We are pleased to welcome three more VPSA members who are working to improve medical staff engagement by taking part on our committees. Drs. Colin Siu and Christopher Skappak have joined the VPSA Projects Committee, while Drs. Siu and Simone Schülein are now members of the VCH Medical Staff Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. The Projects Committee develops the process and criteria for annual project selection and provides ongoing leadership … Read More
Collaboration key to building CST confidence
Vancouver General Hospital implemented the CST Cerner clinical information system on November 5, 2022. This was the largest phase in a project that will see all Vancouver Coastal Health sites plus the Provincial Health Services Authority and Providence Health Care sharing the same electronic health management system. It was also one of the largest Cerner deployments in North America to date. VPSA’s CST Task Group worked closely with the VGH … Read More
Wellness funding creates more social supports for emergency physicians
Our health-care system is in crisis and physician burnout is significant. A 2021 wellness survey carried out by the VCH Emergency Department identified a 75 per cent burnout rate among its 71 physicians and locums. While many drivers of stress can only be addressed at an organizational level, three Emergency Department members are acting as wellness champions for their colleagues: Drs. Ka Wai Cheung, Ariana Murata, and Zafrina Poonja. “We … Read More
Why physician wellness measurement counts
We all know there is a health-care crisis and that the toll it is taking on physicians and other medical staff is enormous. Burnout is widespread among health-care providers. While physicians can take individual steps to promote their own self-care, systemic change is needed to make a significant difference to wellness. One of the ways we can argue for change at the organizational level is by measuring wellness within physician … Read More
Update on VPSA’s strategic plan goals
Since publishing its strategic plan in February 2022, VPSA board and staff members have been working diligently to realize its goals. An update on ways we are achieving these is now available. The plan guides VPSA’s actions through until 2024; it has four priorities: Increase member engagement and support, especially with under-represented departments. Improve member physician engagement with Vancouver Coastal Health leadership. Implement robust performance management, monitoring and evaluation systems, … Read More