Complete survey on ending fax use. The Ministry of Health has engaged Deloitte to initiate a survey to better understand the current state of fax use in Ontario's health system and develop options for eliminating them in favour of digital options. The OMA wants to stress the importance of voicing your feedback to help inform this process. We will continue to advocate for members regarding our concerns with the timelines and this overall initiative and process. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and will remain open until Wednesday, May 4. Complete the ministry’s survey on ending fax use.
Representing your voices Dr. Adam Kassam, OMA President
Throughout my term as president, I have had the privilege of representing our members through multiple waves of the pandemic, our governance transformation and the release of our Prescription for Ontario, all while having a laser focus on negotiations and our now-ratified Physician Services Agreement.
Engaging with health-system partners was one of my key priorities when I assumed the position last May. This is due to my belief that physicians are central to any recovery, improvement and transformation that is needed in our health-care system. As I've said before, there is no health-care delivery without doctors.
It is this foundational approach that I have used to guide my work with our stakeholders, and where I think we have made significant progress as an association. My meetings with elected leaders and presentations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, the Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on Finance, the Toronto Board of Health and the Ottawa Board of Trade are examples of our increased visibility at all levels of government.
Our regular multilateral work and dialogue with health-care and hospital organizations, medical schools and universities, regulatory and protective associations and others is a demonstration of the increasing influence we are building within the sector advocating for physicians.
Our advocacy has also been tailored to ensuring that the public and media have a clear line of sight into the role, challenges and impact physicians make daily. With more than 200 media interviews this year on topics ranging from physician burnout and harassment to the pandemic response and health-system transformation, our association is well positioned to continue highlighting the expertise and leadership of physicians.
It is in that spirit of hard work, commitment and dedication that I continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our members as you continue the vital work of patient care.
Public messaging encourages anyone who may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 to seek testing and an assessment, including: individuals aged 18+ and immunocompromised; 70+; 60+ with fewer than three vaccine doses; pregnant and unvaccinated; or 18+ with fewer than three vaccine doses and at least one risk condition (obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc). The risk of severe outcomes will vary among individuals who meet these criteria; providers should use their clinical judgment in determining whether a patient should receive Paxlovid. Physicians can prescribe Paxlovid directly to higher-risk patients who have symptoms and a positive COVID-19 test (PCR or RAT). Populations eligible for antiviral treatment are also eligible for PCR testing. Paxlovid must be started within
five days of symptom onset. Paxlovid is now available through both COVID-19 clinical assessment centres and participating community pharmacies. Access Ontario Health guidance for access to Paxlovid.
The Ministry of Health has released guidance for primary care providers regarding early assessment of Ukrainians fleeing war, including assessing immunization status, screening for communicable diseases and other health conditions, and reviewing blood tests to order at the first visit. Individuals who have been granted an emergency authorization to enter into or remain in Canada for humanitarian reasons are residents of Ontario and are eligible for immediate OHIP coverage. To apply for OHIP, individuals should visit a full service ServiceOntario location. Download ministry guidance for primary care providers. Access ServiceOntario locations.
Statistics Canada overhead data update.Overhead is a key component of any relativity model and a critical part of the new relativity model called Fee-Adjusted Income Relativity model. The FAIR model, endorsed by the former OMA council, is now also supported through ratification of the 2021 Physician Services Agreement. The current measures of overhead used in CANDI (Comparison of Average Net Daily Income) are outdated and based on self-report. The Statistics Canada project, endorsed by the former council and members, would provide aggregate overhead information by speciality. This project does not involve the Canada Revenue Agency, nor does it provide the OMA or government access to individual tax information of doctors. Before it would make this information available, Statistics Canada required ethical approval and the
completion of a review by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Ethical approval has been obtained from the University of Toronto Research Ethics Board and the privacy commissioner has completed its review. Further updates on this project will be provided as they become available. Read the privacy commissioner’s review.
Read burden of forms survey results. Administrative burden is a known contributor to physician burnout and in an OMA white paper released last year, reducing and streamlining documentation was identified as the top solution to addressing it. Further to the OMA's commitment to addressing this system-level issue, the OMA Forms Committee conducted a member survey in November 2021 on the key contributors to burnout that physicians face related to patient forms. With 490 survey respondents, the findings show that the top contributor is volume of requests for form completion and/or notes, followed by compensation for requested work in second place, and the content/format of forms in third. Several additional concerns were brought forward in the survey, including unnecessary or poorly designed forms and
forms not being incorporated in electronic medical records. The OMA Forms Committee is using this feedback and is working with stakeholders and government to decrease the administrative burden created by patient forms. Read more about the survey results and the Forms Committee's work.
