As 2020 Draws to a Close...

To Members of the Central Island Division,

As 2020 draws to a close and we individually celebrate the season I wanted to do a quick update about what Central Island Division has accomplished in this year. Clearly, it has been an unusual year for our members, Board and staff. But when adversity strikes people always seem to respond in creative, collaborative ways to make their way through that challenge. And it has shown itself throughout 2020 in our staff, Board and members.

While COVID response has taken much of Division energy recently, we have still been capable of operating at near capacity introducing new projects, improving others and supporting family practitioners and front-line staff in responding to the ever-changing COVID landscape.

Here are a few of our accomplishments in 2020:

Long-Term Care Initiative (LTCI)

• Successful delivery of training and quality improvement projects
• In response to COVID the LTCI Leadership Committee arranged for iPads and suture kits to be supplied to residences

COVID Response

• Supply of PPE to all family practitioners and Division members
• Support of front-line employees in patient care
• Liaison with Public Health, Island Divisions and Ministry of Health
• Coordination of service in Oceanside and Port Alberni
• Development of potential virtual walk-in clinic

Patient Medical Home Extension and Division Projects

• Maternity Care - Port Alberni
• Shared Care Psychiatry
• Virtual Care
• Nurse in Practice pilot project
• First Nation support and relationship-building

Primary Care Network (PCN)

• Creation of Funds Transfer Agreement with Ministry of Health and launch of PCN
• Hiring of Priority Response Team
• Approval for Community Pharmacist
• Development of Practice Link Nurse project
• Opening of NP clinic in Qualicum Beach

Other progress occurred at the Board and governance levels such as a revised Code of Conduct, a change of leadership at the Board level and assignment of Board members to more Division committees. That is lots! It's time for a Christmas break. To that end, our office and staff will be taking a break starting December 24. Closure of the office will extend to January 3. We will all be "back in the saddle" on January 4.

Thanks to our talented and dedicated staff for their great work this year and to the Board for their support, guidance and leadership.

As well, thank you for all of the member support we have received in 2020 and all the volunteer activities that help to make the Division a success. It is appreciated greatly. If you have any questions or concerns while our office is closed, do not hesitate to contact me at eclark@divisionsbc.ca or 250-703-6159.

Have a wonderful holiday season and a successful New Year!

Evelyn Clark
Executive Director

Changes to Central island Division Staff

Over the past year we have had significant change to our staff and to their individual duties. We have added two talented people to our staff register and we have re-deployed staff in other roles. We also anticipate adding another administrative assistant to our roster in early 2021. Here is what has happened in 2020.

Primary Care Network: We have hired Shonda Holt as Project Manager and Gavin Arthur as Change Manager. If you have any question about PCN, please reach out to them. (sholt@divisionsbc.ca and garthur@divisionsbc.ca)

Sharon Todd, our Programs Manager, is now focused on COVID Recovery, Operations, Recruitment and Retention and Palliative and MOA networks. Sharon is also assisting with PCN#2 in Port Alberni. (stodd@divisionsbc.ca)

Jill Skuse is now our Division Coordinator. Jill will take her place as resource to the Long-Term Care Initiative. She will supervise our new Administrative Assistant and continue to provide administrative support to the Division and the Board of Directors as well as to projects and committees.(jskuse@divisionsbc.ca)

Tina Biello stays as our Project Manager and has taken on significantly more responsibilities in that arena. Tina is leading the Nurse in Practice, Psychiatry Network development and Maternity Care project in Port Alberni. As well she is assisting in development of a potential Virtual Walk-in clinic and PCN#2. Tina continues to work hard in developing excellent relationships with our First Nation partners on both sides of the hump. (tbiello@divisionsbc.ca)

Janet Quilliam has been hired as the new Administrative Assistant for Division and PCN and starts in her new position on January 4, 2021. Janet will assist in keeping everyone organized, keep meetings moving forward and in supporting administrative duties. Please contact her with any questions or concerns. (admin@divisonsbc.ca)

Please contact any of these individuals if you have specific questions about their responsibilities. As well, you can always contact me at eclark@divisionsbc.ca or 250-703-6159.

