Examining collegiality in Saskatchewan - Saskatchewan Medical ...

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A publication of the Saskatchewan Medical Association
Volume 51 Issue 1
Spring 2011
Examining collegiality
in Saskatchewan

SPRING 2011 | VOLUME 51 ISSUE 1
SMA News Digest is the official member
magazine of the Saskatchewan Medical
Association. It is published four times per
year and is distributed to nearly 90 per cent
of practising physicians in Saskatchewan.
Upcoming issues
The next issue of SMA News Digest will be
distributed in June 2011; the following issue
will be distributed in September 2011.
Bylines
Where bylines are not given, articles
were written or solicited by SMA Communications
staff.
Advertising
The deadline for booking and submitting
advertising for the Summer issue is Tuesday,
May 24, 2011. Rates for display advertising
are available upon request. Classified
ad placement is free for members
promoting physician, locum, and practice
opportunities; ads should be submitted
via email and must not exceed 150 words.
Feedback
Member feedback is valuable and encouraged.
Please direct comments, letters,
ideas, and advertising inquiries to:
Doré Collett
Communications Advisor
Saskatchewan Medical Association
402 - 321A - 21st Street East
Saskatoon SK S7K 0C1
dcollett@sma.sk.ca
(306) 244-2196
SMA mission
The mission of the Saskatchewan Medical
Association is to advance the educational,
professional, and economic
welfare of Saskatchewan physicians; to
advance the honour and integrity of
the profession; and to promote quality
health care practices, quality health
services, and to advocate for a quality
health care system for Saskatchewan.

Ice and snow melt on the South Saskatchewan River.
contents
FEATURES
2 Vogel Ottawa-bound after seven years at the helm
4 COVER STORY:
Physician collegiality is alive in Saskatchewan, but is it well?
RURAL LIFE
8 Q&A: Sask R1s consider rural practice
9 Prairie Doctor: Physician’s book explores life in rural Saskatchewan
TECHNOLOGY
11 Take advantage of health and well-being resources on your
SMA website
12 eHealth Saskatchewan advances one patient: one record
health care system
13 Better patient-centered care for lower back pain
WEALTH
14 Physician sings high praise for billing review session
15 Medical office property insurance: Know your limits
LEADERSHIP
16 Spotlight on the SMA Board of Directors
17 2011 schedule set for the SMA’s in-house PMI program
CALENDAR
18 Upcoming courses, conferences, and events
19 SMA introduces session for physician spouses
CLASSIFIEDS
23 Announcements, physician opportunities, and obituaries

Vogel Ottawa-bound after seven years at the helm
By Scott Donaldson
Dr. Martin Vogel is a man on the move. After seven years at the
helm of the Saskatchewan Medical Association, Dr. Vogel will
assume the position of vice president of community building
with the Canadian Medical Association starting in April 2011.
So what influences one to make the decision to leave a position
where you are the master of your domain to accept a
senior leadership position as part of a larger team? For Dr.
Vogel, it was the opportunity to further influence change in
the profession of his calling. Dr. Vogel first came to Canada
to practise as a general practitioner in rural Saskatchewan
in 1991. He quickly became involved with the SMA, sitting
on various committees and was president in 2000. His colleagues
saw great promise in Dr. Vogel; when the SMA CEO
position became available in 2004, he was chosen to lead the
association in the next phase of its ongoing development.
2 Spring 2011 SMA News Digest
Under Dr. Vogel’s leadership, the association has successfully
built strategic relationships with health care partners
and decision makers both provincially and nationally. When
asked to comment on the progress the SMA has made during
his tenure, Dr. Vogel reflects, “I think that building inter-organizational
relationships and developing physician leadership
capacity are two areas where the association is flourishing.”
According to Dr. Vogel, the timing couldn’t be better.
“In the 20 years that I’ve lived in Canada, there has never
been a better opportunity for physicians to make a meaningful
contribution towards system-wide health care transformation,
than there is right now,” says Dr. Vogel convincingly.
“As physicians, we have a professional responsibility to take
a leadership role in effecting the changes needed to improve

We have a professional responsibility to take a
leadership role in effecting the changes needed to improve
the quality of care Canadians receive...
the quality of care that Canadians receive every day.” Having
physicians at the table with the policy makers and having the
skill set to influence decisions on the future of health care in
Canada is “a critical success factor without which significant
improvement in the system will not be realized.” He is quick
to add, “Of course we need to begin by ensuring that we are,
ourselves, truly providing patient-centered care.”
It was Dr. Vogel’s desire to build on his work with the SMA
that drew him to the new opportunity in Ottawa. “I knew
that the board had set a new strategic course for the CMA
and was undergoing a structural reorganization in order to
be in the best position to advance its vision, at the federal
level, for a sustainable health care system that is more responsive
to patient needs. As the organizational changes
unfolded, and the newly created position was defined, I saw
the opportunity to bring some of the work we were doing in
Saskatchewan to the national stage,” says Dr. Vogel.
“With the CMA, I am looking forward to working with all
the provincial and territorial medical associations and other
health partners throughout the country during this very important
time in health care transformation.”
So, are there any regrets for the 49-year old health care executive
as he leaves the province he has called home for the
past 20 years? “I will not leave with any regrets; my time
here has been rewarding.”
On the personal front, he reflects, “I have faced challenges
like anyone else, and these have not been unique to me. However,
my life in Saskatchewan has afforded me, and my family,
tremendous opportunities to grow and develop, to see and
do things we would never have been able to experience else-
FEATURE
where and to prepare us for the next chapter in our lives.”
“It is the people,” he adds, “that one will always miss. That
was true when I left South Africa, and it will be true when I
move to Ottawa.”
On the professional front, Dr. Vogel cites not being here to participate
in the SMA’s progress towards achieving the priorities
of the strategic plan as one area which causes him some melancholy.
He sees the SMA board’s direction as playing a critical
role in successfully bringing about the changes Saskatchewan
needs in order to improve the quality of health care services
delivered and to improve the patient experience.
However, he takes great comfort in the fact the SMA has a
focused and responsible board that will ensure that progress
is made. “I am comfortable that the SMA has made excellent
strides towards developing effective governance and
administrative structures to see the successful achievement
of the board’s strategy and to make an invaluable contribution
to the province’s health care improvement agenda. This
is a strong board with good leadership, and l am confident
that they will make an excellent choice for my replacement.
I have no doubt that the association will continue to flourish
for years to come,” a humble Dr. Vogel states.
“We all have our strengths and weaknesses as leaders, and
I have played to my strengths. A new CEO will create new
energy, will carry forth the values of the association, and the
SMA will continue to achieve great things,” concludes Dr. Vogel.
“As I head east into the sunrise, I do hope to be remembered...
at least for a little while.”
SMA News Digest Spring 2011 3

