Port Alberni Oceanside Amalgamation

On April 8 the Amalgamation Committee met for a final time in Port Alberni. At that meeting it was decided that the committee be disbanded and it has been left to the Oceanside Board to complete the transition plan. We would like to thank members of the Amalgamation Committee for working for the past year to make this exciting opportunity a reality.

Members of the committee were:

• Dr. Shane Longman
• Dr. Wendy Johnson
• Fran Chiste (NP)
• Liz Gilmour (NP)
• Dr. Gina Bell
• Dr. Clair Biglow.

As well, thanks to the Doctors of BC team who came and facilitated the project:

• Brian Evoy
• Milo Riley
• Lucas Parker.

Here is what needs attention in the next few months:

• Division name change
• Division geography as laid out in the constitution
• Future Division Board composition
• Future Collaborative Services Committee composition

At the final meeting was agreed that these changes could be worked on throughout the summer and be ratified at the Division AGM on September 18.
These are exciting times! Division staff will be starting the process of community outreach in Port Alberni in the next month. Staff look forward to meeting all of our new members and hearing how the Division can appropriately serve our new community.
If you have any questions or concerns, or want to book a time to meet the Division staff, contact Evelyn Clark (Executive Director) at eclark@divisionsbc.ca or call (250) 703-6159.

ODFP Programs Report

RECRUITMENT/RETENTION
March was busy with providing sporadic in-clinic locum coverage for multiple medical leaves, as well as liaising with the clinics dealing with medical emergencies - and it seems we are not alone in our concerns.  At our island-wide R&R meeting, ALL Island Divisions mentioned lack of locums as their #1 concern at this time, so Oceanside/Port Alberni will be attending the BC Rural Health Conference with Cowichan Division in the hopes of making some connections with practice-ready locums in May. 

PAM
Oceanside's PAM has reduced this month, with 350 patients referred to Oceanside practitioners in March and April. We are beginning the process of checking in with the oldest entries on the PAM to update the list with those that have since found care - it seems from our recent referrals that this will likely reduce the size of the existing list substantially.  If your practice has open appointments, we are always happy to refer patients to you.  It's a painless process and can be done very quickly!

RESIDENTIAL CARE INITIATIVE
The Leadership team met in March to learn about the QI projects, with the projects wrapping up and completed in the next few weeks, we should have some interesting findings to present! The Leadership and Working Groups have now merged.

Q4 Summaries have gone out and will be paid out after April 15th.

WALK WITH YOUR DOC
Dr. David Owen will be leading Parksville's "Walk With Your Doc" this year, with the event taking place May 7th at 3:00pm.  Participants can meet at Parksville Medical Clinic for a walk and talk down to Parksville Community Park beach.   If you would like a poster to display at your practice, please contact Sharon Todd at 250-937-07611. 

Sharon Todd
Program Manager

Primary Care Network Update

The Primary Care Network (PCN) project has a deadline of June 3, 2019 to submit a Service Plan proposal to the Ministry of Health. This proposal will outline Oceanside’s current community needs and gaps in health care services along with recommendations for service redesign. The focus is on improving attachment, access to care, and creating an integrated team-based system of care.  

The PCN Working Group has started to write the Service Plan, starting with the information we have on current services available, gaps in attachment, and population and health data. April is also “engagement month” and we are meeting with physicians, clinicians, and patients to get their knowledge and input on the health needs of the community. 

To-date we have engaged with: Family Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Urgent Care Physicians, Palliative Care Network, Snaw-Naw-As Clinic, Perfect Storm Group, and Managers from Island Health’s community, mental health and public health programs. Stay tuned, as we have more engagement sessions planned throughout the rest of April and into early May. 

For more information, contact Laura Cross at: lcross@divisionsbc.ca
cell: 604-723-0797

Patient Medical Home Update

Qualicum Beach Associates work has begun as a clinic incubator for Patient Medical Home. Suzanne Beyrodt-Blyt and Erin Lutz from PSP have been very helpful in setting up a virtual panel assistant for Dr. Biglow. This work will allow us to move forward looking at data in the clinic and figuring out needs for an Allied Health Professional.
The MOA Network is up and running with the second meeting held in March. MOAs are finding it useful to come together quarterly to network and have training sessions. Suzanne Beyrodt-Blyt came to discuss opportunities with PSP and to present a session on ‘dealing with difficult patients.
Palliative Care Network also met in March. We had 19 in attendance with some of our members, community groups and Island Health staff. Primary Care Network was a big topic of discussion and Laura Cross attended to provide information. Some great feedback came out of this meeting including needs in Oceanside for GPs or NPs to make home visits and what that would entail, either from existing members or bringing a new practitioner in P/T to help fill this need. Next meeting planned for end of May where we will look at a vision statement and see what the group would like to get out of this network moving forward.

