Latest news with #NichelleDesilets
Winnipeg Free Press
20-07-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
AI ‘scribes' in use at Manitoba doctors' offices
Manitoba doctors have started using artificial intelligence-powered note-takers to tune in to appointments and transcribe in real time. 'It allows me to be more present with the patient and get more of the patient's issues dealt with in a smaller amount of time,' said Dr. Nichelle Desilets, a family physician in Neepawa. An 'AI scribe' made both a noticeable dent in her workload and streamlined her workflow on Friday. The president of Doctors Manitoba said the new technology allowed her to start more appointments on time and treat several walk-ins because she didn't need to do extensive documentation after every visit. Canada Health Infoway has recruited 400 local primary-care providers to pilot its AI Scribe Program, an initiative involving 10,000 physicians and nurses across the country. The mandate of the federal government-funded organization is to integrate new technologies into hospitals and other health-care settings to improve productivity and patient outcomes. Desilets is among those who've signed up for a one-year licence for Empathia AI — marketed as 'a mindful charting assistant — via Infoway. She has also experimented with Heidi AI and another similar tool that is built into her clinic's electronic medical record system. Infoway launched a new initiative last month after a review of AI tools to ensure it was only endorsing programs that are aligned with Manitoba's Personal Health Information Act and counterpart legislation from coast to coast. Spokesman Abhi Kalra said the goal is to use 'ambient technology' to reduce administrative burden in a field where there is a lot of tedious manual labour. 'There is a tremendous amount of productivity to be tapped, safely using AI tools, but it has to be done in a thoughtful manner,' the executive vice-president of connected care said. AI scribes are creating high-quality, structured summaries of patient visits, he said, noting they are not yet being used to assist with diagnosis or treatment decisions, although that is likely on the horizon. Doctors Manitoba's 2025 workforce survey found only six per cent of members were actively using an AI scribe as of February. Seven in 10 of all 1,324 respondents indicated they had tried it at least once or were interested in trying it. (The response rate for the latest annual membership poll was 39 per cent, which translates into a margin of error of plus or minus two per cent.) The professional advocacy organization has since created a guide to learn more about the ethical use of AI tools and hosted a webinar that attracted more than 350 attendees in late June. Earlier this summer, upon arriving at his dermatologist's office, bioethicist Arthur Schafer was asked if he consented to the use of an AI scribe during his appointment. Patients have the right to opt out, but the founding director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba said he gave it. Family physician Dr. Nichelle Desilets, president of Doctors Manitoba, in her Neepawa clinic. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun files) 'A lot of people will initially feel some unease… because there is a certain amount of technophobia, a certain amount of anxiety about artificial intelligence, generally,' Schafer said. He recalled there was also initial skepticism when doctors transitioned from pen-and-paper to digital record-keeping. That pivot has ultimately proven beneficial for patients and health-care professionals alike, Schafer said, noting that poor penmanship caused serious accuracy and communication problems. Infoway's stakeholder consultations found that early adopters of AI scribes were often unsure about how their data was being used or where it was stored. Kalra said the absence of formal guidance for the sector and related privacy concerns prompted his team to do a deep dive. Infoway has purchased 10,000 one-year licences from nine 'pre-qualified vendors' that are headquartered in Canada. They were evaluated on their respective cybersecurity practices and how they support secure data-sharing, among other things. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. Schafer said he's optimistic that there is a pilot to assess the benefits and drawbacks of AI tools, and that it's being run by a not-for-profit. While noting 'the stakes are high' when it comes to protecting confidential health information, he said AI tools have immense potential. The bioethicist added: 'If we can have the right kinds of safeguards and controls then, potentially, family doctors — of which we have a great shortage in Canada — will be able to see many more patients.' Doctors Manitoba members who were using AI scribes this winter reported the technology helped them save four to six hours of note-taking per week. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
15-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Some Manitobans can now obtain medical services in hospital without a health card
Some Manitobans without health cards can now see doctors in hospitals, thanks to a change intended to ensure vulnerable patients receive better medical care. Hospital physicians can now bill the health-care system for certain patients without a health card, Doctors Manitoba said. The change applies to people who are eligible for coverage but don't have a personal health I.D. number, such as newborns, people experiencing homelessness, new residents to Canada and people who've recently been incarcerated. Doctors Manitoba president Nichelle Desilets said the move will reduce the administrative burdens on physicians and allow them to get reimbursed faster, all while ensuring more patients receive medical care. "I've seen dramatic, life-threatening situations develop due to folks not seeking care as early as they could have for this reason," she said. "The good faith billing option is really helpful. It definitely puts us more in line with other provinces." Tobi Jolly, community wellness director at Siloan Mission, said while people without health cards can usually access emergency medical services, they find it difficult to receive ongoing care or visit specialists. "We've had community members who have come in and been fearful of going to the hospital, because, 'They're going to ask for my health card,' " Jolly said, adding she hopes the new good faith billing process changes this. "It's really exciting for us to know that our community members will get the care they need at the hospital as well." Jolly said expanding good faith billings to clinics and other settings outside hospitals, including Siloam, would alleviate even more barriers to health care. Some Manitobans without health cards now have hospital visits covered 4 minutes ago Duration 2:09 Doctors Manitoba says hospital physicians can now bill the province's health-care system for certain patients who don't have a health card, including newcomers to Canada and people who are homeless, bringing relief to at least one organization that works with vulnerable patients.