P hysician collegiality
is alive in Saskatchewan,
but is it well?
By Kerilyn Voigt
Dr. Noel Doig has seen a lot of change in
his career. The retired family physician
emigrated from England to Saskatchewan
in 1958, just before Tommy Douglas
announced his plans for Medicare
in 1959. He was active throughout the
Medicare crisis of 1962 and has recently
written a book about those years. He
was Chief of Staff at City Hospital in
Saskatoon in the 70s and early 80s, and
he served on Saskatchewan Medical
Association committees continuously
from 1967 to 2010.
Dr. Doig fondly remembers the Saskatchewan
medical community of the
1960s and 1970s. “All of the doctors were
friends. It didn’t matter if you were
4 Spring 2011 SMA News Digest
a specialist or a GP or so on,” he said.
“That doesn’t exist now.” He worries
that general practitioners are practically
excluded from hospital work, impacting
how patient care is delivered.
There’s no denying that the way medicine
is practised in Saskatchewan has
changed drastically over the past 50
years. Physicians are more specialized,
system demands have increased, and
health regions are pushed to deliver
the most care for the least money in
the shortest amount of time. Has physician
collegiality become a casualty in
the ongoing battle for optimal health
care delivery?
Defining Collegiality
What is collegiality?
“There are certain values that underpin
any sort of professional relationship,
and those values should translate into
behaviours,” says Dr. Christina Vuksic,
senior medical officer at Regina
Qu’Appelle Health Region. “The values
that lead to the ephemeral thing we
call collegiality are things like respect, a
sense of mutual collaboration and trust,
openness, transparency, a common focus
on the patient, and compassion.”
Dr. Vuksic goes on to explain that
the resulting behaviours include mu-

tual respect amongst colleagues even
when they have differing opinions;
understanding that the common goal
is good patient outcomes; non-competitiveness
in that the entire medical
team wins when good outcomes are
achieved; correcting mistakes through
quality assurance in a non-blaming environment;
and helping each other in
caring for the patient by using full and
complete communication.
Good in theory, but how does it translate
to practice? Dr. Bill Haver, managing
partner of Lakeside Medical Clinic
in Saskatoon, says the concept of collegiality
is one of the pillars on which
the clinic’s success is built. The clinic
includes 21 physicians offering both
appointments and walk-in care. “We
discuss things informally all day, every
day. We meet over lunch or coffee. We
meet more formally at group meetings
and CME sessions. We wander into each
other’s office, or we meet in the hallway
randomly or intentionally,” Dr. Haver
says. “We get another opinion. We
consult. We discuss, we debate, and we
research. We compare experience. We
seek further clarification.”
He goes on to say that “this has become
an integral part of our culture: we help
each other. The ultimate beneficiary of
this is the patient, but we all feel very
fortunate to be surrounded by people
who understand the problem and are
willing to help.”
Physician collegiality also seems to be a
key component of work/life harmony.
“A collegial environment, at least for
us, extends beyond the walls of our
clinic and beyond the practice of medicine,”
explains Dr. Haver. “Medicine is
just a part of our life – the part we have
chosen as our profession – but, as colleagues,
we understand that our lives
have to include far more in order to
maintain perspective.”
Dr. Vuksic argues that trusting your
colleagues, one of those underpinning
values of collegiality, means being confident
sharing your patients, knowing
that the same standard of care and best
practices are being applied whether
you are in the room or not.
If it’s broke, can we fix it?
How you define collegiality and the degree
to which it exists in Saskatchewan
obviously depends on the vastly different
experiences of each of the province’s
more than 2000 physicians.
An international medical graduate arriving
in Saskatchewan in January may need
collegiality in the form of a colleague
FEATURE
teaching her family to skate and commiserating
about the cold, on top of clinical
support that helps her adjust to new practice
norms and expectations. A family
physician in rural Saskatchewan may feel
as isolated and overworked as an endocrinologist
practising in Saskatoon, both
in need of professional relief. A first-year
resident needs a collegial atmosphere in
which he can ask questions, develop his
skills, and get the most out of his training.
However, whatever the definition or
context, two common concepts emerge
as key to building collegiality: compassion
and communication.
Dr. Vuksic believes that having compassion
for one’s colleagues – being
able to understand each other’s roles
Physicians and staff at Lakeside Medical Clinic in Saskatoon enjoy lunch together.
SMA News Digest Spring 2011 5

FEATURE
and appreciate each other’s challenges
– is essential to having collegial relationships
and delivering high-quality
patient care. That compassion can help
bridge some of the divides that permeate
the provincial health care community:
urban vs. rural, GP vs. specialist,
or physician vs. nurse, for example.
Dr. Mary Kinloch, a fifth-year pathology
resident in Saskatoon and president
of the Professional Association
of Internes and Residents of Saskatchewan,
agrees. “I feel that the rotating
first year that residents do is crucial for
developing collegiality,” she says. “It
is the equivalent of walking a mile in
someone else’s shoes. Then, when you
are being asked for something from
another department, you have a better
understanding of why they need it and
you can be more supportive.”
Practising compassion also results in
a shared responsibility for patients, a
sense of caring of ‘our’ patient rather
than ‘your’ patient, even if that patient
is coming from a different community
or medical specialty.
6 Spring 2011 SMA News Digest
Obviously, compassion for your colleagues
is easier to achieve where there
is a commitment to respectful and thorough
communication. “How you feel
and how you communicate are two different
things,” says Dr. Vuksic. “When
two physicians aren’t communicating
properly, patient care suffers.” Even if
you disagree with your colleagues or
are feeling stressed or exhausted, basic
standards of respectful communication
must be used.
Dr. Doig recalls the ease of communication
in the past, when specialists,
family physicians, nurses and others
on the health care team had much
more face time with each other. “We
had corridor consultations, general
kibitzing,” he says, smiling. The result,
however, was a true sense of “taking
care of our patients.”
Dr. Kinloch says she experiences interdisciplinary
collegiality all the time,
in her case most often with radiologists
and surgeons: “Correct diagnoses
and proper management hinge on being
able to communicate and support
colleagues.” She admits, though, that
family physicians are at a bit of a disadvantage
just by proximity. “It would be
nice to engage family physicians more
with some of the same interdisciplinary
rounds that we [in-hospital specialists]
do to enhance our service to our
patients,” she says.
Looking to the future
MD Lounge is a publication produced
by the Canadian Medical Association,
in partnership with The College of Family
Physicians of Canada and The Royal
College of Physicians and Surgeons of
Canada. Its purpose is to provide Canadian
physicians with information and
advice from leading experts and help
strengthen collegial relations between
family physicians and other specialists.
From the November 2010 issue: “In the
many interviews conducted for MD
Lounge in our exploration of intraprofessionalism
in Canada, physician after
physician mentioned that the loss of direct
interaction between general practi-

