Intrasectional fee relativity survey coming soon.As the OMA prepares for a multi-year modernization of the Schedule of Benefits, we will seek input from practising members on the fee codes commonly billed within sections, gender pay equity and medical innovations. The results from an upcoming survey will be used to inform proposals from your section/MIG/forum to the OMA Medical Services Payment Committee later in the year. Be sure to check your inbox next week for this important OMA Insights/ThoughtLounge survey.
Advancing Truth and Reconciliation Dr. Adam Kassam, OMA President
For the first time yesterday, our country commemorated National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
For me personally, it was an opportunity to reflect on our nation and the land we now call Canada, the impact of residential schools and other harmful policies, and my own personal journey to learn, unlearn and advance reconciliation.
These moments of reflection were amplified by the opportunity to deliver a land acknowledgement at our Sept. 22 board meeting and at the first meeting of our Priority and Leadership Group, on Sept. 29. This culminated in my prepared remarks for yesterday’s OntarioMD conference and a statement on truth and reconciliation as spokesperson for the OMA.
I was honoured and humbled to have the opportunity to recognize and give credence to the traditions and the people who were here before us with a land acknowledgment.
In preparing my comments, I reflected upon the historic connection of Indigenous Peoples to the land that we are on today, and how we owe our prosperity to the traditional knowledge and treaties that allowed those from elsewhere to survive and thrive.
I thought of residential schools and the harmful policies that have had and continue to have devastating effects on generations of our Indigenous neighbours, colleagues and patients.
My own story came to mind, being the son of a Kenyan mother and Tanzanian father, and my family’s journey here.
I also reflected on recent interactions I’ve had with the Indigenous community and my own commitment to listening and learning and doing all I can to support.
I am truly grateful for our Indigenous colleagues and patients, whose culture and history continue to influence our vibrant community, and I am mindful of those who are no longer with us.
Today, I am re-committing to my greater learning and appreciation, and I hope that you will join me.
For more details on the OMA’s commitment to advancing truth and reconciliation and addressing anti-Indigenous racism, I encourage you to read the September Board Report provided in Dr. Conte’s update below.
September Board Report Dr. Paul Conte, OMA Board Chair
The OMA board met last week to discuss the association’s truth and reconciliation strategy and to gain insight into where we are in the negotiations cycle. In this report, you’ll find out more about the OMA’s media and advocacy efforts, as well as next steps following the Priority and Leadership Group meeting this week. Read the September Board Report.
Inaugural Priority and Leadership Group meeting Allan O'Dette, OMA CEO
The inaugural General Assembly Priority and Leadership Group (PLG) meeting on Wednesday represents a significant milestone in the transformation of the OMA. The PLG was created to set policy priorities and make recommendations to address the opportunities and challenges facing the medical profession in Ontario. It will help make the OMA a more effective, member-driven association. Thank you to all the members, physician leaders and staff for your contributions. Read more about the meeting, the prioritization process, and next steps in my update.
Effective immediately,virtual care fee codes K080, K081, K082 and K083 must now be submitted with one of two tracking codes to indicate the modality of the technology used to deliver the service. Use either K300 for video appointments or K301 for phone appointments.
Also effective immediately are a number of changes to primary care billings. For capitation-based practices (i.e., family health organization and family health network) any K080, K081 and K082 services rendered on or after Oct. 1 by a family physician outside of the patient’s enrolling group will be considered outside use, and impact the access bonus payment. This change applies to the blended salary model, FHO, FHN and group health centre. Virtual care services billed by a registered GP Focus physician or from one of the pilot virtual urgent care centres (as defined by Ontario Health) for an enrolled patient will not contribute to the enrolling physician’s outside use and will not be deducted from their access bonus. Furthermore, the hard cap in
respective models will also be reinstated effective Oct. 1 and more information on this will be communicated to members as soon as possible. The Ministry of Health is finalizing an INFOBulletin with additional details. Watch for INFOBulletin 210904 to be posted shortly.
OMD HRM® COVID-19 historical reports.As of Sept. 24, physicians who use OMD’s HRM® (Health Report Manager) began receiving COVID-19 historical reports (from before May 18) overnight and will continue to receive reports for a minimum of 30 consecutive nights. Circumstances beyond OMD’s control resulted in the backlog of historical reports. We consulted physicians before the current delivery option was implemented and many physicians wanted this important information on their patients. OMD has developed videos for the top three electronic medical records to help you manage the extra reports. Access OMD videos on how to handle extra historical reports. Read a message from OMD Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chandrasena.
