January 16, 2026

This week’s Vitals is 1577, 6 minute read. If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:

• CPD 2026 Bank Now Available! All eligible physicians now have a full $4,000 in the CPD Rebate Bank for 2026. And don’t forget, you can still submit claims for 2025 expenses until June 30, 2026! 
• MBiz Breakfast: Join us February 11 in Winnipeg for a special event on the State of Health Care in Manitoba, hosted by the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce. Doctors Manitoba President Dr. Nichelle Desilets and CEO Theresa Oswald will offer a check up on Manitoba’s health care system and how to address major challenges.  
• CPSM Consultation on Collaborative Care: Provide your feedback on a new draft Standard aimed at improving communication and acceptance of doctor-to-doctor consultation. Public consultation is open until February 13.  
• New Digital Health Card: A new digital version of the Manitoba Health card has been launched. Let us know what you think about it. 
• New Standard CT Req Coming: Effective January 30, 2026, all urgent and elective requests for CT scans in Manitoba must be requested using a new standardized requisition form. 
• National Syphilis Treatment Shortage Extended: The national medication shortage is in effect until January 30. 

Plus, are you interested in becoming a Director on the Doctors Manitoba Board? Join us January 26 at 7 p.m. for a special webinar to learn more. Register here.  

Scroll down to try out Medical Wordle, something fun and new we are testing!

TOP STORIES

01

CPD 2026 Bank Now Available! 

Physicians now have access to the CPD Rebate Bank for 2026! The CPD Claim-As-You-Learn rebate offers reimbursement on eligible continuing professional development (CPD) expenses for fully licensed physicians. 

• All eligible physicians should now have a full $4,000 in the bank for 2026 expenses, rather than holding on to expenses and waiting until next year under our previous rebate program.  
• Physicians eligible to submit additional expenses, such as those living and working in rural and Northern communities or salaried physicians under certain Collective Agreements, will see the top up added in the next few weeks.  
• If you had no room left in 2025 to claim our special $500 AI Scribe Learning Rebate, you can now claim it under 2026. 

📲 Log in to submit your 2026 claims! 

You can learn more about our CPD Claim-As-You-Learn Rebate here, including about eligible and ineligible expenses.  

Don’t forget, you can still submit claims for 2025 expenses until June 30, 2026! 

What about CMPA? Physicians with CMPA fees over $1000 in 2025 can expect an email in the next few days. 

02

MBiz Breakfast: The State of Health Care in Manitoba

Join us on February 11 for a special event on The State of Health Care in Manitoba, presented by Doctors Manitoba and hosted by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce as part of their popular MBiz Breakfast series.  

The morning event will feature Doctors Manitoba President Dr. Nichelle Desilets and CEO Theresa Oswald, along with other panelists, to offer a check-up on our health care system. The discussion will focus on examining current system pressures, tracking progress on physician recruitment and retention, and assessing Manitoba’s ability to keep pace with other provinces. 

📅 February 11, 2026 

⏰7:30 – 9:30 a.m.  

📍 RBC Convention Centre, York Ballroom, Winnipeg 

We look forward to seeing you there! 

→ Learn more and register today. 

03

CPSM Consultation on Collaborative Care 

Physicians and the public are being asked by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM) to provide feedback on the new draft Standard of Practice – Collaborative Care aimed at improving the communication and acceptance of doctor-to-doctor consultation.  

💡 Review the CPSM’s three new draft interrelated standards which outline guiding principles for more clarity in communication on varying levels of referral requests and consultations.  

📢 What’s next: CPSM is asking for feedback by Friday, February 13.  

• You can send feedback directly to CPSM, as detailed here.  
• We encourage you to copy us at practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca, to help inform our response on behalf of the profession. 
• Be sure to identify if you typically refer, consult, or both.  
• If you don’t feel comfortable sending feedback directly to CPSM, you can send it to us in confidence instead.   

📝 Our take: New regulatory standards alone won’t fix serious gaps in the health system that complicate referrals and consultations hindering physician collaboration, but clearer roles and expectations can serve as a foundation.  

Doctors Manitoba will be advocating strongly for provincial investments and resources to support more effective collaboration between physicians. 

Read our full coverage here.  