New Practice Support Program Coordinator

We are pleased to announce that Suzanne Beyrodt-Blyt is our new Coordinator for Oceanside for the Practice Support Program.

Suzanne has worked in Healthcare for more than 15 years in various roles in Primary Care and recently supported the SSC Initiative of Physician Quality Improvement. Suzanne is also an instructor for Vancouver Island University, teaching courses within the Health and Human Science portfolio. 

Suzanne has continued her education in quality improvement with certification in Practical Improvement Science in Health Care through Harvard and the IHI (Institute of Healthcare
Improvement). Suzanne is available to Physicians and MOA’s to provide in practice support for EMR coaching, office workflow/efficiencies and the development of team-based care.

The Practice Support Program is a quality improvement-focused initiative of the GPSC. PSP’s in-practice coaching allows doctors and their practice teams to integrate quality improvement focused tools and resources to improve patient outcomes and increase physician satisfaction. PSP in partnership with doctors, educational organizations and subject-matter experts, provides group learning sessions which are designed to allow physicians to meet CME requirements.

Suzanne has been coming around to say Hello, and will be available to you, so please feel free to reach out to her.

Contact information:
C: 250-802-7791 or Tel:  250-755-7691 ext. 53405
F: 250.739.5758
email: suzanne.beyrodtblyt@viha.ca

Rural Emergency Medicine Peer Coaching Program

My name is Rachel Ho and I am a Senior Program Assistant at UBC’s Division of Rural Continuing Professional Development (UBC RCPD). I would like to share this program that is available to any physician in BC and currently recruiting new participants. There is no cost associated with this program. It is highly recommended but entirely voluntary and there is no obligation to participate.

RURAL EMERGENCY MEDICINE PEER COACHING PROGRAM

The Peer Coaching stream of The Clinical Coaching for Excellence program supports you as a rural emergency medicine practitioner while you are on shift with backup from a peer coach who will support you over a 6 month period. This is a personal coaching relationship and the conversations between you will remain completely private. Your coach may be somebody local, where you can have an in-person relationship (in person coaching), or can support you by video, phone, or text (virtual coaching). Your coach will remain in touch with you between shifts to provide a supportive ongoing relationship. Your coach will be a rural generalist who understands personal and professional challenges of working in small communities and low resource setting

In person or virtual coaching

Certified for up to 75.5 Mainpro+ (1 credit/hr) for coaches and up to 73.5 Mainpro+ (1 credit/hr) for coachees

The relationship with your coach is solely for your benefit. Information is not passed to any regulatory bodies.

Please click here for more details on this program.

For more information, please email rural.coaching@ubc.ca.

Rachel Ho
UBC CPD Senior Program Assistant
Division of Continuing Professional Development
Faculty of Medicine | The University of British Columbia
City Square, East Tower
200-555 W 12th Ave, Vancouver BC V5Z 3X7
T 604.875.4111 x24624 | F 604.675.3778
ubccpd.ca | thischangedmypractice.com
@UBCCPD | rachel.h@ubc.ca

Rural Health Conference May 24-26

The Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc) is bringing back both the Rural Locum Forum and the BC Rural Health Conference to Nanaimo from May 24-26, 2019. These two popular CME/CPD events provide rurally relevant content and learning as well as networking, and supportive program information for BC's rural and regional healthcare providers.

Registration is now open for both the Rural Locum Forum and the BC Rural Health Conference. Please click here for Registration. 

Physicians registering for the BC Rural Health Conference by April 15 will save up to $50 off the full fee for the BC Rural Health Conference while nurses, nurse practitioners, allied health professionals and residents receive a low rate for the same event.
Fees for the Rural Locum Forum are $75 for physicians and $25 for residents; this cost includes a networking lunch with colleagues. The Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC) is providing funding for physicians and residents to attend the Rural Locum Forum in exchange for a Return of Service - details are available online by clicking here.

