President's Letter
Dear Members,
There is a lot going on! It can be challenging to keep members well informed about all that we are doing, so we’ve created a page on the website with a list of the key activities currently underway and what’s happening in each, including primary and acute care, agreement implementation and the health system reorganization. For easier wayfinding, please bookmark the Key Issues Tracker web page (member login required). We will update this page regularly as work progresses in various areas. Email KIT@albertadoctors.org to sign up to be notified when updates are made.
It’s interesting to look at items on the list relating to the crisis in primary care. These are our priorities, and government has now publicly prioritized the same issues. Take a look at the government web page devoted to the current state of MAPS and you will see how they describe actions and commitments under both our agreement and our new Memorandum of Understanding. It’s a credit to the expertise, insight and tireless work of physician advocates and leaders in the AMA that our engagement with government is manifesting in government’s activities and plans.
I hope the Key Issues Tracker helps you to see how your interests are reflected in our work. We’ll let you know when there is progress and when there is not – yet.
In previous President’s Letters, I have been keeping members up to date on our work to stabilize family medicine and rural generalist care. This week we submitted that proposal to government. As noted, the AMA has also developed a proposal for stabilization of acute care to meet the severe recruitment and retention challenges being experienced within the acute care workforce. As always… more to come!
Regards,
Paul Parks
President, Alberta Medical Association