Women-Centred HIV Care Update – CME-Accredited Event, Oct 24

The UBC Faculty of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases is pleased to invite you to the Women-Centred HIV Care Update on Friday October 24, 2025. This program was co-developed between UBC Faculty of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Ribbon Community, Women-Centred HIV Care Hub and was planned to achieve scientific integrity, objectivity and balance.

This in-person symposium aims to build clinician skills to better support the unique health needs of women living with HIV in BC and western Canada. The event will introduce the women-centred HIV care model and cover priority topics across the lifespan identified by women living with HIV in BC, as well as the clinicians and social service providers that support them.

Event Information

Date: Friday, October 24, 2025
Time: 9:30 AM -5:00 PM
Venue: Simon Fraser University Harbour Center - Segal Room, Vancouver BC

Learn more and Register here

Virtual registration: $40 (please note: Due to CME accreditation requirements for interactive learning,  you will not be able to receive CME credits if you attend this event virtually. In-person attendance is necessary.)
In-person registration: $100

Trainees, allied healthcare professionals, and women living with HIV are waived registration fees. Trainees and allied healthcare professionals please enter the code WCHC2025TRAINEE or WCHC2025ALLIED when registering. More information for community members about registering and applying for a travel scholarship are available on the website.

The Division of Continuing Professional Development, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine (UBC CPD) is fully accredited by the Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Committee (CACME) to provide CPD credits for physicians. This activity is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by UBC CPD. You may claim a maximum of 5.25 hours (credits are automatically calculated). This activity meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by UBC CPD for up to 5.25 Mainpro+® CertifiedActivity credits. Each physician should claim only those credits accrued through participation in the activity.
CFPC Session ID: 302174-001

Please contact the coordinator at zoe_osborne@sfu.ca with any questions.

Long-Term Care Access: Updated Approach to Assessment and Eligibility

Island Health is aligning with a province-wide initiative to ensure subsidized long-term care (LTC) spaces are prioritized for clients with the most urgent and complex care needs. Updated assessment criteria and application processes will ensure that LTC remains accessible to clients who require 24-hour professional nursing care that cannot be delivered safely at home.

What this means for your patients:

• LTC eligibility is based on current assessed need, not anticipated decline. Only clients who meet eligibility criteria will be placed on the waitlist.
• Clients must be using all appropriate home and community-based services before LTC will be considered. This includes home care, Adult Day Program, and respite.
• Physicians or clients should contact Community Health Services early to learn what supports are available and begin care planning.

This work helps reduce the risk of premature admissions and ensures LTC beds are available for clients with higher acuity needs. It reinforces smoother, client-centered transitions and more effective bed matching.

To discuss a patient’s care needs, call our Community Health Services Practitioner Connector Line.

Practitioner Connectors are experienced nurses who offer:

• Clinical guidance on next steps for your patients
• Information on services such as home and community care, adult day programs, and respite care
• Referrals to Island Health and community-based supports

Early collaboration with CHS can help your patients stay safely at home longer and avoid premature LTC referrals.

North Island: 250-331-8060

Centre Island: 250-739-5922

South Island: 250-519-5282

For information updates about current CHS clients, please refer to The Provider Communication Note in PowerChart.

Community Health Services on Pathways BC

Community Health Services on Island Health Medical Staff Site.

Cardiovascular CME

CME Session – Cardiovascular Risk Stratification and Risk Reduction including women’s cardiovascular health and Birth Related Cardiovascular Health

Presented by Dr Sarah Fraser, Internist, WCGH

Date: Thursday November 13, 2025

Registration: 5:30-6pm
Presentation: 6-7pm
Q&A: 7-7:30pm

Location: Rimrock Casino at 4890 Cherry Creek Rd, Port Alberni, BC

Dinner to follow.

One hour of sessional time to be paid to Central Island Division members.

RSVP to westcoastgeneral@facilityengagement.ca by 
November 6, 2025. 

Colposcopy CME

Colposcopy Update: 
Aligning with Evolving HPV Screening Protocols
Presented by Dr. Jeffrey Somerville

Date: October 21. 2025
Location: RimRock Casino, Cathedral Grove Room
4890 Cherry Creek Rd., Port Alberni

RSVP here

Dinner: 5:30pm
Presentation: 6-7pm

One hour of sessional time to be paid to Central Island Division members.

