What's New at the ACFP and In Health Care
Message from the President
This month, as we honor our award winners , I am reminded of the hard work and dedication of so many around the province in delivering care to our patients every day. Our awards recognize that family physicians, both experienced and newer in practice, have so much to contribute to enhancing primary care delivery in our province.
 
The ACFP’s Outstanding Family Practice award winners remind us that it takes a team to practice medicine and exemplify how working as a team with a common goal of improving the care our patients receive make a difference in our communities. We also acknowledge those who have committed time to helping the ACFP further our role of influencing and improving the delivery of primary care throughout Alberta. It is important to recognize that improving the well-being of Albertans takes the efforts of not just our past and present honorees but every one of us putting forth our expertise and compassion to ensure Albertans get the care they need. Continue reading .
Treating Chronic Pain…Who you gonna call?
As family physicians we really do see everything when it comes to our patients. From prenatal to palliative care, our patients trust that we will help them through all their medical complexities. In turn, we put pressure on ourselves and our teams to meet their expectations.

A couple of months ago my colleague, the shared care psychiatrist who travels to Pincher Creek to see patients with us, told me that the hardest thing he sees family doctors deal with is chronic pain. Initially this comment surprised me, but on further reflection, and a review of my next day’s patient list I realized he was absolutely correct. Read more .
Mainpro + ® Minute: Annual Credit Reporting Cycle
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Members of the College are required to earn and report a minimum of 25 Mainpro+ credits annually. 

These credits may be certified or non-certified, and can be acquired in any of the following categories:

1) Group Learning,
2) Self-Learning,
3) Assessment. 

Vote below to enter your answer and for a chance to win* one of five $25 Starbucks gift cards!
When does the annual credit reporting year start and when does it end?
January 1 – December 31
July 1 – June 30
The answer will be published in the November edition of our eNews. To learn more about how to report your credits, click here .

*Only correct answers will be entered into the draw. Five lucky winners will be notified by email and will have their names published in the November edition of our eNews.

September's Mainpro+ Minute Answer
Last month we asked - Are UpToDate ® credits automatically transferred for me to the CFPC, and entered into my CME transcript?

The correct answer is:

No —I must enter these credits myself in the Self Learning category

Would you like to have credits you earn online automatically transferred to the CFPC? Is this important to you? Check out ACFP’s online self-learning platform, GoMainpro . Earn up to 70 Mainpro+ certified credits annually, and ACFP staff will submit a transcript of your credits to the CFPC for you.

Congratulations to our September Mainpro+ Minute winners!
  • Dr. Kashmala Qureshi (Carstairs)
  • Dr. Nisha Jeerh (Calgary)
  • Dr. Kenneth Smit (Lacombe)
  • Dr. Srinivasa Manchikanti (Edmonton)
  • Dr. Catharine Grieve (Edmonton)
From Resident to Family Doctor: Time Management Tips to Help Keep You Sane
Are you a new family physician who struggles to stay on time in clinic? Are you a resident who worries about managing a full patient panel alone?

Do you ever ask yourself : “How will I possibly pay off my student debt if I am limited to only seeing 10 patients a day!?”

It can be incredibly daunting to go from splitting a full patient list with your preceptor to your first day as a locum or new staff in a clinic with a full list of 20-30 patients whom you may know nothing about…

This blog post is aimed at providing a quick (but by no means exhaustive) list of tips, tricks, and pearls to foster time management and efficiency in clinic!

These pearls have been collected from multiple docs in their first five years of practice as well from some seasoned past preceptors —l et’s learn from their experience of trial and error. Read more .
Working Together for Healthy Aging in Alberta: Seniors Forum Recommendations
It is with great pleasure that we share the ACFP's Healthy Aging Policy Paper – Working Together for Healthy Aging in Alberta: Seniors Forum Recommendations.

The work is the thoughtful collation of recommendations identified at the ACFP’s Seniors Care Forum in 2014. Seniors Care Forum participants included key stakeholders interested in building partnerships focused on providing and improving seniors care.


The ACFP is an active member of the Alberta Seniors Care Coalition and continues to meet regularly to network and work together to advance healthy aging in Alberta.
Alberta College of Family Physicians | www.acfp.ca | 780-488-2395