REGULATED HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT PROCLAIMED

REGULATED HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACT

PROCLAIMED

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New Legislation to Focus on Accountability, Patient Safety:  Minister Selby

Legislation focusing on accountability, patient safety and ensuring all health professions in Manitoba are governed by consistent, uniform regulations will be proclaimed into force on Jan. 1, Health Minister Erin Selby said today.

"The modern Regulated Health Professions Act will change the way health professions are regulated in Manitoba to ensure consistency and a focus on patient safety," said Minister Selby.  "Audiology and speech-language pathology will be the first two regulated health professions transitioning to regulation under the legislation with more to follow." 

Currently, there are 21 statutes dealing with 22 different health professions.  The Regulated Health Professions Act will replace these statutes, bringing all regulated health professions under one act. 

The minister said the act will:

     

* further strengthen patient safety by ensuring all regulatory bodies establish standards of practice, codes of ethics and continuing competency requirements;

* improve patient safety by regulating the performance of activities specified in the act, called reserved acts, including diagnosis, prescribing drugs, cutting into tissue and applying a form of energy for diagnosis, for example, X-rays and CT scans;

* create consistent and fair complaint and disciplinary processes across all professional colleges;

* increase public representation on the boards of self-governing professions;

* provide improved accountability between the regulatory bodies and government; and

* allow health professions to continue to be self-regulating.

The new audiology and speech-language pathology regulations define the scope of practice of these professions including the reserved acts they may perform and provide a transition of the current Manitoba Speech and Hearing Association to become the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Manitoba.

"The professions of audiology and speech-language pathology are pleased to have the opportunity to modernize the governing legislation under the new act to improve accountability and enhance the  ability to protect the public interest," said Laura Lenton, president of the Manitoba Speech and Hearing Association.  "It is a privilege to be self-regulating and an honour to lead the movement of change for self-regulating health professions in Manitoba."

The new College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Manitoba will be responsible for administering all regulated programs including revised and modernized requirements for registration, continuing competency and advanced competency certification.  It will include public representatives to ensure transparent and accountable decision-making.  Members of the professions will be provided clearly-defined standards to which they must adhere in order to ensure the public receives consistent, high-quality care.

Extensive consultations were undertaken to help develop the regulations including public and professional consultations, the minister said.

As audiology and speech-language pathology will now be regulated under the new legislation, the Manitoba Speech and Hearing Association Act will be repealed. 

The minister noted the province is continuing to work with other regulatory bodies, including the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, to develop the necessary legislation to transition to regulation under the Regulated Health Professions Act.

http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?archive=2013-12-01&item=20060

The University of Manitoba’s School of Medical Rehabilitation would like to invite all prospective students, future health professionals and anyone who would like to learn more about Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Respiratory Therapy to our annual

OPEN HOUSE

Date:	Sunday, January 19, 2014
Time:	12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Place:	The School of Medical Rehabilitation University of Manitoba (Bannatyne Campus) Brodie Centre 727 McDermot Avenue Winnipeg, MB

Learn about Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Respiratory Therapy through displays and tours! Current students and faculty will be available to answer your questions.

To view the poster online, or for more information, please visit: 

http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/medicine/units/medrehab/open_house.html

The Province of Manitoba is distributing this release on behalf of the Government of Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba and Prairie Mountain Health.

The Province of Manitoba is distributing this release on behalf of the Government of Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba and Prairie Mountain Health.

News Release

December 16, 2013

CANCER HUBS BRING EXPANDED SERVICES

TO WESTERN MANITOBA

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Sites to Offer Enhanced Cancer Services, Treatment, Information Options:  Minister Selby

DAUPHIN-Cancer patients can now access enhanced treatment and information at seven cancer hubs, as Manitoba's IN SIXTY cancer patient journey initiative continues to improve services, Health Minister Erin Selby said here today.

"Cancer is a scary journey for patients, but by reducing wait times and ensuring timely treatment and access to care, we can help make that journey a little easier," said Minister Selby.  "Cancer hubs are made up of networks of care providers who work together to make sure patients get the care they need, when they need it, closer to home."

