2023 AGM Announcement and Notification of Proposed Bylaw Amendments

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 5:30 pm on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.

Bylaw Amendments for 2023 AGM - Notification to All Members:
The following proposed amendments to the CIDFP By-laws are to be voted on at the upcoming AGM, on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. If you have any questions, please forward them by email to Evelyn Clark (Executive Director) at eclark@cidivision.ca.

The following are the proposed amendments to the Central Island Division bylaws:

1. Change "Oceanside" to reflect "Central Island"
2. Changes to pronouns to update. He/her to They/their etc.
3. Changes to the number of board directors to recognize the growing need for representation in both Oceanside and Port Alberni. Board composition can now be up to 12 directors.
4. Changes to the definition of the Board Secretary and Treasurer positions to clarify those roles.

Please review the Bylaws being reviewed by clicking here at your convenience.  The changes will be ratified during the AGM. Changes to the document are highlighted in yellow and green.

No Cheque Policy

Due to the inefficiency of distributing cheques and the potential risk for loss and destruction, Central Island Division of Family Practice will be switching to a "no cheque" policy starting December 31, 2023.

All members and partners who claim sessionals and reimbursements will be paid by direct deposit starting on that date. The vast majority of people are already registered for direct deposit, and you are required to do nothing. But if you are one of those people who are still accepting cheques, please be aware that this practice will cease. If you would like to sign up for direct deposit, please contact Jill Skuse - Division Coordinator to assist you with this. She can be reached at jskuse@cidivision.ca or 250-937-9079. Thanks for your assistance in making this transition.

Evelyn Clark
Executive Director

Webinar: Introduction to the new Provincial Attachment System – What it will mean for family physicians

All family physicians are invited to participate in a webinar that will provide an overview of the recently announced Provincial Attachment System (PAS), with a focus on the parts of the PAS that will be used by physicians. Family physicians, medical office assistants/clinic managers, and executive directors of Divisions of Family Practice (or delegates) are welcome to attend.

Topics will include:

• An overview of the Provincial Attachment System
• The role family physicians will play
• Details on how it will benefit you and your practice
• How you will be supported to participate
• What you can expect in the coming weeks
• An opportunity to ask questions

When: Thursday, September 14, 5:30 -7:00pm PT
Hosts: Doctors of BC, BC Family Doctors, and the Ministry of Health

Click here to register.

Background:

As shared with you in a recent President’s Letter, the provincial government, Doctors of BC, and BC Family Doctors announced the creation of a coordinated Provincial Attachment System, which includes the Health Connect Registry, to help bring together unattached patients with longitudinal family doctors who have capacity to accept new patients.

Contact: communications@doctorsofbc.ca
Communications & Public Affairs
Doctors of BC
115-1665 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V6J 5A4

21st St. Paul’s Emergency Medicine Update Conference

We are excited to invite you to the 21st St. Paul’s Emergency Medicine Update Conference, being held at the Whistler Conference Centre from September 21-24, 2023.

Check out this year’s fantastic agenda

All of the talks focus on issues we grapple with every day and techniques that we can take to our next shift.

As always, we’ll have fun social events where you can hang out, get to know each other and meet other emergency practitioners from across Canada.

We hope to see you there!

21st St. Paul’s Emergency Medicine Update

Dates: Sep 22-25 (Thu-Sat) | Whistler Conference Centre |In-person Conference
Audience: family physicians, emergency physicians, hospitalists, internists, pediatricians, rural physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, paramedics, residents and students.
Up to 19.0 Mainpro+/MOC Section 1 Credits

LEARN MORE & REGISTER 

Highlights:

• Discounted conference fees for attendees in the first five years in practice (limited to the first 30 who sign up)
• Find out about managing medical issues seen at ANY type of practice, not just in the emergency room
• Learn practice management skills such as billing, financial management, ED Documentation with the CMPA, ED Patient Safety and more
• Reconnect with colleagues at our welcome reception on Sep 21– families welcome!
• Get a refresher or learn a new technique with our hands-on skills workshops on Saturday provided by our expert instructors – SIM Scenarios, Suturing, Sports Medicine Injuries and many more
• Update your casting and airway skills at our pre-conference CASTED: Emergency Workshop and one of our two CAEP: AIME Roadshows
• Interactive group discussions, case-based workshops and lots of opportunities to socialize and network with colleagues

35th Annual Diabetes Directors Seminar Invitation

The 35th Annual Diabetes Directors Seminar Vancouver- Friday, October 13th, 2023

The Endocrine Research Society is pleased to present the 35th Diabetes Directors Seminar – an annual gathering of leading diabetes experts and caregivers across British Columbia.

Join us at the Holiday Inn Vancouver-Centre (Broadway) for a full day presentation series covering the latest and most pertinent aspects of diabetes therapeutics and clinical care.

