Did you know?
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in ophthalmologists are high, ranging from 51-80% across studies.

This module was developed to showcase best ergonomic practices and injury prevention. View the module, online through the Queen’s University website.

Learning Objectives

• Review the importance of ergonomics for ophthalmologists
• Identify areas in the clinic and operating room that may predispose to musculoskeletal disorders
• Learn proper ergonomic risk factor modification
• Recognize signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders, understanding the importance of early intervention

CPD Credits

Completion of this 30 minute online learning module has been determined by Queen’s University to be eligible for 0.50 hours of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Section 2: Self Learning for Specialists credits.

For more information visit the Queen’s University website.

The Canadian Journal of Physician Leadership (CJPL) is a peer-reviewed journal launched in 2014. Published quarterly, it focuses on topics and issues related to leadership and the health care system as they pertain mainly, but not exclusively, to physicians and physician leaders.

Volume 4, Issue number 3, Happy People Work Better features:

• Achieving Joy in Canada’ health care system: What can we do today?
  – Johny Van Aerde, MD, PhD
• Turning burnout into joy
  – Mamta Gautam, MD
• Transforming health care through systems and stories
  – Cheryl Heykoop, DSocSci, and Guy Nasmyth, PhD
• Five fundamentals of civility for physicians: Part 2
  – Michael Kaufmann, MD
• The continuing challenge of patient-centred care
  – Michael Gardam, MD and Judith John, BA
• Could Saskatchewan become the best place in the world to practise medicine?
  – Susan Shaw, MD, and Ivan Muzychka
• Accountability and trust: Sitting on a three-legged stool
  – Darren Larsen, MD
• Physician leadership development through the lens of LEADS and competency-based education
  – Ming-Ka Chan, MD, Celia Rodd, MD, Elisabete Doyle, MD, Eleanor MacDougall, MD, Jenette Hayward, MD, and Karen Gripp, MD
• Stories from our CCPES: Journey into the unknown
  – Gary Ing, MD
• Stories from our CCPES: My leadership journey
  – William Sischek, MD

This policy provides a series of broad, aspirational recommendations to help guide stakeholders at all levels of the health system to promote a healthy, vibrant, and engaged profession.

For more details visit the Canadian Medical Association website.

U of T Med is an alumni magazine like no other. Bold, ambitious and lively, we dive into medicine’s most pressing topics. Heal Thyself is the U of T Med publication from Summer 2017 addressing the topic of physician mental health.

This issue features:

• Can We Talk About Physician Mental Health?
• Who Heals the Healer?
• The Unspeakable Struggle
• A Heavy Toll
• Under Pressure
• After the Tragedy
• The Millennial Approach
• Ready, Steady, Reset
• Human Beings First and Foremost
• Unvarnished Truth

To review the U of T Med Summer 2017 issue, visit the website.

Earning CPD credits

You can earn Section 2 credits toward your Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements by: 

• Reading CJO articles: each journal article that you read and deem has had a significant impact on your learning or practice can be recorded individually — you will receive one (1) credit per article.
• Peer reviewing CJO articles: you can earn up to 15 credits per year as a Peer Assessment activity. The 15 credits are eligible for your yearly contributions. 

Claiming CPD credits

To claim CPD credits for reading CJO articles, you must record them in your MAINPORT ePortfolio as Section 2 Self Learning credits.

To claim CPD credits for peer reviewing CJO articles, you can either record them in MAINPORT yourself, or you can opt into our automatic transfer program and we will submit your Section 2 Peer Assessment credits directly to the RCPSC every year. The credits will appear in your MAINPRO dashboard for your review and approval. To opt into this program, please contact the Managing Editor at [email protected].

Participate by Live Stream or in-person on October 10 from 1:30 – 2:30 PM. This interactive talk will provide an overview of what predatory journals are and describe how they are having an impact on organizations, researchers, and patients. In doing so, the talk will touch on related topics including academic incentives, research funding, and science policy. It will discuss the impact of predatory journals on knowledge synthesis efforts and health literacy. It will recommend safeguards that stakeholders can put in place to limit interaction with these journals and to help reduce waste in how biomedical research is shared and used.

The speaker, Dr. Kelly Cobey,  is an Investigator at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) working in the Centre for Journalology.

CPD Credits

Earn 0.5 MOC credits under Section 2 for participating.

Access Details

For more information and to register visit the CADTH website.

