Latest news with #familymedicine
CTV News
09-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
RVH and U of T partnership expands emergency medicine training in Barrie
Family doctors looking to enhance their emergency medicine skills won't have to travel far anymore, thanks to an expanded partnership between Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) and the University of Toronto. Together, RVH and U of T are bringing two high-level emergency training programs to Barrie, to help grow the region's health care workforce, which RVH Chief of Staff Jeffrey Tyberg says is greatly needed. "Our emergency department sees more than 94,000 visits each year, offering exposure to a wide range of cases, from minor injuries to life-threatening trauma," Tyberg said. "Almost three-million Ontarians do not have access to primary care. So we do need to train them [physicians] in communities, especially those that are under-served," added Stu Murdoch, the U of T department of family and community medicine director. The new one-year Enhanced Skills Program offers intensive hands-on training for two family physicians annually who have already completed a two-year family medicine residency. 'Our residents are going to be on-call to come and do every single reduction that happens in the emergency department. So it's going to be massive training for them. The amount of exposure they're going to have is incredible,' said Jordan Shaw, EM enhanced skills program director, who grew up in Barrie. The Supplemental Emergency Medicine Experience (SEME) fellowship is a full-time, three-month clinical immersion program,tailored for physicians practicing comprehensive family medicine in smaller and rural communities. 'It's a unique opportunity to enhance emergency medicine skills in a focused and supportive environment. The program, which starts in September, will host six physicians annually,' a joint news release about the programs stated. 'A lot of these emergency departments in rural areas are staffed by family doctors, and it can be really challenging for them. So this is an opportunity to kind of brush up and build on the skills that they already have,' noted Nick Tassone / SEME program co-director. The Enhanced Skills Program got underway July 1 and the SEME program is set to begin in September. RVH and U of T will also launch a hospital emergency pharmacy residency this month to prepare pharmacists for practice in hospital and long-term care settings.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
MDVIP Expands in Upstate South Carolina with Two Family Medicine Practices in Greenville
GREENVILLE, S.C. and BOCA RATON, Fla., July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MDVIP, the nation's leading provider of membership-based healthcare, is expanding its primary care network in Upstate South Carolina with two new family medicine practices in the Greenville area that offer patients more time, one-on-one attention and a closer relationship with their doctor. Michael R. Kopscik, MD, a board-certified family physician, is opening an MDVIP-affiliated practice at 9 Buena Vista Way, Suite A, in Greenville, serving patients across the Upstate, including Spartanburg, Greer, Mauldin, Five Forks, Piedmont and Anderson. Dr. Kopscik, a South Carolina native, graduated from Clemson University and earned his medical degree from The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. After his internship and residency at AnMed Health in Anderson, he completed a fellowship in sports medicine at the University of Virginia, where he was Assistant Team Physician for UVA Athletics. This additional training enables Dr. Kopscik to offer non-operative orthopedic care for active patients. To learn more about Dr. Kopscik or to schedule a meeting, visit Meredith B. Vejnar, MD, a board-certified family physician with over 10 years of experience treating patients of all ages across the Upstate, has opened her MDVIP-affiliated practice at 420 The Parkway Suite J in Greer. Dr. Vejnar has a special interest in weight management, lifestyle medicine and aesthetics medicine. She maintains privileges at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital and Bon Secours Mercy Health in Greenville. Dr. Vejnar is President-Elect for the Executive Committee of the Greenville County Medical Society. To learn more about Dr. Vejnar or to schedule a meeting, visit As MDVIP affiliates, Dr. Kopscik and Dr. Vejnar limit the size of their practice to ensure they can dedicate more time and attention to each patient. Maintaining a smaller panel allows for in-depth follow-up, proactive health management and a stronger physician-patient relationship. Other benefits of joining their practice include same- or next-day appointments, extended office visits and the ability to reach the doctors 24/7 by phone. Dr. Michael Kopscik said, "Every patient brings a unique story, and I am dedicated to listening carefully to deliver personalized care that honors their individual needs, values and aspirations. My patients benefit from comprehensive treatment—whether addressing wellness maintenance, acute or chronic conditions, or sports-related injuries—within a trusted, lifelong partnership. Through my MDVIP-affiliated practice and established relationships with leading Upstate South Carolina hospital systems, I look forward to providing patients the type of care they can depend on." Dr. Meredith Vejnar said, "A physician's highest calling is to champion each patient's pursuit of optimal health and wellness. Over the past decade, I have cultivated meaningful relationships with my patients that not only address their immediate care needs but also inspire and support their personal wellness journeys. The MDVIP program provides for extended consultations, supported by advanced diagnostics and clinical expertise, that help empower my patients to feel and look their best." Annual Wellness ProgramFor the annual membership fee, patients receive a comprehensive yearly health assessment that includes advanced diagnostic tests and screenings to give a more complete view of their overall health. Using the results, the doctors provide personalized coaching and tools to help patients make healthier lifestyle choices, prevent disease and achieve