Target Audience:

Specialists and family physicians with an interest in diabetes care, as well as nurses, dieticians, pharmacists and other diabetes educators responsible for diabetes management within their own groups and communities.

Register now as space is limited.
Online registration can be found at here.

Please contact Jayd Adams at the Endocrine Research Society for more information or registration questions.

Email: jaydadams.ers@gmail.com
Phone: 604-689-1055

PRA-BC Application Form - Spring 2024 Intake

Is your practice interested in being considered for participation in the Practice Ready Assessment (PRA-BC) Return of Service program? 

Nine candidate placements are available for the Spring 2024 intake; candidates from this intake will be practice ready in Fall 2024.   These placements have a three (3) year Return of Service.

Please click here for the Application Form

What is PRA-BC?

PRA-BC is an assessment program for internationally educated family physicians who have completed family medicine residencies outside of Canada. PRA-BC provides these physicians with an alternative pathway to licensure at a time when many BC communities are experiencing physician shortages. Candidates undergo a 9-day Centralized Orientation followed by a 12-week Clinical Field Assessment (CFA) where their clinical skills are rigorously assessed. Those who successfully complete program requirements go on to fulfill a 3-year Return of Service (ROS) in a BC community of need.

Clinic Eligibility:

Clinics must fully complete and return the application and clearly defining their scope of service (i.e. inpatient and ER coverage, on-call duties, patient load, overhead costs, etc.).

A clinic that wishes to recruit a PRA-BC candidate must:

• Ensure the PRA-BC physician can provide full-time, full-scope family practice services for the 3-year ROS with the ability to assume or establish their own patient panel.  Not intended for walk-in or rotating locum.
• If assuming a patient panel, the panel size requirement within the first year should not exceed the MoH requirement under the NTP contract (800). The ROS Physician may accept a larger panel at their own discretion.
• Compensation models (LFP, FFS or NTP) are available for Return of Service physicians, who should be given choice in which compensation model will work best for them, unless clinic is on an APP group contract.
• Be able to supervise their matched IMG physician in their provisional class of registration. Guidelines for Supervision of Registrants in the Provisional Class - click here.
• Commit to holding the position until the matched IMG physician successfully completes the Clinical Field Assessment.
• Clinics who participate in the program are asked to participate as Clinical Field Assessment sites.

PRA-BC Spring 2024 Applications

Deadline for clinic applications is September 1, 2023

• We request all interested clinics review the documents in their entirety, and complete and submit the application form to the Island Health Medical Staff Recruitment office no later than September 1, 2023 by email to medstaffrecruitment@islandhealth.ca.
• Following receipt of applications, the Island Health ROS working group will meet to review and rank clinics and you will be advised whether or not your clinic is successful prior to September 22, 2023.
• During the week of October 2, 2023 successful clinics will be provided with a list of applicants to their clinic, including CVs and any other documents to consider for shortlisting and interviews.
• Interviews must be completed by Friday November 24, 2023.
• Candidate rankings are to be submitted to medstaffrecruitment@islandhealth.ca no later than 12 p.m. November 29, 2023.
• Successful clinics will be advised of the provincial matching outcome on December 1, 2023.

Please note:   A placement/match is not guaranteed. Although your clinic may be selected to participate in the program; your practice/clinic may not match with a candidate or the matched candidate may not pass clinical field assessment.       
                                           
Clinical Field Assessors

IMG physicians in the PRA-BC program must complete a 12-week Clinical Field Assessment (CFA) period prior to being considered eligible for Provisional registration with the College. The PRA-BC candidate physicians complete their CFA at a different clinic/community then the clinic/community they matched with for their ROS. During the CFA the PRA-BC candidate is required to complete 10 ER shifts (5 ER shifts and 5 UPCC shifts are also possible). The Spring 2024 CFA will run from April 18, 2024 to July 19, 2024.
As part of this program, there is an expectation that clinics who benefit from the placement of a PRA-BC program candidate will support the program by becoming a CFA site and identify an assessor.  The Spring assessor training session runs April 5 – 6, 2024 virtually. If you are able to participate, let us know and we will ensure your information is passed on to the program. 

Additional details about the program are found here:
• PRA-BC Program Website

Please click here for the Application Form

Please direct questions to: Island Health Medical Staff Recruitment - medstaffrecruitment@islandhealth.ca

Christal Lawson
Lead ROS Medical Staff Recruiter
Email: christal.lawson@islandhealth.ca
Phone: 250-816-5694

Eating Disorders Virtual CME

The Nanaimo Division of Family Practice invites members of the Central Island Division to the Dr. Corene Boe & Dr. Lorelei Johnson Eating Disorders Virtual CME

Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM PST

Presentation and Q&A with South Vancouver Island Eating Disorders Program Physicians.