tioners/family physicians and other specialists
has had a negative impact on their
ability to provide quality patient care. For
these reasons, we are starting a process
to create a virtual doctor’s lounge as an
offshoot of this print publication.”
The virtual doctor’s lounge is to be housed
on the CMA’s secure social networking
site, Asklepios. (Visit www.cma.ca to log
on.) It’s likely that online channels will be
a hallmark of professional collegiality in
the future, if they are not already.
Beyond developing online tools and
forums for communication, what can
professional associations do to foster
collegiality? The Saskatchewan Medical
Association will be considering that
question at the spring meeting of the
Representative Assembly. Dr. Vuksic
suggests that holding physicians accountable
for their collegial – or noncollegial
– behaviour is one role for
the SMA, particularly as it advocates
for better working conditions for all
of its members and for better care for
Saskatchewan patients. Dr. Doig argues
that collegiality could be fostered
through more active regional medical
associations that have strong relationships
with health care administrators
and decision-makers.
The stakes for Saskatchewan health
care are high. A collegial environment
is the ultimate recruitment tool, Dr.
Vuksic says, something that is important
for both practicing physicians and
health care administrators.
“Collegiality is definitely a factor in deciding
where to set up your practice,”
says Dr. Kinloch. “A supportive staff is
a very important thing to have when
starting your career. A true collegial
atmosphere is one of the most costeffective
ways of recruiting.”
That sentiment may explain why Lakeside
Medical Clinic shows no sign of slowing
its growth. Physicians want to practice
there. “Collegiality creates a sense of
confidence and security, something that
is vital when dealing with worsening
stress and an increasing work load,” says
Dr. Haver. “We are stronger as a group
than we would be as individuals.”
FEATURE
Weigh in.
What do you think of the current
state of physician collegiality in
Saskatchewan? How do you feel
about the comments made by your
colleagues in this article? You are
welcome to share your thoughts in
SMA News Digest by emailing Doré
Collett at dcollett@sma.sk.ca. Letters
may be edited for clarity and/
or length before they are published.
From left to right: Dr. Kinloch speaks
up at the 2010 spring meeting of the
Representative Assembly in Regina, Dr.
Chris Vuksic takes a call during a PMI
photoshoot, Dr. Noel Doig in his home in
Saskatoon, and Dr. Bill Haver in his office
at Lakeside Medical Clinic in Saskatoon.
SMA News Digest Spring 2011 7

Q&A: Sask R1s consider rural practice
Carla Holinaty, 27 (above left), and Rose Graf, 25 (above
right), are classmates, friends, and first-year residents in
the University of Saskatchewan’s family medicine program.
They recently spoke with SMA News Digest about why they’re
considering practising in rural Saskatchewan.
For you, what is appealing about practising in rural
Saskatchewan?
CH: I think the most appealing thing is that you get to maintain
so much variety in your practice. I grew up in Saskatoon,
but because my parents are from rural Saskatchewan, I always
had rural experiences growing up. I think that’s part of
the reason I like the idea of practising rurally, as well.
RG: I grew up on a farm just outside of Wishart, SK, population
of about 100. Practising in rural Saskatchewan is appealing
for me because it feels like home. It’s also an opportunity
to practise a very wide range of medicine, anything from
trauma to obstetrics to geriatrics. That variety is why I went
into family medicine, so practising rurally would allow me to
maintain all the skills I’m learning during my training.
8 Spring 2011 SMA News Digest
What challenges do you foresee in having a rural practice?
CH: I think the biggest challenges in rural practice have to
deal with manpower and the ability to work safely at things
you love. I do not want to start a practice in a location where
there is a high probability of ending up as the only family
physician in town. While I realize that these places still need
physicians, I think that the risk of burning out as a solo doc is
just too high. I want to start a practice where I can see myself
staying long-term, perhaps for the entirety of my career. I
also want obstetrics to be a big part of my practice, so it will
be very important for me to end up in a location where I can
provide that service safely for my patients.
RG: I would want to work in a community where there are
more than two physicians, so that I’m not on-call all of the
time. It’s nice to have the support and experience of other
physicians when you are starting out. Another challenge is
that setting boundaries in a small community is difficult as
the patients you see are going to be people you see in other
parts of your life too.

Dr. Carla Holinaty and Dr. Rose Graf at West Winds Medical Centre in Saskatoon.
What support can the provincial government
or the SMA offer to further
encourage you to practise rurally?
CH: The rural return-of-service bursaries
are an excellent opportunity for
medical students and residents. That
said, I think it is important to remember
that there are communities within
Saskatoon and Regina that are also extremely
underserviced and have highrisk
populations, such as in urban lowincome
neighbourhoods. I wish there
was more support and encouragement
for people who would consider working
in those locations. Otherwise, the biggest
thing the government can do is to
start recognizing that today’s residents
are tomorrow’s physicians. The apparent
lack of recognition that we are an
integral part of the system leaves many
of us with a bad taste in our mouths,
and it’s difficult to stay committed to
staying in the province when we are
made to feel unwelcome.
RG: I think it would be great if the SMA
organized a presentation for all students
who are interested in rural practice
to talk about the opportunities out
there. One benefit would be knowing
who else is considering that career
path, so that you could talk about the
benefits of a particular place and even
consider working together. It is difficult
to go it alone, particularly being
the “new young female in an old boys
club.” Business training would also be
helpful; salaried positions are much
more appealing as I have very little
business knowledge.
Prairie Doctor: Physician’s book
explores life in rural Saskatchewan
After growing up in various towns
around England and Wales, Dr. Lewis
Draper moved to Glasgow to attend
university. There, he met his wife,
Erica and they started their family. It
wasn’t long before they were on the
move again, first relocating to Nigeria
then back to Scotland before ending
up in Saskatchewan.
At the end of their first year living on the
Canadian prairies, the family drew up a
list of pros and cons, and finding they
had a lot more pros than cons, they decided
to stay permanently.
RURAL LIFE
Prairie Doctor, Dr. Draper’s second book,
traces the family’s move from Glasgow
to Wadena to Lafleche, where they lived
for nine years. In this book, Dr. Draper aims to point out that medical practice in a
small, isolated town can be rewarding in every sense of the word, despite what politicians
and health care ‘experts’ may say.
Prairie Doctor (© 2010 by Lewis Draper) is available for $20.00 from High Hill House Publishers,
Box 1080, Lumsden, SK S0G 3C0.

CMA and GoodLife Fitness make a
great fit
You know that staying fit is the key to reducing
stress, feeling healthy, increasing your energy,
and enjoying an excellent quality of life. The
CMA knows that your well-being is important,
so they partnered with GoodLife to give you and
your family access to the benefits of exercise
and healthy living!
In Saskatchewan, GoodLife Fitness is located in
Saskatoon at The Centre Mall (3510 8th St East).
It's open 24 hours a day, four days per week.
The CMA’s partnership with GoodLife is effective
from November 1, 2010 - October 31, 2011.
Membership fees are pro-rated accordingly.
CMA members can take advantage of:
• a one-year membership to GoodLife Fitness
• access to over 275 GoodLife Fitness clubs
across Canada
• the best strength and cardio equipment
• women-only facilities
• professionally trained, friendly, and supportive
staff who can assist you achieve your goals
• access to saunas, pools, whirlpools, and aqua
classes (where applicable)
For an additional fee, you can also benefit from:
• personal training, health, and nutrition programs
• child-minding
Enrol now. Call the CMA Member Service Centre
at 1-888-855-2555. You need a valid CMA member
ID to qualify.