Winnipeg Free Press
26-06-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Prepare for rural ER crunch in summer, Manitoba doctors advise
As Manitobans take summer holidays, Doctors Manitoba is urging them to be prepared for rural hospital emergency room closures and staffing shortages before they hit the road. 'This year we're expecting more travel within our province as many Manitobans are choosing to avoid travel to the United States,' said president Nichelle Desilets, a family physician in Neepawa. 'This is a great thing, of course, but we physicians want to ensure that Manitobans are prepared to access emergency medical help across rural Manitoba no matter where we are,' Desilets said in an online news conference Thursday. TIM SMITH / BRANDON SUN FILES Family physician Dr. Nichelle Desilets, president of Doctors Manitoba TIM SMITH / BRANDON SUN FILES Family physician Dr. Nichelle Desilets, president of Doctors Manitoba The organization that advocates on behalf of doctors issued a public advisory about services in rural Manitoba. Changing hours of operation and periodic closures in the summer can make it difficult to anticipate whether — or when — a rural ER will be open. 'It's a bit of a guessing game,' said Desilets. She recommended Manitobans consult its website for answers. 'This isn't a new problem — it's been building for many years,' she said. In August 2024, a Doctors Manitoba analysis showed just 18 rural hospitals were reliably open 24-7; 25 were open part time or had frequent gaps in coverage; and 25 were closed due to temporary or long-term suspensions of service. This year, 'the prolonged uncertainty and short-staffing is taking a toll,' Desilets said, referring to a members' survey taken by the organization earlier this month. 'We found high levels of burnout and distress, with nearly a third of emergency room doctors indicating that they are considering reducing their working hours or resigning their duties completely if their work conditions don't change,' she said. With reduced ER hours and closures expected across the province, Doctors Manitoba is advising Manitobans to be prepared: • Know the closest and second-closest ER to where you live or where you will be travelling. With reduced ER hours and closures expected across the province, Doctors Manitoba is advising Manitobans to be prepared: • Know the closest and second-closest ER to where you live or where you will be travelling. • Find ER hours and schedules — some are operating on reduced hours and some may be temporarily or permanently closed. Schedules can change with little notice. Check which health region you are in or will be in, and where the regional health authority posts current information about ER hours and closures. • Know how to call for emergency care. In most parts of Manitoba, you can call 911. In some smaller communities or parks, you may have to call a local number to get an ambulance. • Know your location — address, intersection or landmark — and know the number you are calling from. • If it is urgent, go to the closest open ER or urgent care centre. • Consider alternative options for non-urgent care, such as local doctor offices that accept walk-ins or appointments. Call Health Links at 1−888−315−9257. • See for more information. — Doctors Manitoba Doctors Manitoba forecasts that 28 ERs are expected to be fully closed, including five considered a temporary suspension, after reviewing physician feedback alongside this summer's rural ER schedules. 'Twenty, or about one-quarter of rural hospitals, will have their emergency rooms reliably open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; 24 more ERs are expected to operate with reduced hours of operation or periodic closures, and this is often due to physician or nurse shortages,' Desilets said. Several ERs that used to be reliably open 24-7 are experiencing periodic closures, including communities such as Gimli, Minnedosa, Carman and Crystal City, she said. Three of the largest ERs outside Winnipeg — Brandon, Morden-Winkler and Steinbach — have high vacancy levels, she said. 'While these ERs are still expected to be open 24-7, the reduced physician coverage will likely lead to increased workload for staff and longer waits for patients,' the family doctor said. TIM SMITH / BRANDON SUN FILES Brandon Regional Health Centre has a high vacancy level. TIM SMITH / BRANDON SUN FILES Brandon Regional Health Centre has a high vacancy level. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said that since the NDP formed government in ;ate 2023, the province has hired 50 net new rural physicians for emergency rooms. 'We're moving things in the right direction while recognizing that the system is still incredibly challenged,' Asagwara said in an interview late Thursday. Under the former Tory administration 'the closures were greater than they are under our government,' the minister said. In June 2022, Doctors Manitoba forecast closures and temporary suspensions of ER service in about 60 per cent of the 68 hospitals in northern and rural Manitoba. 'There are still a lot of pressures on emergency departments across the province,' Asagwara said. 'That is what happens when you cut health care and close emergency rooms over seven and a half years.' Prairie Mountain Health, based in western Manitoba, said in a statement Thursday that scheduling gaps that may arise at its largest ER in Brandon are being managed, and that wait times 'have many factors and are not strictly tied to staffing.' 'It's important to note that physician, nursing, and diagnostic services are all critical components of a functioning emergency department — all three must be in place to ensure safe and effective patient care,' it said. 