By the end of this session, participants
will be able to:

• Recognize the diagnostic and social considerations when assessing an eating disorder.
• Reflect on prevalence and the associated barriers in eating disorders.
• Develop appropriate treatment strategies for patients presenting with an eating disorder.
• Determine when and how to make a successful referral

VIRTUAL PRESENTATION - Register now to receive a meeting link
Register HERE
Please RSVP by Friday, September 15th, 2023
events@nanaimodivision.ca

MyGuide Long COVID online tool

New online tool provides personalized care plans for people living with long COVID symptoms

MyGuide Long COVID is a new online tool launched by the Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network (PC-ICCN) to help patients find best-practice information to self-manage long COVID symptoms.

The tool supports people who suspect they have long COVID (or are newly diagnosed) and their caregivers, by customizing symptom-specific care plans and resources based on information entered by the patient. It provides personalized post-COVID-19 care and is available online at any time, from any device.

By familiarizing yourself with MyGuide Long COVID, you can access a valuable tool that complements your care efforts. MyGuide provides patients with reliable information to manage their symptoms effectively. This means better-informed patients, more efficient interactions, and enhanced collaboration between providers and patients as they navigate the challenges of long COVID together.

Please click on the following links for more information about:

• MyGuide: Long COVID
• Post-COVID Recovery Care
• Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network

Register for "Providers Thriving Together" series in September

The Thriving Project supports and enhances the wellness of rural healthcare practitioners, including doctors, residents, nurse practitioners and midwives, from across British Columbia by fostering connections between them and building a community of practice they can draw upon for learning, support, solace and inspiration.

Please click here for more information about The Thriving Project.

Please click here to Register

Escalating Syphilis Outbreak - MEDICAL HEALTH OFFICERS’ NEWSLETTER No. 352

Epidemiology

• Over the past decade the incidence of infectious syphilis in BC has increased dramatically, including in Island Health. In 2022, 146 cases were detected in Island Health, compared to only 13 in 2012:
• The largest recent increase of infections (nearly two thirds of cases in 2023) has occurred in heterosexual populations with a consequent alarming increase in congenital syphilis cases. In BC, between 2019 and 2022, 12 cases of congenital syphilis were reported, compared to no cases in 2014 to 2018. In 2022 there were three probable congenital syphilis cases reported in Island Health.
• Currently, the largest increases in syphilis rates are in North and Central Island.

Please click here for the full report from the Medical Health Officers.

Fundamentals of Addiction

In October, Victoria will be hosting the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine annual conference. There is a one-day “Fundamentals of Addiction” course that would be fantastic for anyone wanting to increase their knowledge of caring for those with substance use disorders. For futher info, please click here: Fundamentals of Addiction

The course will be in person in Victoria on Sunday, October 22, 2023. It will be held at the Victoria Conference Centre.The cost of the course is $175. I am able to provide funding for anyone that registers through me.

If this is of interest to you, please complete this Registration for Fundamentals of Addiction by Sept 15th. You will be notified once we receive the registration that you are approved for funding.  If you have questions, please contact Amanda Chapman:

Email: amanda.chapman@islandhealth.ca
Cell:250-507-6551 

Amanda Chapman
Lead | Addiction Medicine Education
MHSU | Island Health

Community Virtual Care

What is Community Virtual Care?

Community Virtual Care (formerly known as Home Health Monitoring) is a free, innovative Island Health program that uses remote patient monitoring, virtual visits and the telephone to support patients from the comfort of their home. A Registered Nurse monitors patient symptoms and, with coaching, the patient will improve their ability to manage their health in the comfort of their home. Equipment to monitor their health is loaned at no cost.
 

Who is it for?

CVS monitors vital signs and symptoms, as well as provide self-management coaching and education to patients with the following chronic conditions:

• Chronic Kidney Disease
• COPD
• Diabetes
• Heart Failure
• Hypertension
• Palliative Supportive Care

Monitoring is also available for symptomatic patients with COVID-19, Influenza, heat-related illness and wildfire smoke inhalation.
 

How does it work?

Patients are loaned, at no cost to them, all the equipment they need to answer daily care plan questions and measure their biometrics. This information is sent electronically to the monitoring nurses who check for alerts and data changes. Monitoring data is viewable on the Remote Patient Monitoring MPage in PowerChart and significant data trends are sent to the Primary Care Provider.

The nurses support patients to be proficient and confident in managing their condition and help them recognize when to seek care from their Primary Care Provider vs. when to seek Emergency Services.
 

How can I refer my patient?

