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This week’s Vitals is 919 words or a 3.5 min read. If you only have 1 minute, here are the highlights:
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Try the new Physician Well-Being Index (WBI) from CMPA. It only takes 2 minutes to complete, and it’s a useful tool to assess your well-being and see how your experience compares to peers.
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Manitoba's physician recruitment office is up and running! Services are available to potential physician recruits as well as clinics and practices trying to attract or recruit doctors too.
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Pharmacists will soon be able to prescribe birth control and HIV medications. We share the few details available so far, and invite your feedback about the changes and other expansions to retail pharmacist scopes being sought.
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Blue Bombers and Doctors Manitoba for the win! We've got a new partnership you won’t want to miss out on, including an exclusive discount offer for members on game tickets!
Plus, we've got updates on the potential Canada Post strike that could start at midnight, a CancerCare Manitoba CervixCheck survey, where we've been in the news this week ensuring physician perspectives are heard, and a great lineup of events just for you.
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Well-Being Index a Valuable New Resource for Physicians
Members can now access the Canadian Medical Protective Association’s Physician Well-Being Index (WBI) free of charge.
Developed and validated by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, this quick, confidential, user-friendly tool allows doctors to accurately measure six dimensions of their own distress and well-being.
We spoke with Dr. Alexis Botkin, the Medical Consultant for Physician and Medical Learner Health and Wellness at Doctors Manitoba, about what this means for you.
Learn more here.
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Provincial Recruitment Office Up and Running
About a year ago, the provincial government created a new Health Care Retention and Recruitment Office, or HCRRO, to help bring together and lead local and out-of-province efforts for physicians, nurses and other health providers. We have an update, following questions from physicians about the role of the HCRRO, and what services and support they provide both to potential recruits, and to clinics and practice groups trying to recruit. We encourage you to reach out to the HCRRO for help, but also encourage you to copy us so we can assist too.
Check out our full story here.
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Pharmacists’ Prescriptions: What We Know
Last week, the government announced it will expand the scope of practice for retail pharmacists to prescribe birth control and HIV medications, but details remain unclear. We’ve heard concerns before from physicians about expanded scopes without tools to collaborate or clarity about monitoring and follow up, as well as potential corporate pressures in a retail setting. We have a summary of what we know so far, and we invite your feedback about this recently announced change, as well as further expansions to scope retain pharmacists are seeking. Your insights will guide our submission to the government about these changes.
Check out our full story here.
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Blue Bombers and Doctors Manitoba for the Win!
Doctors Manitoba and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have partnered for the 2025 season, and this includes an an exclusive discount for Doctors Manitoba Members of about 20-25% for three select games:
- Thursday, June 12 vs. BC Lions Home Opener
- Friday, July 18 vs. Calgary Stampeders
- Friday, August 14 vs Ottawa Redblacks
To redeem the offer, go to bluebombers.com/DOCTORS and use the offer code DOCTORS.
We are partnering with the Bombers this year to bring our Getting Healthy public resources to a new audience, Bombers fans! Watch for us at games this season, as we help to put a spotlight on physicians’ expertise and how you help Manitobans stay healthy each and every day.
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Postal Strike Possible
Manitoba’s health system has prepared for service disruption in the event of a Canada Post work stoppage, which is looking more likely by the hour.
Shared Health has just issued a notice saying clinics and service areas have temporarily paused use of Canada Post for distribution of patient appointment letters and pre-appointment information. Patients with upcoming appointments will instead be contacted by phone and/or email and provided with information in advance of their appointments. More information is available here.
This potential strike also falls during a time when many Manulife insurance products are up for renewal. While the majority of members have moved to emailed invoices and can view invoices posted to your member portal, this is a reminder to check there or register for member portal access. Once you are in, you can sign up for annual or monthly deduction options or make a payment through your bank or credit union.
For more information, check out our update from earlier this month.
Measles Updates
Manitoba is enduring its worst measles outbreak in decades, including new cases and potential exposure sites in Winnipeg announced over the last week.