Island Health: Changes to Lab Courier Service

What is Changing & Why?

• In May 2023 Island Health transitioned lab courier services from contracted service providers to an in-house service
• Since the transition in 2023 Island Health has been providing courier services free of charge to support both health authority operations and some external partners, like private practice primary care clinics.
• As part of the initial transition from contracted service providers to an in-house service, Island Health continued providing lab sample pick-up services to about 55 private clinics, mostly in Center and North Island, at no cost. This was done on a temporary basis to ensure a smooth transition and service continuity for our valued partners.
• It is important to understand that all users of the Island Health courier service, both internal and external, other than the 55 private primary care clinics, have been and continue to pay standard courier rates for the services.
• To create a consistent, equitable landscape for all users, Island Health has notified the private clinics that they will need to begin paying for the service, just like all other users.
• Based on historical usage data, we expect the highest cost for a clinic to be approximately $6,000 annually. Most clinics would pay far less based on their historical usage of the service.
• Island Health is confident that the rates for this service are very competitive compared to other providers. We are also happy to work with individual clinics to understand their needs and how we can best meet them. This can include adjusting the frequency of pick-ups.

Click here for a sample letter that has been sent out to the 55 affected clinics across the Island

Billing for respiratory immunizations update

Family physicians play a key role in protecting British Columbians from respiratory viruses, especially during the colder months, when the risk is increased.

For services provided from October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, physicians can bill for influenza, pneumococcal, pertussis, and COVID-19 immunizations provided by allied care providers using the temporary code 98101 “LFP Respiratory Immunization Provided by an Allied Care Provider.” To bill this code, the allied care provider must be paid out of practice earnings to work directly within the practice team with no cost recovery either directly or indirectly from a third party (e.g. Health Authority, Division of Family Practice, Ministry of Health).

Detailed information is available on the BC Family Doctors website (member login required) and information is also available on the BC government website.

BC Family Doctors’ Simplified LFP Guide and LFP Billing Question Library have been updated with additional information.

37th Annual Diabetes Directors Seminar Information Sheet

Join us for a full day presentation series covering the latest on diabetes therapeutics and clinical care from leading experts and caregivers across British Columbia.

This event is targeted toward specialists and family physicians with an interest in diabetes care, as well as other allied healthcare providers and educators responsible for diabetes management.

Information & Registration

Date: October 24, 2025
Time: 8am – 4pm
Venue: Vancouver Holiday Inn Centre (Broadway)

Phone line provides occupational health and safety support to community physicians

The Community Physician Health and Safety (CPHS) program from SWITCH BC has established a dedicated phone line, providing physicians working in community settings with a direct and confidential way to access support from health and safety advisors when they have an occupational health and safety concern. Set up in addition to existing CPHS resources, callers can expect a response within one business day for urgent inquiries, and five business days for non-urgent matters.

This service can be accessed by calling 1-844-743-2747. The CPHS program is managed by SWITCH BC and funded by Doctors of BC and the BC Ministry of Health.

LFP Panel Payments: What you need to know

Many physicians have asked about how LFP Panel Payments are calculated and how this relates to their panel list in the Provincial Attachment System (PAS).

Currently, an interim methodology is used to calculate panel payments. Past MSP billing records identify the physician providing most of the patient’s care, and complexity is measured through the Adjusted Clinical Group (ACG) system. 

PAS panel lists are not yet part of the calculation, but work is underway to transition the panel payment to use these panel lists. More details about the transition will be shared as they are available.

Read this news article on the BC Family Doctors website (member login required) for more information and clarification.

Virtual clinic supports people living with long COVID

You can refer patients exhibiting symptoms of long COVID to the Post-COVID Recovery Clinic. The Clinic is an interdisciplinary, rehabilitation-focused virtual clinic, staffed by allied health professionals, nurses, physicians and others.

You can refer patients who have been living with persistent symptoms for more than three (3) months following a presumed or confirmed COVID-19 illness. Symptoms must be limiting your patient's ability to function in daily life.  A referral form is available online.

