October 4, 2024

This week’s Vitals: 720 words / 3 min read.

Welcome to Vitals, our revamped newsletter! See a message from CEO Theresa Oswald about our redesigned member newsletter, built to make information easier to read and simpler to find. You asked for ​“brief” and ​“relevant content” with ​“less fluff.” Read her update here.

199 words / 1 min read / for all members

TOP STORIES

01

WCB Tentative Agreement Reached



We have reached a tentative agreement with WCB for a five-year deal with annual increases plus new changes for expedited consultations and surgeries. There’s also a commitment to reduce admin burden. Take the quick pulse check survey to share your views on the Agreement before it's finalized.

335 words / 2 min read / for all practicing physicians

02

Recommendations on Reducing Admin Burden

The final report is out from the Joint Task Force to Reduce Administrative Burdens for Physicians. It includes six key recommendations for government, the health system, and other organizations that create unnecessary or overly complicated paperwork for doctors. Find out what’s recommended, and how the President of Doctors Manitoba and the Minister of Health are responding. Read more here.

348 words / 2 min read / for all members

03

Strike Expected Oct 8

The biggest health care strike since at least the 1990s is expected to start at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. We created a page about how the strike may impact physicians’ work and patient care. We expect to update this page on Monday before the strike starts. The strike involves over 25,000 health care support workers in all regions other than Northern. Even with essential services agreements in place, there will likely be impacts on surgery, testing, inpatient care, RHA-run clinics, and home care. Read more here.

267 words / 1 min read / for all members.

04

Free Birth Control

Starting October 1, birth control is now free for all Manitobans. This includes oral contraceptive pills, as well as IUDs, hormone implants, and injections. We summarize what’s covered so you can advise your patients, as well as how the new benefit program works. Learn more here.

267 words / 1 min read / for all members

05

More Doctors Step in Right Direction 📈

Last week, the government released a progress report on its plan to add 1,000 health care workers this year, which includes 100 physicians. While there’s still work to do on reaching the 1,000 target overall, the government reported a net gain of 116 more doctors since April 1. Our analysis cautions that number may come down after the CPSM renewal cycle, but as our President Dr. Randy Guzman explains, this is a “step in the right direction towards addressing our doctor shortage.” Read more.

361 words / 2 min read / for all members

HEALTH SYSTEM UPDATES

Check out this week’s latest health system updates, including summaries about:

• Plans to (eventually) expand breast cancer screening to women in their 40s
• Concerns surfacing from physicians about CCMB
• A new WRHA Board Chair (spoiler – it’s a doctor and she’s a recent DRMB Award Winner)
• Minimum wage increases
• TigerConnect reminder

Read this week’s updates here

715 words / 3 min read / for all members

Plus see this month’s AIM update for family physicians about improving patient access, with enrollment open for fall 2024 training.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Here’s our most clicked and important recent updates, in case you missed them:

• See the latest Board Highlights update, including information about truth and reconciliation, economic trends for physicians, and more.
• Become a mentor! Record enrollment in medical school means we need more mentors. It’s a rewarding experience.
• Extended hours premiums for primary care clinics increased, and new extended hours clinic is recruiting physicians.

UPCOMING EVENTS

You can always see upcoming events on our event page here.

RECOMMENDED: Join our reconciliation workshop on Tuesday October 8 at 6 p.m., a Virtual Blanket Exercise. Learn more and register here.

Virtual / No Cost / Open to all members

Gap Insurance for Former Manitoba Clinic Physicians: Responding to questions from physicians who used to work at Manitoba Clinic, we have organized a webinar with experts from Fillmore Riley to help advise you on the need for gap, or tail insurance. Learn more and register here.

Virtual / No Cost / Open to former Manitoba Clinic Physicians



Bug Day! One of the biggest accredited learning events of the year! Check it out on October 17.

Virtual / No Cost / Open to all members

We are here to support the whole physician.

Every step of the way.

Your health & well-being are important to us.

Visit DRMB.ca/HELP to connect to support services or call 1.844.433.3762

For all other support, including benefits and insurance support,

career resources or practice advice please

email general@doctorsmanitoba.ca or call 204.985.5888

Visit DRMB.ca/Bannatyne for more information on our Bannatyne office and to view the full calendar.

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Email us anytime at general@doctorsmanitoba.ca