JANUARY 2021
THE YEAR TO COME

A new year brings the opportunity to look back on how far we have come, as well as evaluate and refocus where we plan to go. With that in mind, and based on our strategic plan, CAPA has identified a list of key priorities for the upcoming year which include:

• Working to better integrate PAs in Canada
• Finalizing PA Regulation in Alberta and Ontario
• Leading advocacy campaigns in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia
• Launching a new website designed to streamline and enhance member engagement
• Increasing CAPA’s engagement with PA students
• Researching ways to offer online CPD opportunities outside of the conference education program
• Promoting the accreditation of PA Programs

CAPA MEMBERSHIP: SUPPORTING HEALTHCARE CHAMPIONS
Our membership campaign this year not only serves as a reminder to renew your membership for the April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 membership year but to thank PA’s for all their hard work over this challenging year. As a token of our appreciation, if you renew your membership by February 28th you will be entered into a draw to win some great prizes.

ADVOCACY NEWS
Alberta
On January 12th, the PA Regulation Advisory Committee for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta reconvened to continue the discussion of putting regulation into place for spring 2021. Alberta Provincial Director, Kirsten Luomala and CAPA staff participated and will continue to do so as the committee moves through the phases of implementing regulation.

Manitoba
Congratulatory letters were sent to the Honourable Audrey Gordon, Minister of Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery, as well as the Honourable Heather Stefanson, Minister of Health and Seniors Care on their new appointments with the Government of Manitoba. In addition to congratulating the Minsters on their appointments, both letters acknowledged the Government of Manitoba’s continued support for the PA profession and welcomed an opportunity to meet and discuss strengthening our partnership to improve health care delivery in the province.

Ontario Physician Assistant Association (OPAA)
The OPAA continues to prepare for talks with the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA). A point person at each certified hospital has been identified to represent PAs working at those hospitals and a members meeting was held on January 28th, 2021. The goal of the meeting was to bring members up to speed on recent activity and outline plans for moving forward with the OHA discussions.

Government of Canada
In response to the Federal Mandate letters that were recently released, CAPA reached out to the Ministers of Health and Seniors Care offices to offer our support and advocate for PAs to help improve services in long-term care homes. An initial meeting with the Minister of Health’s office was very productive and positive.

ACCREDITATION OF PA PROGRAMS
CAPA has officially become a Program Client with the Health Standards Organization an affiliate to Accreditation Canada/EQual. Accreditation Canada/EQual is now in the process of gathering information from each of the programs and will start planning the accreditation process of our Canada PA programs.

CERTIFICATION
The 2020 cert exam will be our first ever exam offered online and will be administered on February 19, 2021. All registrants for the 2020 PA Cert Exam will receive direct communication from Yardstick between February 8 and February 12, 2021.

PAs IN THE NEWS
Maureen Taylor spoke with Ismaila Alfa on Metro Morning earlier this month after receiving her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. Click here to listen to the podcast: A bit of excitement, a bit of guilt.

If you see members recognized within your workplace or in your community, let us know so we can spread the good news. And if you see local health care headlines and believe there is an opportunity to highlight PA contributions or follow up with a letter to the editor, we would like to hear from you. Please contact agunawardena@capa-acam.ca.

JOB LISTINGS
Visit the Job Listings in the members only section of the CAPA website for the latest career opportunities in family medicine, nephrology, and mental health.

If you have job ads to share, send them to us at admin@capa-acam.ca. We post job ads for free on the Job Listings page and, for a small fee we email job opportunities to all our members.

INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH STUDY

Practicing PAs who are graduates of a Canadian PA program are invited to participate in a research study conducted by a University of Manitoba Master of Physician Assistant Studies student. The study investigates Physician Assistant (PA) burnout amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic: a qualitative survey response from practicing PAs in Canada.

Click here for further information and to participate.