The Physician Health and Well-being page on the SMA website
is a valuable resource. It lists the programs and benefits that
exist to help members get and stay healthy and find the support
they may need in times of crisis. The page is on the public
website, so no login is required.
TECHNOLOGY
Take advantage of health and well-being resources
on your SMA website
Brenda Senger is the director of Saskatchewan Physician Support
Programs and can be reached at 306-244-2196 or 1-800-667-3781 or
brenda@sma.sk.ca.
Any suggestions or questions about the website can be directed to
Kerilyn Voigt at kerilyn@sma.sk.ca.
Visit www.sma.sk.ca/physicianhealth.aspx. You’ll find the
Physician Health Program page, which includes several selfreflection
tools to help you evaluate your work-life balance
and other personal challenges. You’ll also find a link to the
‘Living Well’ Physician Wellness Initiative page and more information
about the Member Advisory Committee and the
Medical Benevolent Society. Information and resources are
always being added, so check back regularly. www.sma.sk.ca
SMA News Digest Spring 2011 11

12 Spring 2011 SMA News Digest
eHealth Saskatchewan
advances one patient: one
record health care system
By Karen Prokopetz, Saskatchewan Health
On December 21, 2010, Health Minister Don McMorris announced
the creation of eHealth Saskatchewan, a treasury
board crown corporation that will oversee the completion of
the provincial electronic health record system.
Transforming the Saskatchewan Health Information Network
(SHIN) into eHealth Saskatchewan addresses a key recommendation
of the Patient First Review. Commissioner Tony
Dagnone urged the health system to develop a provincial
plan for the continued successful implementation of a provincial
electronic health record system.
“Residents told us in the Patient First Review that we need to
better co-ordinate their health care,” McMorris said. “We
heard examples of misplaced, unavailable or scattered health
information resulting in errors, adverse events and duplication
of tests. Accessible patient information is vital to improving
service integration and co-ordinating patient care.”
eHealth Saskatchewan will be operational by spring 2011.
Its representative board will oversee the continued development
of the eHealth systems and technological infrastructure
health care professionals use to share patient information
securely and efficiently. The ultimate result will be a one
patient: one record health care system.
eHealth Saskatchewan will be led by a six member board
composed of representatives from partnering groups, including
the Saskatchewan Medical Association, the Saskatchewan
Cancer Agency, health regions, the business community
and the provincial government.
Saskatchewan residents already benefit from the first components
of a provincial electronic health record system including:
the Pharmaceutical Information System (PIP) and the
Diagnostic Imaging and Picture Archiving System (RIS-PACS).
For more information, contact Brenda Jameson with Saskatchewan
Health at (306) 337-0662 or by email at bjameson@health.gov.sk.ca.

Better patient-centered care for lower back pain
Streamlining improves treatment option for spine patients
By Carolyn Hamilton, Saskatchewan Health
Saskatchewan is introducing a new way
to assess and treat patients with lower
back pain that will provide them with
rapid, consistent, patient-centred care.
Primary health care providers such as
family physicians, chiropractors and
physiotherapists can now take an online
continuing education course on
handling lower back injuries, made
available through the Saskatchewan
Surgical Initiative’s spine pathway.
Dr. Daryl Fourney, Dr. Hamilton Hall,
and Dr. Joseph Buwembo, physician
instructors in the Saskatchewan Spine
Pathway online CME program.
Photo credit: Kiriako Iatridis
‘Patient pathways’ are recognized as an
innovative way to streamline care for
patients as they move through the system,
and ensure they quickly receive
the most appropriate treatment. They
have been shown to reduce time for assessment,
improve patient outcomes,
shorten hospital stays, and provide
more consistent clinical practice. The
continuing education course is Phase
One of the Saskatchewan Spine Pathway;
Phase Two will involve providing
spine clinics at multi-disciplinary clinics
in Saskatoon and Regina.
“Patients with spinal disorders often
wait too long for access to specialists,
diagnostic tests and surgery,” Health
Minister Don McMorris said. “This
spine pathway will result in improved,
streamlined processes that quickly direct
patients to the most appropriate
treatment and care that is co-ordinated
among multiple health care providers.
It is another step toward sooner, safer,
smarter care for patients.”
The spine course gives primary care
providers a simple, accurate system
to determine whether a patient’s back
pain can be resolved with simple exercises
and rest, or whether they need an
MRI or a surgical referral.
“Every year, approximately 10 per cent
of Saskatchewan residents will experience
a back strain or injury,” Regina
neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Buwembo said.
“The vast majority will get better in a
short time without medical care. About
10,000 will see a primary care provider
to manage their pain, which generally
resolves within six weeks without the
need for medical imaging. It can be challenging
for family physicians caring for
these patients, as there are a multitude
of different spine diagnoses. Which cases
will resolve on their own? Which will
require a referral to a spine surgeon?
Which cases are likely to develop into
chronic pain? To answer these challenging
questions, an expert panel of health
providers was assembled. Over a three-
TECHNOLOGY
year period they developed a simple,
consistent process to assess and manage
lower back pain.”
“There is certainly a problem with
the current system when referrals to
overburdened surgeons consist of patients
who are ‘inappropriate’ for surgery,”
Saskatoon neurosurgeon Dr. Daryl
Fourney said. “These patients may
not need surgery, but they need access
to care that is timely, effective and
evidence-based. The goal of the Saskatchewan
Spine Pathway is not only
to improve access to the spine surgeon
for patients who are likely to be surgical
candidates, but also to enhance patient
and referral physician education
so that consistent information is provided
and effective non-surgical therapies
can be initiated earlier. It requires
physicians to classify symptoms based
on five distinct pain patterns that can
be easily determined by history and
physical examination.”
The Saskatchewan Spine Pathway is
one of the initiatives underway as part
of the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative,
which is focused on improving the surgical
patient experience and reducing
surgical wait times to no more than
three months by 2014. More information
about the online course is available
at www.spinepathwaysk.ca.
For more information about the program,
contact Gwendolyn Friedrich with Saskatchewan
Health at (306) 787-3656 or by
email at gfriedrich@health.gov.sk.ca.
SMA News Digest Spring 2011 13

Physician sings high praise for billing review session
By Doré Collett
In January, Dr. Eben Strydom contacted SMA News Digest with
high praise for a workshop he had just attended about correct
billing of services. He wanted to share specifics with his colleagues
that he found were particularly interesting and useful.
Charlene Koch, a field officer with Saskatchewan Health’s
Medical Services Branch, presented the session in Melfort
that Dr. Strydom attended. “It is always great to hear that
the billing review sessions are beneficial,” explained Ms.
Koch, who was on her way to Maidstone, Lloydminister, and
then North Battleford to conduct similar sessions.
The GP billing review session covers a variety of items, including:
physician responsibilities, the payment schedule,
assessment rules, explanatory codes, a claims processing
overview, frequently used codes, a review of payments, and
common billing scenarios.
Throughout the sessions, which typically run 2.5 hours, she
provides plenty of opportunity for Q&A. Participation by physicians
and billing staff adds to the learning experience. Of her
experience with the sessions so far, Ms. Koch expresses that
“the physicians always say that they take away something new
that they didn’t know previously, or the session reminded them
of something they used to know but have since forgotten.”
The field officer role is a key resource for physician billing information.
In addition to the sessions offered, Ms. Koch meets
with individual physicians and their billing staff to review,
discuss, and explain the physician payment schedule requirements
and billing codes and their appropriate applications.
Meetings are at the request of the physicians and their billing
staff or may be initiated by the field officer. Ms. Koch provides
education to physicians who are Canadian-trained or international
medical graduates, who are new to the province or who
have been practising in the province for some time.
Presentations are also delivered to family medicine residents
who are entering their second year of residency.
14 Spring 2011 SMA News Digest
Dr. Strydom’s question was resident-related. He found it quite
helpful to know that “a service which is insured by the government
when provided by a physician is also insured when provided
under the supervision of a physician. Payments can be
made to the physician for this supervision as long as the physician
is available to intervene promptly if necessary. Payment
for a supervised service may only be made to the physician
providing the supervision.” For more details about this insured
service, view page In.17 of the Physician Payment Schedule.
With the recent media regarding MS patients seeking treatment
in other countries, Ms. Koch mentioned that a hot topic
during site visits involves an explanation of patient referrals
for out-of-Canada medical coverage. She acknowledged there
are situations which arise wherein the Ministry of Health
grants prior approval for out-of-Canada medical coverage
for Saskatchewan residents in exceptional circumstances. In
order for Saskatchewan residents to receive this out-of-Canada
medical coverage, their referring specialist must request
and receive prior approval from the Ministry of Health prior
to seeking the treatment outside of Canada. The specialist’s
written request must describe the circumstances of the case,
the services requested, and their indication that, to the best
of their knowledge, the medical service is not available anywhere
in Canada. If the application for out-of-Canada coverage
is approved, the Ministry of Health will pay the treatment
costs. “When GPs submit these applications, it slows down the
process,” explains Ms. Koch. “I recommend coordinating with
the appropriate specialist instead of submitting a request that
will not be approved.” Further details about this billing topic
can be found on page In.6 of the Physician Payment Schedule.
To book a meeting or to inquire about the billing review sessions offered
by the Medical Services Branch, please contact Charlene Koch
at (306) 798-2108 or by email at ckoch@health.gov.sk.ca.
For further information and billing details, you can review the Physician
Payment Schedule. A link to the payment schedule is available
on the SMA website, under the Fees and Negotiations tab.

