AGM Announcement & Call for Directors

In accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Central Island Division of Family Practice, notice is hereby given of the Society’s Annual General Meeting to be held at 6:00pm on Wednesday, September 15th via Zoom.

Please click here to RSVP- meeting details will be emailed to you once you've registered.

With the upcoming AGM, the Division is seeking nominations for the Board of Directors. Candidates with a record of leadership and experience in governance are ideal. There are two positions available on the Board of Directors in 2021.

All interested candidates should complete Application (click here) for Directorship and submit to jskuse@divisionsbc.ca no later than 4PM, August 13, 2020.

2021 Division Director Application

Should a vote be required, our members will exercise their voting privilege by voting anonymously using an online tool. Details will be forwarded to members following the nomination period.

PMH, Shared Care, Maternity, First Nations Engagement

Shared Care, Psychiatry:
Follow up with psychiatry shared care: Tina Biello has connected with interested GPs and clinics with a schedule for sessions with Dr. Saffy. These sessions started last week of January and are going well. Dr. Saffy’s schedule is full now. However, if anyone is interested in Oceanside who hasn’t been scheduled, please get in touch.

Nurse in Practice:
Murray Coughtrey has been working with Dr. Biglow, Dr.El Karsh and Dr.Duncan in this role and is available to any other clinics who might be interested in this model. If anyone would like further information, please get in touch with Tina Biello, Project Manager.

Maternity Network:
The work of the maternity network will resume this summer with meetings of stakeholders to discuss upcoming PCN service plan writing. Tina Biello will be getting in touch to organize this with all GPs and NPs who provide maternity care in Port Alberni, specialists, as well as midwives and First Nation partners.

First Nations:
First Nation engagement sessions are being planned for Oceanside First Nations and primary care providers for the fall.

PCN Update

Please click here for the Oceanside PCN Newsletter.

Nurse Practitioner Parity

This letter was received in July and lays out the reimbursement of Nurse Practitioners going forward. As you may already know, nurse practitioners in Central Island Division are already full members, as our bylaws were amended in 2018 to reflect that fact. Nurse practitioners in Central Island have received sessional payments in parity since that time. So, we need make no changes to our practices. The good news is that the Division will now be reimbursed by the Ministry of Health for that practice.

If you have any question or concerns do not hesitate to contact me at eclark@divisionsbc.ca.

Sent on behalf of Ted Patterson, Co-chair Ministry of Health, and Dr. Anthon Meyer, Co-chair, Doctors of BC

As many of you are aware, several divisions include nurse practitioners as members. Those divisions have found great benefit in this approach, reporting that NPs play an important role by providing perspectives and experiences that support the development of team-based care, a critical part of primary care transformation. Until now, those divisions have been paying the additional costs of NP membership themselves.

We are pleased to announce that, moving forward, the BC Ministry of Health will fund infrastructure costs for all divisions who have brought, or are interested in bringing, nurse practitioners into their organizations.  This funding is not coming from the Physician Master Agreement, it is coming from the BC government. 

Team-based care is a core element of the patient medical home. As we make shifts in the way we practice, it can be beneficial to provide opportunities for a team-based care approach to be reflected in the way we do our planning at the division level, with diverse voices at the table that reflect the views and perspectives of different team members.

Kind regards,

Ted Patterson                                 Dr Anthon Meyer                   
Co-chair, Ministry of Health            Co-chair, Doctors of BC

HPV Project

Dear Providers,

We are excited to have your area participate in the Cervix Screening At Home pilot. This communication will provide information on the objectives of the pilot and aims to answer some early questions about the pilot and how it will work. As we approach the launch of the pilot there will be additional opportunities to participate in webinars and review tools and resources that will be available to you.

This pilot, which will offer population-based cervix screening to eligible people at-home, aims improve access to cervix screening by reducing barriers. Although HPV has been used as the primary screening test in other jurisdictions, a population-based, at-home approach is still rare internationally and, with your help, we have an opportunity to develop a new, innovative, patient centered cervix screening pathway.

It is well established that a long term infection (usually 10 years or more) with a high-risk (oncogenic) type of the human papillomavirus (HPV) is necessary for cervical cancer to develop. Of the over 100 types of HPV, about 40 can infect the anogenital region. Of these, there are approximately 15 that are oncogenic, and associated with various cancers, including cervical cancer. For over 20 years, research involving HPV testing for cervical cancer screening has been conducted around the world.  Findings of decades of research demonstrate that HPV testing has  higher sensitivity, and higher negative predictive value than cytology-based screening. HPV testing has been shown to earlier and better detect cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN 3) than cytology and because of the higher sensitivity, intervals between negative screens can safely be extended to at least 5 years.

