Alberta Medical Association

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, an annual event intended to celebrate and learn about the rich history and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

The AMA's Indigenous Health Committee developed a new land acknowledgement statement, which demonstrates our deep respect for the Indigenous Peoples who have come before us and the land that hosts us.
https://www.albertadoctors.org/about/land-acknowledgement

The goal of the statement is to recognize and honour the Original Peoples, the settlers who now call this place home and our relationship to each other on the land where we all live on.

This statement is just one element to AMA’s commitment to meaningful reconciliation.

Read the Full President's Letter outlining our statement on the AMA website: https://www.albertadoctors.org/services/media-publications/presidents-letter/pl-archive/new-land-acknowledgement

New land acknowledgement and town hall reminder PRESIDENT'S LETTER: June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, an annual event intended to celebrate and learn about the rich history and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The AMA has chosen this month to unveil a new land acknowledgement statement, which demonstrat...

"With an aging population, Alberta's population boom, and thousands of Albertans without a family doctor, more people are finding out they have cancer in an emergency department." Alberta must become competitive in recruiting cancer specialists.

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The AMA section of Pediatrics has added their voice to help dispel vaccine misinformation. All Albertans should hold individuals and organizations in the public eye to a high standard, using reputable information grounded in robust, consensus science.

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We know physicians are eager to learn the details of the Physician Comprehensive Care Model (PCCM), a novel funding option that provides family physicians and rural generalists the financial stability and incentive to provide life-long, comprehensive patient care.

AMA family medicine leads have worked tirelessly to finalize this model. We are in active discussions with Alberta Health on details, including rates associated with each component; panel size requirements; services for encounter payments; and the premium for after-hours care.

The Premier and Health Minister have both stated that Alberta’s health care system should be the best in the West, and the AMA is keeping the pressure on to hold them to that. We are close, but we haven’t crossed the finish line yet.

I wrote an op-ed outlining why it is essential we implement the new model as soon as possible https://x.com/Albertadoctors/status/1802778395564011927 We have been working closely with government and I believe they fully understand just how dire the situation is.

The AMA and government have a common goal – to provide Albertans access to comprehensive, cradle-to-grave care from a family physician or rural generalist and health care team. This care is needed to keep Albertans healthy and out of our hospital system as much as possible.

Read this full President's Letter on the AMA website: https://www.albertadoctors.org/services/media-publications/presidents-letter/pl-archive/take-pccm-across-finish-line

Let's take the PCCM across the finish line PRESIDENT'S LETTER: We know that physicians are eager to learn the details of the Physician Comprehensive Care Model (PCCM), a novel and game-changing funding option that will provide family physicians and rural generalists with the stability and incentive to provide life-long, comprehensive patient...

This Father's Day we recognize the physician and patient fathers and father figures across all stages and walks of life.

This day means something different to each of us and can bring a variety of emotions. We honour and celebrate the unique journey of every father.❤️

New innovative breast cancer treatments are being brought to Alberta. However, to provide these treatments to patients across the province we need investment in Alberta's cancer care workforce and resources.

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The AMA is not slowing down; in fact, we are increasing our efforts. Here are some highlights of what's to come after last week's Board of Directors 2024-25 business and strategic planning retreat.
Acute Care Concerns: Discussions with government and AHS regarding our Acute Care Stabilization Proposal have begun. The proposal brings solutions and opportunities for alternative relationship plans; availability and after-hours care; and reduced rates in AHS facilities.

Our campaign to raise awareness for Alberta's cancer care has drawn attention from media and commentators across the country. In early July we will be launching the next wave of Acute Care Concerns focusing on our colleagues in General Surgery.

The Urgency Is Real: Physician Comprehensive Care Model discussions with government.
We know the Transitional Funding Program relieved some pressure, but family medicine and rural generalist practices still struggle financially. Long-term solutions are needed as soon as possible.

Representatives from Sections of Family and Rural Medicine have worked relentlessly to finalize the PCCM for fall 2024. Discussions continue with some elements agreed upon and others remaining contentious. We will keep pushing for what family and rural generalist physicians need.

Advocacy:
The Board reviewed results from the 2023-24 Tracker Surveys. Across all specialties and locations, members are calling for us to speak out to Albertans and the government about what is happening in their health care system.

As the system is reorganized AMA will continue to speak out about the crisis' in both acute and primary care; and the complex medical, social and political issues affecting our ability to maintain relationships with patients and deliver the care we are trained to provide.

Read this President's Letter on the AMA website:

We’re not slowing down: Read all about it. PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Your Board of Directors is not slowing our pace heading into summer; in fact, we are increasing our efforts. That was a key takeaway from last week’s Board meeting and two days of business and strategic planning for 2024-25 to deliver what you need from the AMA.

AMA offices will be closed on Thursday, June 13 for a staff event. Regular business hours will resume on Friday, June 14.

Every day. Every stage of life. Every patient needs and deserves quality care within a stable, reliable health care system.

Join the Physician Champion Network on June 11 for a webinar on electronic medical record (EMR) strategies. This webinar is open to all physicians, register through the link below. https://web.cvent.com/event/59119e2b-31f6-4661-b60f-5db276f4cf65/summary

Cancer care docs are needed across Canada. Other provinces are acting to combat these shortages including BC's recent hire of 61 new oncologists. Alberta is not keeping pace. We need to retain and recruit these specialists immediately. Alberta's cancer patients need timely care.

“The impact is real and we’re seeing it more and more and that’s why we are raising this alarm now." Alberta's lack of oncology recruitment makes diagnosing late-stage cancers in the emergency room a norm.

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“We’ve definitely fallen behind our neighboring provinces over the last decade." Alberta has recruited only 7.7 oncologists for the 2024/25 year while BC has hired 325 more cancer care staff including 61 oncologists. This needs to change.

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The technology is here to provide greater cancer survival rates, but these rates depend on delivering that oncologic care and immunotherapy in time. The number of cancer care doctors is not keeping pace. We have the treatments but we need these specialists.

The number of oncologists in Alberta is not keeping pace with patients. An Alberta cancer patient was forced to wait over 2 months after diagnosis for an appointment, the patient passed on before he was able to see the oncologist. This is unacceptable.

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There are not enough oncologists in Alberta to meet cancer wait time targets. Patients face the consequences. Alberta needs to be competitive in retaining and recruiting cancer care docs.

"It’s estimated that we could easily absorb around 50 oncologists today just to meet the current need. More still will be required as cancer care demand tilts sharply upward." Alberta needs more of these specialists immediately to care for our cancer patients.

If your legacy includes passing down a cottage to your loved ones for future generations to enjoy, it's important to be aware of potential tax implications.

If you leave a secondary residence to your loved ones in your will, once they sell it the government will expect payment on the gross capital gain. This is known as the Capital Gains Tax. As announced in the 2024 Federal Budget, starting June 25, 2024, any capital gains exceeding $250,000 will be subject to a two-tier tax system:

50% on the first $250,000.

66.67% on the remaining profit.

This can be an increased burden when it comes to transferring your wealth.

Here are a few strategies that could help you cover this type of tax liability for your loved ones upon your death.

Life Insurance: This is the most common approach. Your executor or beneficiaries will receive a tax-free death benefit that can be used to help pay the taxes owing and keep your cottage in the family.

Tracking Capital Gains: Keep a record of your capital improvements made to a property to potentially lower your capital gain when you eventually sell the property.

Promissory Note: Sell the property to your children at fair market value, with part of the purchase price paid by a promissory note. This promissory note would not be collected upon, and in your will, this note would be forgiven. Your children would pay the tax cost equal to the fair market value at the time of their purchase, but they would not pay off the promissory note.

Every physician has unique financial needs when it comes to safeguarding assets and legacy planning. We work with physicians to help make informed decisions that support the financial well-being of loved ones for years to come. Learn more: http://spr.ly/6181dKeef.

May 27-31 is Alberta Rural Health Week - a time to celebrate the health care providers across Alberta. We are grateful for the expert care rural physicians deliver to patients and their contributions to the economic health of their communities. Thank you!

The acute care system is in desperate trouble. That was the subject of our latest virtual town hall on May 22 with over 250 acute care, hospital and community-based specialists.

Current conditions are driving physicians out of hospitals or changing practice patterns. Colleagues are no longer confident they can continue to deliver the care they are trained to do, while patient access to these services is steadily worsening.

Health human resource shortages are at the heart of docs' concerns: delaying testing, procedures; consultations; and treatment. We lack the teams – surgical assistants, nurses, pharmacists and more – who have kept the system moving.

There are not enough hospital beds for our increasing population and we note that we also lack the people to staff these beds. Patients remain in hospital instead of appropriate alternative levels of care spaces, slowing or stalling patient flow through the hospitals.

Highlighted in our Acute Care Stabilization Proposal, and as I outlined in our town hall, remuneration and payment policies can make a powerful difference in patient care. We will continue to push to restore patient access to the care they need. https://www.albertadoctors.org/news/member-only-town-halls

Last week we began to spotlight cancer care. Next in line are general surgery, general internal medicine and obstetrics and gynecology as prioritized by the Joint Physician Advocacy Committee. Email [email protected] to bring a specialty forward. https://www.albertadoctors.org/services/media-publications/presidents-letter/pl-archive/waiting-for-cancer-care

An AMA-Alberta Health working table has been formed to generate advice to government on issues and solutions from physicians regarding Alberta Health Services' reorganization into primary care; acute care; continuing care; and mental health and addictions. https://www.alberta.ca/establishing-the-future-of-alberta-health-care

To allow early meetings, representatives from the AMA board attended. The call for applications to serve on the Health System Refocus Working Table is now open. We need the insight our physician leader experts can provide. https://www.albertadoctors.org/app/cams

Read the full President’s Letter on the AMA website: https://www.albertadoctors.org/services/media-publications/presidents-letter/pl-archive/acute-care-video-leaders-needed

Waiting for cancer care is the new normal PRESIDENT'S LETTER: Cancer care provided in Alberta is second to none, when you can access it. Unfortunately, this expert care is no longer being delivered in a timely fashion because we do not have enough oncologists to provide the care that patients need. That’s the key message in the first issu...