their wellness goals. Proven Health OutcomesStudies published in peer-reviewed medical journals show that patients in MDVIP-affiliated practices experience fewer hospitalizations and readmissions, visit urgent care centers and emergency rooms less often, receive more preventive health services and have better control of chronic diseases than patients in traditional practices. MDVIP's patient satisfaction scores and annual membership renewals consistently exceed 90%. About MDVIPWith a national network of more than 1,300 primary care physicians serving over 400,000 patients, MDVIP leads the market in membership-based healthcare that goes far beyond concierge medicine services. MDVIP is ranked one of the 10 Top Executive Wellness Programs by Worth magazine and is recognized by Fortune as one of the Best Workplaces in Healthcare. For more information, visit Media Contact:Leslie Monreal-Feillmonreal@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE MDVIP Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Medscape
30-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Help Patients Stay Healthy and Enjoy Summer Vacation
If your patients express concern about maintaining health goals while going on summer vacations, be sure to share that they can enjoy their trips with proper balance and moderation. Assure your patients that downtime is important, and a few indulgences won't derail health goals. You can also share tips on how exercising can offset extra calories and how planning can keep their health goals steady and successful. Here are more strategies to encourage your patients to enjoy their summer vacations guilt-free. Healthy Tips for Summer Travel Stay hydrated. Your patients likely know the upside of staying hydrated but reminding them to increase water intake, especially in summer, is worth repeating. 'Suggest to patients they bring a water bottle and keep it filled, especially when they're outside and walking,' said Neha Vyas, MD, a family medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. 'You will need more water, and oftentimes thirst can be mistaken for hunger. If you always have water with you, you can avoid confusing the two sensations.' Get good sleep. Whether your patient is road-tripping in a recreational vehicle, planning a week at the beach, visiting a national park, or flying to Europe for history tours and culture, it's important to stress how quality sleep is necessary. 'When you don't get enough quality sleep, you may tend to compensate by eating more,' said Vyas. Another tip for patients: Bring earplugs and a sleep mask to get proper shut eye. Incorporate physical activity. While on a trip, staying active will not only burn extra calories but also can help with cardiovascular health. 'Suggest they take a walking tour of a new destination,' recommended Vyas. 'Spend time with your family by riding bikes together. Rent the public scooters and enjoy a new city from that vantage point.' Plan out meals. Food is a large component when traveling and knowing what meals you want to splurge on in advance will help you ensure other meals remain within your health plan, according to Vyas. She recommends moderation when making food choices, like balancing heavy, calorie-dense meals with more nutritious meals. Balance with alcohol. It's worthwhile to chat with your patients about alcohol consumption while on vacation. Alcohol can bring on fatigue and tiredness, and it can also adversely affect sleep quality. So if they do plan on having booze, hydration becomes extra important, according to the American Heart Association. To balance the effects of alcohol, advise your patients to boost their water intake to remain hydrated. Taking GLP-1s While Traveling Patients taking GLP-1 medications may be even more concerned about traveling. Understanding the storage requirements of their medicines will be important, said Vyas, along with ensuring that refrigerators at their vacation residence can maintain the appropriate temperature. Other helpful tips are to 'invest in a TSA [Transportation Security Administration]-approved storage cooler [and] take the medication with them rather than pack into checked bags,' she said. Patients can also consider transferring their prescription to a local pharmacy in case of emergencies. Continuing with existing meal patterns is also warranted. 'Enjoy local cuisine by eating smaller portions, eating slower, drinking plenty of water — enjoying their time guilt-free,' Vyas said. Moderation Is Key Assure your patients that a few indulgences here and there aren't going to sabotage a health journey. 'Moderation means that no food is bad or off-limits,' explained Vyas. 'It allows you to enjoy foods while on vacation without feeling guilty or shamed. It allows you to build a healthy relationship with food, so you don't overeat or give up on your healthy eating plans when you are on vacation or come back from vacation.' During your conversations with patients, it can be helpful to discuss their concerns and then share how moderation can help keep their health goals on track. 'I find that the patients who manage vacations the best are the ones who go in with an intentional but not overly restrictive plan,' said Tara Schmidt, lead dietitian for the Mayo Clinic Diet with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Encourage patients to avoid the extremes — both overindulgence and deprivation. 'Overindulgence can lead to guilt and physical discomfort, while deprivation can cause us to ruminate, feel left out, and possibly overdo it at a later time. Establishing and maintaining health goals is about practices that fit into their life. That includes occasional treats.' More ways to encourage moderation are to suggest having fruits and vegetables at all meals, setting a step goal, and splitting desserts or other calorie-dense items with others in their party, she said. You can also explain to patients that vacation can be a perfect opportunity to practice mindful eating. 'Use all five senses to truly enjoy the food and surroundings,' said Schmidt. 'This should slow the speed of eating ([eating quickly] often causes us to unintentionally overeat). And they can find balance, which also helps them get back to their usual routine when returning home.'
