, writing, and administration. This award is often used to recognize a physician approaching retirement or who has recently retired, to celebrate a particularly distinguished career filled with noteworthy contributions to the medical profession.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO WIN: Practicing or recently retired physicians who are current or recent members of Doctors Manitoba. Typically, nominees should have practiced for at least 20 years.

Recent winners include:

Dr. Stephen Kowalski (2024) for leading the way in the field of anesthesiology in Manitoba for more than four decades and in his roles as an intensivist, cardiac anesthesiologist, and general clinical anesthesia practitioner and medical director.

Dr. Maggie Morris (2023) for nearly 40 years as a physician, educator, and leader and for her service as Chair of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Provincial Lead of Women’s Health, where she oversaw major improvements in care and the design of the new Women’s Hospital.

Dr. Brian Postl (2022) for his work as a clinician, researcher and health system leader and for delivering clinical care in Winnipeg and in Northern remote communities. This first-hand experience guided his efforts to champion equity as the first CEO of the WRHA, a founding member of the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council, and in his role as Dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

05

Registration Open for Rural & Remote Medicine Conference

Popular conference coming to Manitoba in 2025!

Registration for the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada 32nd Annual Rural & Remote Medicine Conference is now open! 

WHEN AND WHERE: The conference is set for April 24-26 in Winnipeg at the RBC Convention Centre. Find booking links, hotel room blocks, travel discounts, and all essential details on the Rural and Remote Medicine Conference website: ruralandremoteconference.ca

DON’T MISS OUT: Register by November 30th, and you’ll automatically be entered to win a three-night stay at the Delta Hotel in Winnipeg, and you’ll lock in the early bird rate before prices increase on December 1. 

WANT TO PRESENT? Please send your abstracts for break-out sessions and hands-on workshops now. Submit an abstract.

RESEARCHER? Now accepting submissions for Research Oral Presentations and Research Poster Presentation Abstracts. Find details here.

HEALTH SYSTEM UPDATES

510 words / 2 min read / For all members

Get important updates this week from the health system and beyond, including:

• Endoscopy referral reminder from Shared Health
• A survey invitation about your experience with authorship
• Physician student loan forgiveness update
• Nov 11 is last day to provide feedback to CPSM on the draft standard about eliminating anti-indigenous racism

Check our weekly Healthy System Updates here.

PHENOMENAL PHYSICIANS

The Manitoba College of Family Physicians has named Dr. José François 2024 Family Physician of the Year. Dr. Aly Dhala and Dr. Shayne Reitmeier were named recipients of Awards of Excellence. Selkirk Medical Associates was named as the 2024 Dr. Gary Beazley Patients Medical Home Award recipient. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

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



• We want to hear from physicians and your billing staff about your experience submitting claims to Manitoba Health. Take this short 8-minute survey to share your views. 
• A new national report shows Manitoba’s surgical pandemic backlog is the second largest of all provinces. The report revealed troubling disparities with some groups still further behind, including children, rural and remote patients, and lower-income groups. Read more here.
• The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) released a position statement back up our call to eliminate sick notes once and for all. Read the full story.

EVENTS

View our events page for a complete list. Submit events by emailing general@doctorsmanitoba.ca. 

Doctors Manitoba Open House @Bannatyne

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.

DRMB Book Club: Bad Cree By Jessica Johns

The Doctors Manitoba Book Club is reading the winner of the MacEwan Book of the Year Award, Bad Cree by Jessica Johns — who will be joining our book club event! Join us on the evening of November 21. All members are welcome. Join here. 

Physician Leadership Institute (PLI) course

December 6 and 13 / virtual / Reduced fee

Focus on conflict management and negotiation with Dr. Scott Comber on December 6 and 13, both days from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Offered by Doctors Manitoba for a reduced fee of $250. Space is limited for this virtual training, register early to secure your spot. You'll need a CMA.ca account to register. If you can't access your existing account, reach out to memberservicecentre@cma.ca or call 1-888-855-2555. Register here.

Free Notary Services

Doctors Manitoba General Counsel Andrew Swan will be available on November 5, November 26 and December 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bannatyne Campus at the Health Sciences Centre to notarize documents.

Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine (RAAM) Knowledge Exchange Days

This weekly virtual series will explore local resources as well as the challenges, successes, and future of addiction medicine in Manitoba. Topics include the New RAAM Digital Front Door (Now Live!) on November 20, the Managed Alcohol Program and Safer Consumption Sites on November 27, and a panel discussion on Medical Withdrawal Services across Manitoba on December 4. 

View the RAAM Knowledge Exchange Days program for details and daily schedules.

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

Visit DRMB.ca/Bannatyne for more information on our Bannatyne office and to view the full calendar.

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