NACI update on vaccine co-administration.The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has released an updated statement on the use of COVID-19 vaccines. NACI now recommends that COVID-19 vaccines can be administered at the same time as, or at any time before or after, non-COVID-19 vaccines, including live, non-live, adjuvanted or unadjuvanted vaccines. This updated recommendation will facilitate the rollout of flu vaccinations and the administration of routine vaccinations that may have been missed during the pandemic. Vaccines given during the same visit should be given at different injection sites and same-day administration is preferred to vaccines given within a few days of each other. Read NACI’s updated statement on vaccine co-administration.
Pfizer now preferred vaccine for 18-24.The Ontario government announced that Pfizer is preferred over Moderna for those aged 18 to 24, due to an observed increase in Ontario of pericarditis/myocarditis following vaccination with Moderna compared to Pfizer. The recommendation was made based on the advice of Ontario’s Children COVID-19 Vaccine Table, Ontario Vaccine Clinical Advisory Group and Public Health Ontario. Read the government's news release on preferred vaccine for individuals aged 18-24.
Updated guide to providing in-person care.The OMA has updated its guide to providing in-person care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guide is aimed at community-based practices and includes a checklist with considerations for safely providing in-person care, based on the hierarchy of hazard controls. It addresses balancing in-person and virtual care and includes practical tips related to issues including physical distancing, masking and ventilation. Physicians are encouraged to address vaccination with staff and patients and to consider implementing a COVID-19 vaccination policy for staff. Read the updated guide to providing in-person care during the pandemic.
Online cancer screening awareness toolkit.Since March 2020, the number of tests completed throughthe Ontario Breast Screening Program, the Ontario Cervical Screening Program and ColonCancerCheck have decreased compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Ontario Health has developed an online cancer screening awareness toolkit to support patients getting caught up on cancer screening. The toolkit includes materials such as key messages that can be used for emails or newsletters, social media content and slides for digital screens in offices. All materials are available in English and French, and select materials are available in other languages, including Indigenous languages. Access the cancer screening awareness toolkit.
eConsult and eReferral webinar series.Ontario eServices Program is hosting a series of webinars to support clinicians and Ontario Health Teams in adopting eConsult and eReferral. eConsultis a secure web-based tool that enables physicians to ask clinical questions to a specialist electronically and receive a response within days, often eliminating the need for an in-person patient visit. eReferraloffers a more complete and efficient referral process when a patient visit is required. Itenhances communication between primary care providers and specialists/organizations by enabling quick and secure referrals to be sent and received through an electronic platform. The webinars will take place throughout October and November. Learn more and register for the eConsult and eReferral fall webinar series.
The Ontario Physicians and Surgeons Discipline Tribunal (OPSDT), previously the CPSO Discipline Committee, officially launched on Sept 1. The OPSDT has an arms-length relationship with the CPSO and aims to be a neutral, independent, administrative tribunal that adjudicates allegations of professional misconduct or incompetence of Ontario physicians made by the CPSO. The CPSO indicates these changes should improve timeliness and continue to ensure a fair and consistent discipline process and the Canadian Medical Protection Agency has shared its support for the creation of the new tribunal. Read the CPSO news release about the new physician discipline process. Visit the new OPSDT website. Read a CPSO article on the launch of the physician discipline tribunal.
Updated hospital bylaw template. The OMA and the Ontario Hospital Association have jointly published an update to the Hospital Prototype Board-Appointed Professional Staff Bylaw, which was last reviewed in 2011. This new version reflects changes in legislation, lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and leading practices for medical leadership positions. All Ontario hospitals are required to have a bylaw establishing the process for privileges, responsibilities of staff and other administrative rules. This new template bylaw is a customizable Word template that hospitals can use to adapt to their own current practices. In updating this bylaw, the OMA consulted medical staff association executives and collaborated with the OHA to identify solutions to all issues raised. Email OMA Legal Affairs if you have questions about your hospital bylaw. Read a plain language overview of the amendments to the hospital bylaw. Access the updated hospital bylaw on the OMA website.
Resources for patients using opioids.Looking for a one-stop shop for patient resources around post-surgery pain management? Visit the Perioperative Pain Management Pathway’s ‘Patient Resources’ web page for PDFs and videos about opioid prescriptions and post-surgery pain management that can easily be shared with patients. Part of the SolvingPain initiative, the Perioperative Pain Management Pathway is a project by Ontario’s Anesthesiologists that aims to enable physicians to provide the best possible perioperative pain management for their patients using evidence-based practices that also limit the potential for opioid misuse. Visit SolvingPain.ca for patient resources on perioperative pain management.