Changes to ICBC effective April 1

DoBC Communications—April 1, 2019

Changes to ICBC are now in effect
To improve the auto insurance system in B.C., as of April 1, anyone injured in a crash will have access to significantly improved benefits to support their care and recovery.

As a health care provider, here are the key things to know with these changes in effect.

Changes to invoicing and reporting
ICBC has simplified the invoicing process for reports and report-related visits. When a patient attends an appointment, for the purpose of completing a report to send to ICBC, the report itself serves as the invoice.

The new report templates—including a report completion guide—are available on the ICBC Reports page.
For more details, visit ICBC’s physicians page.

Treatment Fees and Third Party Health Benefits Providers
ICBC is now the primary payer for treatments listed under schedule 3.1 of the regulations. These fees were established by government and represent fair market value for treatment. Fees in excess of the regulated fee (user fees) may be payable by third party health benefits providers. User fees will not be recoverable from ICBC for claims with a date of loss April 1, 2019 or after.

More information and supporting your patients
ICBC is committed to supporting you through the changes, so you can focus on providing the best treatment to your patients.
The ICBC changes to insurance page has been updated with information to better inform you and your patients on the changes. Take a look at the how BC’s health care providers support ICBC customers (VIDEO), the revised ICBC claims information, and download this infographic for an overview of the changes you may wish to provide to your patients.

How we’re supporting you
Our Health Services Business Partners site has been populated with the information you need to know regarding the new processes. As a first resource to find answers to the questions you may have, take a look at these pages.

If you have any further questions, the Health Care Inquiry Unit (HCIU) is available to assist you as of April 1, 2019.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:00pm
Lower Mainland: 604-587-7150
Toll free: 1-800-717-7150

MOA Webinar - Changes to ICBC

MOAs Saying Goodbye to the CL19: Supporting Care and Recovery of People Injured in Crashes

This MOA webinar is being offered to provide information about the changes to ICBC with specific details on billing and invoicing changes and office workflow.

Target audience: MOAs and other support staff
Dates: May 10 or 15
Time: 12-1 pm
Location: Online webinar
Cost: Free
Topics:

• New ICBC reporting changes as of April 1
• new reports, billing, and workflow

For more information and to Register please click here.

2019 Doctors of BC Health Authority Engagement Survey

The Doctors of BC HA Engagement Survey is now live. You would have received an email in your inbox with a unique link to complete the survey. The survey runs from April 1st to 30th, 2019.
This is the fourth year for the survey and we are starting to see trends emerging. We have been able to start to use the results as a baseline for conversations with the Health Authority.

There have been two questions added to the survey:

• This organization takes effective action to promote a health and safe workplace
• This organization takes effective action to prevent violence in the workplace

These have been added due to increased interest in ensuring hospitals provide an environment that is physically & psychologically safe for all staff in the hospital. The results will help to determine a baseline at each site for which we can measure against year-to-year.

Thank you for your engagement on this. Upon completion of the survey you may choose to enter to win one of two iPad Pros or Surface Pros. If members have any questions or do not receive their email invitation, please contact Doctors of BC at surveys@doctorsofbc.ca. When results are available, they will be shared with all Doctors of BC members, Divisions and Health Authorities.

Sincerely,
Allyson

Allyson C. Miller, MHA, BScH, CHE
Regional Advisor & Advocate, Island
T: 250 889 0204
E: amiller@doctorsofbc.ca
doctorsofbc.ca

Dr. Karen Bronn - New office contact details

Dear Colleagues,

As some of you are already aware, I have taken up a full-time Nephrology position in Nanaimo as of September 2018. Thank you for your continued support.

I am accepting Nephrology referrals in my office. This letter serves to notify you of the following changes in my office contact details - effective immediately.

I am still located at the same office address 11 - 1599 Dufferin Crescent, Nanaimo BC. There is however, a change in my office phone number & fax number as follows

Tel: 1 250 591 1891 (Morgan Piper is my new Medical Office Assistant)
Fax: 1 250 797 2595

Thank you for updating your records appropriately. I look forward to working with you & hopefully meeting more of you in future.

