Practice Support Program
As physicians, managing a practice can take time away from quality patient care. Whether you’re just starting your medical career, you need more support with an established clinic, or you are transitioning out of practice, the Practice Support Program is here for you.
As this program grows it will provide you with access to a network of experts (Practice Facilitators) and resources on-demand. The goal will be to offer support and resources for every stage of a physician’s practice.
Please note: all eligible physician members have access to this program, regardless of their payment modality.
Practice Facilitation
Practice Facilitation provides access to facilitators (for now virtual access only) to help you achieve practice efficiency and quality improvement. Practice facilitators will meet with you to understand your unique practice and provide a recommended approach. You can identify a specific topic, describe a situation, or request general practice advice and support.
Who are our
Practice Facilitators?
Our list of practice facilitators will grow in time. We currently offer one Practice Facilitator who can help you achieve practice efficiency, quality improvement and optimize everyone’s role if working in a team-based care environment. Your Practice Facilitator will meet with you to understand your individual practice needs and provide a recommended approach. You can identify a specific topic of focus, describe a situation to the facilitator, or request general advice and support. We strongly encourage all physicians to discuss the engagement of a practice facilitator with their colleagues and staff before submitting a request – a unified team approach is ideal.
PRACTICE FACILITATOR
Sue Peters
Sue Peters is a certified Clinical Audiologist, Organizational Change Professional and Lean Leader with 32 years of healthcare experience working in both the public and private sector. As a Practice Facilitator, Sue supports physicians and other clinical team members improve care delivery within their practice environments and advises teams to build their own internal capacity for quality improvement. Sue has most recently worked with the Alberta Medical Association’s Accelerating Change Transformation Team (ACTT) supporting physician-led groups advance Patient Medical Homes including team-based care and integration with the Patient Medical Neighborhood. This work has involved partnering with several stakeholders including Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services, Primary Care Networks and PCN Zone communities.
Sue has gained valuable experience in a wide variety of health care environments in Canada, the US and internationally in a range of settings including all levels of care from quaternary to primary care and rehabilitation. Her projects have required that she work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams within the healthcare system including leadership teams, policy makers, specialists, family physicians, program/clinic coordinators, patient partners and a variety of other healthcare professionals, clinical staff, and support teams. Clients have included Health PEI, the Medical Society of PEI, Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Medical Association, University of Alberta, National Health Service, Interior Health (BC) and Advanced Bionics (Class III medical device manufacturer). Sue can recommend practical and innovative solutions to projects based on her experience coupled with input from her working teams and clients.
Who Can Participate?
This program is designed for physicians who:
- Are interested in modifying how they practice to improve quality of care;
- Are seeking support or guidance in introducing changes to create more efficient workflows;
- Want to support their team in working to their full scope of practice and reaching their full potential; or
- Want to change their practice to improve access to care.
Physicians who participate in the program will be required to dedicate effort and time to achieve their desired results. This includes completing a pre-assessment survey, working with the practice facilitator to develop a plan, executing the work plan with regular check-ins and completing a program evaluation.
The Process
Request:
Fill out the request form below so that we can assess your needs and readiness to enter the Practice Support Program.
Review:
We will review your request and assign a practice facilitator, if appropriate. If this resource is not deemed to be the right match for your needs, we will walk you through other options.
Assessment:
A practice facilitator will work with you to assess practice readiness for change.
Implementation:
A practice facilitator will work with your practice on your identified needs.
Support:
Once the practice can sustain the recommended change, your practice facilitator will remain as a resource to you, for up to six months. Practice facilitators are not intended to do the work within your practice but will help direct and connect you and your practice with the right supports.
Maintenance:
The practice maintains the change. If new support is needed, a new request form can be submitted.
Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
EMR Data Entry Reimbursement Program
To support community-based physicians transitioning to electronic medical records (EMR), MSPEI will provide eligible members with funding to hire data entry clerks to input patient data into the new provincial Telus CHR.
MSPEI members scheduled to implement an EMR may apply for an up to $1,000 fund to support hiring a data entry support person to enter patient records into the EMR. This funding is from a CMA Affinity fund provided by CMA, MD Management and Scotiabank. The fund is intended to support the overall health and well-being of our members. The Data Entry Funding is designed to help physicians transition to an EMR efficiently, while reducing the stress and burden where possible.
This program is being launched as a pilot and is subject to change.
Criteria:
- Member in good standing with MSPEI.
- Access to a qualified medical data entry specialist who has been or is scheduled to be trained on the provincial EMR.
- Are scheduled to or have completed implementing the provincial Telus CHR solution.
- Must pay for data entry support upfront and submit proof of payment for reimbursement.
Scope of Data Entry Support:
The funding is designed to support physicians in hiring extra support (must be previously or scheduled to be trained on new EMR) to enter patient data into the new EMR, placing priority on entering the next eight weeks’ worth of patient appointments and/or inputting the most complex patients. Physicians are expected to provide oversight of the quality of the data entry.
Funding:
Each physician will be eligible for up to $1,000 reimbursement. Must be able to demonstrate payment was made in full to data entry specialist.
Reimbursement Process
- Seek pre-approval through Data Entry claim form.
- Submit expense for reimbursement – with proof of payment to data clerk.
ON-SITE HARDWARE and WI-FI ASSESSMENT
Request an On-Site Assessment
MSPEI has partnered with IT Consultant, Nick McLeod, to offer our members on-site wi-fi and hardware assessments. If you are a fee-for-service physician or work in a private health centre, you may benefit from this service. (Health PEI locations have their own process for internet and hardware procurement).
Through this service, you will be provided:
- An on-site assessment which includes an internet speed test and an assessment of your wi-fi access;
- Review your hardware needs and make recommendations for upgrades, if required;
- Liaison with your landlord to discuss Internet/wi-fi needs, if applicable
If you wish to take advantage of this service, please reach out to Nick McLeod (cc’d on this message) at help@uit.email. MSPEI will cover the costs associated with this on-site assessment.
EMR Peer Champion
The EMR Peer Champion program matches EMR users with a physician colleague who has become proficient with the provincial Collaborative Health Record (CHR). Physicians will be paired with an EMR Peer Champion for virtual or in-person sessions. The sessions are tailored to the physician’s needs and current EMR experience.
The program benefits physicians who are seeking tips on how to be more efficient with the tool, including how to better perform specific tasks, or who want to expand their use of the tool overall.
Physicians who participated in the EMR Peer Champion pilot program reported:
- 100% felt they received practical and relevant advice.
- 74% said their confidence increased (moderate to high) after working with the Peer Champion.
- 67% felt their efficiency increased after the session(s).
- 100% would recommend the Peer Champion to a colleague.
- 67% said the time with the Peer Champion changed their outlook on their future use of the EMR.
“Keep it going! This was a high-yield session.”
New EMR User paired with EMR Peer Champion
EMR PEER CHAMPION
Dr. Kaylee Murphy
Dr. Kaylee Murphy, CCFP, has been practicing family medicine for four years, following the completion of her residency training at Dalhousie University. Dr. Murphy began practicing in PEI in April 2020 at the Central Queens Health Centre in Hunter River. She practices comprehensive family medicine and has a keen interest in physician wellness. Dr. Murphy has been the EMR Peer Champion since February 2022. She provides support to her colleagues by sharing tips and advice to help make using the EMR easier and more efficient. This support helps incorporate technology into a physician’s existing practice.
Dr. Murphy also provides physician centered insights and feedback to the provincial EMR team. Dr. Murphy has been enjoying her EMR Peer Champion role and meeting with colleagues to support them in their EMR transition.
Online Resources
Access tools and resources in real-time to help with common questions and issues facing physicians. This section will grow as more resources become available, so be sure to check this page regularly for new resources. Resources coming soon include closing your practice guidelines and billing guides.
Physicians’ Guide to Uninsured Services
MSPEI’s Guide to Uninsured Services provides guidance for PEI physicians when billing for uninsured services. It is intended to help make the process of billing for uninsured services as comfortable and efficient as possible.