Since HPV testing is looking for the presence of HPV DNA, a sample of cells from the cervix is not required. HPV testing provides the opportunity for vaginal self-collection, increasing access to cervix screening.
In addition, self-collected HPV testing for screening has been shown to be as accurate as clinician collected samples, and this approach has proven to be highly accepted for those undergoing screening.

The purpose of the pilot is to:

• Set up the operational requirements needed to mail kits to participants
• Receive HPV results back from the lab
• Establish result and recall protocols based on the intended follow-up algorithm
• Provide the opportunity to test different letter templates and intervals for inviting, recalling and providing results information to participants
• Learn from primary care providers to ensure the tools and materials we develop will be helpful should at-home cervix screening be rolled out across the province
• Provide practical experience for the colposcopists involved with the pilot to use and provide feedback on the clinical guidelines that have been developed when at-home cervix screening is the primary screening test

In August, we will share an invitation for a webinar that will provide an overview of the pilot project and answer any outstanding questions you may have. In the meantime, we look forward to your involvement and feedback in this work and welcome open discussion on any concerns or suggestions.

Please click here for the At-Home Cervix Screening Pilot Flowchart; and
here for the HPV Pilot Q&A

Sincerely,
Dirk van Neikerk
Medical Director                           

Laura Gentile
Operations Director

Input request: Notice of Development of New JCC-PHP Collaborative Initiatives

Challenge:

Doctors of BC staff have received many enquiries from physicians, divisions and MSAs regarding the increased need for physician wellness support services in their local communities and regions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of this communication is to ensure that appropriate parties are aware, prior to an official announcement, of the development of new provincial physician health programs by a new collaboration between the Joint Collaborative Committees (JCCs) and the Physician Health Program (PHP). These initiatives are currently in early planning stages and aim to support physicians with wellness programs and services both locally and provincially.

With this information, the hope is that communities will pause the development of any new physician wellness programs that would duplicate provincial services that will become available over the coming year, and to allow local groups the option of partnering in these initiatives to leverage their impact.

With this information, the hope is that communities will consider leveraging the impact of these upcoming initiatives by partnering with the PHP and JCCs when they become available over the coming year before considering the development of any new physician wellness programs that would duplicate existing and upcoming provincial services.

Background:

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, physician burnout was an issue requiring attention and support. With the added stressors on physicians and their families as a result of the pandemic, the need has increased exponentially.

Since 2019, the Physician Health Program has seen a 58% increase in the number of physicians seeking help, and a 37% increase in case complexity (number of activities per case). This has resulted in a workload that has increased 2.15 times.

Programs in development to address the need:

The PHP wishes to reassure the physicians and the health care community that, although not at a stage for an official announcement, new physician wellness programs and resources are currently in development by the Physician Health Program as part of a collaborative effort with Doctors of BC and the Joint Collaborative Committees. 

Programs include:

• Provincial Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Skills Training: To expand a CBT Skills Training program developed through the Shared Care Committee to include a physician wellness focus. The program would offer 10 weeks of CBT skills training to physicians to support their patients with mild-moderate mental health issues.
• Provincial Physician Peer Support Network: A new Peer Support Network will train physicians to offer emotional and personal one-to-one support to their peers as part of the network. An assessment and engagement with local groups will be taking place to inform the best approach to implement the network. 
• Expansion of PHP Family Doctor Connection Service: PHP is planning to engage with divisions of family practice to increase the capacity to match physicians with their own personal primary care provider.

The CBT Skills and Peer Support Network are in the early stages of planning and development, with prototyping of the programs intending to take place in the Fall 2021. The PHP and JCCs are interested in receiving input from Divisions and MSAs to inform the planning and development of these programs.

A provincial webinar presented by the PHP was held on July 8th  to describe PHP services and discuss upcoming initiatives with time for questions. The webinar was recorded for those who were unable to attend.

Aligning with Facility Engagement and Divisions of Family Practice Physician Wellness funding:

PHP recognizes that many local physician wellness initiatives are currently in planning or underway with funding from the SSC Facility Engagement initiative and GPSC. There have been questions regarding the criteria for this funding as it aligns with PHP supports. A clarifying document with best practice project examples supported with this funding is currently being compiled and will be distributed shortly.

Current National and Provincial supports for physicians:

As the new programs are in development, the following physician wellness resources continue to be available to support BC physicians:

BC Physician Health Program:

Offers confidential support, counselling, referral and health system navigation support for physicians, medical trainees and their families for a wide range of issues such as mental health concerns, relationship issues, life transitions, financial issues and more.

24/7 Confidential Helpline: 1 800 663 6729
Email: info@physicianhealth.com

Virtual Physician Peer Support Group Sessions:

Free drop-in Zoom meetings every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month at 12pm. Sessions are hosted by PHP consulting psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Russel and Manager, Clinical Services and Registered Clinical Counsellor, Roxanne Joyce.