Referrals are made through Community Access by faxing the Community Health Services Referral Form or calling:

1. South Island (250) 519-5282 (physician line)
2. Central Island (250) 739-5748 or toll-free 1(877) 734-4141 (professional line)
3. North Island (250) 331-8530 or toll-free 1(866) 921-0811

How can I learn more?

For more information about the program, referral options or to request posters or pamphlets: 

Web: islandhealth.ca/cvc
Email: communityvirtualcare@islandhealth.ca
Phone: 250.519.7700 x 11928

Medical Lead Position Recruitment

Island Health is looking for a medical leader to help launch an innovative new primary care centre in Nanaimo.The role will provide an opportunity to establish and lead a team of primary care providers and other allied health staff who deliver integrated team-based care to patients.  The clinic will offer stabilization and continuity of care for unattached patients, and will provide options for increased access to primary care services.
This is a part-time position (0.3FTE; approx. 10 hrs per week)  with lots of opportunity to work clinically. 
Remuneration is $60,336* (Administration contract rate)
Job advertisement and application link

Health Data Coalition: Get Curious About Your Practice Data

Looking at the Numbers

Summer in BC is in full swing. We hope you’ve taken time to enjoy the sun and unwind with friends and family. We’ve come to expect a busy fall and as the final weeks of summer stretch out ahead of us, we’re preparing for the changes September will bring. We’re looking at the role data can play in quality improvement for both patients and providers. We know when physicians are supported with the right tools, it makes it easier for them to lean into practice improvement.

Now more than ever, physicians are seeing the need to understand their patient population. Physicians who log in to HDC Discover and look at the number of patients they’ve seen over the last three years and view the complexities of those patients, have a level of understanding of their practice. Those who have used their practice data to take action, have an added level of control over their practice since they can reshape workflows and receive feedback within HDC Discover to see the impacts of their efforts. This is rewarding.

Understanding your data and having information on your patient population at your fingertips is valuable. Get curious about these numbers and their correlation to your payments. With the new payment plan in operation, data informed physicians have an advantage.

We’re asking ourselves how we can empower physicians around the province and support healthy practices. We believe this is achieved by arming you with data. Log into HDC Discover and review your patient population. What can you learn from your own practice data?

New Measures Released in HDC Discover Version 2.30

Version 2.30 was released to production on July 19th, featuring new measures in HDC Discover that include:

• Prescribing Measures  
• Updates to Medication Prescribing Subdomains  
• New Diabetes Measures  
• Updated Concepts like Oral anti-diabetic agents, excluding metformin 

To see all new measure updates, click HERE.

Log in to HDC Discover and view the new measures with the most recent 2023 2nd Quarter results.

Contact support@hdcbc.ca with questions or comments. 

BC Quality Awards

Nominations are now open for the 14th annual Quality Awards, which celebrate people and projects that have made key contributions to quality and innovation in the delivery of care in BC.

Do you know about an initiative, project or person that improved health care in our province? If so, nominate them for a BC Quality Award. Anyone can nominate, including those who work in health care, as well as patients, caregivers and family members. You can also nominate yourself. Nominations close October 1, 2023. 

In 2023, one of HDC’s founders and past Medical Director, Dr. Bill Clifford was a BC Quality Awards Winner. He received The Doug Cochrane Leadership in Quality Award for the meaningful way he’s used software to help organize medical information to improve patient care. Congratulations again to Bill for this recognition of his passion and leadership. We are so grateful to have had his years of wisdom and ongoing support.

Tips and Tricks - A Deeper Dive Into Line Charts

Line Charts, also known as Run Charts, are valuable tools for visualizing data over time, especially when engaging in improvement initiatives. In this month’s Tips and Tricks, we share how to view, update the time scale, view multiple line charts together and change data sources.

Take a deeper dive into line charts HERE.

Click HERE for more tips and tricks.

Get in touch with support@hdcbc.ca if you have additional questions.

Pacific Hematology Victoria Referral Process

Please click HERE for a document with instructions on the referral process for Pacific Hematology. They accept referrals from across the region. It is also being posted on Pathways.
For any questions, please contact the clinic at: 250-384-7377.

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 Dispatch

The latest news from the provincial team and complementary organizations.

Please click here for updates including:

• LFP Payment Model updates
• Updated BC Cancer screening report titles
• Divisions invited to meet with BC Cancer Cervix Screening Program to prepare for transition from cytology to HPV primary screening
• East Kootenay family doctor develops guide to reducing environmental impact of health care
• July 19 webinar | Antidepressants and substance use
• July 20 webinar | Updates on risks and harms of alcohol use
• Opioid use disorder training for doctors and their clinical teams: LOUD in PC Collaborative
   

Divisions in the News

Divisions in the News
See what is going on in other divisions around BC:

https://divisionsbc.ca/provincial/news-and-events