The Post-COVID Recovery Clinic is part of the Post-COVID-19 Interdisciplinary Clinical Care Network. PC-ICCN also offers additional supports to you and your patients:

• The eCASE and the RACE line: Provider consultations about patients presenting with long-COVID symptoms.
• MyGuide Long COVID: Online tool that helps people living with symptoms of long COVID and their primary care providers find best-practice information to self-manage long COVID symptoms.

Learn more at http://www.phsa.ca/health-professionals/clinical-resources/post-covid-19-care

Billing for Respiratory Immunizations in 2025-2026

Family physicians play a key role in BC’s immunization efforts, especially during respiratory illness season. Learn how to bill for influenza, pneumococcal, pertussis, and COVID-19 immunizations.

Fee-for-Service: Billing for respiratory immunizations
LFP Payment Model: Billing for respiratory immunizations
(BC Family Doctors login required)

Upcoming Workshops, Webinars & Events

Finding your way in teamwork workshop.
Presented by Rural Coordination Centre of BC.
October 6: Register for the workshop.
November 18: Register for the workshop.

CRISIS Sessions: Critical rural intensive support and interventions series.
Presented by UBC Continuing Professional Development.
October 15 – November 5: Register for the series.

Rural Rounds: Supporting patients with chronic pain in rural communities.
Presented by UBC Continuing Professional Development.
October 16: Register for the webinar.

Management of early breast cancer for primary care: Guiding patients while awaiting medical oncology consultation.
Presented by UBC Continuing Professional Development.
October 16: Register for the webinar.

Considerations for treating pregnant people with alcohol use disorder.
Presented by BC Centre on Substance Use.
October 23: Register for the webinar.

Canadian MAiD Curriculum: Assessing capacity and vulnerability.
Presdented by Canadian Association of MAID Assesors and Providers.
October 25: Register for the event.

Supporting a patient’s journey in MAiD

Vancouver Coastal Health has created a one-page chart in Pathways to assist physicians in the patient referral process for medical assistance in dying (MAiD). The new chart provides resources for patients and physicians, and outlines the steps in the MAiD eligibility process.

For further information or questions, please reach out to assisteddying@vch.ca.

October UBC Webinars

UBC CPD—Beyond birth: Supporting families from preconception to early childhood.
Wednesday, October 8. Register for the webinar.

UBC CPD—Building Resilience in Children & Youth: Evidence-Based Approaches to Mental Health & Substance Use Prevention.
Tuesday, October 14. Register for the webinar.

UBC CPD—Navigating the Digital World: Supporting Healthy Social Media Use in Children and Youth.
Thursday, October 16. Register for the webinar.

Join us May 29-31, 2026 for the BC Rural Health Conference

Following a fantastic conference in northern BC earlier this summer, we're excited to return to Prince George once again for BC RHC 2026! Get practice-ready CME with rural colleagues, reconnect in easy going meet-ups and shared moments, and enjoy a family-friendly setting with a rural-community feel.

This annual gathering delivers up-to-date rurally relevant content, providing a vital source of continuing medical education for practicing physicians, IMGs, residents, medical students and healthcare professionals.

Stay tuned for more details and mark your calendar for May 2026!

LEARN MORE

BCCSU Virtual POATSP Preceptorship Pilot

BCCSU (BC Centre on Substance Use) is pleased to share plans to launch the Virtual Provincial Opioid Addiction Treatment Support Program (POATSP) Preceptorship Pilot in Fall 2025. This pilot is intended for rural and remote physician and nurse practitioners looking to complete the POATSP Education and Training Pathway to prescribe opioid agonist treatments (OAT) to treat opioid use disorder in BC. 

Rural and remote MDs and NPs can express interest in participating in the pilot by completing a short online form for the opportunity to complete their POATSP preceptorship virtually with an approved BCCSU preceptor. 

Please share this email widely amongst your networks. If you are interested in becoming a POATSP preceptor or are currently a preceptor and interested in participating in the pilot, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to bccsu_education@bccsu.ubc.ca for more information about how to get involved.

Thank you,
BCCSU Education and Implementation Team

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
• Webinars and continuing medical education (CME)

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