Participants can attend sessions as they choose, can join to just listen, or join anonymously. Previous discussion topics have included addressing and preventing burnout, setting boundaries personally and professionally, managing work-life balance, parenting during COVID, and others.
Contact peersupport@physicianhealth.com to register.

Health Authority Employee Wellness Supports:

Health Authorities vary in the availability of wellness supports for physicians, so it may be helpful to check in with the program prior to referring a physician. Some potential places to learn more for VIHA, VCH, Fraser, Northern, Providence, and Interior.

CMA Wellness Connection:

A virtual, safe space for physicians and medical learners to gather to discuss shared experiences, get support, seek advice and help each other. CMA Virtual group support sessions are led by trained facilitators, are available each week. There are sessions on mindful parenting, compassion rounds, psychological first aid, stress reduction and more.

CMA Physician Wellness Hub:

Provides original CMA content and curated resources and information from trusted sources for physicians, residents and medical students seeking guidance and self-help. A specific area for leaders may be helpful to Divisions and MSAs.

If you have any questions, please contact your local Engagement Partner.

Physician Health Program
24/7 Help Line 1 800 663 6729
Business Line 604-398-4300
www.physicianhealth.com

UBC Study Recruitment Update - Immersive Multimedia as an Adjunctive Measure for Pain Control in Cancer Patients

We are inviting cancer patients with chronic pain to participate in a clinical trial using immersive multimedia therapy to help with pain management at home. The study is approved by the UBC Clinical Ethics Review Board.

Please click here for our research poster; and
here for the initial invitation letter
We are implementing enhanced protocols to ensure safety of our participants, staff, and community partners. Along with strict antiseptic procedures, we will continue to abide by up-to-date public health guidelines in BC. Our study has been modified to minimize physical contact by moving as much of the study to online formats as possible.

In order to reach our goal of 100 participants, we need your support!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or our project manager, Crystal Sun, at crystal.sun@ubc.ca. 

Gordon Tao, MSc
Research Assistant
The University of British Columbia | xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Traditional Territory
School of Nursing
T302 - 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 2B5
Tel: 604-822-7679

HDC Discover Payment in July 13 Divisions Dispatch

Sent on behalf of Marisa Adair, VP Communications, Doctors of BC

On Tuesday July 13th we sent out an issue of Divisions Dispatch that contains the below article on the new HDC Discover Payment. For any questions, please email hdcpayment@doctorsofbc.ca.

$1,000 GPSC payment available to family doctors who complete panel management and enroll in HDC Discover

Family doctors who have completed panel management are eligible for a new $1,000 GPSC payment if they enrol in HDC Discover and complete the orientation in the web based application. The payment supports family doctors to utilize the application to make data-informed quality improvements in their practices. HDC Discover is a physician-led web based application that supports quality improvement in primary care. As more physicians use the application, communities and family doctors will increasingly be able to conduct primary care network planning and make data-informed decisions on a local or regional level. This payment is the latest step the GPSC is taking to support family doctors and the care that they offer to their patients. Read the grants and payments page for more details on GPSC supports.

The GPSC created the HDC Discover Payment to leverage its investment in data and tools, like HDC Discover, to enable the broad use of quality improvement activities in family practices across BC. Supporting family doctors and teams in learning how to pull and analyze data to improve patient care is critically important to the success of primary care transformation.

Read more.

Marisa Adair
Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs
Supporting the Joint Collaborative Committees
T 604 868 1370  TF 1 800 665 2262

St. Paul's Emergency Medicine Update Virtual Conference Sep 25, 2021

We had such a fantastic turnout for our 2020 Virtual Conference that we’ve decided to try it again this year with new speakers, new updates in emergency care and lots of new take home pearls for your practice!

Here is the news you’ve been waiting for – registration and agenda for this year’s St. Paul’s Emergency Medicine Update are now available!        

St. Paul’s Emergency Medicine Update Conference

Sep 25 (Sat) | 0800–1615 PDT | Online Conference
Target audience: Family physicians, emergency physicians, nurse practitioners, emergency nurses, paramedics, residents, students
Up to 6.25 Mainpro+/MOC Section 1 credits
Course Webpage | Registration Form                                                                                           

You might also be interested in:

Sonnie: Your Ultrasound Partner

Target Audience: all healthcare providers and specialists interested in ultrasound education.
Overview: Our newly launched series of six ultrasound case studies is ideal for those interested in learning more about point-of-care ultrasound education or wishing to refresh their knowledge. We invite you to join Sonnie, Your Ultrasound Partner, in a visual storytelling journey as you learn how to manage patients with conditions ranging from trauma to obstetrics in various rural and remote settings. This project was developed with funding from the Faculty of Medicine’s Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) and the Rural CPD Hands-On Ultrasound Education (HOUSE) program.
Up to 2.0 Mainpro+ credits
Course Webpage

