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Primary Care Alberta – Weekly Update Mar 27

Clinical Information

Measles update

As measles case numbers continue to increase in Alberta, primary care teams are reminded of the following key resources:

Measles | immunizecanada patient/Healthcare resources and information

Immunize.ca has some of their resources in other languages, see the attachments for sample posters including Cree, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi; plus:

Vaccines in pregnancy: What you need to know (factsheet in multiple languages)

Read. Learn. Understand. A Parent’s Decision to Immunize (factsheet)

Reminder: Measles case notification procedure

  • If you suspect measles or have further questions, please contact your Zone MOH on-call.
  • Report all suspected cases immediately to the MOH on-call prior to ordering testing.
  • Do not send patients for testing without discussion with the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) on-call to avoid unwanted exposures.

Arrange for testing of clinical specimens as outlined in the provincial laboratory guidance, available here: Laboratory Testing for Measles.

RCMP Public Safety Notice

The RCMP is sharing a public safety notice about a recent trend in the online exploitation of children and youth that could result in the victim seeking medical attention. The RCMP bulletin warns of violent online groups, known as “The Com” network, targeting vulnerable youth (8-17) through platforms like Discord, Telegram and gaming apps. These groups coerce victims into self-harm, animal torture and producing explicit content. Parents and caregivers should monitor online activity and report suspicious behavior to local authorities or the RCMP.

Any related information or concerns should be provided via email at rcmp.kinsetintakekeisnadmission.grc@rcmp-grc.gc.ca, or by phone at 780-509-3588 (Edmonton office) or 403-852-6387 (Calgary office).

Get more information.

Health System Transformation

Primary Care Alberta welcomes Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Ernst Greyvenstein has been appointed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for Primary Care Alberta. He will assume the role on April 1.

Dr. Greyvenstein has extensive experience as a collaborative medical leader in various roles, most recently supporting the Alberta Medical Association’s Accelerating Change and Transformation Team (AMA-ACTT), where he was Medical Director.

As CMO, Dr. Greyvenstein will play a key role in helping Primary Care Alberta deliver high-quality patient care for all Albertans. He will provide leadership and oversee matters related to medical staff, develop and implement medical policies and protocols, and foster collaboration with primary care providers, associations and agencies to enhance patient outcomes across the refocused system.

Alberta International Medical Graduate Program changes

Alberta’s government is making changes to the Alberta International Medical Graduate Program (AIMG) to better support Albertans who are studying medicine abroad and help them complete their residency in Alberta. The program assesses the qualifications of Alberta international medical graduates (IMGs) to determine their eligibility for medical residency positions at the University of Alberta and University of Calgary, but it does not select who is chosen for a residency position.

Auditor General Primary Care Network progress report

The Auditor General PCN Progress Report is now available.

Read the report.

Professional Development

National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month

In honour of National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month in April, healthcare professionals are invited to online lunch & learn sessions by the AHS organ and tissue donation program, Give Life Alberta.

Questions: Community.Engagement@ahs.ca.

Note – sessions for patients are also available, see below.

Early-bird discount for Primary Care Strategic Forum

The three-day event on May 1-3, 2025, in Edmonton will focus on the future of primary care in Alberta with a plenary and keynote speakers, a panel discussion and a variety of breakout sessions.

This year the theme, The Path Ahead, will center on navigating the monumental changes to primary care in Alberta and moving ahead as a united group. Registration is now open with early bird pricing available until April 4. This event is hosted by the Alberta Medical Associations Accelerating Change Transformation Team (AMA-ACTT).

Patient and Family Centered Care (PFCC) Grand Rounds

Join the PFCC Grand Rounds about the transformative power of peer-to-peer connections. In this session, examples of when patients and families connect with Peer Support Mentors will show that they can foster feelings of hope, reassurance and a sense of community.

Developed in partnership with Recovery Alberta Adult Addiction Services Peer Support program, Alberta Children’s Hospital Family to Family Connections Program, and the Foothills Medical Centre Peer Support Neurosciences program.