Events
Sign up for OMATalks on climate change
The OMATalks Speaker Series presents Healthy Planet, Healthy Population. Register now for this free virtual panel discussion taking place on the eve of Earth Day, Thursday, April 21 from 6-7 p.m. CTV’s Avis Favaro will moderate a panel featuring Dr. Roberta Bondar, neurologist and the first Canadian woman in space, Dr. Kim-Chi Tran, surgeon, co-founder and co-chair of the OMA’s Green is Health Medical Interest Group and Dr. Mili Roy, ophthalmologist, Ontario co-chair of the Canadian Associations of Physicians for the Environment and member of the OMA’s Green is Health MIG. Tune in virtually to listen to these experts discuss the need for health-care sector action on mitigating the impact of climate change on human health and well-being. Register for OMATalks Healthy Planet, Healthy Population.
Think differently about Parkinson's disease.April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. Join Dr. Susan Fox, head of the Division of Neurology, University Health Network and Sinai Health Systems who will discuss future therapies of this debilitating disease. This virtual event hosted by OMA District 11 will take place on Monday, April 25 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Register for event on Parkinson's disease.
Explore how your vote impacts the environment. As the next provincial election approaches, the OMA's Green is Health Medical Interest Group is discussing how election results will impact climate change. Register for Greening the World with Politics and Policy, a free webinar on Thursday, April 28 at 8 p.m. Take part in an interactive session about politics and global warming. Hear what experts Dr. Matt Hoffmann, political scientist, and Lloyd Alter, author and sustainable design instructor, have to say about what Ontarians can do to minimize the effects of climate change and create new policies to protect the environment for generations to come. Register for the Green is Health webinar.
Demystify coding in your EMR. Learn how to advance and streamline coding processes in your EMR for better data quality, enhanced billing and practice efficiency. The next continuing medical education OMD Educates webinar titled, Demystifying Coding will live stream on Monday, May 2 from 12-1:30 p.m. The complimentary session will include breakout rooms for Accuro® EMR, PS Suite EMR and OSCAR McMaster (OSCAR Pro) users where more practical tips will be provided by OMD Peer Leaders. Register for OMD’s coding webinar.
Register for OMA Annual General Meeting.Registration is now open for the 2022 OMA Annual General Meeting to be held Thursday, May 5. The hybrid event takes place in Thunder Bay and allows members to participate in the OMA's corporate decision-making. Highlights of the agenda include, appointment of the OMA auditors, installation of the president-elect and operational highlights presented by Allan O'Dette, CEO and Dr. Paul Conte, OMA board chair. The full AGM agenda is posted on the OMA website. Information on decision items will be posted on the OMA website by Thursday, April 21. Register for the OMA Annual General Meeting. Download a copy of the annual meeting agenda. Learn more about the OMA’s annual meeting.
Register for resident-to-practice webinar. Sign up for an OMA webinar titled, The Secrets of Success: Practical tips for Residents Transitioning to Practice. Attendees will be provided with advice on how to get started in practice and will have a chance to participate in an open discussion. The webinar takes place on Wednesday, May 18 from 6-7:30 p.m. Sign up for the transitioning to practice webinar.
Understand needs of veterans, military families.Family physicians are invited to join an information session on the special needs of veterans and military families. This live in-person event will be hosted by the City of Ottawa Veterans Task Force on Thursday, May 26, at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 632, 800 Taylor Creek Dr., Orléans, from 7-9 p.m. The event begins at 7 p.m. with a meet and greet, followed by the session at 8 p.m. Keynote speaker, Dr. Brent Wolfrom, program director at Queen's University, department of family medicine will present the best advice on caring for veterans. Dr. Clare Liddy, chair and full Professor at the University of Ottawa's Department of Family Medicine, will co-host the activity with Dr. Stéphane Roux, chief of staff at Montfort Hospital and will answer questions from the
audience. This session, after acceptance from the CFPC, will qualify for credits under the provisions of the Continuing Professional Development program. Register for session on veterans and military families.
OMA in the News
Health-care issues addressed regionally. District chairs from London, Kingston and Windsor spoke to their local media this week about the most pressing health-care issues in their communities after the OMA issued a series of news releases with data on local wait times for surgeries and long-term care. District 1 Chair Dr. Albert Ng focused on wait times in an interview with the Windsor Star. District 2 Chair Dr. Sharad Rai spoke about physician shortages with CBC London Morning. District 7 Chair Dr. Joy Hatley spoke to the Kingston Whig Standard about health-care issues Kingston residents are most concerned about. Access the OMA’s top media coverage.
As you approach retirement, you’ll need to start thinking about how to make your savings last throughout your retirement years. One of the ways you can protect yourself and have a predetermined income stream is through the Guaranteed Lifetime Income Annuity within the Advantages Retirement Plan™. Learn more about the Guaranteed Lifetime Income Annuity.
Access TELUS plans, product discounts. OMA members have access to exclusive Executive Partner Program savings on TELUS’s full suite of smartphones and rate plans. Bring your own device and access special plans with unlimited data. Learn more about TELUS discounts.
Get discounts on worldwide travel.OMA members have access to Local Hospitality, a personalized travel service offering exclusive discounts on worldwide travel. Save up to 20 per cent below market on any hotel or car – anywhere, anytime. Start saving on travel.
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