Successful AGM, thank you Dr. Paul Conte, OMA Board Chair
The OMA held a highly successful Annual General Meeting, attended both virtually and in-person last night in Thunder Bay. It was great to see so many of you attend online, as well as to hear directly from physician leaders about critical regional issues. Read more about the AGM in my last post as board chair.
The OMA and Ministry of Health have reached an agreement to provide expanded critical temporary funding to more hospitals for a longer duration to prevent northern and rural hospital emergency department closures during upcoming summer months due to physician shortages. The newly formed bilateral Physician Human Resources Working Group of the Physician Services Committee has collaborated on an expanded version of the COVID-19 Temporary Summer Locum Program (CTSLPE) for 2022. The CTSLPE was implemented last year as a measure to respond to urgent looming emergency department closures. For 2022, the risk of ED closures is anticipated to increase due to the effects of COVID-19, and to occur earlier; accordingly, the program will commence earlier and run longer (from Wednesday, June 1 to
Monday, Sept. 5). The number of eligible hospitals has more than doubled from 36 to 88, and the budget increased substantially from $2.8 million to $21.4 million. The unintended consequences of certain inequities from last year's program (i.e., locums accessing the incentive being paid more than local physicians) are addressed in the 2022 program, and hospitals/physicians will not be penalized if an ED must close despite best efforts to keep it open. Read the program guide and FAQs.
Summary of recommended COVID-19 vaccines. The Ministry of Health released an updated guidance document outlining the recommended number and timing of COVID-19 vaccine doses for individuals to be considered up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. The document includes recommendations for those ages five and over, residents in long-term care and other congregate settings, those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, those who received a vaccine not approved by Health Canada and those who have had COVID-19. Access the new COVID-19 vaccine guidance document.
Updated COVID-19 patient assessment tool. The OMA has updated its COVID-19 Patient Assessment Tool for Physicians to reflect the latest Ministry of Health guidance. Changes include an updated list of individuals eligible for PCR or rapid molecular testing and the addition of individuals eligible for COVID-19 antiviral treatment, which include adults 70 and older, adults 60 and older with less than three doses of COVID-19 vaccine, adults 18 and older who are immunocompromised or who have less than three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and at least one other risk factor (for example, obesity, diabetes and heart disease). The tool also includes information on testing and isolation requirements, and critical staffing shortages in highest-risk settings.
Read the updated COVID-19 patient assessment tool.
Read Ontario Health memo on Paxlovid. Ontario Health released a memo to physicians on Friday, April 29 highlighting resources available to support them in prescribing Paxlovid for eligible patients. Through COVax, physicians can identify unvaccinated patients, and through the EMR, physicians can use new tools to identify high-risk patients based on age, immune status and other health conditions. The memo also links to a template message from the Ontario College of Family Physicians that can be used in patient communication regarding Paxlovid and to a Paxlovid prescription form available as a PDF and for EMRs. Read the Ontario Health memo on Paxlovid eligibility. Visit the OMA web page on treatment for patients with COVID-19.
Second booster doses for select groups.The Ministry of Health updated guidance for the administration of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses on Monday, May 2. The guidance clarifies that a second booster dose refers to the dose given after the complete primary series and first booster dose. For individuals who had a two-dose primary series, a second booster is a fourth dose. For individuals who received a three-dose primary series (i.e., immunocompromised individuals), a second booster is a fifth dose. Those eligible for a second booster dose include adults aged 60+, First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals aged 18 and older and their non-Indigenous household members also aged 18 and older, and long-term care, retirement home and Elder Care Lodge residents. Only immunocompromised individuals who fall into one of the
above groups are eligible for a second booster dose at this time. Access the Ministry of Health’s booster dose guidance.
The recently ratified Physician Services Agreement provides that a new Physician Payment Committee (PPC) will replace the Medical Services Payment Committee (MSPC).
The PPC will recommend how to implement each OMA section’s or physician grouping’s compensation increases to the Schedule of Benefits. The PPC is also mandated to take the necessary steps to achieve gender pay equity, address innovation/technological advances and fee schedule modernization.