Medical office property insurance: Know your limits
By Doré Collett
If your power goes out and your vaccines
are compromised, if your office
gets broken into, or if your laptop goes
on the fritz... are you fully covered?
Almost all of the office insurance policies
sold by insurers are ‘all risk’ or
‘comprehensive’ package policies.
These are the broadest types of policies
available in the marketplace. They
cover various types of losses due to
fire, theft, water and wind damage, and
mysterious disappearance. They also
provide coverage for general liability,
loss of business income, and crime.
While these plans may appear to be the
same, all of these packages have special
limits. Insurers place these limits
in policies to avoid exposure to certain
types of situations that tend to suffer
more frequent losses.
The SMA Medical Office Property Program
has been designed to better suit
medical offices and our members’ needs.
The program takes advantage of group
buying power to provide superior coverage
and more competitive premiums
for medical office property and liability
insurance – with fewer limits.
Compared with the industry standard,
the SMA program highlights include:
$5 million commercial general liability
protection
This is covered in the package premium.
The industry standard is about $1 million
of protection.
$25,000 off-premises consequential
loss coverage
As an example, if you have flu vaccines
stored in a fridge, this coverage would
provide protection in the event that
there is a power cut at a public utility
plant that results in a change in temperature,
thus spoiling your vaccines.
It is not standard practice to cover any
amount in this case.
$5 million for tenant legal liability
Landlords require their tenants to carry
this insurance as protection if the
tenant is found legally liable for property
damage to the building. This high
liability limit is included in the package
premium. The industry standard is
about $1 million of protection.
$50,000 coverage for valuable papers
This insurance covers the cost of recom-
WEALTH
piling or retyping your medical files if
they are stolen or damaged. The industry
standard is $10,000 coverage.
$5 million for non-owned auto liability
If an employee needs to use his or her
own vehicle for business-related tasks,
he or she would be covered. This coverage
provides a high liability limit to
protect your business should your employee
be found liable for causing bodily
injury or property damage to a third
party. Standard practice is that this
would not automatically be covered.
“When comparing packages, an office
insurance policy containing generous
special limits provides the best value
for your insurance dollars and can have
a significant impact on the size of the
payout following a loss,” explains Ed
Hobday, SMA administrative director.
“We were so impressed with the reasonable
premiums offered in this package
that we decided the SMA office
should have the same coverage.”
With premiums starting as low as
$500 per year, this program combines
all of the most necessary coverage
into one package for your medical office.
Discounts are available for offices
equipped with burglar alarm systems
or sprinkler systems. Commercial
building coverage is also available.
The SMA Medical Office Property Insurance
Program is available through Mardon
Group Insurance. For more information,
visit the Mardon Group Insurance website
at www.mgins.ca (user ID: SMA, Password:
Insurance) or call 1-866-846-4467.
To learn more about the various tailored insurance
products available to SMA members,
contact Cindy Anderson, Senior Insurance
Administrator at (306) 244-2196.
SMA News Digest Spring 2011 15

Spotlight on the SMA Board of Directors
Saskatchewan Medical Association members provide direction and guidance to the organization through the Representative Assembly,
the Board of Directors, and a number of different committees. In each issue in 2011, SMA News Digest will spotlight a different committee
or governing entity, with the aim of keeping members up-to-date and informed about the responsibilities, actions, and results obtained
through committee work and physician leadership. In this issue, the focus will be turned to your Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors of the Saskatchewan Medical Association
is responsible to the Representative Assembly of the
association and exercises all powers of the Association and
the Representative Assembly between meetings. Responsibilities
of the Board include establishing policies relating to
the collection of membership dues and nomination and election
of district delegates, expending funds of the association
as provided in the annual budget, and engaging personnel to
carry on the administration of association business.
Directors have many responsibilities to their district memberships,
to the SMA, and to the CMA. Typically, directors
have been chosen as leaders by their contemporaries.
Working cooperatively with the SMA president and executive
and the SMA’s committees, the director’s role involves reading,
studying, and serious consideration of topics discussed at meetings,
which take place approximately 10 times per year. Board
members come together to deliberate, debate, and make decisions
on behalf of and for the association. They also develop and
oversee the SMA’s strategic plan.
Every director should be conversant with the association’s
constitution and bylaws, goals and objectives, and the method
of operation of the board. Directors represent their physician
colleagues in the public, throughout the association, with gov-
16 Spring 2011 SMA News Digest
ernment and other stakeholders, and with the media.
In the spring, board nominations and a formal vote by the
membership takes place. At the spring meeting of the Representative
Assembly, the new president is inaugurated, and
the new Board of Directors takes over. The 2010-2011 Board
of Directors is:
Dr. Guruswamy Sridhar, President
Dr. Phillip Fourie, Vice-President
Dr. Janet Shannon, Honourary Treasurer
Dr. George Miller, Past President
Dr. Mark Arsiradam
Dr. Shayne Burwell
Dr. Nicole Hawkins, PAIRS Rep
Dr. Jeff Hunt
Dr. Clare Kozroski
Dr. Don McCarville
Dr. Mark Brown
Dr. Intheran Pillay
Dr. Dalibor Slavik
Ms. Melanie Flegel / Mr. Lei Xia, SMS Reps
Dr. Joel Yelland, CMA Representative
Dr. Martin Vogel, CEO (staff)
Mr. Ed Hobday, Administrative Director (staff)
Mr. Scott Donaldson, Director of Communications (staff)
Ms. Wendy Rink, Executive Assistant (staff)