Read the full measles update.
CCMB Survey
CancerCare Manitoba’s CervixCheck program is working to transition from primary Pap testing to primary HPV testing for cervical cancer screening. As part of the transition, CCMB is considering providing direct referral to colposcopy for patients.
Take the survey.
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We’re in the news ensuring physicians’ perspectives are part of the story. See the latest:
Neepawa Doctor Assumes Presidency of Doctors Manitoba: Doctors Manitoba President Dr. Nichelle Desilets is on the front page of this week’s Neepawa Banner & Press! “Seeing the challenges rural folks, Indigenous folks, people who don’t have access to all health care services like you might see in a bigger centre - I just wanted to do what I can to be at the table to advocate,” Dr. Desilets said of her desire to contribute to a better health care system in Manitoba in this role.
Read more here!
Manitoba Plastic Health Cards: This week CBC Manitoba investigated the rollout of Manitoba's new plastic health cards, noting that the province has spent $6 million on them, even though the cards lack features other provinces have. Dr. Desilets spoke to CBC:
- Medical personnel will appreciate not having to jot down that information anymore, Doctors Manitoba president Nichelle Desilets said, but she worries the public will misinterpret what the card can do.
- "There are going to be people who assume that they can scan that and see access to all of their medical records and their lab results," Desilets said, explaining that technology exists in other jurisdictions.
Check out the full story here.
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Here are the most-read and important recent stories, in case you missed them:
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Manitoba hit a recruitment milestone, surpassing 3,500 practicing physicians for the first time ever. Significant progress, but more work is needed to tackle the shortage. Read more here.
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Celebrating Manitoba’s Physicians: More than 700 guests were at the sold-out gala–the largest yet–celebrating Manitoba doctors’ commitment to caring and excellence. Check out this summary, including new videos about our nine award winning physicians! Read our full coverage.
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Presidential Profile: The Brandon Sun published a profile on new Doctors Manitoba President, Dr. Nichelle Desilets, with a few wise and wonderful words from her predecessor Dr. Randy Guzman. Read more here.
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Take Part in Pride: Doctors Manitoba is taking a new approach to empowering and supporting our members who want to take part in Pride events across Manitoba. Find out how you can take part.
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AI Scribes: More than half of doctors are interested in using an Artificial Intelligence Scribe to help them with patient charting. See our recent update, noting our work underway on creating an AI Scribe Playbook, and an opportunity to get a free license for one year from our friends at Canada Health Infoway. Check it out.
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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.
Women, Wealth and Wisdom, 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27 at Breezy Bend Country Club. Join MD Financial Management and Dr. Amy D’Aprix to discover how to better understand your financial style, cultivate a healthier relationship with money and take control of your financial future. Learn more and register.
Spring Planter Workshop, 2 sessions: 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. May 28 at Ron Paul Garden Centre. Connect with other physicians who are new to Manitoba. Free! Register here.
Narrative-Based Medicine: Tools for Reflection and Well-being, 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, May 30, Virtual. Participate in reflective writing exercises that promote reflection on healthcare themes and clinician well-being. Register here.
Surgical Waitlist Information Management (SWIM) Lunch & Learn, 12 p.m. on May 30, Virtual. Tips and tricks on the cloud-based provincial solution that supports the tracking and prioritization of surgical patients and facilitates the electronic submission of booking requests to surgical sites in Manitoba. Email swim@sharedhealthmb.ca to register.
Dr. David Crawford Memorial Run June 1, 9 a.m. at Marpeck Commons Bldg, CMU, 2299 Grant Avenue. Register for the run.
Reflection and Renewal: How Narrative-Based Medicine Makes Us Better (and Happier) June 7, 9 a.m to noon in person at the Doctors Manitoba Desjardins Drive office. Register here
Fostering a Thriving Workplace: Turning toxicity into opportunity, with Dr. Mamta Gautam June 12, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Qualico Family Centre, Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg 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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