To facilitate the PPC moving forward expeditiously, the OMA Board of Directors appointed the current OMA Medical Services Payment Committee as OMA PPC members. The MSPC web page provides further detail about the transition process, rationale and committee expertise. Members will also learn more about the OMA-MSPC fee-setting consultation work to date for the 2021/2022 fee setting allocation and preliminary report. Additional proposals may be submitted to the OMA-MSPC up to Sunday, May 29. MSPC transitions to PPC. Read the OMA-MSPC preliminary report. Submit a fee proposal to the OMA-MSPC.
Physician delegates are meeting to prioritize the next set of member-driven ideas at the General Assembly meeting in Toronto, with virtual elements, on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15. This critical meeting is the first time Priority and Leadership Group delegates will meet in person over two days to prioritize ideas submitted by OMA members.
The General Assembly replaced Council and is the cornerstone of governance transformation. While the General Assembly is still a work in progress, it’s an incredibly exciting time, with key advances in its first year, including membership recruitment and several successful meetings.
The General Assembly is responsible for setting policy priorities and making recommendations to address the opportunities and challenges facing the profession. It is comprised of the Priority and Leadership Group, advocacy, issues and policy, and compensation panels, networks, working groups and the General Assembly Steering Committee, which oversees its proper functioning.
The primary function of the Priority and Leadership Group is to set priorities for the organization that are achievable and aligned to the OMA’s strategic plan. The group is responsible for prioritizing member ideas submitted through ideanote. Delegates also function as an information resource for members of their constituencies and solicit feedback and bring emerging issues from their constituencies forward.
Pharmacists prescribing medications for common ailments.The OMA issued a letter to the Minister of Health in response to newly published regulations to the Pharmacy Act
. Coming into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, the regulations will allow pharmacists to prescribe medications for 13 common ailments following the patient’s self-diagnosis. Since 2019, the OMA has raised patient safety concerns, specifically due to the uncertain ability of patients to self-diagnose urinary tract infections, GERD and pink eye, through submissions, letters and meetings with the Ontario College of Pharmacists, the Ministry of Health and elected officials. The OMA will continue to advocate to hold a position of influence on any table where implementation policies and guidelines related to this regulation are being discussed, including prescribing algorithms and communication protocols between physicians and pharmacists. We expect further updates following the upcoming
provincial election. Read the OMA letter to the minister of health. Review the OMA website for additional letters and submissions.
Physicians discuss climate change and health.The OMA held Healthy Planet, Healthy Population, an OMATalks virtual panel on the eve of Earth Day to discuss the effects of climate change on human health and need for the health-care sector to take climate action. Panellists Dr. Roberta Bondar, Dr. Mili Roy and Dr. Kim-Chi Tran discussed their environmental advocacy, the health-care sector’s impact on climate change and the role physicians can play in securing a greener future. Read the OMR article on climate change advocacy.
Dr. Roberta Bondar discusses space medicine.On the latest episode of Spotlight on Health, hear from Dr. Roberta Bondar, Canada’s first female astronaut and world’s first neurologist to visit space, as she reflects on the impact of her ground-breaking research into the effects of spaced travel on the nervous system. Dr. Bondar’s innovative contributions to the field of space medicine have inspired and helped the researchers and astronauts who followed her. Listen to the OMA podcast with Dr. Roberta Bondar.
Updated OMA mobile app released.A new version of the OMA mobile app with improved features and a refreshed design is now live for download. The app provides easy access to the OMA's most popular tools and resources including, billing codes at your fingertips, discount offers while you’re on the go, the latest OMA news and more. Get the OMA mobile app for your iPhone or iPad. Get the OMA mobile app for your Android device.
Share your reflections about OMR.This year the OMA marks the centenary anniversary of the Ontario Medical Review, its leading member-focused communication channel. To acknowledge this impressive milestone, members are invited to share their reflections on how the magazine has impacted how you practice, care for your patients and advocate for changes to our health-care system. Your submission may be featured in the fall edition of OMR or appear on the OMA website to commemorate 100 years of publishing. Email your reflections to Kim Secord by May 13.