The expanded services now include three full-time nurse navigators, two psychosocial oncology clinicians, two part-time family physicians focused on oncology, two part-time medical leads, a full-time clerk and part-time community liaison, with an approximate $700,000 annual investment in front-line staff for the Prairie Mountain Health region.  All front-line staff have received training from CancerCare Manitoba and will support patients at critical transition points, resulting in reduced delays and less stress and worry for patients, the minister said.

The experts who staff cancer hubs will work with local health-care providers and patient navigators to co-ordinate quick diagnosis, treatment and followup for patients.  The hubs will better co-ordinate care and offer some services close to home, reducing costs for patients who might have otherwise had to travel to Winnipeg to receive diagnosis or treatment.

The regional cancer hub in Brandon will co-ordinate work at the community cancer program hubs in Deloraine, Hamiota and Neepawa, while the regional cancer hub in Dauphin will co-ordinate work at the community cancer program hubs in Russell and Swan River.

"Patients and families have enough to go through following a cancer diagnosis," said Penny Gilson, chief executive officer of Prairie Mountain Health.  "No matter where one is in their cancer care journey, our goal is to ensure you know what's happening now, what's happening next and what your treatment options and outcomes might be."

The minister noted the introduction of cancer hubs is part of the $40-million IN SIXTY initiative, announced by the Manitoba government in 2011 to improve the cancer patient journey.  It is a partnership including the Manitoba government, CancerCare Manitoba, Diagnostic Services of Manitoba, regional health authorities, physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers and other health-care providers.  These cancer hubs enhance Manitoba's strong record of being world leaders in the support of cancer patients and fight against the disease, citing Manitoba as one of the first provinces to cover the full cost cancer drugs for all patients, said the minister.

For more information on Manitoba's Cancer Strategy, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/health/documents/mbcancer_strategy.pdf. 

Manitoba Locum Tenens Program

Coming soon!  www.manitobalocum.ca

RECORD NUMBER OF FUTURE DOCTORS ATTRACTED TO RURAL, NORTHERN COMMUNITIES UNDER EXPANDED RECRUITMENT GRANT PROGRAM: OSWALD

A record number of medical students has signed up to serve in rural and northern communities that need them the most in exchange for free medical school thanks to a recently expanded doctor-recruitment initiative, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced today. The free medical school initiative supports the province’s commitment to ensure every Manitoban has access to a family doctor by 2015, the minister said.

“We’re committed to finding new ways to connect Manitobans with a doctor in their community,” said Oswald. “The incredible success we’ve seen in the first year of the free medical school program shows us we’re on the right track to recruiting more doctors to the rural and northern communities where they’re needed most.”

This year, over 251 undergraduate medical students and residents signed up for grants through the revamped Medical Student/Resident Financial Assistance Program in exchange for providing medical services after graduation, in under-served rural and northern communities. In total, this will result in nearly 250 years of medical services returned to Manitoba communities, Oswald said.

Under the expanded program, grants range from $12,000 to $25,000 per year, based on the year of study, the student’s specialty and where they choose to work after graduation. Students can apply for grants in each year of medical school and canaccess a maximum of $61,000 over four years, which covers tuition and other costs associated with studying medicine in exchange for a commitment to work for up to two and half years in communities identified as most in need of additional physicians.

“Our goal is to keep the majority of our graduating physicians here to serve the health-care needs of Manitobans across the province,” said Dr. Brian Postl, dean, faculty of medicine, University of Manitoba. “Thanks to this expanded and innovative program, more students are choosing to stay here, take advantage of the tuition-reimbursement incentives offered by the province and practise in under-served communities after graduation. It’s clearly a win-win.”

Since the program was established in 2001, over $35 million has been provided to approximately 1,300 students. Since 1999, rural and northern Manitoba has seen a net increase of 116 doctors.

The minister said Manitoba continues to make many important investments in physician training, recruitment and retention including:

• expanding the Medical Student/Resident Financial Assistance Program to cover the entire cost of a student’s four years of medical school, in exchange for a return-of-service agreement in communities chosen by the province;


• introducing a 60 per cent tuition rebate worth up to $25,000 for graduates who choose to live and work in Manitoba;


• introducing a unique northern/remote residency program to help attract more doctors to northern Manitoba;


• providing grants of $50,000 in return for service for family doctors to return to school to undertake a third year in an advanced-skill area such as emergency medicine or anesthesiology;


• expanding medical school spaces to 110 from 70, creating the largest medical school class on record; and


• introducing the Medical Licensure Program for International Medical Graduates in 2001 to assist foreign doctors in receiving conditional registration.
  
