Register now for the 2025 BC Rural Health Conference!

Register now for the 2025 BC Rural Health Conference in Prince George!
You’re invited to join us from June 6–8, 2025, for the BC Rural Health Conference (RHC). More than just professional development, this annual gathering fosters connections and celebrates the vibrant spirit of rural healthcare.
What’s new this year?
All-new format: Dive into a full day of hands-on workshops and an expanded schedule of rapid-fire lectures, helping you stay current on the latest in rural and family medicine.
Family-friendly: Bringing the kids? Register early as childcare spots are limited.
Celebrate rural excellence: Join us in recognizing exceptional contributors during the BC Rural Health Awards.
Wellness activities & outdoor fun: Enjoy activities that support your wellness, plus outdoor excursions and supervised childcare.
Connect with peers: Network with rural healthcare professionals from across BC and beyond.

Pre-conference courses include: The CARE Course, CASTED: Emergency, and myoActivation.

Register HERE for BC RHC

Doctors of BC Member Survey

On Wednesday, April 16, Doctors of BC members received an email inviting their participation in the biennial Benchmark Member Survey, developed to improve our understanding of members’ needs and priorities. This survey is an important way for Doctors of BC to connect with members and hear their views on the areas where they feel they receive excellent value and where we can improve. Upon completing the survey, participants may enter to win one of two iPads. If you have not received the email invitation or have any questions, please contact surveys@doctorsofbc.ca.

The deadline for responses is midnight on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

New Program: Refer Patients for Funded Return-to-Work Supports

Physicians can now easily refer eligible patients to the Reducing Poverty through Early Intervention and Occupational Rehabilitation Initiative—a new, federally and provincially funded program that provides access to a Case Manager [ certified disability management professional] to assist in navigating a return to work as well as free physiotherapy, occupational therapy, mental health support, and workplace accommodations for individuals who are off work due to physical or mental health impairments.

Pathways BC now allows you to directly message the program instead of completing a referral form. Simply include basic patient details and clinical information, and the program team will follow up with your patient.

Eligibility Criteria:
• Age 18+ [ max 65 ]
• Off work due to a physical or mental health condition
• Employed with a job to return to
• Off work for less than one year
• Residing in Nanaimo, Prince George, Kelowna, or Vancouver (including surrounding areas up to 75 km as the crow flies)
• Not receiving WorkSafe BC, ICBC, or employer disability benefits

How to Refer in Pathways:
Click the “Send Message” button on the program’s Pathways profile and include:
• Patient's name and phone number
• Whether the patient is aware of the referral or not
• Diagnosis and explanation
• Treatments in place / recommendations for treatment
• Prognosis

The program team will take it from there, ensuring your patient gets timely access to return-to-work supports.
Learn more in Pathways and start referring today!

Medical Office Space Available for Rent – Great Location!

Dear Colleagues,
I hope this message finds you well.
I wanted to share that we have a medical office space available for rent and thought it might be of interest to you or someone in your network. The space is ideal for a healthcare professional or specialist looking for a convenient and professional setting. The office is beautifully renovated with large windows providing lots of natural light. It is also ideal for a group practice and has ample parking space. 

Details:
Location: 4445 Gertrude Street, Port Alberni, V9Y 6J7
Size: 1100sf

Includes:
Unit 101: Large office, 2 examination rooms, reception area, shared waiting room, staff bathroom and kitchen.
There is also an additional exam room that can be included (Room3)
Rent:
Unit 101: $2000 GST included
Room3:  $850 GST included
Utilities, property taxes and alarm are included.

Please let me know if you have any questions
Kind Regards
Dr. Arno Kitshoff
For enquiries please contact:250-735-0529 or katrienkitshoff@gmail.com

BC government eliminates routine sick notes

Doctors of BC is pleased that the Premier’s election promise last fall to eliminate routine sick notes is coming to fruition—an issue that Doctors of BC has been advocating for more than 10 years. Writing thousands of sick notes to service employer absenteeism policy is not a productive use of doctors’ limited time, and places an unnecessary burden on an already overburdened health care system.

Doctors of BC looks forward to working with the Ministry of Labour in engaging interest holders to establish new regulations for employers for both short and long-term employee absences.

Read the full statement and press release.

Increases to the LFP Payment Model

The 2022 Physician Master Agreement (PMA) provided funding to improve the Longitudinal Family Physician (LFP) Payment Model. Learn how 2022 PMA funding has been applied to date. (BC Family Doctors login required).

Not a member of BC Family Doctors? A two-week trial membership is available by emailing hello@bcfamilydocs.ca.

Free access to AI scribes available

BC physicians interested in exploring the use of an AI scribe in their practice can apply for one of the following opportunities to access a free one-year AI scribe license. Both programs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Pre-qualified AI scribe licences from Canada Health Infoway:  One-year licence for an AI scribe tool available at no cost to family physicians and community-based pediatricians. BC physicians were involved in selecting pre-qualified vendors who meet national standards, and licenses are expected to be available in May 2025. Visit the CHI AI Scribe Program webpage to register to receive enrolment details.

• AI scribe reimbursement from the Rural Coordination Centre of BC: A reimbursement of up to $1,000 for any AI scribe licence is available to rural family and specialist physicians practicing in BC. Applications are open until April 30, 2025. Visit the RCCbc website to apply.

2025 JCC Conference Call for Abstracts now open

The Joint Collaborative Committees (JCCs) are inviting abstract submissions for the 2025 JCC Conference on October 6-7, 2025.

The conference, at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, provides an opportunity for those presenting JCC-funded projects to showcase their work alongside colleagues and partners in an engaging and creative environment.

The first day hosts the Family Practice Services Committee (FPSC) Summit and Special Services Committee (SSC) Summit, followed by the JCC Showcase on the second day, which will include content from all four Joint Collaborative Committees.

The abstract submission form provides an option to submit an abstract for the FPSC Summit or SSC Summit on October 6 and/or the JCC Showcase on October 7.

Submit your abstract.

The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2025.

Visit the event page for more information about physician sessional time, presenter funding, keynote speakers, and registration.

For questions, please contact events@doctorsofbc.ca.

Announcing the 2025 BC Substance Use Care Update!

Keeping up with the latest evidence and clinical best practices in addiction treatment and care is always challenging. This virtual learning day organized by the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) is a venue for healthcare professionals in BC to learn about major changes and updates to substance use care over the past year.

When: May 22, 2025 | 8AM-5PM

Sessions will include emerging OAT practices, updates to provincial opioid use disorder clinical guidelines, managing substance use in acute care settings, managing benzodiazepine withdrawal, youth substance use care, and more.
The 2025 BC Substance Use Care Update is being organized for clinicians in place of the BCCSU's annual in-person conference this year and will serve to complement the other clinical training offered by the BCCSU.

Register today. Cost is $150.

Doctors of BC member engagement: HPOA bylaw consultation

The Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) will significantly impact how BC doctors and all health care providers are regulated. To support members who wish to respond to the HPOA and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC’s draft bylaws, Doctors of BC has recently launched our Have Your Say online member engagement and strongly encourage members to share their thoughts. To reduce the burden of reviewing and understanding the College’s consultation materials, we have developed a short summary outlining the changes and provided a full analysis for those who want a more in-depth review of the first round of the bylaws. We will use this feedback, and that collected from key physician groups, to develop a collective physician response covering all three rounds of bylaws, which we will submit to the College by their July 31 deadline. Doctors of BC will continue to post analyses of future bylaws as they’re released and host a virtual town hall to help members better understand and respond to the evolving consultation content. Updated information will be shared on our dedicated HPOA webpage, in our In Circulation newsletter, and via social media.

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