Resources for research tax credits. OMA Legal Services, together with the academic health sciences centre governance chairs and tax counsel at Thorsteinssons LLP, have developed essential resources to assist physicians (and their tax experts) who claim scientific research and experimental development tax credits. The resources include (a) a memo on a recent consent judgment (a judgment rendered by the court with the prior consent and agreement of the parties involved) from the Tax Court of Canada, and (b) a template letter that physicians can use if they’re subjected to a Canada Revenue Agency audit. Read the memo and template letter on research tax credits.
Recording of OMATalks on mental health. Members can now watch a recording of the recent OMATalks event titled, ‘COVID-19 Impact on Mental Health: What We Need To Do Now.’ The event focused on one of the emerging themes of the pandemic – the mental health challenges facing our communities. An expert panel highlighted COVID’s impact on the mental health of everyone from our very young school-aged patients, our most vulnerable populations including people experiencing homelessness and those suffering from addictions, and our oldest patients in long-term care and palliative care. Watch the OMATalks recording on COVID-19 Impact on Mental Health.
OMA in the News
New section in OMA News.Ever wonder how the media covers the OMA? In this new ‘OMA in the News’ section, we are providing a link to the association’s media activity. This week, the OMA focused on correcting misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine and encouraging unvaccinated or hesitant Ontarians to reach out to their doctor for accurate information. Read the OMA’s top news coverage.
Events
OHT virtual town hall.TheOMA will host a virtual town hall on Oct. 19 from 7:30-9 p.m., to provide updates on OMA’s current work and activities on Ontario Health Teams, an overview of OMA tools and resources to support meaningful physician engagement and leadership in OHTs and discuss incorporation, OHT governance and physician associations. There will also be a question-and-answer period featuring Dr. Jim Wright, OMA chief, Economics, Policy and Research, Rena Menaker, OMA senior director, Change Management and Implementation and Jennifer Gold, OMA director of Legal Services and Ministry of Health representatives. Register for this virtual town hall on Ontario Health Teams.
Speaking out as a hospital-based physician. Join the OMA, a panel of communication and legal experts and a physician for an upcoming webinar intended to help hospital-based physicians understand their rights and responsibilities, as well as factors to consider when speaking publicly. This event will be held Thursday, Oct. 14 from 8-9 p.m. Register for the webinar on speaking out as a hospital-based physician.
Incorporating spirituality in clinical treatment. Join Dr. David Rosmarin, director of the Spirituality and Mental Health Program of the Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital, for a virtual discussion on exploring whether spirituality has a place in the clinical encounter. The event will be held Oct. 13 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. RSVP for the virtual discussion on spirituality in clinical treatment. Learn more about Dr. David Rosmarin.
Providing care for older persons. OMA members are invited to attend the 2021 Toronto Geriatrics Virtual Update Course on Friday, Nov. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This annual continuing medical education conference hosted by Sinai Health and the University Health Network, provides current and relevant knowledge for the care of older adults to primary care providers. Learn more about the virtual Toronto Geriatrics Course. Register for the virtual Toronto Geriatrics Course.
Register for upcoming PHP Annual Day. OMA Physician Health Program Annual Day will be held Wednesday, Oct. 6. This year’s discussion will focus on the intersection of equity, diversity, and inclusion and physician health and medicine, and will feature a distinguished panel on anti-black racism and two breakouts on important topics in physician health. Residents and medical students can attend for no cost. Learn more about OMA PHP Annual Day accredition, schedule and speakers. Register for OMA PHP Annual Day.
Sign up for OMA billing webinar. Join the OMA on Tuesday, Oct. 5 from 6-8:15 p.m to learn about virtual care codes, comprehensive care obligations, preventive care bonuses, and more! This Group Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to two Mainpro+ credits. Register for the OMA’s billing webinar for family doctors.
The Advantages Retirement PlanTMwebinar on saving and investing for beginners will be held Tuesday, Oct. 5 from 12-1 p.m. Learn from our panel of experts, includingOMA Insurance and BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, as they discuss saving and investing for beginners. Learn more and register for the retirement webinar on saving and investing for beginners.
Save on Park’N Fly.Download the Park’N Fly Canada mobile app and start saving on airport parking across Canada. Check-in and check-out faster for an easy airport parking experience. It’s as simple as reserve, scan, park, and Pay’N Go. Download the Park’N Fly app.
Access exclusive worldwide travel discounts.OMA Advantages has partnered with Local Hospitality – a personalized online travel service. Members save up to 20 per cent below market on any hotel or car rental – anywhere, anytime. Access discounts on hotel and car rental discounts.
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:
