Month: April 2012

A weekend of discussion in Toronto started with guideline creators talking about the need for better tools of integration into practice. This CIHR funded day brought together many guideline authors such as the Canadian Diabetic Association and Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Principles were established some of which were surprising.  For example “There is no need to develop a tool for a poor guideline”. This acknowledges the bias inherent in some guidelines or the reliance on expert advice when evidence from trials is not available. Some of the discussion raised the importance of electronic medical records while recognizing that with the high prevalence of multi morbidity this in itself is not a solution.

At the same time the CCFP had started it’s weekend to determine the strategic direction  of the section of researchers

Key areas are

1. Community Engagement
2. Advocacy and Support
3. Integration
4. External Relationships
5. Capacity Building

The group worked on adding detail to this and a report will be emerging from this workshop. One objective is that there will be a Primary Health Care Institute in CIHR within 5 years. This could transform research funding for primary care researchers, not necessarily more money, but possibly more equity. As we approach the deadline for the largest funding investment in primary care research from CIHR ever there is a feeling that things are changing for the better. Good luck to all the UBC applicants.

Martin

This is an exciting time as we reach the submission date for the CIHR Community Based Primary Health Care Letters of Intent submissions. With 35 going to be shortlisted by CIHR, and over 150 applications expected from across Canada it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few months.

This weekend was the beginning of a large meeting for medical educators in Banff. The news for us is that family practice is not having an easy ride anywhere in the country. As the chairs of departments compared notes it became clear that none of them were relaxed about the future, most were dealing with expansion, and most are worried about their budgets.  Despite that level of anxiety all the departments are proud of the scholarly work seen in practice and especially about the role of the college provincially and nationally in preparing practices to take residents and students. Compared with the situation 20 years ago  potential teaching sites are not only very positive about teaching but they also have the background and understanding of the requirements for training as so many have already been through the CFPC program themselves. This makes the prospect of expansion in BC very much more positive as we consider growing by 50% from the current intake of 124 residents.

Extreme examples of success still are a pleasure to see such as this publication from a BC group : Claire Robinson, Sharlene Kolesar, Mark Boyko, Jonathan Berkowitz, Betty Calam and Marisa Collins , Awareness of do-not-resuscitate orders: What do patients know and want? Can Fam Physician April 2012 58: e229–e233. 

Many Congratulations on a great job in doing the work and getting it published.

Martin Dawes