Medscape
16-06-2025
- Health
- Medscape
As Measles Spreads, Docs Stress It's ‘Not a Rite of Passage'
Margot L. Savoy, MD Associate Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Senior Vice President, Department of Education, Inclusiveness & Physician Well-Being, American Academy of Family Physicians, Leawood, Kansas Disclosure: Margot L. Savoy, MD, MPH, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: American Academy of Family Physicians (employee and board); Annals of Family Medicine (board); Temple University (employee); Novo Nordisk (consultant, obesity)Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: American Academy of Family Physicians and state chapters; Vindico (presenter); Oakstone CME (presenter)Received research grant from: Health Resources and Services Administration (well-being) Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Temple University (employee); American Academy of Family Physicians (employee); Merck (immunization chapter author for Merck Manual consumer and professional edition)
CBC
13-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
New patient targets for family doctors could hurt P.E.I.'s reputation, says national college
The College of Family Physicians of Canada is raising concerns over new targets for family doctors on P.E.I. and calling on all parties to work together to find a solution. "I'm feeling pretty sad. There seems to have been a significant breakdown in trust and in the relationship, and that's really hard, when people stop being able to trust one another," college president Dr. Carrie Bernard told CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin. Last week, the Medical Society of Prince Edward Island announced plans for legal action against Health P.E.I., citing what it says is a breach of its agreement with the province. The society said the new targets for how many patients each doctor needs to accept are not what it agreed to when it signed a new physician services agreement with the province last year. Bernard said that agreement, which made P.E.I. the first province to officially recognize family medicine as a specialty, a move that includes higher pay, was celebrated across the country. But she said the recent policy development undermines that progress and can make physicians feel not valued and respected by the system in which they play a foundational role. Health P.E.I.'s new operational guide includes key performance indicators, or KPIs, that include a requirement that each family doctor will see 24 patients a day, based on an average appointment being 15 minutes long. It also says each full-time family doctor should have a minimum of 1,600 patients on the books, or panel size, which Bernard calls an "arbitrary number." Penalties can be imposed if the minimum isn't met. Impact on recruitment and retention On Monday, P.E.I. Health Minister Mark McLane told CBC News that the targets are intended to help the government collect information and evaluate how the new physician services agreement is working. He also pointed out that Health P.E.I. was giving doctors and their association six weeks to provide feedback on the new guidelines, and said there will be no punitive measures during the first year of the agreement. P.E.I. health minister 'confident' province, family doctors can reach compromise on workload targets 4 days ago Duration 7:17 Health Minister Mark McLane responded for the first time to the legal battle brewing between the province's medical society and the P.E.I. government over new targets for how many patients family physicians see per day. McLane tells CBC News: Compass host Louise Martin that the guidelines are still in draft form, and says he wants to work with doctors to resolve their pending legal challenge. Bernard agreed that accountability matters. "I don't think any family physician thinks they should not be accountable. We expect the accountabilities, however, to be informed by the professionals who are actually providing the care," she said. The good news story 100 per cent was well shared across the country with great excitement, and right now there is a significant pause in that good news and a significant second look across the country about what's going to happen in P.E.I. — Dr. Carrie Bernard "This just sort of came out of nowhere, without consultation and discussion and collaboration and negotiation." She added that setting a blanket number for patient panels is too simplistic and doesn't reflect the reality of family practice. Bernard warned that just as the news of last year's agreement was celebrated across the country, this policy shift could have consequences on physician recruitment and retention. "Family doctors talk, and they talk to each other, not just to recruiters," she said. "So the good news story 100 per cent was well shared across the country with great excitement, and right now there is a significant pause in that good news and a significant second look across the country about what's going to happen in P.E.I." New target 'out of keeping' with national average Bernard said the 1,600 figure is "out of keeping" with the national average of about 1,200 patients per family physician. "The issue of numbers is that if a doctor has too many patients for the number of hours they have available to see their patients, you might have a family doctor in name, but you may not be able to actually see your family doctor," she said. She added that even the 1,200 average can vary greatly depending on the complexity of patients. Society representing P.E.I. doctors is suing Health P.E.I. over new targets for family physicians 7 days ago Duration 2:40 Health P.E.I. is planning to change how family physicians are expected to work in the province. The Medical Society of P.E.I. says that was not part of negotiations that led up to a new Physician Services Agreement, so it has initiated legal action, saying some doctors will leave the province over this. CBC's Stacey Janzer reports. For instance, doctors who serve many patients with chronic illnesses, as well as newcomers or refugee families who require translation, may need to spend more time per visit, which means they can handle fewer patients overall. The same is true for physicians with added responsibilities, such as teaching or taking on leadership roles in the community or hospital system, she said. "In smaller places like Prince Edward Island, where we're asking many family doctors to take on leadership roles — same thing," she said. "If you have to take on a leadership role, either in your family health team or at the hospital, that limits the number of patients you can see."