Kind Regards,

Karen Bronn

Dr Karen Bronn FRCPC
Internal Medicine & Nephrology
#11 - 1599 Dufferin Crescent Nanaimo BC V9S 5L5 Tel: 1 250 591 1891 Fax: 1 250 797 2595

Island Health’s Physiotherapy Voucher Program – a pilot Program for Port Alberni residents

As a means to improve access to physiotherapy services for patients following their total hip or knee joint replacements, Island Health will be piloting a voucher system program for Port Alberni residents. This ‘Voucher Program’ will cover a specified number of private, community-based, physiotherapy visits for rehabilitation of non-complex routine total hip and total knee arthroplasty in Port Alberni. Please click here for more information.

Quality council MHO update April 2019

Influenza – this year has been unprecedented in my career with a second spike of Influenza A (this time H3N2) occurring in the past few weeks which has been comparable in impact to the January H1N1 spike in illness.  H3N2 tends to affect older persons, and as such we have seen more long term care and acute care outbreaks. 

My summary: No influenza year is predictable, every year is unique and always be prepared.  The influenza prevention policy emphasizes the importance of annual vaccination and remains the mainstay of protection.   This year, in excess of 240,000 doses of vaccine were distributed which is comparable to 2017/18 and the first year that we have not seen the 5% annual growth in vaccination experienced since pharmacist immunizing was implemented. 
Measles immunization program -  The Ministry has announced a program that will result in reviewing all students and inviting those that are unimmunized or under-immunized to receive measles vaccine.   This is estimated to be about 15000 persons under the age of 20 on the island.  So far, about 1500 additional persons have come forward for measles immunization since the small cluster of cases in Vancouver occurred.  The clusters and individual importation of measles that have occurred in the province have been so far been contained and consistent with the MHO report to quality councils distributed in March.  There remains a global increase in measles and further importations into the area are to be expected.
The school based campaign will also be an initial step in the province to moving to the expectation that all students have clear immunization status documented at all times.  Currently immunization status is reviewed based on electronic records at kindergarten, Grade 6 and 9 – however those without records (eg moved from outside BC) are still dependant on available written records or records from their previous place of residence.   In the future, school attendance for all grades will be linked to up to date immunization records.   Note, this is not mandatory immunization of students.  
Nanaimo zoning bylaw - The current Nanaimo zoning bylaw appears to be unique in terms of its approach to discriminating against those with substance use disorders.  As written, no location in town can be used for a “drug addiction treatment facility” which actually is defined as “treat persons with substance abuse problems, and includes needle exchange facilities, safe injection sites, Methadone clinics, and the like”.  As written, this precludes establishment of the supervised consumption site without a process that has already once failed. It likely would preclude programming that including injectable opioid therapies.   It could be interpreted that certain existing services are also not compliant with the bylaw.  While the city has attempted to address this issue, they have not done so and there are indications that efforts going forward this month (April 29) will also not address the stigmatizing and discriminating language that precludes access to a proven health service.  Contact your mayor and councillors and be adamant on the damage that they have done and will do if this injustice is not rectified.  It would appear that certain business interests continue to influence council decisions.

Office of the Central Island Medical
Health Officer

CENTRAL ISLAND
250.739.6304
Paul Hasselback
MD, MSc, FRCPC
3rd Floor 6475 Metral Drive
Nanaimo, BC  V9T 2L9

Self-Management BC Health Coach Program

As partners in health care, we want to inform or remind you of the Self-Management Health Coach Program. This telephone-based health intervention is offered to adults of all ages who have chronic health conditions, at no cost. Participants are assigned a trained peer Health Coach, who provides a 30-minute telephone interaction each week for a period of 3 to 6 months. They receive information, support and guidance to help them achieve better health outcomes. The self-management strategies are evidence-based and this program is fully supported by the BC Ministry of Health.

So what do our Health Coaches do? They:

• are an extension of the participant’s health care team
• provide social, educational and emotional support
• keep the participant accountable to their health goals
• encourage the participant to become an effective life-long self-manager

This program is a great option for people who may be unable to attend our 6-session community group Self-Management Programs, or who prefer working one-to-one, or who would like additional support after attending one of our workshops. Please click here for more information and to download a poster outlining our program.