Join Voices Rock Medicine Ottawa.A choir of diverse women physicians is looking for members to join its newest branch: Voices Rock Medicine in Ottawa. The in-person choir is open to all women physicians and will meet on Wednesday evenings from 8 to 9:30 p.m. starting in September. Meantime, the group's Toronto branch appeared on Canada's Got Talent last month where their inspirational performance was received with praise from the judges panel and a standing ovation from the audience. Registration is open for all branches of Voices Rock Medicine which includes Ottawa, Toronto, Toronto West/Mississauga ,and the online choir. No experience required, space is limited. Register to join Voices Rock Medicine. Watch Voices Rock Medicine on Canada’s Got Talent.
Events
Attend OMA townhall on Paxlovid and Evusheld. The OMA will host an online COVID-19 townhall on Paxlovid and Evusheld on Tuesday, May 10 from 7:30-9 p.m. The event will focus on considerations for prescribing Paxlovid for the treatment of COVID-19 and will provide an overview of Evusheld, a new prophylactic treatment for immunocompromised patients. The panel will include medical specialists and pharmacists who will address member questions. This session will be recorded and made available to OMA members. Register for the OMA townhall on Paxlovid and Evusheld.
Last call to register for retirement webinar. Meet and talk to the Advantages Retirement Plan™ specialists in a live webinar with OMA Insurance on Wednesday, May 11 from 12-12:30 p.m. Experts will explore common retirement planning questions from members and demonstrate how the Advantages Retirement Plan™ can help you and your spouse/common-law partner make your retirement savings go further. A live Q-and-A period will follow. Register for the retirement planning 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. Dr. Brent Wolfrom, program director at Queen's University, department of family medicine will present the best advice on caring for veterans at a live in-person event hosted by the City of Ottawa Veterans Task Force on Thursday, May 26. 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. The event will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 632, 800 Taylor Creek Dr., Orléans, from 7-9 p.m. 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.
Register for webinar on privacy and security. OMD Educates' second instalment in OntarioMD's CME-accredited Privacy and Security webinar series will take place on Thursday, May 26 from 12-1p.m. This webinar is hosted by OMD's General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer, Ariane Siegel, who will continue to examine the most up-to-date cybersecurity best practices with an emphasis on digital health and virtual care. The webinar will allow time to ask questions. Sign up for OMD’s webinar on privacy and security.
Women's leadership conference discount available. OMA members can receive a $100 discount to the 2022 Art of Leadership for Women conference to be held on Friday, June 17 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The event brings together an all-Canadian lineup of women leaders in their industry including Arlene Dickenson, Clara Hughes, the Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould and more. Register using the ‘OMA40’ and save on conference fees.
OMA in the News
Doctors' Day dominates media coverage. Ontarians embraced the OMA’s social media campaign to thank their physicians for all they do. Coverage began Friday night when OMA President-Elect Dr. Rose Zacharias spoke to CP24 about how to show support this Doctors’ Day. On Sunday, OMA President Dr. Adam Kassam spoke to CP24 and CTV News Toronto in Yonge-Dundas Square, which was one of the many digital billboards across Ontario that displayed OMA’s huge collage of thank you tiles. Dr. Kassam also spoke to CTV News, CHCH and CTV Northern Ontario about the Doctors’ Day campaign. District 1 Chair Dr. Albert Ng spoke to CTV News Windsor and District 9 Chair Dr. Stephen Cooper spoke to CTV Northern Ontario. Muskoka 411, The Welland Tribune, AM640, the St. Catharines Standard, Cambridge Today, The Medical
Post, Quinte News and 101 More FM in Niagara all ran stories about Doctors’ Day. Access the OMA’s top media coverage.
Save on moving expenses.Campbell Moving Systems is offering OMA members preferred rates on local, long distance, office and residential moves and relocations. In addition to member discounts, Campbell Moving Systems also donates five per cent of all revenue earned through this program to the Ontario Medical Foundation. Learn more about Campbell Moving Systems savings.
Discounted pricing and special promotions. Surgo Surgical Supply specializes in providing physicians with medical equipment, medical supplies, medical printing, medical apparel, and a complete line of office supplies. OMA members now have access to discounted pricing and special promotions. Start saving on Surgo surgical supplies.
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