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December 7, 2020
In this issue:
- COVID-19 updates
- Division supports
- Joint Collaborative Committees
- Health care partners
- Physician supports
COVID-19 UPDATES
Seeking physician input: COVID-19 vaccination
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is surveying doctors and other health care professionals to learn more about the training and resources that will be most useful to help you discuss COVID-19 vaccines with patients/clients. The survey closes December 13, 2020.
- Access the survey: COVID-19 vaccine resource and training needs survey for health care providers.
Implementation of Health PPE Portal
Recently, the Ministry of Health announced that letters were being sent to thousands of family doctors and specialists with community offices with information on how to register for delivery of PPE at no cost through the new Health PPE Portal.
A reminder that if doctors do not receive a letter by December 15 and believe they qualify, they should email health.ppe@gov.bc.ca and staff will assist them.
DIVISION SUPPORTS
Understanding the role of Doctors of BC engagement partners and primary care transformation partners
Senior Doctors of BC staff held a webinar for divisions and medical staff associations recently that contained a presentation on the roles that engagement partners and primary care transformation partners play in supporting divisions and medical staff associations, followed by a Q and A session. The session was recorded and is available on the JCC Resource Catalogue:
JOINT COLLABORATIVE COMMITTEES
GPSC Meeting Summary November 2020
The November 2020 GPSC meeting summary is now available, with key highlights including:
- GPSC workshop: Mental health and substance use.
- GPSC workshop: Recruitment and retention.
- Partnership between the Practice Support Program and nurses and nurse practitioners in BC.
- Four new case studies from GPSC Evaluations.
HEALTH CARE PARTNERS
Seeking physician input: Managing sleep apnea
The Assessment and Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in Adults guideline is available for external review until January 1, 2021. The guideline applies to adult patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea and also includes a brief section on children.
- Visit the BC Guidelines external review page.
- Download the draft guideline.
- Submit feedback via an online questionnaire.
PRIME enrollment required for new PharmaNet users as of December 1
PRIME is an online application for eligible health care practitioners who use PharmaNet to deliver patient care. The application is designed to significantly reduce the amount of paperwork and record keeping faced by doctors offices and health care facilities. As noted in the November 3, 2020 PharmaCare Newsletter (PDF) – as of December 1, 2020, all new PharmaNet users* must be enrolled in PRIME.
(*New users are defined as first-time users, or past users who did not have PharmaNet access on November 30, 2020.)
More information for doctors, including what is PRIME, when/how to enroll, user requirements, staff supports, etc.:
PHYSICIAN SUPPORTS
BC Cancer cervix screening updates
On December 7, 2020, BC Cancer Cervix Screening is implementing significant program updates including a facilitated referral process and direct patient reminder letters for cervix screening. For more information:
For further questions, please contact the BC Cancer Cervix Screening Program (screening@bccancer.bc.ca, 604-877-6000 ext 675365).
Adult obesity: CMAJ clinical guideline
A clinical guideline published in August 2020 by the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) supports physicians in treating patients living with obesity. Topics include addressing causes, dealing with stigmas, improving health outcomes, and chronic disease management.
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.
