Help shape OMA’s Health-Care Platform
Staff continue to develop the OMA’s health-care recommendations, consulting with members, stakeholders and the public. Members are encouraged to complete a survey to share their views on creating better health care for Ontarians. A survey will be launched next week asking the public for their perspective on the state of health care in their community. Take the five-minute survey.
Return to Normal, Loan Repayment, Media Strategies, OMA AGM Dr. Samantha Hill, OMA President
I am relieved to see us on the downslope of the third wave. Barring any surprises, we can look forward to continued decreasing new cases, hospitalized cases, and cases requiring critical care. Thank you to all members for keeping on, stalwart and true, focused on your patients and your communities. Remember to care for yourselves, and each other, as you have all year.
Grab a coffee, tea or a glass of water, and join me, as we review important issues from this week, including COVID, APP loan repayment, media strategies and summary, and the upcoming OMA AGM. Read the President’s Update.
May Board Report: Negotiations Timelines, Relativity Updates Dr. Tim Nicholas, OMA Board Chair
The OMA Board met last week to consider a number of vital issues of importance to members, including the negotiations timelines for the 2021 Physician Services Agreement, ongoing relativity work, including the Statistics Canada overhead study and return on education study, the creation of a Fee-For-Service Family Physician Medical Interest Group, how governance transformation will affect committees, and more. Read the May Board Report.
Government pauses administration of AstraZeneca vaccine
The OMA met with the Ministry of Health immediately following the Ontario government’s announcement and received the following additional updates:
Primary care practices should hold current stock of AstraZeneca vaccine doses and secure them for now
For patients who are currently scheduled for first-dose vaccinations, physicians will need to contact them and reschedule appointments for when Pfizer/Moderna vaccines become more widely available (the timing on this is not yet available)
We are currently awaiting direction from the MOH regarding patients who are exempt from the 16-week vaccine dose interval and if they should still be offered a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine through primary care
Most AstraZeneca doses in primary care are set to expire in June, so the Ministry hopes that there will be more clarity about second doses in advance of their expiry.
We recognize that many will have questions, especially regarding the second doses and we have reached out to the Ministry to provide further details for physicians. We are also advocating to have additional mRNA vaccines delivered in primary care and understand that public health units are already reaching out to select primary care practices to determine their willingness to administer Moderna vaccines. We will continue to share updates with members as updates become available. Read the government's announcement on the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Ontario Health’s Hospital Volunteer Redeployment Registry now live.Ontario Health’s new registry is animportant resource for the province in maintaining an up-to-date record of potential and deployed health human resources. Up until now, voluntary redeployments have helped some of the hardest hit hospitals, and local matches have enabled many volunteers to commute and support other hospitals closer to home. These efforts have been imperative in preserving system capacity and supporting areas of need across Ontario. Access the registry to indicate availability to volunteer or that you are unable to volunteer or share staff. If you have already registered, you may access the registry to update volunteer information, cancel a previous submission or add new volunteers.
Access the online Hospital Volunteer Redeployment Registry.
Rapid testing kits available free of charge for use with patients. Free rapid testing kits and swabs are now available through the Provincial Antigen Screening Program and may be used to screen both staff and patients with in-person appointments. In keeping with program parameters, screening remains voluntary, and for patients in particular, a decision to decline antigen screening should not impact provision of care. If a patient receives a preliminary positive result on a rapid antigen screening test, the physician remains responsible for communicating the requirement that they obtain a confirmatory lab-based PCR and self-isolate until results are known. Practices interested in participating may contact Jenifer Crockett at
Jenifer.Crockett@ontario.ca for further information. Rapid molecular tests, which can be used to diagnose COVID-19, are also available; however, there are additional implementation and use case considerations. Practices interested in these may email covid19testing@ontariohealth.ca.
CMPA position on COVID-19 vaccinations for non-residents of Canada.The Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) has confirmed thatits members will be eligible for assistance for matters arising inside or outside of Canada due to the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to non-residents of Canada. In this context only, CMPA members do not need to ask non-residents to execute the Governing Law and Jurisdiction Agreement or to confirm that the vaccine is not reasonably available in the patient’s home country. Access the CMPA’s FAQs on vaccinating non-residents of Canada
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Doctors’ notes not required to prove health-based eligibility for vaccines.TheMinistry of Health has confirmed that doctors’ notes are not required to prove eligibility for a vaccine for patients with any of the identified health conditions. It is a self-declaration at the point of vaccination. Review the eligible health conditions in the prioritization framework.
Reminder: Health-based eligibility for a shorter dose interval.Only the specific populations outlined in the Vaccine Clinical Advisory Group’s recommendations are eligible for a shorter dose interval for health-related reasons. Individuals presenting doctors’ notes prescribing a shorter dose interval for reasons not listed in this framework will not be eligible. Review the populations currently eligible for a shortened dosing interval.
The OMA is pleased to announce the launch of the redesigned program ‘Getting Started for Early Career Physicians!’ This two-part webinar will provide practice management advice to physicians in their early years of practice. The series will cover a broad range of topics including practice structures, digitally enabling your practice, financial management, personal and professional insurance, contracts, managing referrals, and more! Get more information and register.
OMA Council Memory Project. The Council Memory Project gives us the opportunity to learn more about the history of council from past and present members. It also allows us to reflect on how the organization and profession have progressed and to celebrate our achievements. Have a memory of your own that you would like to share?
Learn more about the Council Memory Project and contribute your story today.
Make your voice heard – join an OMA committee! Are you interested in contributing to the work on relativity, women physician priorities, health policy, awards, physician human resources or OHIP education? Applications are now open for six OMA committees seeking members for new two-year terms. Submit your application by Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Get more information and apply.
Events
OMA Awards, AGM, General Assembly: register now to attend. The 2021 OMA Spring Meetings will take place virtually between May 28-30. The weekend kicks off Friday night with the OMA Awards gala, followed by the Annual General Meeting Saturday and physician leader orientation for the new General Assembly on Sunday.
Awards: Celebrate excellence among colleagues at the 100th OMA Awards gala, with an evening of entertainment and presentations with special performances by Steel River Duo and Voices Rock Medicine — Register for the Awards Ceremony.
Annual General Meeting: The AGM will focus on core business including the installation of the incoming president, the organizational report from the CEO and Board Chair, approval of the finance report and appointment of the auditors, and introduction of the new OMA Board. Register for the AGM.
General Assembly Orientation: This event is open to all physician leaders who are eligible to serve as Priority and Leadership Group delegates and panel members. This orientation will provide physician leaders with an overview of the new governance structure and decision-making process. Register for the GA Orientation.
Invitation to hear from eminent environmental law expert.The OMA Green Is Health medical interest group invites you to a webinar featuring Dr. Dianne Saxe, one of Canada's most well-known and respected environmental lawyers. She has more than 40 years of experience in writing, interpreting and litigating Ontario's energy, environmental and climate laws and hosts the ‘Green Economy Heroes’ podcast. The webinar takes place on Thursday, May 20 at 8 pm. Register to attend.
PODCAST: Growing your retirement savings with BlackRock Target Date Funds
In this episode of The Financial Checkup, we introduce the world’s largest investment manager and target date fund offerings available through the award-winning Advantages Retirement Plan™. Listen to the podcast.
Campbell Moving Systems.Get preferred rates on local, long distance, office and residential moves and relocations. Contact your Campbell Moving Systems coordinator today!
Please note that this survey response will not be anonymous. It will be linked to your member account with OMA, and the data will be used for quality assurance purposes by the OMA team. You are not required to participate. Please indicate to what extent you agree or disagree with the following statement:
