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July 13, 2021
In this issue:
- GPSC
- COVID-19 updates
- Doctors of BC
- Joint Collaborative Committees
- Practice supports
- Continuing medical education
- In case you missed it
GPSC
NEW - $1,000 GPSC payment available to family doctors who complete panel management and enroll in the Health Data Coalition Discover platform
Divisions: Please share this with your members.
Family doctors who have completed panel management are eligible for a new $1,000 GPSC payment if they enroll in the HDC Discover tool and complete the orientation for the software. The payment supports family doctors to utilize the tool to make data-informed quality improvements in their practices.
HDC Discover is a physician-led data platform that supports quality improvement in primary care. As more physicians use the tool, 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.
The GPSC will email eligible physicians information about applying for the payment. Application and enrollment deadline for HDC Discover is March 30, 2022.
Read the full details of the payment, and email questions to hdcpayment@doctorsofbc.ca.
COVID-19 UPDATES
Restart plan phase 3: What does it mean for doctors’ offices?
BC has entered phase 3 of the Restart Plan, which means some restrictions have eased for the public when it comes to wearing masks. However, there are no changes for doctors’ offices.
Family doctors, specialists, staff, patients, and visitors to community practices must continue to wear medical masks as set out in the provincial government's mask policy.
Doctors should continue to see patients in-person as clinically required under the conditions set up in their safety plan. They should also ensure they are following infection control procedures.
For more information see BC's Restart Plan phase 3: What does it mean for doctors offices? (PDF). This document is formatted for downloading and printing for use in doctors' offices.
For questions or comments, please contact covid19@doctorsofbc.ca.
DOCTORS OF BC
Doctors of BC wants physician input on gender equity in BC medicine
A Doctors of BC member consultation campaign seeks physician input about gender equity in medicine with the goal of developing policy to speak to the issue.
Research from Canada and abroad indicates that female physicians are underrepresented in medical leadership positions, experience worse work-life integration, and face a gender pay gap compared to their male colleagues. Doctors can share their thoughts via Doctors of BC’s online member engagement platform.
Input deadline is 11:59 p.m. on July 21, 2021.
More information:
- Gender equity in BC medicine: Share your thoughts and have your say.
- Our path toward a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive Doctors of BC.
For questions, email policyandplanning@doctorsofbc.ca.
JOINT COLLABORATIVE COMMITTEES
Divisions website update: New interactive map
A new divisions and MSAs map on the Divisions of Family Practice website shows all 35 divisions and 73 medical staff associations (MSAs) across the province.
The interactive, dynamic map makes it easy to locate divisions/MSAs and access related information like street address, website, and contact information for Engagement Partners (EPs).
EPs are a key contact between divisions/MSAs and the Joint Collaborative Committees. They support capacity building, operational and strategic direction, learning and development, funding interpretation and support, and knowledge sharing and issues management. EPs work with the GPSC’s Primary Care Transformation Partners, Doctors of BC’s Regional Advisors and Advocates team, the Ministry of Health, and health authorities.
Additional contact information for the provincial team is available on the Contact Us page.
FYI: Next Divisions Dispatch issue Wed July 28
Please note that the next issue of Divisions Dispatch is scheduled for Wednesday, July 28, rather than Tuesday, July 27. For information about Divisions Dispatch, including content guidelines and submission deadlines, please contact Jeff Chan (jchan@doctorsofbc.ca).
PRACTICE SUPPORTS
CareConnect provides easy access to patient information
Family physicians are encouraged to consider linking up with CareConnect, a province-wide electronic health record (EHR) offering health care providers one-stop to access key patient information.
Offered and supported by the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), CareConnect (Provincial eHealth Viewer) provides secure, view-only access to information including visits, labs, imaging reports, immunizations, and medications. It can also identify other clinicians involved in a patient’s care and provide information to facilitate patient triage and develop care plans.
Top 5 things to know about CareConnect:
- No cost to physicians or clinics.
- Eliminates need to track down reports or order duplicate tests and procedures.
- Accessible through a regular internet connection or the Private Physician Network.
- Rapid Access feature, available from some EMRs, enables providers to view a patient’s information in CareConnect within 20 seconds.
- Doctors can enrol via the CareConnect Worksite Intake Form. The enrolment process is supported by PHSA.
Learn more about CareConnect or contact the CareConnect team at private.careconnect@phsa.ca.
New provincial standard requisition form for home sleep apnea testing
A new provincial standard home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) requisition form is available via Pathways (log in required) or from the Ministry of Health’s approved standard diagnostic outpatient requisition forms. The form is now required for all practitioner referrals to accredited HSAT facilities.
Developed by the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the Medical Services Commission’s Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC), this new form is one of several outcomes to BC doctors’ responses to the Ministry’s Referring Practitioner’s Survey promoted in Divisions Dispatch and In Circulation in spring 2019, which indicated a need for sleep disorder education, including guidelines for referral and appropriate testing, and a standard requisition form.
The new provincial standard requisition for HSAT is an integral part of a new Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Assessment and Management in Adults guideline. A new Sleep Disorders in Adults: Recognition and Referral guideline will follow.
The new provincial standard requisition is a key component of the College’s new accreditation standards for stand-alone HSAT facilities. When referring patients for HSAT, practitioners are to refer only to accredited facilities. CPSBC's list of accredited HSAT facilities (PDF).
More information about the Ministry’s review of diagnostic sleep issues in BC: Diagnostic Sleep Medicine Review (June 24, 2020).
For questions or comments, contact the Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee (hlth.guidelines@gov.bc.ca).
CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION
July 29 webinar: Wounds in long-term care
The latest session in the Victoria-South Island Long-Term Care Initiative (LTCI) Learning Series, “Wounds in long-term care” will be hosted on Zoom by clinical nurse educator Stephanie Sprout. The session is open to doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals practicing in long-term care.
“Wounds in long-term care.” Thursday, July 29 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. PT.
- Registration link (no cost). Please RSVP by Tuesday, July 27.
The session is certified for 1.5 group learning Mainpro+ credits.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Information from the divisions provincial office
Since June 28, we have emailed you about:
- New Physician Health Program initiatives to support BC doctors.
- Opportunity to receive funding for NPs.
- GPSC May 2021 meeting summary.
If you missed these, please contact Joanna Richards (jrichards@doctorsofbc.ca).
DIVISIONS IN THE NEWS
Click here to read the latest news about Divisions of Family Practice in the media.
The provincial communications team produces a twice-monthly newsletter designed to keep divisions up-to-date with the Divisions initiative. It is sent to local division executive directors, administration, physician leads, and board members. In order to minimize emails being sent these groups, we try to include as much in these newsletters as possible. We encourage you to share it with your division members at large. If you have a story you would like to submit for consideration, please contact Jeff Chan at jchan@doctorsofbc.ca.
Media coverage is monitored by the Divisions of Family Practice provincial communications team and compiled on the Divisions in the News page.
This issue can also be found on the Divisions of Family Practice website.