Evelyn Clark
Executive Director
Central Island Division of Family Practice
250-703-6159

Programs Update

New Clinic Opportunity in Parksville

Dr. Safya Elwesh is looking for one full time or two part-time family physicians to  join her central Parksville practice.  This practice has one full-time family physician and is looking for a collegial practice partner to share overheads on a 70/30 split.  There are 2 awesome MOAS at the clinic – both experienced, friendly, and helpful.  The clinic is located within walking distance of Parksville downtown shops, restaurants, and services, and easy walking distance to the Parksville beach boardwalk.  The practice uses MedAccess and would be open to a practitioner doing out of hours walk-in clinic to better serve the community.  Interested? 
Please contact Program Manager Sharon Todd at 250-937-0611 or stodd@divisionsbc.ca

Sharon Todd
Program Manager

PMH, Shared Care, Maternity Care Update

Virtual Care Sessions 
Three virtual sessions on implementing virtual care into clinics via DTO (Doctors Technology Office) PSP and PMH innovation funds will be coming in January. Email invitations for the January 13 session have been sent out.
Everyone is invited and those, who choose to move forward, will qualify for sessional funding. More details will be provided during the session. Please join us and share your experience - both good and bad – and find what steps to take to implement virtual care Please register here.
Session Dates are January 13, February 3 and February 24.

To complete our Virtual Care survey - please click here 

Nurse in Practice
Murray Coughtrey has been working with Dr. Biglow and Dr.El Karsh 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.

Shared Care, Psychiatry
Follow up with psychiatry shared care: Tina Biello will be connecting with interested GPs and clinics with a schedule to see who would like to access to sessions with Dr. Saffy.

Maternity Care
Funding via GPSC for a Maternity network in Port Alberni has been approved. This work has started with First Nations in Port Alberni and peri natal psychiatry meetings.

First Nations
Nuu-chah-nulth tribal council nursing department have developed a referral form process for those GPs in Port Alberni who might have NTC patients that need follow up from their nursing staff.

For more information, contact Tina Biello

PCN Update

The PCN Steering Committee and the Division staff continue the work of operationalizing the PCN Service Plan and are excited to share this month’s updates.

December PCN engagement event
Several of the division members joined us on December 1st for an online PCN Update and Collaboration Session covering the following topics.

An Oceanside PCN update – Dr Mark Morris (click here for slides)

Discussion of new PCN roles coming to Oceanside in the new year that can support your practice

• Primary Care Clinical Pharmacist – what is the role and how will it be launched? – Presentation by Barbara Gobis (Director of UBC Pharmacists Clinic) and Dr Mark Morris (click here for slides)
• Priority Response Team – update on current state and how to access – Dr Drew Digney (click here for slides)
• Primary Care Link RN – how can it help your practice, and how will it be launched? – Dr Mark Morris (click here for slides)

Primary Care Clinical Pharmacist (PCCP) coming to Oceanside
As part of the ongoing development of PCNs across BC, 50 primary care clinical pharmacists (PCCP) are being embedded to support communities in delivering effective team-based care. This PCCP program is being led by the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UBC), and the first 20 PCCPs will be hired and onboarded by September 2021.

The remaining 30 will start being deployed in October 2021.
We are really pleased to announce that  Oceanside PCN is one of only a few “second wave” PCNs in BC to be approved for this first round of PCCP placement. Because our local providers have told us this is a much-needed service we have worked to secure one of these initial PCCP positions. We are excited to be working closely with UBC, Island Health, and you – local primary care providers to bring in this role early in the new year. 
To learn more and submit an expression of interest (EOI) to have the PCCP support you, contact the  PCN team: garthur@divisionsbc.ca

Health Personal Protective Equipment Portal

The following is an important update on next steps required to register for the Ministry’s Health PPE Portal. The new portal, a central distribution system which will allow community doctors to order PPE and critical supplies at no cost during the pandemic, will be operational at the end of this month.

Key points from the Ministry memo:

• Doctors with community offices will receive a letter in the mail over the next two weeks with information on how to order PPE and critical supplies through the new portal.
• The letter will include a unique customer number and additional information on how they can access the portal.
• The mail will go out in stages, starting with the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health regions, starting November 27th.
• Doctors in the Interior, Island and Northern health regions will receive the letters over the next two weeks.
• If you do not receive a letter by December 15, 2020 and you believe you qualify, please email health.ppe@gov.bc.ca 
• If you require PPE and critical supplies before you have access to the Health PPE Portal, including medical masks to comply with the mask use in health-care settings during COVID-19 policy, please continue to work with Divisions and the health authority.