2011 schedule set for the SMA’s in-house PMI program
Foundation level courses
DATE COURSE DURATION SPEAKERS
Mar 10-11 Management Dynamics 2 days JimCross/Ian McKillop
Apr 29 - May 1 Engaging Others 2.5 days Monica Olsen/Paul Mohapel
May 27-29 Disruptive Behaviour 2.5 days Mary Yates/Paul Farnan
Sept 22-23 Dialogue 2 days Mary Stacey/Scott Comber
Nov 10-12 Negotiation and Conflict 3 days Marion Balla/Janice Stein
The Physician Management Institute (PMI) is the Canadian
Medical Association’s leadership development program designed
specifically for physicians working in Canada’s health
care system. With targeted funding, the SMA has brought
the PMI series in-house.
When you enrol in a PMI course, you can be confident that:
• course content and examples will be practical and relevant
to health care and medical practice in Canada
• instructors are subject-matter and education experts with
an intimate knowledge of Canada’s health care environment
• learning approaches incorporate multiple perspectives, include
real-life, real-time activities, and promote rich problem-solving
among peers
• classmates are medical and health care professionals with
interests and needs similar to your own.
In medical school, you learn to
be a clinical expert to make patients
better. In PMI courses, you learn
to be a change agent to make the
health system better.
- Dr. Joy Dobson, participant
LEADERSHIP
The dates have been set for the foundation level courses in
2011. Advanced level course dates are still to be determined.
Registration forms are available on the SMA website: www.sma.sk.ca.
Contact Sarah Vogel for more information about your potential role
as a physician leader and to enrol in our in-house PMI offerings:
(306) 244-2196 or sarah@sma.sk.ca.
SMA News Digest Spring 2011 17

CALENDAR 2011
Upcoming courses, conferences, and events
MARCH
10-11 PMI: Management Dynamics
SMA In-house PMI Program
Saskatoon, SK
www.sma.sk.ca
To register, phone: Sarah Vogel (306) 244-2196
11-12 8th Annual Peter & Anna Zbeetnoff Memorial Drug
Therapy Decision Making Conference
Evraz Place , Regina, SK
For more information, phone: Ioulia Ostrikova (306) 766-4016
APRIL
The 6 th Annual
Doctors’ Night Out
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Conexus Arts Centre
6:00 pm Cocktails • 7:00 pm Dinner
$125 per guest
For tickets call Christine Pirlot (306) 766-4260
Proceeds go to
18 Spring 2011 SMA News Digest
12 Spirit of Mozambique Art Show
Featuring Antonio Tanda, Artist
Fundraiser, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
330 Design Group, 330 Avenue G S
Saskatoon, SK
For more information, email: Keri Ladd
knl750@mail.usask.ca
2 The 6th Annual Doctors’ Night Out
Conexus Arts Centre
Regina, SK
Tickets: $125 per guest
Proceeds go to Humanity First
For tickets, phone: Christine Pirlot
(306) 766-4260
20-21 Inspire: Health Care Quality
Summit 2011
Delta Regina Hotel
Regina, SK
www.qualitysummit.ca
29 - May 1 PMI: Engaging Others
SMA In-house PMI Program
Saskatoon, SK
www.sma.sk.ca
To register, phone: Sarah Vogel (306) 244-2196
MAY
5 Inaugural Session for Physician Spouses
Sheraton Cavalier Hotel
Saskatoon, SK
To register, phone: Brenda Senger (306) 244-2196
5-7 19th Annual Rural and Remote
Medicine Course
Hosted by the Society of Rural
Physicians of Canada Blue Mountain
Resort, Collingwood, Ontario
www.srpc.ca/rr2011
6-7 Spring Meeting of the Representative Assembly
Sheraton Cavalier Hotel
Saskatoon, SK
www.sma.sk.ca
11-14 Canadian Conference on Physician Leadership
Vancouver, BC
www.2011leadership.ca
Contact: Patricia Lightfoot patricia.lightfoot@cma.ca
27-19 PMI: Disruptive Behaviour
SMA In-house PMI Program
Saskatoon, SK
www.sma.sk.ca
To register, phone: Sarah Vogel (306) 244-2196
Continuing Professional Learning
For upcoming CME offerings or to register for courses
through the Division of Continuing Professional Learning
at the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine, visit
their website at www.usask.ca/cme or contact:
CPL Office
Box 60001 RPO University
Saskatoon, SK S7N 4J8
Phone (306) 966-7787
Fax (306) 966-7673

SMA introduces session for physician spouses
The Physician Health Program (PHP) assists physicians
struggling with a variety of personal issues, including physician
health, mental health, addiction, and marital and other
relationship issues.
Did you know that your spouse or partner can access the Saskatchewan
PHP for support and assistance? The program is
available to act as a referral source to community resources
or to provide direct support and assistance to spouses.
Prior to the spring meeting of the Representative Assembly in
May, the SMA will hold an educational session for physician
spouses on Thursday, May 5, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the
Sheraton Cavalier Hotel in Saskatoon.
By introducing this session, the SMA will focus on the inclusion
of spouses in the physician health program, acknowledging
the needs of physician spouses and promoting awareness
and education about the support and resources available.
The need to provide resources to physicians and their families
and spouses is a priority outlined in the 2010-2012 strategic
plan. This session is just the first of many initiatives that
will meet this goal for the spouses and families of physicians
in training, practising physicians, and retired physicians.
Physician spouses are invited and encouraged to attend.
Physicians are also welcome.
Hot and cold appetizers will be available. Attendees will also
be invited to attend the RA welcome reception immediately
following the workshop.
If you plan to attend the session for physician spouses, please contact
Brenda Senger by phone (306) 244-2196 or email brenda@sma.sk.ca
with the following details:
1. Name(s) of attendees
2. Contact information: name, phone number, mailing
address, email address
SMA News Digest Spring 2011 19

Spirit of Mozambique Art Show
Art Works by Antonio Tanda, showing March 11-13, 2011
SPECIAL MOZAMBIQUE EVENING
March 12 - 7-10 PM - Fundraiser for Massinga’s Casa de Espera
Location: 330 Design Group, 330 Ave G South, Saskatoon
For more information, contact: Keri Ladd at knl750@mail.usask.ca
Funds from the Mozambique Evening will go toward the establishment of a Casa de Espera or home for
expectant mothers. Each year, medical students from the University of Saskatchewan have the privilege of
learning about culture and determinants of health of the people of Massinga, a small town in Mozambique.
This irreplaceable experience would not be possible without the generosity and kindness of the staff and
people involved with the Training for Health Renewal Center, which is the clinic the students work at in
Massinga each summer. The students are interested in giving back to this community by raising funds for
the creation of the Casa de Espera. We ask that you join us in supporting this worthy cause, which will
benefit the local community of Massinga as well as the medical education at the U of S, while you enjoy
the beautiful and unique artwork of Antonio Tanda, who is from Mozambique. Fundraising activities will
include a silent auction and donations.
April 20 - 21, 2011
Delta Regina Hotel • Regina, Saskatchewan
Learn about the transformational power
of Quality Improvement:
• Keynote Presentations
• Saskatchewan Success Stories
• Executive Round Table Discussion
• Quality Improvement Expo and Displays
• Workshops
• Awards Dinner
Get engaged, focused and energized!
To learn more and register, visit
qualitysummit.ca
20 Spring 2011 SMA News Digest
• Maureen Bisognano, President
and CEO, Institute for Healthcare
Improvement (IHI).
• John Toussaint M.D., CEO of
the ThedaCare Center for Healthcare
Value and author of On the Mend:
Revolutionizing Healthcare to Save Lives
and Transform the Industry.
• Dr. Richard Shannon, Frank
Wister Thomas Professor and Chair
of the Department of Medicine at
the University of Pennsylvania.
• Kishore Visvanathan, Division Head
for Urology in the Saskatoon Health Region
and Clinical Associate Professor at the
University of Saskatchewan.
• Norma Cameron, Storyteller and
Narrative Consultant.
Summit Partners:

The 6 th Annual
Doctors’ Night Out
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Conexus Arts Centre
6:00 pm Cocktails • 7:00 pm Dinner
$125 per guest
For tickets call Christine Pirlot (306) 766-4260
Proceeds go to

Tourism British Columbia
CANADIAN CONFERENCE
ON PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP
EFFECTING CHANGE
THROUGH INFLUENCE
Learn how to achieve behavioural
and system change
13–14 MAY 2011
FAIRMONT HOTEL VANCOUVER
900 WEST GEORGIA STREET
VANCOUVER, BC
VISIT WWW.2011LEADERSHIP.CA TO LEARN MORE
PRE-CONFERENCE 1-DAY PMI
WORKSHOP
Managing People Effectively
12 May 2011
ADVANCED PMI COURSE
Talent Management
11–12 May 2011
Special conference rate!

classifieds
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SMA contract negotiations: At time
of printing, contract agreement ratification
ballots from Saskatchewan physicians
were still arriving at the SMA
office. For negotiations-related communications,
physicians can watch for
relevant President’s Letters and website
updates: www.sma.sk.ca
PHYSICIAN
OPPORTUNITIES
Saskatoon, Sask – Fantastic Opportunity!
Beautiful Clinic! Great Location!
This bustling East-side family practice
is looking for energetic family physicians
for winter and long term locums.
Partnership possibilities also available.
Kenderdine Medical Clinic has moved
into a brand new facility with experienced
professional staff. One of the
trailblazers in Saskatchewan’s EMR
program, there is also an X -Ray and
pharmacy all on site. There is a significant,
large and stable patient population
and high volume walk-in traffic.
Offering a competitive split including
70/30 for evening and weekend MEC
shifts! Contact Business Manager Daniel
McNeil @ 306 934-6606 ext. 105 or
dmcneil.kmc@sasktel.net.
PHYSICIAN OPPORTUNITIES
Saskatoon - Two doctor practice
available in Saskatoon near city centre
and University. Would suit 2 friends or
husband and wife team. Please reply to
Dr. McGarry at 374-2777 or 374-7144
Riverbend Medical Clinic in Regina,
SK. New and established physicians
welcome. We are looking to add a fulltime
family physician to our existing
solo family practice. Excellent, stateof-the-art
premises. Electronic medical
records. Potential for partnership.
Enjoy excellent lifestyle with an excellent
practice on the east side of Regina.
Please contact Dr. Maxim Kondrashov at
306-347-2500 ext. 2, or e-mail: svema17@hotmail.com
Family Physician - Lumsden, Sk. Family
practice only 15 minutes from Regina.
Level 3 and 4 Care Home. Excellent
elementary and high schools. High-service
Pharmacy. Fully-equipped fitness
centre. Vibrant cultural events and exceptional
recreational facilities. Situated
in the beautiful Qu’appelle Valley.
TO VIEW PICTURES: Go to FACEBOOK
Lumsden Medical Clinic. Contact Dr.
Knaus at 306-731-2862 or Klinic2@
sasktel.net.
Family Physician Wanted - Saskatoon.
Busy medical clinic seeks family
physician for part time walk-in shifts.
Sundays and evenings available. Competitive
overhead. Please email if interested:
dr.mv@live.ca.
Erindale Health Centre is a family
practice oriented medical office situated
in the south east corner of Saskatoon
– an area currently experiencing rapid
growth and expansion. We are looking
for other physicians to join us – as full
partners, as full or part-time locums, or
as casual relief. Our office has four doctors
and is open on an extended hours
schedule, 9am-8pm on weekdays and
10am – 4pm on weekends. Premises are
newly renovated and are fully computerized
with friendly, well-trained, and
efficient staff. X-ray facilities are on
site, a pharmacy adjoins our office, and
laboratory facilities are nearby. The
services of a Certified Respiratory Educator
and a Diabetic Education Nurse
are offered on site as well. All inquiries
are welcome. Please contact our office
manager, Sheila Volk, at (306) 934-6601,
Ext 104 or email svolk@sasktel.net.
SMA News Digest Spring 2011 23

Family Physician
Department of Academic Family Medicine
Four Directions Community Health Centre, Regina Saskatchewan
The Opportunity:
An exciting opportunity exists for a certified Family Medicine
practitioner to become a faculty member in the Department of
Academic Family Medicine and practice medicine at the Four
Directions Community Health Centre located in Regina,
Saskatchewan. This full-time faculty position involves patient
care, teaching, resident supervision, learner supervision, and
research.
The Four Directions Community Health Centre is an
interdisciplinary primary health care centre located at two sites
in North Central Regina which assists in meeting the needs of a
vulnerable, transient community. While the doors are open to
all seeking medical help, there has been a determined effort to
reflect, in the programs offered, a focus on First Nations and
Métis health, and collaboration with traditional healers. The
clinical focus includes significant acute care medicine, family
planning, mother and child health services, infant/child
assessment, common illness and episodic treatments as well as
addictions with its related complications. Other clinical
professionals include two Nurse Practitioners.
The Department of Academic Family Medicine has 28 full-time
faculty members, 79 Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine
Residents and consists of six divisions including Saskatoon
Urban, Regina Urban, Rural (Prince Albert & Swift Current),
Emergency Medicine (Saskatoon & Regina), Research and
Northern Medical Services.
The Department is an integral participant in all stages of medical
education and plays a key role in establishing more generalist
content and comprehensive family medicine in the MD
education curriculum as outlined in The Future of Medical
Education in Canada (FMEC): A Collective Vision for MD
Education.
Physicians in the Department enjoy the benefits of a dynamic
interdisciplinary team environment to support their clinical,
teaching and scholarly activities. Physicians and residents in all
locations participate in the provision of a broad range of care
including adult medicine, obstetrics, pediatrics and inhospital/nursing
home care.
The University:
A publicly funded institution established in 1907, the University
of Saskatchewan offers a full range of curricula, both academic
and professional, with students registered in 13 colleges,
including the health sciences (medicine, nursing, dentistry,
physiotherapy, pharmacy & nutrition and kinesiology) and
veterinary sciences.
The College of Medicine utilizes a distributed education model
with approximately 270 university based faculty and over 800
community faculty distributed throughout all 13 Saskatchewan
Health Regions. The College of Medicine is expanding and has
a current enrolment of approximately 250 undergraduate
medical students and 300 postgraduate medical students (71 of
which are in Family Medicine).
Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region:
The Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region serves a population base
of over 250,000 including the city of Regina, several towns,
villages, rural municipalities and 17 First Nation communities in
the surrounding area. The Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region is
dedicated to learning and is a partner in the education of medical
students and residents from the College of Medicine, University
of Saskatchewan.
The City of Regina:
The City of Regina offers a relaxed and healthy lifestyle in a
scenic setting with convenient transportation, affordable housing
and cost of living, and urban amenities with the warmth and
friendliness of a small town. A wide range of outdoor activities,
music, sport and cultural events are available along with
excellent schools providing plenty of special programs.
The Candidate:
The successful candidate must be certified with the College of
Family Physicians of Canada, fully licensed to practice Family
Medicine in the Province of Saskatchewan and possess full
credentialing with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region. We
are particularly interested in hearing from physicians who
possess experience, qualifications and/or interest in teaching
Family Medicine residents and undergraduate medical students.
To Apply:
Interested family physicians are invited to submit a current
curriculum vitae and three letters of reference as soon as
possible. For further information regarding this position,
qualified applicants are encouraged to contact either:
Dr. Alanna Danilkewich, Acting Department Head,
Department of Academic Family Medicine
College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 655-4200 E-mail: alanna.danilkewich@usask.ca
Dr. Sally Mahood, Regina Unit Head,
Department of Academic Family Medicine
College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306) 766-4040 E-mail: sally.mahood@usask.ca
The University of Saskatchewan is committed to employment equity. Members of
designated groups (women, aboriginal people, people with disabilities and
members of visible minorities) are encouraged to self-identify on their application.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and
permanent residents will be given priority.

