VMDAS/VPSA board and staff meet regularly with VCH senior leaders to develop a collaborative relationship between medical staff and the health authority. The October meeting included discussions on several topics including a review of the recent medical staff orientation event, the development of a VA Provider Digital Health Committee, VGH after-hours food availability, rolling out results from the VCH-wide physician wellness survey, and the possibility of establishing a medical staff hub at UBC Hospital.

VA/VC medical staff orientation event

VCH’s Manager, Provider Strategic Initiatives & Experience, Vancouver Acute Laura McEvoy reported on the inaugural VCH medical staff orientation event, which took place on September 16. Thirty-five physicians and nurse practitioners from VA and VC attended; many more indicated their interest but were unable to attend because of scheduling conflicts.

Those attending heard from presenters across multiple specialties and departments and provided positive feedback about the event:

• 91 per cent who reported having high expectations said those were met.
• 100 per cent who reported having low expectations said those were met (and, presumably, exceeded).
• 100 per cent of survey responders would recommend the event to new staff.

Going forward, event organizers will begin advertising new medical staff orientations earlier and consider holding the event in late afternoon or early evening to work around clinic hours. They will allow more time for networking before and after the event and include group participation throughout the day. Plans are already underway for another orientation next September.

Development of a VA Provider Digital Health Committee

Ms. McEvoy and VA Senior Medical Director Dr. Vinay Dhingra led this discussion. The goal of developing such a committee would be to address VCH’s many different digital systems including but not limited to Cerner. AI scribes, which reduce documentation time, are an example of a new system the committee would consider and advocate for.

The committee would report to VMAC and would include representation from across VA, with members bringing issues to the committee as well as disseminating information to medical staff. The committee structure is still in development and has gone through Legal and Risk Assessment channels. Its terms of reference are close to being finalized.

After-hours food availability at VGH

VP, Vancouver Acute Services, Michelle de Moor and VPSA Project Manager Annapurna Chavali both met with VGH Food Services since the group’s September meeting to discuss this concern raised by members. VCH Food Services is willing to provide an additional vending machine with healthy food options close to the cafeteria for those who need nourishment when the cafeteria is closed. Food Services will also investigate why the machine near the Emergency Department is often not working.

VPSA Operations Director Andrew Pinfold reviewed the straw poll taken at a recent lunch in the VMDAS Hub and recommended this as a quick way to get a snapshot of how physicians feel about certain issues. Most of the people who participated responded that they would maybe use a vending machine near the cafeteria if the options were appealing. This was followed by many people who said they would use it as well as those who said it wasn’t applicable to them because they don’t work after hours.

Rollout of physician wellness survey results

Interim Regional Medical Director of Wellness Dr. Fahreen Dossa shared that there is a communications plan for rolling out the results of the recent survey. These have already been shared at some leadership tables, with more to come before the results are released widely. Dr. Dossa mentioned that the results are in line with similar surveys held across the country and that, overall, burnout seems to have lessened somewhat since the 2020 survey. The caveat is that there are differences between departments and divisions. Those surveyed raised concerns about CST as well as psychological safety and health human resources.

UBCH Medical Staff Hub for Engagement and Wellness

VMDAS/VPSA President Dr. Ka Wai Cheung informed VCH leaders that the association is looking into the possibility of establishing such a room at UBC Hospital. The hub at VGH is extremely popular in providing a place to build community and network as well as for finding a quiet space. Several members who work at UBCH have asked about the possibility and VPSA is now undertaking a fact-finding mission to find out what members want. This initiative is in its infancy stage.

Next meeting

The group next meets on November 14. If you have an item you wish to be brought forward at these meetings, please contact VPSA Operations Director Andrew Pinfold.