Regards,
Marisa Adair
Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs
T 604 868 1370
doctorsofbc.ca

Sessional Lift for Family Practitioners

In May 2019, pre-PMA sessional rates were set at $134.77 for general practitioners and $158.97 for specialists while a GP-SP parity issue was deliberated.

On November 12, 2020, Doctors of BC informed us that the Physician Services Committee (PSC) had approved that family and specialist physicians who participate in quality and system improvement activities on behalf of the Joint Collaborative Committees (JCCs) will be compensated at the same rate of $158.97 per hour for their participation, retroactive to April 1, 2019.

In the next short while, family practitioners who have assisted the Central Island Division of Family Practice in the 2020 fiscal year will be receive a “lift” of payment to $158.97 retroactive to April 1, 2020. Please look for that in your bank account in the next short while. If you do not have direct deposit, you will receive a cheque for that amount.

If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact Evelyn Clark at 250-703-6159.

Qs and As on Ministry’s Mask Policy

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

When the Ministry announced its new mask policy for mandatory masks in health care facilities, including doctors’ offices, many physicians and divisions had questions. We followed up with the Ministry, and are now sharing with you its Q and A for doctors, nurses and other health care practitioners. Click here to view.

We have also shared this document with family physicians around the province.

If you have further questions, please email covid19@doctorsofbc.ca and we will forward them to the Ministry for response.

Marisa Adair
Vice President, Communications
& Public Affairs
T 604 868 1370
doctorsofbc.ca

Survey for Family Practitioners- SSC Enhancing Access Initiative

The Specialist Services Committee is currently supporting the Enhancing Access Initiative which is designed to support specialists with implementing a central intake/pooled referral model and improve patient access to specialist consult and care. Under a pooled referral model, a patient can see either the first available specialist or a particular specialist of your/their choosing.
 
We are currently evaluating the impact of this initiative and are interested in your views as a referring provider and are asking you to consider completing an ANONYMOUS survey .

To take the survey please click here. It should take you approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.

Everyone who completes this survey will have the option of entering their name into a draw for $100 online gift card at Mountain Equipment Co-op or London Drugs.

Please complete the survey by January 15, 2021.

Many thanks,
Elayne McIvor & Kylie Hutchinson

Family Medicine Preceptors Needed

Please reply to:
paul.terlien@ubc.ca; or
staceyt@uvic.ca

Dear colleagues

I am having to approach you, cap in hand, with a fairly pressing need. In essence, I am looking for Family Practice preceptors who may be willing to take on third year students at UBC for a four week block of Rural Family Medicine experience. We have had a sudden an unexpected change in our preceptor pool, which has left us short of teachers for what remains of this academic year.

The Rural FP rotation has become a very important part of the third year medical school curriculum, and is the only substantial exposure students get to Family Medicine. I have had a number of students in the past say to me that they had no idea Family Medicine could be so interesting and so rewarding after their rotations, as their previous experience had been in more of a time-limited urban setting. If we are looking to have Family Physicians of the future interested in rural work, and to become available to us as locums, and to succeed us in our practices, I firmly believe this experience is vital in their undergraduate experience.

Students would be with you for a four week block, and the expectation is that they have a minimum of 3 ½ days per week of clinical experience, with plenty of independent study time. I know that clinical practice has changed in many unanticipated ways for this last year, but the opportunities we can provide for students to learn are incredibly valuable.

There is remuneration available for the block, around $2500, so although your clinic may be altered or slowed a little by their presence, there is good compensation available for your time. UBC relies on a distributed teaching model, which is in many ways highly commendable, as it has students involved in many community learning sites without necessarily relying on a teaching hospital environment.

The first rotation that needs a spot for a student is as soon as February 1st 2021, so I would be incredibly grateful for expressions of interest.

If you think you might be able to help us out, please be in touch with either myself or Stacey Taylor, the program assistant in Duncan, at staceyt@uvic.ca or 250-701-6711.

With many thanks in advance

Paul Terlien

Paul Terlien MB BCh CCFP FCFP
Site director | Third Year Integrated Community Clerkship
Site lead | Third Year Rural Family Practice Clerkship
Island Medical Program | University of Victoria
Cowichan District Hospital | 3045 Gibbins Rd | Duncan | BC | V9L 1E5
P 250-737-2063
F 250-737-2068
cell 250-715-6436
paul.terlien@ubc.ca
I acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish peoples and the Quwu'utsun (Cowichan) tribe on whose traditional territory I work, live and play, and whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.