  For more information about the programs, visit www.manitoba.ca/health/msrfap/index.html.
  

MANITOBA TO FULLY COVER MEDICAL SCHOOL COSTS OF STUDENTS WHO AGREE TO WORK WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST

December 9, 2010

Grants Part of Province's Plan to Provide All Manitobans Access to a Family Doctor by 2015: Selinger
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Manitoba medical students who agree to work in areas most in need of doctors will have their medical school costs fully covered by the province under a new program announced today by Premier Greg Selinger.

"Today there are 405 more doctors and 40 more medical school spaces than there were in 1999 as a result of our government's aggressive education, recruitment and retention efforts," said Selinger. "With this new program we are strengthening incentives for medical school graduates willing to work where they are needed most so that all Manitoba families can benefit from our significant investments in health care."

Under the new grant program, Manitoba medical students will be eligible for grants of $12,000 in each of their four years of medical school. Each grant requires a commitment to return six months of service to under-serviced populations upon graduation.
In their fourth year, students will have the option of taking a
$25,000 grant by committing to an additional one-year return of service. In total, students will have access to a maximum of
$61,000 over four years in exchange for a two-and-a-half-year commitment to under-serviced communities.

"Graduates who accept these grants will be providing care to many families that don't have a family doctor today," said Health Minister Theresa Oswald. "By targeting areas most in need of doctors, we are taking a significant step toward ensuring all Manitobans have access to a family doctor by 2015, regardless of where they live."

The program is open to all medical school students, whether they are pursuing family medicine degrees or areas of specialty.
Students will also still be eligible for the Manitoba tuition-tax rebate and the federal textbook rebate. When combined with the tuition- and textbook-tax rebates, students will be able to cover other costs associated with medical school studies including school-related travel and living expenses.

"We are proud to serve as Manitoba's medical school," said Dr.
Brian Postl, dean, faculty of medicine, University of Manitoba.
"This strong commitment from the provincial government will ensure all areas of the province benefit going forward."

The new grant program replaces and strengthens existing provincial medical student grants that were only available in years three and four of studies. It will be available to medical students beginning in the fall of 2011.

The most in-need under-serviced populations will be determined annually based on information from regional health authorities, Manitoba Health and the faculty of medicine. After completing their residency, students will be able to review the communities designated as under-serviced that year and apply to return service where they choose.

Congratulations Dr. Anne Durcan

Dr. Anne Durcan is the recipient of the Manitoba Family Physician of the Year Award as well being named as one of Canada's 2010 family physicians of the year by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. (Manitoba College of Family Physicians)
A physician at Winnipeg's Mount Carmel Clinic has been named one of Canada's top 10 family doctors of 2010.

Anne Durcan earned the recognition from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) for her professional accomplishments, which include several initiatives aimed at the rural and aboriginal populations.

Since 1999, she has been one of the coordinators of the Inuit Health Program of the J. A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit. The unit provides service to hospitals and 12 nursing stations in northern Manitoba as well as eight Nunavut health centres.

She has also collaborated with Manitoba’s Office of Rural and Northern Health in developing ‘Rural Week’, an opportunity for first-year medical students at the University of Manitoba to get first-hand exposure to rural and northern medicine.

Durcan, who also mentors students at the WISH Clinic, an inner city student-run medical clinic, will be presented with the award at a ceremony at the College of Family Physicians annual Family Medicine Forum in Vancouver on Oct. 15.

She is also the recipient of the Manitoba Family Physician of the Year Award for 2010.

Durcan graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1992 and was certified in family medicine in 1994, following two years of residency training at Dalhousie University.

She practiced for two years in Nova Scotia, one year in Rankin Inlet and for the past 13 years at Mount Carmel Clinic.

Each year, the CFPC presents the Reg L. Perkin Award to one family physician from each province "in recognition of their exceptional care for patients, meaningful contributions to the health and well-being of communities, and dedication to research and teaching," states a news release from the College.

Award recipients are nominated by their peers, patients, colleagues, and community leaders.