What's new at the Vancouver Division

 

Connecting physician-patients with care

The Vancouver Division has partnered with the Physician Health Program (PHP) in response to the identified need to match unattached physicians with local doctors in support of physicians’ health and wellness. The result of this collaboration is a private and confidential physician-patient matching initiative that has matched 54 unattached physician-patients with family doctors since October 2018.
 
Connection to a family doctor enables physicians to promote their own physical and mental wellness. In the words of Dr. William Osler, “having a solid relationship with a family physician of your own is an essential component of professional practice in medicine.”
 
Are you an unattached physician looking for a family doctor?
If so, please contact d4d@physicianhealth.com or 604-398-4300.
 
Click here for more information.

 

Family doctors needed to provide care for unattached mom and baby dyads

The Patient Attachment Initiative at the Vancouver Division is looking for family doctors who are interested in providing ongoing care postpartum to new moms and babies <18 months. Dyads are referred to this initiative by maternity care providers and public health nurses. For more information, contact Catherine Addison

 

CBT Skills Group Program: Increased capacity for more patient referrals

In response to the growing number of referrals to the program, additional capacity has been added to the Vancouver CBT Skills Group Program, with groups starting in April. This 8-week psycho-education program is for patients with low to moderate severity of anxiety and depression, as well as other lower acuity mental health diagnoses. Referral information can be found on Pathways. For more information contact Justin Ho.

 

GPs needed to provide gender-affirming primary care for unattached patients

The Patient Attachment Initiative has matched over 8,500 unattached patients to GPs in Vancouver. Currently, more capacity is needed to match well-supported unattached transgender patients in need of GPs who provide gender-affirming primary care. Any GPs interested in accepting unattached transgender patients from this program (even one patient per month), please contact Catherine Addison. Learn more here. 

 

UBC Pharmacists Clinic and the Vancouver Division collaboration

The Vancouver Division and UBC Pharmacists Clinic (listed on Pathways) are collaborating to provide family physicians with access to drug therapy specialists to help optimize the care of any patient taking medications. The Clinic offers a no-cost, timely and collaborative approach to implement, monitor and adjust drug therapies for optimal results. Click here for more information.

 

Vancouver Division Access to Telephone Interpreting Services

Vancouver Division has signed up for members to access on-demand phone interpreting services as part of the Provincial Language Service’s pilot project.  The services are voluntary and at no cost to you. Click here for more information.  Click here to visit the PHSA webpage about PLS. 

 

Update on billing codes and sessional rate

Enabling delegation
As part of the service requirements for the GPSC planning fees, doctors may now delegate non-face-to-face planning tasks to College-certified allied care providers working within a GP practice. This change affects the following GPSC incentives:

• G14033: GP Complex Care Planning and Management Fee
• G14043: GP Mental Health Planning Fee
• G14063: GP Palliative Care Planning Fee
• G14075: GP Frailty Complex Care Planning and Management Fee

Further information about fees that enable delegation

Simplifying billing
The Personal Health Risk Assessment (Prevention) (G14066) has been amended to align with the GPSC planning fees. Physicians are no longer required to bill a visit fee in addition to the G14066 fee. A visit fee may still be billed in addition if medically required and does not take place concurrently with the face-to-face planning included under G14066. 
Further information about billing simplification

Clarifying documentation
To reflect recent change to MSP's counselling fee 0120, the GPSC added a clarifying note to some of its mental health fees:

• G14044: GP Mental Health Management Fee age 2-49
• G14045: GP Mental Health Management Fee age 50–59
• G14046: GP Mental Health Management Fee age 60–69
• G14047: GP Mental Health Management Fee age 70–79
• G14048: GP Mental Health Management Fee age 80+

GPs should ensure that clinical notes for 0120 or GPSC mental health management fee billing include the required documentation as of December 1, 2018.
Clarification about required documentation
 

Reminder to submit Portal Fees
GPs are reminded to submit the GPSC Portal (G14070) or GPSC Locum Portal fee (G14071), as required at the start of the new year.
Information on G14070/71 in the GPSC Billing Guide- Portal

Sessional rates increase
Effective February 1, 2019 sessional rates will increase as follows:

• GP – $134.77/hour and $471.70/session
• Specialist – $158.97/hour and $556.40/session

 

Upcoming Division Events

April 3: WAITLIST Vancouver Division & FLC Tax Clinic 2019

In partnership with Financial Literacy Counsel, the Vancouver Division is hosting a Resident Doctor Tax Clinic for CURRENT Resident members of Vancouver Division. Attendees will have the opportunity for a 30-min appointment with a chartered professional accountant to file their tax return free of charge. Residents who are married to other residents must book consecutive appointments (resident spouse/partner does not have to be a Vancouver Division member). For more information contact recruitmentvan@divisionsbc.ca