Disruption to OMA online services. The OMA will be performing IT maintenance on some of its member-facing applications beginning Friday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. thru to Monday, Oct. 17. The following services will not be available:
Fall General Assembly – the power of personal connection Dr. Rose Zacharias, OMA President
For the first time in three years, physician leaders and OMA staff gathered in person to strategize our advocacy for better patient care and an improved health-care system. Zoom came alive, people were three dimensional!
Physician leaders from all specialties and geographical regions in Ontario shared everything from grassroots ideas and pain points to polished health-care reform recommendations that we intend to bring to government. This is where we connect the dots.
The positive energy and engagement that dominated the two-day meeting was life-giving. The agenda was very intentional about giving us time and space for the development of ideas, lingering within conversations and growing relationships.
The OMA exists to serve our members – to make doctors' lives easier and less stressful, and to empower and equip us to do our best for our patients. The way we govern and conduct ourselves as an association is completely new and different.
Doctors need a safe space to gather and express ourselves internally, to then best position ourselves externally, to lead health-care system change and to improve patient care and the General Assembly gave us that.
On a more personal note
The following experiences were particularly meaningful for me.
I met a family physician, five years into practice, who had never come to an OMA event and was excited to be there
Our impressive Ontario Medical Student Association rep asked at the open microphone about Bill 7, Bill 124 and how that is going to impact the health-care system. Our learners are paving a bright path for the medical profession
I was equally impressed by the older, seasoned, 40-years-into-practice physicians who have been engaged with the OMA their entire career and continue to take the time for this advocacy work
I was able to connect with someone I had been meaning to reach out to for some time and chat with over lunch
The surgical assembly discussion was a raw and honest open dialogue about how best to position our surgical members as the leading voice for surgical care in Ontario
New learnings. We were taught how the legislature works, how bills get passed and why meeting with MPPs is our best advocacy avenue. Our Premier checks in with his MPPs regularly so we want them to know what we have to say. Because our perspective is critical, we must speak up
Did you know?
Ideanote – This platform exists on our OMA website and is available for you to add into at anytime. Your next idea might be what the board tasks the organization to work on. Physician Leadership Group delegates will prioritize and rank submitted ideas based on several criteria, including alignment to OMA’s strategic goals
Physician Leadership Program – Register for the upcoming Physician Leadership Program webinar, on Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 6-7 p.m. Incredibly exciting that the OMA has relaunched this innovative program to develop our physicians as strategic leaders, both within and outside of the OMA to drive system change. I will be hosting this event, along with OMA Chair of the Board Dr. Cathy Faulds and Brian Golden from the Rotman School of Management. Come out and ask questions, learn more about the application process, the course curriculum and timelines. Applications are due by Tuesday, Nov. 1. See you there!
On Friday, Oct. 7, Health Canada approved the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine (BA.4/5) for use as a booster dose of 30 mcg in individuals aged 12+. This is the second bivalent vaccine that is approved by Health Canada, with the first being the Moderna (BA. 1) bivalent vaccine for adults aged 18+. The Ontario Ministry of Health now recommends that a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine be given to adults and youth aged 12 and older as a booster. The original COVID-19 vaccines should now only be offered as a primary series for all eligible populations, as a booster for children aged five to 11, or if clearly requested by an individual at the vaccine site. Booster doses should be given at a recommended interval of six months, with a minimum of three months from the previous vaccine dose, regardless
of the number of booster doses previously received. The ministry recommends that individuals from the following high-risk groups should get a bivalent booster dose as soon as they are eligible (i.e., three months from their last dose):
Adults aged 65+
Residents of long-term care, retirement homes and elder care lodges and individuals living in other congregate settings that provide assisted-living and health services
Adults 18+ who identify as First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18+
Pregnant individuals aged 12+
Health-care workers aged 18+
Individuals 12+ with moderately to severely immunocompromising conditions and/or who have biological or social risk factors that place them at high risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19
The OMA Board of Directors approved key changes to policies overseeing the election of constituency leaders, board directors, and the president-elect to ensure all elections are open, fair and transparent. These changes will make it easier for candidates to participate and engage members, while ensuring members have the information they need to make informed decisions. Among the key enhancements are a change in oversight from board chair to the immediate past president, the ability of constituency candidates to self-nominate, and other critical changes. Read about policy changes to the single election period.
Listen to podcast on caring for caregivers.In the latest OMA Spotlight on Health podcast, Dr. Jon Novick, medical director of OMA's Physician Health Program, and Dr. Judy Suke, a family physician focused on medical psychotherapy, discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the medical community's health and well-being, as its members, including our doctors, struggle with burnout and other challenges. Though awareness has grown and stigma decreased around mental health, more must be done to ensure physicians have adequate support from the health-care system and each other. Access the podcast on taking care of our caregivers.