Full story: 335 words / 1.5 min read 

04

Distressing January

January can often be a difficult month, and this year local and world events may be adding another layer. Distressing events don’t just stay in the news. They follow people into clinics, homes, and workplaces, both directly and indirectly affecting colleagues and patients.  



In the past few weeks alone, we’ve heard from members about local and international events, such as:

• Hate-motivated crimes against Jewish and Palestinian communities in Winnipeg 
• Unrest in nearby Minneapolis after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement killed a U.S. citizen last week  
• The deadly crackdown on protests in Iran that have killed one Canadian and cut off communications with family and colleagues still in Iran 

🔎 Doctors Manitoba is here for you: In times of widespread distress, caring for mental health, your patients’ and your own, is not optional. It’s essential.  Our Doc360 health and wellness resources can be accessed by physicians, medical learners, and your families. You can call our confidential intake line at 204−237−8320, toll free at 1 – 844-433-DRMB (1−844−433−3762) or complete the online intake form. 

05

Manitoba Introduces Digital Health Card

Manitobans can now apply for and access a digital version of their Manitoba Health card on their mobile devices, the province announced this week. The digital cards will be stored on the new MB Wallet app. Patients may begin presenting digital version of their health cards, so it’s important for physicians and their staff to take note. 

• You can learn more about the digital cards and how to obtain one here. 



As we monitor the program’s rollout, please let us know what you think. Drop us a line by emailing practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca 

06

New Standard CT Req Coming

Effective January 30, 2026, all urgent and elective requests for CT services to be performed in Manitoba must be requested by submitting the standardized CT Request form R250-10-115. Standardized forms can alleviate administrative burden if done right. We want to hear from you about if this new form is an improvement.

Get all the details and links to the new form here.

Full story: 244 words / 1 min read 

07

Respiratory Season Update

Influenza season has strained emergency departments nationwide, adding pressure to already stretched hospital capacity. 

What’s happening: 

• Nationally: Widespread influenza activity has been reported in B.C., Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and P.E.I., contributing to ED overcrowding across multiple regions. 
• Manitoba focus: Based on the latest public health reporting to January 3, Manitoba’s situation appears to be improving after hitting a peak over the holiday season, including reported influenza and COVID cases, respiratory-related ED visits and hospital admissions. 

It’s still important to offer COVID and Influenza vaccines to your patients. 

Read our full coverage. 

Full story: 178 words / 1 min read 

08

Getting Healthy WinterToba Challenge!

Join our WinterToba Challenge focuses on small, realistic steps that feel achievable, not overwhelming. So far, more than 2,000 Manitobans have made a pledge for a Healthy New Year! 

🩺 You can take part, too: 

• Make your own WinterToba pledge and you will be entered to win great prizes, including $1,000 in free groceries or $500 in fitness gear. 
• Share the challenge with patients as a low-barrier way to spark healthy behaviour change. 
• Use it as a conversation starter that feels supportive, not prescriptive. 

📌 Tools to support your practice: 

• Downloadable clinic posters are available to help spread the word in waiting rooms and exam spaces. 
• A WinterToba video series is in development. We're looking for physicians to take part! 

Get in touch and join us in encouraging a healthier winter across Manitoba. Email gettinghealthy@doctorsmanitoba.ca. 

HEALTH SYSTEM UPDATES

National Syphilis Treatment Shortage Extended 

As we noted last week, there is a national shortage of long-acting penicillin G (Bicillin® L-A), and providers are asked to restrict its use to specific categories of patients. The shortage is now expected to last until January 30, 2026, two weeks longer than previously anticipated.  

Learn more in the latest Public Health memo to health care providers.  

Invasive Meningococcal Disease Outbreak 

Public Health officials are enlisting physicians’ help to encourage Manitobans to check their vaccine eligibility for invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and ensure patient vaccinations are up to date. A severe outbreak continues in the Northern Health Region, disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities. 

Resources for providers: 

• January 14, 2026, Manitoba Health alert 
• Memo to health care providers 
• IMD case numbers 

Measles Update

Morden’s Garden Valley Fitness Centre, Winkler’s C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre and St. Pierre-Jolys' Centre médico-social De Salaberry District Health Centre are the latest measles exposure sites in Manitoba. We’re keeping track of resources for physicians on our Doctors Manitoba Measles Update page.  

CaRMS Interview Period 

The National Interview period for the first iteration of the 2026 R1 Residency match will run from January 17 to February 8, 2026, ahead of Match Day on March 3. During this time, we ask physicians to check in with medical students, show interest in their goals and share your personal experience of what they’re going through now. 

❤️ How you can help: Keep an eye out for distress and burnout, and encourage students to check out resources available to them through student affairs at Bannatyne Campus and Doctors Manitoba’s Doc360 health and wellness resources. 

Bio-Rad Instrument Implementation 

Shared Health Diagnostic Services transfusion medicine testing sites across the province of Manitoba have begun transitioning testing methodologies for the determination of red cell group typing, antibody detection, and identification from solid phase to gel column agglutination technology with the Bio-Rad IH-500 and Saxo-ID instruments. 

The first implementation went live at the Westman Lab in Brandon on Tuesday, and the remaining testing sites in the NRHA region will follow in the upcoming months. 

Learn more. 

Manitoba Drug Benefits 

The government is updating its lists of Drug Benefits and Drug Interchangeability Formulary with various amendments that are set to take place on February 1 and May 1. 

Read the Bulletin and learn more here.  

Swan River School Bus Accident 

The driver of a school bus and 14 students on board were taken to hospital early Monday after the bus rolled over on an icy highway near Mafeking. Four passengers had "significant but non-life-threatening injuries." Doctors Manitoba extends our deepest gratitude to the many emergency responders, physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals who responded to patients with great care and dedication. We join Shared Health in our relief that the incident did not result in more serious injuries. 

PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES

Doctors Manitoba’s job board has 4 new practice opportunities for physicians at Doctors-To-You, North End Medical Clinic, Gateway Superstore Clinic and Sunshine Medical in Winnipeg, along with dozens more opportunities previously listed. Check it out!   

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

ICYMI

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

• Interested in becoming a Director on the Doctors Manitoba Board? Join us for a webinar on Monday, January 26 at 7 p.m. CT to learn more about the basics of board governance, our Medical District nomination and election process and what it’s like to contribute your expertise. Register here. 
• Breast Cancer Screening Change: BreastCheck has lowered the screening age of eligibility from 50 and will now accept self-referrals from average-risk, asymptomatic people aged 45 to 49. Talk to your patients about the risks and benefits of early screening. Learn more.  
• Attestation Form Frustration: We have received concerns from many physicians frustrated with the new online hospital attestation form from Shared Health. Please continue to share your feedback with us to help shape our response. Email practiceadvice@doctorsmanitoba.ca 

Medical Wordle

We're trying something new this week: creating a medical version of Wordle just for you. If you haven't tried Wordle, it's an easy daily word game giving you six chances to guess a five-letter word. 

Click the image below to try it out! And reply to this email to let us know what you think and if you'd like this to be a regular feature.

Try on your phone or desktop.

EVENTS and CPD

We feature events planned by Doctors Manitoba, as well as other events submitted by the medical community to share and connect with their peers. 

Love, Anger, and Leadership, January 28, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Winnipeg, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Dr. Marcia Anderson, Vice-Dean Indigenous Health, Social Justice & Anti-Racism, RFHS, will deliver this year’s Provincial Health Leadership Program Keynote Address. Reserve your spot.  

Wound Care Day, January 30, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Virtual. Join the University of Manitoba for an interactive and practical session dedicated to improving outcomes in diabetic foot care. Learn more and register.

Métis Flower Beading Workshop, February 11, 6 – 8 p.m. Virtual. Are you an internationally trained physician practicing in Manitoba? Join others with shared lived experiences as you learn to bead a Métis flower brooch while exploring Métis culture and history. All workshop supplies will be mailed to you in advance. Register here. 

Leading Change, March 5-6, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Virtual. This Physician Leadership Institute course is relevant for physicians in formal or informal leadership roles who want to learn how to build support for, overcome barriers to, and successfully implement, influence, and sustain change. Accredited for 13.5 hours. Learn more and register.

The Canadian Women in Medicine Conference, Winnipeg, June 11-13, RBC Convention Centre. Hear from an impressive lineup of speakers, including best-selling authors, physicians, founders and other inspirational women leaders. Make connections that will last a lifetime! Learn more and register today!

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