Upcoming Self Management Workshops

Click on the link below to find out what’s coming up on Vancouver Island:

Vancouver Island – Mid/North
Vancouver Island – South

If you are interested in finding workshops outside of your health region please refer to our website for more information.
To register online for any Self-Management Program click here.
In addition to our 6-week Self-Management Community Workshops, we offer the following:
Online Group Program: The Online Chronic Conditions Self-Management Program is for people with all levels of computer skills. Participants log in at their convenience for a total of about two hours a week to access interactive sessions. Participants remain anonymous and all activity takes place on a dedicated, secure website. Each workshop takes up to 25 participants and is led by two trained online facilitators and monitored by a program mentor. For more information, please click here.
1 to 1 Telephone Program: The Self-Management Health Coach Program is a telephone support program for individuals needing the extra support to achieve health goals. Each individual is paired with a coach and receives a weekly, 30-minute phone call for 3 to 6 months. Coaches are volunteers who may be living with chronic health conditions, and are passionate to help others to achieve wellness.

Island Health announces Community Wellness Grant Recipients

ISLAND WIDE – Healthy living and community well-being will be supported by 52 projects across Island Health, thanks to Island Health’s Community Wellness Granting Program.

Grant recipients for 2019 include dozens of community-based projects including a collaboration in Sayward aimed at improving the physical and mental well-being for all members of the community, a young cooks program in Courtenay in partnership with Komoks First Nation, a lunch and learn program for seniors from Ucluelet and Tofino and local First Nations Elders, the establishment of a support group for individuals experiencing grief from traumatic loss in Cowichan, and a pilot project expanding parenting programs to Victoria and the West Shore.

“We’re pleased to support the Community Wellness Granting program and congratulate this year’s recipients” said Leah Hollins, Chair of Island Health’s Board of Directors. “Every year, these projects identify and address the unique health and care needs within their communities and showcase the impact of working together in partnership to address health and care needs across the region.”

The program, now in its third year, helps foster local partnerships to address the population’s health and wellness. Nearly $750,000 from the Community Wellness Granting Program will fund a mix of individual programs and partnership grants.

Island Health recognizes the importance of reducing future reliance on the health system and promoting healthy lifestyles at the grassroots level. Community Wellness Grants provide the opportunity for Island Health to work with community partners, positively influence health outcomes and make healthy choices easier.

One of the 2018 grant recipients was the Sooke School District, which received a grant to foster physical literacy training for teachers, boost physical activity levels for elementary school students, and build key relationships among a host of community partners.

“The wellness grant has acted as a catalyst for collaboration, allowing us to work with six partners to better support the promotion of physical literacy and physical activity within our school communities,” explained Cindy Andrew, School District 62 Healthy Schools Lead. “This investment has really helped us to initiate new partnerships and strengthen existing relationships – all with the goal of ensuring that kids are developing the skills, confidence and love of movement to be physically active for life.”

In December 2018, Island Health issued a call for applications to local governments, community organizations and Aboriginal communities for the 2019 Community Wellness Granting Program. Grant application criteria included healthy aging, positive mental health, social and family connectedness, healthy eating and physical activity.

A complete list of 2019 grant recipients is available on here.

Island Health provides health care and support services to more than 794,000 people on Vancouver Island, the islands in the Salish Sea and the Johnstone Strait, and mainland communities north of Powell River. With more than 21,000 staff and over 2,000 physician partners, 6,000 volunteers, and the dedicated support of foundations and auxiliaries, Island Health delivers a broad range of health services, including: Public health services, primary health care, home and community care, mental health and addictions services, acute care in hospitals, and much more across a huge, geographically diverse region.

Please direct Media inquiries to:

Cheryl Bloxham
250-370-8878
Cheryl.bloxham@viha.ca

Oceanside Hospice Society

Oceanside Hospice Society and Forward House Community Society are partnering in the first annual Partners in Community Benefit Gala on May 11th, 2019 at the Qualicum Civic Centre. Please view Gala poster here. All funds raised from this event will be split between the two organizations. Our goal is to raise $25,000 in our first year to help support programs for individuals and families who are facing advanced illness, death and bereavement, as well as for Forward House programs and services to support adults who have mental health and addictions recovery challenges.

Please click here to purchase tickets through Port Theatre.

Oceanside Hospice Society
210 Crescent Road West
Qualicum Beach, BC  V9K 1J9

Office: 250.752.6227
Fax: 250.752.6257
www.oceansidehospice.com
julie@oceansidehospice.com

Divisions in the News

See what is going on in other divisions around BC:

https://www.divisionsbc.ca/provincial/news-and-events/in-the-news