The Saskatoon Community Clinic is recruiting family physicians for the following
two positions.
1) Family Physician, including provision of Obstetrical Services, Permanent 0.88
Full Time Equivalent, starting July 1, 2011 (negotiable).
This position is primarily located at our Downtown Clinic, and also includes
providing one half‐day per week of physician services to Delisle Primary Health
Centre.
2) Family Physician, Locum 1.0 Full Time Equivalent, Aug 1, 2011 to Jan 31, 2012 .
This position is primarily located at our Westside Clinic, and includes 2 half‐days
per week at our Downtown clinic.
The Saskatoon Community Clinic is an innovative consumer sponsored primary
health care centre. Our multi‐disciplinary team setting enables practitioners the
time, support, and access to services they need to provide quality family and patient
centred care.
On site disciplines include counselors, diagnostic services including lab and X‐Ray,
nurses, nutritionist, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and pharmacists. We
place a strong emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention, quality
improvement, and support for persons with special needs. Our salaried
remuneration is competitive with fee‐for‐service earnings. Excellent work hours,
benefits, vacation and study leave provisions are offered.
Applicants must be able to obtain a license to practice in Saskatchewan and obtain
family medicine privileges in the Saskatoon Health Region. Preference will be given
to applicants with certification in family medicine. We are committed to
employment equity and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. People
of aboriginal ancestry, people with disabilities and visible minorities are invited to
identify themselves as members of these designated groups.
For additional information, or to apply with submission of CV, please contact:
Leane Bettin, M.D., C.C.F.P.
Head of the Medical Group
Saskatoon Community Clinic
455 2nd Avenue N, Saskatoon, SK S7K 2C2
www.saskatooncommunityclinic.ca
P (306) 652‐0300
F (306) 664‐4120
Email LBettin@communityclinic.sk.ca

CLASSIFIEDS
WALK-IN (ONLY) PRACTICE
POSITION IN PRINCE ALBERT.
WANT TO BE DONE WITH WORK
AT 8PM? NO AFTER HOURS!
No hospital calls. Work only one
weekend a month. Looking for a GP
with full registration (finished Canadian
exams) that wants to settle, long term,
with group benefits, in Prince Albert.
6-8 hour shifts only. Attractive split and
potential to become part of cost share
agreement. Join two South African
GPs in a fun and quality of life practice
opportunity. Located conveniently
inside SUPERSTORE, Prince Albert, SK.
Contact:
Dr. Jaco Furstenberg, MBChB.CAFCI
drfurstenberg@saktel.net
or
Dr. Nico Basson, MBChB
drbasson@sasktel.net
www.supermedclinic.com
26 Spring 2011 SMA News Digest
PHYSICIAN OPPORTUNITIES
Established practice available in Lloydminster, SK. Well
established practice available for take-over later this year -
possibly Fall. Planning to retire after 32 years in Lloydminster.
Office can accommodate 2 physicians. Ideal for a couple
that is already licensed to practise in Saskatchewan. Obstetrics
would be a great asset. For further information, contact
Dr. Isaac Thomas. Phone: (306) 825-6345. Fax: (306) 825-6340.
Email: medi.it@sasktel.net.
GAMA Integrated Medical Centre - Warman. Dr. M. Singh
is looking for a full-time or locum family physician to practise
at the GAMA Integrated Medical Centre in Warman. For
more information about this opportunity, please contact Dr.
Singh at (306) 374-8082 or (306) 220-1841.
Taylor Medical Clinic - Saskatoon. Dr. M. Singh is looking
for a full-time or locum family physician to practise at the
Taylor Street Medical Clinic in Saskatoon. For more information
about this opportunity, please contact the office at (306)
374-8082 or Dr. Singh at (306) 220-1841.
Full-time family physician needed in busy Saskatoon clinic.
Stonebridge Medical Clinic is looking for a family physician
to join its growing practice. This two-physician clinic is
located in a booming Saskatoon neighbourhood. The modern
facility includes digital x-ray and lab service on site and
is fully EMR. For more information or to express interest,
contact Dr. Aasim Malik at 306-381-8286 or drmalik@stonebridgecosmetics.com.

LOCUM OPPORTUNITIES
Locum Opportunity - Regina
The Regina Community Clinic is looking for a Family Physician to work on a locum basis.
Position is available until July 2011. Compensation is guaranteed on a contractual basis.
The Clinic is a busy multi-disciplinary co-operative health center with eight salaried Family
Physicians and two Nurse Practitioners. Additional services at the Clinic include: Lab, X-ray,
ECG, Mental Health Counselling, Lifestyle Counselling (Exercise Specialist and Nutritionist)
and an FASD Diagnostic Centre. The Clinic is a provincial Primary Health Care Site focussing
on health promotion, disease prevention, and supportive care.
Applicants must be licensed to practise in Saskatchewan and obtain privileges from the
Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region. Preference will be given to applicants with certification in
family medicine.
Contact: Mary Flynn, Executive Director
Regina Community Clinic
1106 Winnipeg Street
Regina, SK S4R 1J6
Phone: (306) 543-7880, ext. 246
Email: admin@reginacommunityclinic.ca
OBITUARIES
Dr. Carla Eisenhauer
Dr. Eisenhauer died on December 26, 2010. Having completed
her medical degree at Queen’s University in 1979, she received
her certification with the College of Family Physicians in 1981
and practised at the Saskatoon Community Clinic for nearly
30 years. A champion of health quality, Dr. Eisenhauer spearheaded
numerous health improvement initiatives throughout
Saskatchewan and Canada. Actively involved with the Health
Quality Council, she implemented advanced access scheduling
and chronic disease management programs in Saskatoon. In
2010, Dr. Eisenhauer was awarded the Family Physician of the
Year award from the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
She was a cherished friend to many, a caring and dedicated
family physician, and an advocate for those in need.
Dr. John Alexander M. Bain
CLASSIFIEDS
Dr. Bain died peacefully in his home country of Scotland on
December 29, 2010. Dr. Bain was a highly regarded GP in Canada
for 40 years. He was a medical practitioner at the Lanigan
Medical Centre for many years but returned to Scotland in
1997 when he retired.
SMA News Digest Spring 2011 27

Saskatchewan’s
putting the pieces together!
Working together, we’re creating
a healthier, smoke-free province.
During NatioNal NoN-SmokiNg Week,
we celebrate Saskatchewan’s progress and thank the
government and members of the legislative assembly
for supporting these excellent measures.
We celebrate Saskatchewan’s progress and thank
the Government and Members of the Legislative
Assembly for supporting these excellent measures.
Let’s keep working together
for a healthier future.
NATIONAL NON-SMOKING WEEK – JANUARY 16-22
MJ-SC-PA – 10 x 167

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
Saskatchewan Medical Association
402-321A 21st Street East
Saskatoon, SK Canada
S7K 0C1
Mail to:
40007031