'We continue to closely monitor and co-ordinate these resources to ensure stable coverage,' the health authority said. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Jason Linklater, Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Jason Linklater, Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals Jason Linklater, president of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, said the province needs a 'real plan' to retain, train, and recruit more staff, including lab and X-ray technologists and paramedics. He said there are 45 open lab and X-ray positions and 200 vacant paramedic positions, resulting in some 911 callers waiting an hour or more for life-saving care to arrive. 'Closed ERs force paramedics to transport patients further distances for care, taking ambulances and the skilled professionals who staff them out of rotation for longer, and compounding the staffing shortage,' Linklater said. PC health critic Kathleen Cook accused the NDP of breaking its campaign promise to fix health care. 'This situation in rural ERs is particularly troubling this year as we expect to see more people travelling within Manitoba or within Canada instead of leaving the country,' the MLA for Roblin said. If regional centres such as Brandon, Boundary Trails and Steinbach, which typically have two or three ER doctors per shift, are down to a single physician, it's worrisome, Cook said. 'That's going to result in longer wait times for everybody and it's also going to burn out their staff. It's not a good situation to be in.' Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
19-06-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
No time for sick notes in overburdened, understaffed health-care system
Opinion It's hard to believe we're still having this conversation in 2025. Yet here we are: some employees across Manitoba are still being told by their bosses to get a note from a doctor when they call in sick. Despite widespread agreement among health professionals, labour advocates, and even some employers that this practice is outdated and wasteful, the Manitoba government has yet to pass legislation to end it. Let's start with the obvious. Manitoba has one of the worst doctor shortages in the country. You hear it from virtually every corner of the health system: there aren't enough family doctors, walk-in clinics are jammed and many people in rural and northern areas have to wait days — or weeks — just to get a basic appointment. 'Manitoba is one of only two provinces in Canada that hasn't taken any legislative action in this space to limit the use of sick notes, so we hope to change that,' said Dr. Nichelle Desilets, president of Doctors Manitoba. (Tim Smith / The Brandon Sun files) And yet, in the middle of this health-care access crisis, we're still diverting doctors' time to write useless notes that serve no medical purpose and cost taxpayers an estimated $8 million a year. It's a colossal waste of time and public health-care resources. According to Doctors Manitoba, eliminating sick notes would allow for an extra 300,000 patient visits per year, or the equivalent of adding 50 more physicians to the health-care system. That is significant. As a result, the advocacy organization that represents doctors in the province, asked the government this week to bring in legislation that would ban sick notes for absences of 10 days or less. Requiring a sick note doesn't verify illness in any meaningful way. It's not good health policy, and it's not good workplace policy. In fact, it can make things worse. The note itself doesn't prove anything. A doctor can't tell if someone had a migraine, the flu or food poisoning the day before. They just take the patient's word for it and write the note. It's a rubber stamp. If someone wants to abuse a sick day, they're going to do it with or without a doctor's note. Requiring a note could even discourage some people from staying home while sick if it's too difficult or time consuming to find a doctor who'll write one. It should come as no surprise then, that the Canadian Medical Association has called for an end to sick-note requirements. The organization argues the notes serve no clinical purpose and simply burden the health-care system. It's one of those rare issues where just about everyone agrees — except, apparently, the Manitoba government, which still hasn't introduced legislation to stop the practice outright. Some Manitoba employers loosened their rules around sick notes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. But without legislation, there's no standard. It's a patchwork. Most jurisdictions across Canada have already taken action. British Columbia, for example, banned mandatory sick notes for short absences. Ontario has similar provisions and Quebec discourages their use. 'Manitoba is one of only two provinces in Canada that hasn't taken any legislative action in this space to limit the use of sick notes, so we hope to change that,' said Dr. Nichelle Desilets, president of Doctors Manitoba. If the Manitoba government is serious about wanting to expand primary care and reduce unnecessary strain on the system, this is low-hanging fruit. We don't need a government task force or a blue-ribbon panel to study it. This shouldn't be a difficult decision for the NDP government. While in opposition, they introduced a private member's bill that would have banned employers from requiring sick notes unless the worker was absent for more than seven days. Like most private members' bills, it was defeated. It's time to resurrect it. This isn't just about health care, it's about treating workers with dignity. It's also about preventing workplace outbreaks. Encouraging people to 'tough it out' or drag themselves to a clinic for a note increases the risk that they'll infect others, especially in places such as schools, stores or in health care itself. Some opponents may argue that banning sick notes will open the door to abuse – that people will call in sick more often. However, there's no evidence that happens in provinces where notes are no longer required. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. At a time when Manitoba is desperately trying to recruit and retain physicians — and promising to expand access to primary care — making doctors spend hours a week writing sick notes is indefensible. Every appointment used for a sick note is one less slot for a child with asthma, a senior with diabetes or a parent trying to get a referral to a specialist. This change is long overdue. If Manitoba wants to modernize health care and support working people at the same time, it should act now. Ban sick notes. Free up doctors' time. It's a no-brainer. Tom BrodbeckColumnist Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the Free Press and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the Free Press in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. Read more about Tom. Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The Free Press's editing team reviews Tom's columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
06-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
Doctors Manitoba cheers changes to help U.S. physicians relocate to province
Regulatory changes intended to make it easier for U.S.-based physicians to relocate and practice in Manitoba are being loudly applauded by an advocacy group in the province. "We're really excited about it. Manitoba has one of the worst doctor shortages in the country, and as practising physicians, we see the consequences of this every day," said Doctors Manitoba president Nichelle Desilets. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and the provincial government recently took steps to streamline the process for qualified physicians from the United States to be granted a full licence to practice in the province, provided they meet certain requirements. They have to first complete an accredited residency program, have certification from the American Board of Medical Specialists and have a licence from a U.S. state medical board. "The training that American physicians undergo is very similar to a Canadian physician. I would even say nearly identical," said Desilets, who practises in Neepawa. "There is much more in common than there is different." Processes the government and college have agreed to remove include things like requiring supervisors and formal assessments, and restrictions on where a new doctor can practise — which can all be costly and time-consuming. Doctors Manitoba advocated for such changes more than a year ago, Desilets said. "Manitoba has been behind in making these changes, so it's really great to see that we're catching up on that," Desilets said. B.C., Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and P.E.I. have already simplified the process, she said. It's also important to underscore the fact that none of the changes will compromise the quality of patient care, she said. "The public should still be reassured that there is still a rigorous process making sure that every doctor that practises in Manitoba is qualified to do so and has been vetted by our college." The province has also followed the lead of Doctors Manitoba by launching recruitment campaigns in the U.S. The provincial government is targeting health-care workers in the nearby states of Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, touting Manitoba's strengths and priorities, including safe and inclusive communities, good schools, strong social supports and comparable affordability with a high quality of life. Doctors Manitoba had ramped up its own recruitment efforts late last year with a similar message in an effort to appeal to physicians in search of stability and respect after Donald Trump was elected U.S. president. "We have the privilege of working in an environment where the government doesn't generally get in between us and our patients, so that was the kind of the selling point that we brought," Desilets said. "We're grateful to see that our public advocacy efforts were able to influence government stakeholders and our own regulatory college to take a look at all of the requirements and to kind of take our lead." She couldn't say, though, if the efforts have prompted anyone to relocate north of the border. "As a front-line working doctor, I wouldn't be privy to that knowledge, but we do know that our office has had people reach out to inquire about the process and what the work environment looks like," Desilets said. "Despite the flaws in our health-care system, and I acknowledge that there are many of them, I am safe when I go to work, I know that the government is going to pay me for the services that I provide to patients, and I know that I have an organization that backs me and my colleagues up when we go to work every day." Doctors Manitoba will continue to promote those benefits through its own recruitment efforts in news media interviews, advertisements, and the website ManitobaMD.com. While the push to open the door more to American doctors is welcome, it's only one aspect of addressing the shortage, Desilets said. The barriers between provinces need to be dealt with, as well. "Even though people expect health care to be nationally available to them, it's still administered on a provincial level. So this is a barrier to recruiting physicians to Manitoba, no matter where you're coming from," she said. "The fact that we don't have enough doctors to serve our population is a multi-pronged challenge. There's not one golden answer … and we're going to continue to advocate. We need more doctors, we need more specialists."
