| Measles Update and Resources As measles case numbers continue to increase in Alberta, primary care teams are reminded of the following key resources. Note that measles resources are constantly being updated – please watch for new updates. *New* Measles Exposures in Alberta | Alberta Health Services – lists time frames and locations of publicly announced measles exposures in Alberta. Measles | Alberta.ca – offers up-to-date case numbers and information for the public. Active Health Advisories | Alberta Health Services – lists current advisories by zone. Provincial Measles Primary Care Clinical Pathway – gives step-by-step, comprehensive clinical guidance on care delivery. Measles Primary Care Summary Guide – sums up key clinical information and relevant information for a clinic setting. Environmental Cleaning Guidelines in Community Clinics – provides recommendations on cleaning / disinfecting procedures and products. Laboratory Testing for Suspected Measles – provides details on testing procedures and supplies. Posters | Alberta Health Services – offers infection prevention and control posters, including a Patient Symptoms poster available in multiple languages. Poster – Measles Immunization Poster – Measles is Extremely Contagious Poster – Measles Symptoms Measles Alert “Do Not Enter” |
| Removal of delay on remaining test results in MyAHS Connect Starting April 3, 2025, all test results and their result-related documents are immediately available to Alberta patients. Note that prior to April 3, some test results had been held from patients for five days in MyAHS Connect, the online patient tool for Connect Care. The test results that were previously held for five days, but are now visible to patients immediately, include: All ophthalmology tests Endoscopy reports Pulmonary/respiratory tests and activities Sleep clinic studies Remaining cardiology reports The immediacy of patient results means that this information will be available to patients at the same time as the ordering provider. Providers may wish to consider giving patients more information about the implications of different results at the time of ordering a test.Get more information. |
| APL bulletin: Notification process changes Effective March 31, APL Microbiology no longer provides phone or fax notification of some non-critical results, including Influenza, Group A Streptococcus and C. difficile and more.Routine result reporting will continue (e.g., to Connect Care In Basket, Netcare, eDelivery to community Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)). APL will continue to provide critical result notification (e.g., positive blood or CSF cultures) by phone. View the full list of affected results in the lab bulletin. |
| Health system transformation |
| Acute Care Alberta launch Having launched on April 1, Acute Care Alberta (ACA) is preparing to oversee the governance and coordination of acute care services across Alberta. Alberta Health Services is shifting from being a single health authority to a hospital service provider overseen by ACA. Read the January 8. 2025 Alberta Health news release. |
| Professional development & events |
| Register 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 sessions designed to provide valuable insights, foster thought-provoking discussions and inspire actionable strategies. 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. The content will offer unique value through its focus on practical implementation and collaboration as we navigate these uncertain times. Registration is now open. This event is hosted by the Alberta Medical Association’s Accelerating Change Transformation Team (AMA-ACTT). |
| PCN Pain Rounds: Hypermobility Syndromes and Chronic Pain*Correction: Note that the March 27 PCA Weekly Clinical Update listed CPSA as an organizer, but it should have been ACFP. Updated text is below. 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 ACFP. May 29, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Register now. |
| Reminder: 3rd Annual Hematology Update This conference is the first of its kind in Western Canada and will be held in person and virtually. Topics include obstetrics hematology, angioedema, small clot thrombosis and more. The Hematology Update takes place April 12 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton. Review the conference agenda and get more information. Register now. |
| Wellness4MDs Program If you are seeking support to deal with stress, burnout, anxiety or depression, build resilience and maintain or improve psychological wellness, the Wellness4MDs program is for you. Funding organizations include the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Foundation, in partnership with AHS.Subscribe to Wellness4MDs to receive free daily cognitive behavioural therapy-based supportive text messages and mental health literacy information. Text “WELLMD” to 1-855-947-4673 to subscribe. This program is available to physicians, post-graduate medical trainees and medical students in Canada. |
| Funding |
| Reminder: PCN 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. For more information contact pcnops@gov.ab.ca. |
| Engagement opportunities |
| Health Quality Council of Alberta: Focus on Healthcare If you’re looking for data about the patient experience in Alberta’s healthcare system, check out the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) site. You’ll learn about patient experience and quality of care in primary care clinics across Alberta. View the HQCA Primary Healthcare page. |
| CMA launches the 2025 National Physician Health Survey The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has launched their 2025 National Physician Health Survey, which provides crucial data on burnout, anxiety, depression and other wellness indicators in medicine. This information helps the CMA identify ways to support medical learners and physicians, provides researchers, educators and health organizations with a one-of-a-kind dataset to advance physician health and wellness programs. The deadline for the survey is April 15. Learn more about the survey, and complete it, on the CMA website. |
| FAST Program Evaluation Survey now open until April 13 FAST, a PCA Specialty Access program that helps primary care teams offer Albertans timely and efficient access to specialty care, is requesting participation in an evaluation survey. The survey is open from March 24 to April 13 and takes about 5-10 minutes to complete. Your answers will remain confidential and will be aggregated into a final report. Participate here: FAST Program Evaluation. This survey seeks to gather valuable insights from primary care providers and specialty physicians across Alberta to drive meaningful improvements and ensure the Specialty Access program continues to align with provider needs and best practices. |
| Clinical Pathway Development Survey Participating in this short, anonymous survey is primary care providers’ opportunity to share 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. Questions about clinical pathway work? Email albertapathways@primarycarealberta.ca. |
| Patient resources AHS Wellness Kitchen classesCooking When Fatigued: Takes place in person in Calgary on April 8, 12:00–1:30 p.m. To register: https://redcap.link/CookingWhenFatigued. Easy & Healthy Mediterranean Cooking: Takes place online on April 17, 12:00–1:30 p.m. To register: https://redcap.link/EasyHealthyMediterraneanCooking. Tasty, Low Salt Cooking (Dips & Sauces): Takes place in person in Calgary on April 29, 12:00–1:00 p.m. To register: https://redcap.link/TastyLowSaltCooking. |
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