Comox Valley Direct-to-Endoscopy Program (CVDTE)

Dear Colleagues,
The General Surgery group at Comox Valley Hospital has officially launched the direct-to-endoscopy
(CVDTE) program and has been accepting patients since November 2nd, 2020. It is our hope that this program will expedite access to surgeon consultations and elective endoscopy procedures.

Click here for more information about the CVDTE Program.

Click here for link for Intrahealth EMR users.

Click here for link for OSCAR EMR users.

Click here for link for Med Access EMR users.

Chris Spoor, RN, BScN
Manager Colonoscopy Development and Implementation
Island Health
Office at: St. Joseph’s Hospital
2137 Comox Ave. Comox, B.C. V9M 1P2
chris.spoor@viha.ca
Cell: 250-588-6089

Addictions Medicine Information

There is a collaborative prescribing agreement for naltrexone/acamprosate that each doctor needs to sign only once (not for each patient). It will then provide any naltrexone/acamprosate that you prescribe at very low or no cost to the patient. Otherwise, both are very expensive and can be a barrier for patients to get treatment for their substance use disorder. The form is also available on Pathways.

Nanaimo Eating Disorder Clinic Closure

Dear Central Island referring physicians and care providers,

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Central Island Pediatric Eating Disorder team. It is with great sadness that we are temporarily discontinuing this service on December 21, 2020. Effective immediately, we are no longer accepting new referrals and will be working with you to create transition plans for our existing patients.

Please see the following for guidance on where to send your patients:

1. For patients 17 years and under, please refer to your local community pediatrician for diagnosis and management as appropriate. For urgent/emergency matters, please discuss with local pediatrician on call or consult directly with Adolescent Medicine on call through BC Children’s Hospital (Main Switchboard: 604-875-2345)
2. For meal planning and dietary advice, please refer to your local community dietitian or Stacey Blouin, NRGH dietician (Ph: 250-739-5854; Fax: 250-739-5855)
3. For mental health/parent support, please refer to your local Child and Youth Mental Health program note: For patients living in Nanaimo, please refer to Nanaimo Area Resource and Service for Families (NARSF). The Eating Disorder Program clinician works two days per week and currently has a waitlist of approximately 4-6 months
4. For tertiary level care, referrals can be sent directly to BC Children’s Provincial Eating Disorders Program (16 y and under), Looking Glass Residence Program (16-24 yo) or Provincial Adult Tertiary and Specialized Eating Disorder Program at St. Paul’s Hospital (17 y and older)
5. For psychiatric consultation, access obtained through CYMH, CICAPP or BCCH Compass program (physician consultation only)

Please know this was a challenging decision. Unfortunately, we no longer have the necessary resources to offer the level of service you and your patients have come to expect. However, we will use this as an opportunity to explore possibilities to create a more robust and sustainable service in the future. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to exploring options to support our shared patients moving ahead.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jennifer Kouwenberg, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Francine Ling, MD, FRCPC
Stacey Blouin, RD

The X-Change: A Series of Rounds to Drive Change Session 1 of 8 (Zoom Registration info included)

Please click here for information about how to register for the  next accredited “virtual” Grand Rounds, free to all BC physicians.

UBC CPD Virtual Offerings 2021

Registration has just opened for several of our family-physician focused 2021 virtual offerings

STARTS FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY!
Virtual Series: Orthopaedics for Primary Care

Jan 6, 13, 20, 27 (Wed) 1900–2000 PDT | Online
Target audience: family physicians, specialty physicians, residents
Overview: Join us each Wednesday in January to learn about primary care management of orthopaedic injuries from experts in the field. 2 experts will cover the topic, with plenty of time for your questions. Jan 6: Ankle Sprains; Jan 13: Knee Injuries; Jan 13: Shoulder Injuries; Jan 27: Top 5 RACE line calls for foot & ankle conditions.
Up to 1.0 Mainpro+/MOC Section 1 credits per session
Click here to Register 

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LATER IN JANUARY
Implants and IUDs: Comparing and Inserting Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) **workshops are sold out; lecture space available only**

Click here for more information.

Jan 23 OR Jan 30 (Sat) 0900–1430 PDT | Online
Target audience: family physicians, nurse practitioners, residents and students
Up to 1.5 Mainpro+
Click here to Register

CME on the Run! Therapeutics
Click here for more information.

