October 2023

The monthly E-News shares provincial program information and updates about the Facility Engagement program. This information will be of interest to Medical Staff Association (MSA) support teams, but please feel free to forward the newsletter to your MSA executives as well. 

NEW: Facility Engagement Funding Guidelines Updates

Non-Physician Medical Staff Members and Allied Health Professionals (AHP)

In response to funding clarity requested from MSAs regarding the inclusion of non-physicians in Facility Engagement, funding guidelines have been developed, discussed, and approved by the provincial SSC FEWG.  These guidelines provide clarity on the role of non-physician providers in FE activities, working groups, and in leadership positions.  Further information, including scenarios and FAQs can be found here.

NOTE: Section 22 of the FE Funding Guidelines - Non-Physician Medical Staff Members and Allied Health Professionals Involvement in FEI – has been added to reflect these changes.

Physician Alternative Payment Plans (APPs)

Guidelines have been developed in response to requests for clarity on the appropriate use of FE funding in supporting physicians that are engaging in work related to APP development and implementation. 

NOTE: Section 17 of the FE Funding Guidelines - Alternatively Paid Physicians and Health Authority Physician Leaders - has been updated to reflect these changes.

Accommodation and Mileage Rates

The following were approved by the Doctors of BC Board and are now in effect as of September 1.  Retroactive payments will be made if necessary.

Accommodation per diems

1. $410/night       regular rate (October – April)
2. $550/night       peak rate (May – September)

If a physician cannot find a hotel at the above specified rates, a higher rate can be paid with management approval.

Mileage rate

The rate has increased to $0.61/km to match the government rate.  This rate has been updated in the Facility Engagement Management System (FEMS).

NOTE: Section 16 of the FE Funding Guidelines – Eligible Expenses - has been updated to reflect these changes.

If you have any questions, please contact engagement@doctorsofbc.ca

NEW: BC Societies Act – For Physician Societies ONLY

In the spring of this year the BC Societies Act was updated for the first time since it was introduced in 2016. Though no substantial changes were made that materially affect physician societies, there are changes that may require updates to your society bylaws. We have created a new bylaws template with the relevant changes for your reference - 2023 FE Bylaws Template .

An accompanying Cover Note has been provided by our legal counsel and highlights the changes that may affect your society, and what changes to your bylaws are required if they are not consistent with the new Act. Existing bylaws, to the extent they are inconsistent with these legislative changes, will be ineffective.

Action Required - PHYSICIAN SOCIETIES ONLY

If after reviewing the Cover Note you determine that updates are required to your bylaws, we suggest making any required updates prior to the next meeting of your general membership. In accordance with the Fund Transfer Agreement, any changes to bylaws requires review by Doctors of BC counsel to ensure they are consistent with Facility Engagement Policy. 

Please send any changes to engagement@doctorsofbc.ca and once reviewed/approved, these changes are required to be circulated to members at least 14 days prior to a meeting and require a resolution to be passed by a two-thirds majority of the members.

If you have any questions, please contact engagement@doctorsofbc.ca

REMINDER: SEAT Deadline

Friendly reminder that the next Site Engagement Activity Tracker (SEAT) submission deadline for quarters 1 and 2 is October 15^th.

Please update your SEAT designated engagement activities in FEMS with any significant milestones that occurred over the last six months before the deadline.

Updates will appear in the SEAT database following the deadline.

If you have any questions, please email seatsupport@doctorsofbc.ca.

REMINDER: 2023-24 Annual Review

It’s time to start planning for the 2023-24 Annual Review!

The Annual Review (previously known as Site Review and Reporting Process or SRRP) is an opportunity for Medical Staff Associations (MSAs), health authorities (HAs), and the Specialist Services Committee Facility Engagement Working Group (SSC FEWG) to review progress made in support of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and FE objectives. The activities associated with this review are designed to create opportunities for FE participants to reflect on the effectiveness of site strategies and activities planned for the year ahead, and for the FE Initiative to learn from each MSAs’ experiences.

We heard your feedback! What’s changing in this year’s process?

1. Simplified instructions packages
2. More flexibility to adapt Annual Review tools for maximum growth and development at the individual site level
3. Further alignment of activities with FE Knowledge Sharing Strategy and FE provincial evaluation
4. And more!

Activity instructions packages with further information will be emailed to all sites within the next few weeks.  

Please email engagement@doctorsofbc.ca if you haven’t received your package by early-November.

TIP: FEMS Phone Line

Every month, we will feature a timely update on how to use FEMS to your best advantage.

This month we would like to share an update on the FEMS Support phone line.

• As of November 1, 2023, the FEMS Help Desk phone line will be discontinued and all inquiries will be moved exclusively to the online ticketing system via femssupport@doctorsofbc.ca.
• The decision to discontinue the phone line is due to the nature of remote work and a single team member acting on tickets within business hours.
• If phone or video support is required to address an issue, an appointment can be made by emailing femssupport@doctorsofbc.ca. 

If you have any questions, please contact femssupport@doctorsofbc.ca

TIP: PM Helpdesk Lunch and Learn Library

The FCE provincial office, in conjunction with the PM Helpdesk Consultant, Erica Kjekstad, have created a library document of all of the past lunch and learn sessions from 2021 and 2022.

The 2023 library document is now live and will continue to be updated each month with current information.  

If you have any questions, please contact engagement@doctorsofbc.ca