PCN Pain Rounds: Hypermobility Syndromes and Chronic Pain

At this free online session, you’ll learn about diagnosing benign hypermobility and distinguishing it from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome to help a patient navigate available specialty resources. You’ll also learn about explaining to a patient how hypermobility syndromes affect chronic pain, and devising a management plan for pain related to hypermobility. Organized by Calgary and Area PCNs, AHS and CPSA.

  • May 29, 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Register now.

Physician Wellness webinar

As part of the Alberta College of Family Physicians Thursday Evening Webinars, this session will focus on equipping participants with the ability to recognize burnout symptoms, understand its impact on relationships, and when and how to seek support. Participants will acquire a few techniques for navigating daily challenges as well as develop a well-being framework to help monitor and maintain wellness.

Funding

Primary Care Physician Compensation Model

The Alberta government announced on March 24 that the new Primary Care Physician Compensation Model (PCPCM) will launch on April 1. The model was developed in partnership with the Alberta Medical Association (AMA), and 789 family physicians have signed up to receive compensation through the new model as of March 24.

Primary Care Network funding

PCN funding has been extended until March 31, 2026, and PCNs are expected to continue operating as usual until they transition into a Regional Network. Alberta Health and Primary Care Alberta will work with each PCN to develop a transition plan that aims to minimize disruption for clinics, providers, staff and patients. A phased implementation strategy is being planned to engage and keep stakeholders up to date during the transition period.

Engagement Opportunities

FAST Program Evaluation Survey

This survey seeks to gather valuable insights from primary care providers and specialty physicians across Alberta to drive meaningful improvements and to ensure Specialty Access programs continue to align with provider needs and best practices.

Alberta’s Specialty Access program is designed to enhance timely and efficient access to specialty care through four components: FAST, Alberta Pathway Hub, Specialty Advice and the Electronic Referral Solution (ERS). While the program has made significant progress, there are opportunities to further optimize referral processes, and strengthen collaboration with partners.

Survey Information:

The survey is open from March 24 to April 4, 2025, and takes about 5-10 minutes to complete. Your answers will remain confidential and will be aggregated into a final report.  

If you have any questions or would like to share additional insights, please contact specialtyaccess@primarycarealberta.ca.

Feedback Opportunity: Provincial Adult (>18) Gender-Affirming Care Patient Pathway 

The Provincial Pathways Unit (PPU) is requesting assistance from primary care in spreading awareness and providing feedback on this patient pathway to albertapathways@primarycarealberta.ca.     

The Provincial Adult Gender-Affirming Care Patient Pathway is a key resource that mirrors the recently launched Gender-Affirming Care for Adults Clinical Pathway. This includes guidance on wide-ranging supports, including non-surgical, medical and surgical options for transgender and non-binary people. The pathway is intended to build confidence in those navigating our healthcare system. This patient-facing resource is designed to help support a patient’s journey with timely access to care.

The patient pathway was co-designed within Alberta and is well linked to other national and international guidelines for gender-affirming care.  

Explore more pathways at www.albertapathways.ca

Reminder: Clinical pathway development survey

The Provincial Pathways Unit (PPU) is seeking input on future clinical pathway development from primary care providers.

Input will be collected through a two-question survey. Participating in this survey is primary care providers’ opportunity to tell the PPU about the conditions for which pathways will help in their clinical practice.

Clinical pathways address common conditions where there is either variation in approaches to care, a lack of Alberta-specific guidance, or frequent requests for advice. Clinical pathways also provide clear referral points that can help reduce declined referrals.

There’s still time to apply for the 2025 ACFP Awards

Do you know an exceptional family physician, family medicine resident, and/or student?  Leaders in their communities that have demonstrated a passion for what they do?  Make time to acknowledge and honour them. Nominate someone today!

Patient Resources

National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month

In honour of National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month in April, patients are invited to online lunch & learn sessions by the AHS organ and tissue donation program, Give Life Alberta.

Questions: Community.Engagement@ahs.ca