The Specialist Services Committee recently undertook an evaluation of the Physician Leadership Program (PLP) to assess the impact that the program has had in developing the participant physicians’ leadership abilities. The PLP was developed in 2013 by UBC-Sauder, Vancouver Coastal Health and Provincial Health Services Authority, and is funded by the Shared Care Committee (SCC) and Specialist Services Committee (SSC).
Tackling physician burnout through Joy in Work
Aug 8, 2019
If you were eavesdropping on the informal chat of a room full of medical professionals, how often would the word ‘joy’ come up? While terms like ‘burnout’ and ‘overwork’ might pepper the conversation, ‘joy’ would likely be missing in action.
In order to initiate an understanding of the causes, implications and possible solutions to burnout among physicians, two joint collaborative committees of Doctors of BC and the BC government ─ the Specialist Services and Shared Care committees ─ sponsored the participation of 35 physicians in an online course called Joy in Work(link is external) (JIW). The program was offered by the Institute for Health Care Improvement and ran from March to June, 2019.
PQI equips 63 health care professionals with quality improvement training and support
Jun 26, 2019
PQI recently celebrated 63 graduates in three health authorities and supported their quality improvement projects.
Dr Curt Smecher Wins Health Care Hero Award
Jun 24, 2019
Dr Curt Smecher, PQI Provincial Physician Lead and Anesthesiologist at Abbotsford Regional Hospital won the Health Care Hero Award for Fraser Health as part of BC Health Care Awards Ceremony on Jun
Annual Report: April 2018 to March 2019
Jun 17, 2019
The Specialist Services Committee’s Annual Report focuses on the committee’s continued efforts to create an effective and efficient specialist care system.
Click here to read the Full Report, and click here to access the Executive Summary.
Dr Faisal Khosa receives Young Investigator Award from the Canadian Association of Radiologists
Jun 17, 2019
Dr Faisal Khosa, SSC member and an associate professor in Radiology was recently honoured with the Young Investigator Award at a national radiology meeting.
Physicians create new tools to help youth and families
Jun 17, 2019
It is challenging for many adults to speak out about mental health issues. That is even more true for youth who may not understand their own conditions or how to put their symptoms into words.
Dr Charlotte Yong-Hing - Working to change gender disparity in radiology
Jun 4, 2019
As a radiologist at the BC Cancer Agency, Dr Charlotte Yong-Hing has been trying to get more women interested in pursuing a medical career in radiology.
Doctors of Innovation: “Preparing for surgery is like preparing for a race”
Jun 4, 2019
Over 100 participants from multidisciplinary teams were welcomed by Doctors of BC’s president-elect Dr Kathleen Ross at the launch of the new Surgical Patient Optimization Collaborative (SPOC) on M
Spotlight on a Specialist – Dr Kelly Mayson
Jun 4, 2019
Like many doctors, Dr Kelly Mayson had mentors as she pursued her medical degree in the mid-eighties. It was during a rural rotation that she met a GP anesthesiologist, who mentored her and ‘opened her eyes’ to the potential of anesthesiology.
A rockslide couldn't stop Dr Bell from helping his patients with their surgeries
May 23, 2019
Orthopedic waitlists in BC are long and any delays in providing hip and knee surgery can be quite devastating.
Working together to break down silos
May 23, 2019
Forty physicians and health care workers involved with two flagship initiatives of the Specialist Services Committee (SSC) – Facility Engagement (supporting MSAs) and Physician Quality Improvement
Dr Don Berwick’s Keynote Address at the PQI Summit
Mar 13, 2019
“We can absolutely succeed” is the message Dr Don Berwick brought to his inspirational keynote address last Monday, November 19 at the first-ever Physician Quality Improvement (PQI) Summit (link is external).
Dr Berwick, who is one of today’s top health care thinkers and President Emeritus and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, also acknowledged the fact that “it is a tough time for health care around the world”.
Specialist Symposium: Shaping the Future of Specialist Care in BC
Mar 13, 2019
Over 200 attendees from all regions of BC with differing levels of involvement in BC’s specialist care came together in Vancouver last month to the inaugural Specialist Symposium: Shaping the Futur
Spotlight on a Specialist: Dr Marius Pienaar
Feb 15, 2019
What initially attracted Dr Marius Pienaar to move to British Columbia from Cape Town was his love of skiing and adventure. He had an immediate sense of connection with Prince Rupert after landing on New Year’s Eve in 1992 with his wife and three sons and 26 years later, he has a deep connection with the community he calls home. As the only OB/GYN in Prince Rupert serving the North Coast of BC, he is looking forward to spending the remaining years of his career, as well as his retirement, in “this amazing community.”
New SSC FEE Guide
Jan 11, 2019
As of January, 2019, a new SSC Fee Guide will be implemented for the specialist physicians.
Spotlight on a Specialist – Dr Tamara Shenkier
Sep 26, 2018
Dr Tamara Shenkier was the first person in her extended family to become a physician. Her father came to Canada as a refugee after World War II and settled in Montreal where he met her mother, a pre-school teacher. They were both were very supportive of Tamara’s ambitions and were very proud when she earned her medical degree at McGill University.