Joint Collaborative Committees

Family Practice Services Committee Meeting Summaries

February 2025

  • The full FPSC committee met on February 13, 2025, on the topic of Family Physician (FP) recruitment. The objective was to develop a shared understanding of organizational roles related to FP recruitment. The table shared successes and dialogued opportunities to address local, regional, and/or provincial challenges.
  • The FPSC Core met on February 14, 2025. 
    • The FPSC Co-Chair, Ministry of Health (MOH) updated the Core members on the Minister of Health’s mandate letter and how that new context could impact the FPSC’s work.
    • The FPSC provided feedback on the purpose and objectives of the 2025 FPSC Summit, deciding the day should aim to inspire and energize participants, with a focus on innovation.  
    • The committee approved a request from the Revelstoke FPs to join the Kootenay Boundary Division of Family Practice as of April 1, 2025. 
    • Funding was approved to support the integration of the Provincial Attachment System with Electronic Medical Records, using the Health Application Lightweight Protocol (HALO) framework and Smart-On-FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) applications. 
    • Due to delay in the launch of the new Comprehensive Care Payment (CCP), the FPSC approved the following:
      • Extending Inpatient Care Transition Funding (scheduled to end on March 31, 2025), for up to six more months (April 1 – September 30, 2025).
      • Maintaining current funding for Assigned Inpatient Care Network and Maternity Care Network for up to six more months (April 1 – September 30, 2025) until such network payments are replaced by the CCP for eligible FPs. 
  • The FPSC had an extensive discussion on this agenda item, including sharing concerns about the delay in implementing CCP, particularly for rural and mid-size communities
  • The FPSC Billing Education and Support Team has released a checklist to guide FPs through various enrollment and withdrawal scenarios for the Longitudinal Family Practice (LFP) Payment Model e.g. transitioning from LFP Locum to LFP.
  • The first Long Term Care Initiative (LTCI) Advisory Group was held in January to provide recommendations and advice to the FPSC on emerging issues and opportunities for improving the LTCI. The meeting focused on current LTCI successes and challenges, including the impact of staffing shortages, new payment models, optimizing workflows and facility-based team-based care, and the need for training and medical coordination.
  • The Doctors Technology Office (DTO) piloted a new service entitled ‘EMR Skill Building Sessions’, designed to help family physicians and their practice team members expand their expertise using their EMRs, focusing on Med Access and OSCAR EMRs. Six sessions were delivered to 213 attendees. Following the success of the pilot, DTO is now looking to spread and scale this initiative by offering sessions on a third EMR (Profile).