“Little” things make BIG differences is an online module, and has been accredited as a Section 3: Self-Assessment Program. 

The program designed to help practicing physicians, residents, administrators, and other team members build knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to better recognize and manage issues of disruptive behavior in their team based settings.

Premise of the Program

The program follows the case of Mrs. Wendy Lee, a patient who needs surgery at the Pondview Health Network.

Mrs. Lee’s surgery did not go as planned and Dr. Gin Staples, an administrator at the hospital, needs to review the case in order to make recommendations. Your objective is to review Mrs. Lee’s case from the perspective of the team members and patient in order to help Dr. Staples develop recommendations that foster “just culture” at the Pondview Health Network.

As you read through the case you are presented with questions. Record your answers for each question as you go through. There is an answer key at the end of this page to help you gauge your understanding of the content. Answering these questions helps you to compile findings that inform final recommendations for Dr. Staples and can also be used as part of a Personal Learning Project to earn Section 2 MOC credits.

Learning Objectives

Upon the completion of this simulation-based learning activity, you will be able to:

• Recognize the environmental stimuli that can precipitate disruptive behaviour
• Identify strategies for mitigating disruptive behaviour in the clinical environment
• Describe the impact disruptive behaviour has on the clinical environment
• Apply prescribed techniques that promote a “just culture” in the clinical environment
• Reflect on experiences with disruptive behaviour in the clinical environment

CPD Credits

“Little” things make BIG differences is an Accredited Self-Assessment Program (Section 3) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by Royal College Continuing Professional Development Unit. You may claim a maximum of 2 hours (credits are automatically calculated).

Access Details

To access the module please visit the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada website.

The CanMEDS Framework was developed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada to provide key strategies for healthcare professionals to increase efficiencies in their practice, improve communication with patients and colleagues, and demonstrate stronger leadership. 

The program explicitly expresses how CanMEDS roles are used in everyday clinical and non-clinical practice. The CanMEDS roles have been developed based on what patients believe are the most important competencies and abilities that physicians should possess.

Target Audience
This self-assessment program was developed with local faculty and subject matter experts to ensure a high degree of scientific integrity, rigor and balance for practitioners.

Learning Objectives
After successful completion of the program, participants will be able to:

• Use the CanMEDS Framework to improve your practice and your patient outcomes
• Identify areas for your continuing professional development using the CanMEDS Framework in all seven roles: Communicator, Collaborator, Leader, Health Advocate, Scholar, Professional and Medical Expert

CPD Credits
This program was co-developed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and mdBriefCase Group.

This activity is an Accredited Self-Assessment Program (Section 3) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by the Royal College CPD Unit. You may claim a maximum of 1 hour (credits are automatically calculated).

Access Details
The online learning activity is free for RCPSC Fellows. To access the CanMEDS online self-assessment program, please visit the mdBriefCase website for more information.

Read the full article through the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology website: Full Article

Authors
Sami S. Qutob, Katya P. Feder, Michelle O’Brien, Leonora Marro, James P. McNamee, David S. Michaud

Abstract

Background

Unprotected exposure to handheld lasers can cause temporary or permanent vision loss depending on the laser classification.

Objective

To evaluate the occurrence of, and details associated with, reported eye injuries resulting from handheld lasers.

Methods

A 14-item questionnaire developed by Health Canada was distributed by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society and the Canadian Association of Optometrists to their respective members.

Results

Questionnaire data were available from 909 respondents (263 ophthalmologists; 646 optometrists). Response rates were 23.1% and 12.7%, respectively. Validated data were available from 903 respondents, where 157 (17.4%) reported encountering at least 1 eye injury from a handheld laser. A total of 318 eye injuries were reported with an annual increase of 34.4% (95% CI 21.6%–48.7%, p < 0.0001) between 2013 and 2017. When respondents reported on only their most severe case, 77 (53.5%) reported vision loss that ranged from minor to severe, which persisted for more than 6 months in 42.9% of the cases. Another 59 (41.3%) noted the presence of retinal damage. The prevalence of eye injuries from handheld lasers was higher for males (82.5%) than females (14.0%), more frequent among those under the age of 50years, and occurred predominately as a result of exposure from another person (67.6%) versus self-induced (26.1%) (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Although this pilot study permits insight into the potential prevalence of injuries resulting from exposure to handheld laser devices in Canada, the results are not nationally representative. These findings support additional surveillance activities that may inform risk assessment and potential risk management strategies.