BC Pediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) for Inpatient and Emergency/Urgent Care Settings
Target Audience: BC physicians working in inpatient and emergency department settings.
Overview: The BC Pediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) helps save lives by identifying abnormal physiology quickly and, when tracked across time, offers early warning of deterioration. PEWS has been implemented in many hospitals across BC. Take this short online course for an overview of the evidence and practice using the components of BC PEWS through case scenarios specific to either inpatient or emergency care settings.
Up to 0.5 MOC Section 3 credits
Course Webpage

Real-Time Virtual Support Education (RTVS)

Target Audience: BC health care practitioners working in inpatient and emergency department settings.
Overview: Real-Time Virtual Support (RTVS) pathways enhance health equity in rural, remote, and First Nations communities across British Columbia by connecting rural healthcare providers and patients to RTVS Virtual Physicians via Zoom or telephone. RTVS Virtual Physicians on these “peer-to-peer” pathways provide rural healthcare providers with free and friendly support for all urgent or non-urgent patient cases, including: Case consultations, second opinions and ongoing patient support, patient transport coordination, point-of-care ultrasound, and simulations.

Up to 30.0 Mainpro+/ MOC Section 3 credits
Course Webpage

_____________________________

UBC CPD Faculty of Medicine
The University of British Columbia
Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil-Waututh Traditional Territory
City Square, 200 East Tower
555 W 12th Ave
Vancouver BC V5Z 3X7
CPD.info@ubc.ca | ubccpd.ca

Therapeutics Initiative

Our mission is to provide physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, allied health professionals, and the public with up-to-date, independent, evidence-based, practical information on healthcare interventions. Read more

We are pleased to inform you that issue #131 of the Therapeutics Letter [May-June 2021] has now been posted on our website: Tramadol: Where do we go from here? Please click here to read the article.

Please click here to view additional articles.

BC ECHO for Post-COVID-19 Recovery – Session 2 (August 10, 2021, 12-1pm)

Based on the global ECHO model, the BC ECHO for Post-COVID-19 Recovery is a free virtual learning community of specialists and community health care providers who use instructive and case-based learning to improve care for patients recovering from symptoms post COVID-19.

Each monthly ECHO session is an hour, and starts with a 30-minute presentation from specialists on participant-identified topics, followed by a case presentation submitted by any participant. Each session will wrap up with resources and recommendations. Sessions will be recorded and made available to all registered attendees.

The second session, “Post-COVID-19 Recovery: An Overview of Long-Haulers”, will be held on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at 12-1pm. A presentation will be provided by Dr. Ric Arseneau, General Internist from St. Paul’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital, as well an Associate Clinical Professor at UBC.

The learning objectives for this session include:

• Exemplify compassion towards individuals struggling with post-COVID-19 recovery
• Apply the approaches to management based on symptoms and “red flags”
• Understand the self-management nature of post-COVID-19 recovery

If you are interested in attending this session, please register using the link HERE.

For more details about the BC ECHO for Post-COVID-19 Recovery and future sessions, please visit our website.

Upcoming UVic Self-Management Programs- REGISTRATION OPEN!

Supported through the Ministry of Health’s Patients as Partners Initiative, Self-Management BC provides programs to support people with chronic conditions learn tools, tips and strategies to live a healthy life.

Click here to visit our website.

Chronic Conditions Self-Management Program
Chronic Pain Self-Management Program
Cancer: Thriving and Surviving Sel-Management Program
Diabetes Self-Management Program
Upcoming Workshops

For more details about any of the above, please call us 604-940-1273 or TF: 1-866-902-3767 or visit our website www.selfmanagementbc.ca

Oceanside Hospice Society

The Oceanside Hospice Society serves individuals and families experiencing end-of-life, care-giving and bereavement in the area stretching from Deep Bay to Nanoose, and west to Errington and Whiskey Creek

We strive to provide links in the continuum of care by supporting care giving at home, in hospital or the palliative care unit at Trillium and at community care facilities.

Please contact us at 250.752.6227 or visit www.oceansidehospice.com for further information.

Oceanside Caregivers

Caregivers,
Please email to let us know if you are coming

We are so pleased to invite you to join together in person again at the Christleton Park on:
Date:  Friday, July 30   Time:  1:00pm and
Date:  Fri, August 27.   Time: 1:00pm. 
Location:  Christleton Park (corner of Chester and Qualicum Road).   Just take Village Way to Qualicum Road (you will see the big Qualicum Woods sign), and turn in, go one block, and turn right at Chester, and there you are!!
Bring a chair and a beverage, and we will be together again under the shade trees!
We are so looking forward to being with you.
Carol and Fred Dowe
Oceanside Caregivers
250-752-2104
caroldowe@gmail.com

Divisions Dispatch

The latest news from the provincial team and complementary organizations.
https://divisionsbc.ca/provincial/news-events/divisions-dispatch

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