Members gathered in person and online May 26 for VMDAS’s most recent quarterly meeting. Interim Vice President of Medical and Academic Affairs Dr. Chad Kim Sing and Executive Director, Medical and Academic Affairs Rose Harrison talked about the transformation of their portfolio. Interim Regional Medical Director of Wellness Dr. Fahreen Dossa and VPSA Director of Operations Andrew Pinfold discussed the VA and VC results of the 2024 VCH physician wellness survey. Doctors of BC President Dr. Charlene Lui introduced herself and spoke of recent initiatives within the organization.
Medical and Academic Affairs update
High quality medical care cannot be separated from medical staff wellness and engagement. That was the broad message delivered by Dr. Kim Sing and Ms. Harrison.
Medical and Academic Affairs is a large portfolio; its key functions include credentialing and privileging, medical leadership development, clinical service contract management, medical staff human resource planning, and practice quality assessment. Dr. Kim Sing and Ms. Harrison reviewed these and other functions, commented on how their work aligns with MSAs, and touched on the implications of the most recent Doctors of BC engagement survey. Both are adamant that they want to transform their area to be fully engaged with medical staff and to link that to VCH’s strategies. They want to move beyond old ways of thinking and, to do that, collective action is needed. They are open to suggestions and recognize the need to partner with medical staff to be successful.
(Ms. Harrison will be the guest speaker at VPSA’s next Dinner with Leaders event on June 9. You can register for the session here.)
VA/VC wellness survey results
The 2024 Physician Wellness Survey was a partnership between VCH and VPSA. Its purpose was to assess physician burnout levels and the contributing drivers alongside psychological and physical safety. Dr. Dossa and Mr. Pinfold presented the overall VCH results at the December Medical Staff Forum. For this VMDAS quarterly meeting, they zeroed in on VA and VC results. These findings are encapsulated in this summary report of department and division results as well as this infographic.
The survey has allowed us to identify internal gaps, establish VCH burnout and fulfillment rates, and identify physician priorities. Dr. Dossa also emphasized that there is commitment and buy in from VCH leadership to support wellness initiatives. Results have been communicated to senior leaders as well as department and division heads. Groups supported by MSAs across VCH are now translating the data into action. Departments and divisions are identifying wellness champions and working with Dr. Dossa on initiatives.
Current initiatives include:
- VPSA funding for recruitment and retention measures
- VPSA funding for wellness champions/projects
- VA Provider Digital Health Committee
- VPSA funding for commensality groups
- VPSA’s Community Building & Wellness Task Group events and initiatives
- Creation of the Regional Medical Director of Wellness role
- An improved reappointment process starting this year
- A self-paced and instructor-led psychological health and safety course
Doctors of BC update
Dr. Lui began with emphasizing that we optimize healthcare when the entire team works well together. Doctors of BC was founded 125 years ago to unite doctors across BC and help them speak with one voice and to have the tools to give the best possible care. Dr. Lui explained that her role as president is to represent the organization’s members and advocate for the supports that members need.
The organization is currently negotiating the next Physician Master Agreement with the provincial government. The agreement, which determines physician compensation and fees for service, affects every doctor in BC. Dr. Lui noted that the government has signalled that this is a difficult economic time. There is also a new minister and deputy minister at the Ministry of Health. Doctors of BC has held extensive consultations with members and has conducted a detailed investigation of the geopolitical climate.
Another priority for Doctors of BC is executing year 2 of its strategic plan. Priorities include:
- Increasing the influence of the physician voice
- Promoting physician health, wellness and safety
- Ensuring fair compensation and providing business support
- Engaging members on the future of the profession and the culture of medicine
Dr. Lui stressed that Doctors of BC will continue to have detailed engagement with MSAs to understand what members need. She concluded by stating that we have the most success when we work together—a message emphasized by all the meeting’s presenters.
Next meeting
The next VMDAS quarterly meeting will be on September 15. Keep an eye out for the email invitation as well as mentions in your weekly Checkup e-newsletter.
Top photo (from left): Dr. Charlene Lui, Dr. Chad Kim Sing, VMDAS/VPSA President Dr. Ka Wai Cheung, Rose Harrison, and Andrew Pinfold.