Jan 29 (Fri) 1300–1700 PDT | Online

Target audience: family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, residents and students
Overview: Our unique and award-winning series of 6-half day short snapper style focused CPD now delivered online only.  We are excited to introduce our next series of lectures and incredible speakers. Therapeutics topics covered include Facts and Myths About Drugs Your Patients are Asking About, COVID Therapeutics – What Have We Learned? What is New in the Management of Migraine? And more!
Up to 3.5 Mainpro+/MOC Section 1 credits
Click here to Register.

Victoria Gynecology Update 2021
Click here for more information.

Jan 30 (Sat) 0900–1545 PDT | Online

Target audience: family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, pelvic floor physiotherapists, midwives, allied health professionals, residents and students
Overview: The Victoria Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is hosting its annual Gynecology Update for primary care providers, with updates on a wide range of topics. Plan to be a part of this focused conference where experts will share their knowledge on a number of subjects. Topics include chronic pelvic pain, cervical lesions, ectopic pregnancy, vulvar lichens, ovarian cancer, and many more!
Up to 5.5 Mainpro+ credits
Click here to Register.
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COMING UP IN FEBRUARY
UBC Care of the Elderly Virtual Conference
Click here for more information.

Feb 12 (Fri) 0800–1515 PDT | Online
Target audience: family physicians, geriatricians, nurse practitioners, nurses, residents and students
Overview: We have condensed our popular 3-day intensive course into 1-day virtual conference-participate in the safety and comfort of your own home or office!  Topics are tailored for primary care providers who work with elderly patients.  Participants will also have the opportunity to express their learning needs on each topic prior to the event.
Up to 6.0 Mainpro+/MOC Section 1 credits
Click here to Register.

UBC Respiratory Medicine Update Virtual Conference
Click here for more information.

Feb 19-20 (Fri-Sat) Fri: 1300–1730; Sat: 0800-1130 PDT | Online
Target audience: family physicians, general internists, hospitalists, nurse practitioners, respiratory educators, respiratory therapists, COPD educators, nurses, residents and students
Overview: Please join us once again for this annual comprehensive update hosted by the UBC Division of Respiratory Medicine featuring respiratory updates with renowned local speakers. Fri, Feb 19 is targeted towards respirologists, while Sat, Feb 20 is targeted towards family medicine. You are welcome to attend both!
Up to 7.0 Mainpro+/MOC Section 1 credits
Click here to Register.


56th Annual Family Practice Review (Formerly Known as the Annual Post Graduate Review)
Click here for more information.

Feb 26 (Fri) 0800-1500 PDT | Online
Target audience: family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, residents and students
Overview: This comprehensive review course offers an update of knowledge central to the practice of family medicine in both rural and urban settings. Committed to addressing everyday practical issues, speakers present equally on current and special areas of concern to the primary health care professionals. Topics include Top 10 Articles That Changed My Practice, Pediatric Anxiety, Contraceptive Update, Dermatology Cases, and many more!
Mainpro+/MOC Section 1 credits

Click here to Register.
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You also might be interested in:

COVID RESOURCES
Do you have a COVID-19 question? Ask REAKT, and we will find an answer for you!
REAKT: Rapid Evidence and Knowledge Translation during COVID-19
We are responding rapidly to questions posed by you and other providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This may involve evidence review and summary, sourcing existing resources such as pre-printed order sets, or sharing ideas and innovations. The response is sent directly to you and added to the expanding online library of questions and answers. REAKT is powered by volunteer medical students, The UBC Division of Continuing Professional Development’s Rural Program (UBC RCPD) and the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc)
Ask your own question: Click here
See example answers: Click here

COVID-19 Resource Hub
Click here for more information.

We have a comprehensive COVID-19 hub of reliable education and resources being offered by UBC CPD and other education providers.
Email us any questions or suggest resources:
cpd.covid-19@ubc.ca.

UVic - Self-Management BC Programs

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.

Please click here to view our programs.

We are delighted to let you know that programs for people living with diabetes, chronic pain and chronic conditions are available in these formats:

• Small Group Conference – max 4 persons over teleconference or computer audio -  workshops run 30-45 minutes once per week for 6 weeks
• Independent – a one time-mailing of a kit – with guide book for the independent, self-starter
• Online - Chronic Conditions Online program - 6 weeks, long on at own convenience with new topics posted each week.
• One-to-One – the Health Coach Program – one-to-one peer support by way of a telephone call for 30 minutes, once per week for 3 months

Please click here for more information.

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.

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