OMA releases annual member value survey results.Find out what your colleagues are saying when it comes to trust, effectiveness and value of membership, along with perceived performance when it comes to negotiations, advocacy and representation. The global pandemic has had an impact on positivity and impressions overall. This year, the survey also asked in-depth questions on members' knowledge and experience with various OMA programs and activities, particularly the Physician Health Program, support for burnout, the Advantages discount program and the Advantages Retirement Plan™, as well as the association’s communications channels. Read or watch a video of the OMA’s member value survey.
Global health learning for medical trainees.In an online exclusive article, New global health certificate proves helpful for medical students, find out how the Tamil Association of Residents and Medical Students Canada is supporting students interested in advancing their understanding of global health topics. Read the article on global health.
Events
Join next week's Physician Leadership Program webinar. There's still time to register and learn more about the new and innovative Physician Leadership Program. Join OMA President Dr. Rose Zacharias, Board Chair Dr. Cathy Faulds, and Rotman School of Management's Brian Golden in this informational session to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 6-7 p.m. The event will also feature a Q-and-A component. Applications to the Physician Leadership Program are due Tuesday, Nov. 1. Register for the Physician Leader Program webinar. Learn more about the Physician Leadership Program.
Learn how to manage uninsured services. Join the OMA and our partners from PatientSERV for a discussion about building immediate and long-term value with uninsured services in your practice. Topics to be covered include the realities of managing an uninsured services program, along with best practices, strategies and tools for success. Special guest, Dr. Adam Stewart will share his experience with PatientSERV. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Register for the uninsured services webinar.
Register for discussion on plant-based medicine. Join an interactive discussion with Dr. Zahra Kassam and Michelle Fedele RD, co-founders, and co-directors of Plant-Based Canada. The first hour of the event will look at the evidence for reducing the burden of cancer with plant-based nutrition. The second hour will be a Q-and-A on any topic related to plant-based medicine. The event will be held virtually on Monday, Oct. 24 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. The District 11 Doctors’ Lounge Program is part of the district’s health and wellness initiative designed to provide Toronto physicians with opportunities to interact in a collegial, non-clinical setting. Sign up for an interactive discussion on plant-based medicine.
Become a billing expert. There is still time to sign up for theOMA's Billing for Family Doctors webinar, during which physician billing experts willdiscuss topics including virtual codes, comprehensive care obligations, preventive care bonuses, and answer your billing questions. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 6-8:15 p.m. Sign up for the OMA billing webinar.
Learn to handle challenging patient encounters.The OMA and the Canadian Medical Protective Association will hold a webinar, Challenging Patient Encounters: Strategies to enhance safe care. Discussions will focus on practical strategies and communications tools to help enhance your patient interactions, mitigate medico-legal risk and handle challenging patients. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 6-7:30 p.m. Register for the webinar on handling challenging patient encounters.
Register for Ontario Medical Bonspiel curing tournament.Join colleagues for a fun weekend at the Cataraqui Curling Club and Royal Kingston Curling Club from Thursday, Nov. 17 to Saturday, Nov. 19. New and experienced curlers are welcome to attend. Accommodations are available at the Four Points by Sheraton. Registration includes a welcome reception, breakfast, lunches, dinner and a prize ceremony. The first four existing teams to join with a new team receive a two-for-one registration. Medical students receive complimentary registration. Learn more and register for the curling tournament.
OMA in the News
OMA data spotlights missed mammograms.New statistics released this week in the OMA's media briefing,Ask Ontario Doctors: How the Pandemic Impacted Breast Cancer, were published in the province's largest newspapers, including the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail. About 422,000 fewer mammograms were conducted during the pandemic than forecasted. Some patients who missed screenings are showing up sicker and later, with cancer that is more advanced. OMA President Dr. Rose Zacharias and other physician panellists participated in more than 10 interviews discussing the issue. Access the OMA’s top media coverage.
Balance financial priorities as a mid-career physician
In episode 18 of the Financial Checkup podcast series for the Advantages Retirement Plan™, OMA Insurance talks with Dr. Rose Zacharias, president of the OMA, about personal finance. Dr. Zacharias shares ways she learned to save for the future from an early age and how she balances financial priorities at different stages of her life. Listen to the podcast with the OMA president.
Protect your cottage with OMA Insurance.Discover how to prepare and insure your cottage for all-season living with the OMA Home and Auto Insurance Program. Read tips for safeguarding your cottage.
Exclusive offer on UpToDate® subscriptions.OMA members are eligible to take advantage of an exclusive limited time offer on UpToDate® – the evidence-based, physician-authored resource trusted for reliable clinical answers. Save an extra 10 per cent off an annual (or longer) individual UpToDate® subscription. Learn more about savings with UpToDate®.
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:
