October 3rd, 2022

Hello fellow family doctors,

The summer is over, and we are all back to our busy practices. My main goal as your Chair is to have a more member-responsive SGFP. Please read about some exciting SGFP initiatives that your executive has been busy planning.  

Remember to take the time to answer the survey questions below by October 31, 2022, to provide input in your executive’s work, with the goal of helping you - our members. Please note, members must use this survey link to provide their input.

SGFP website
The SGFP is developing a members’ only website with an aim to launch in November 2022. Our goal is to provide value, resources, connection, and opportunities to make your lives easier.

SGFP Advocacy
Ontario’s family physicians are the backbone of our health care system. Please attend our all-day, in-person Queen’s Park Advocacy Day on Monday, November 21. Details to follow. SGFP needs your support to advance our strategic priorities with our MPPs. NB: You may have recently received an email from SGFP Advocacy. Unfortunately, we were experiencing technical and server communication issues with the SGFP Advocacy e-mail address, but this has now been rectified. We apologize to everyone inconvenienced by this. Please contact us again at advocacy@sgfp.ca if your initial communication bounced back - we want to hear from you!

Burnout
A significant amount of burnout for family physicians is the delegation of tasks to family doctors from specialists. Thank you to all the members who took the time to reply to our last survey.  We received a multitude of responses highlighting the collective frustration of our profession. Our next step is to meet with section chairs to create a “memorandum of understanding” to address these issues. More to follow.

OMA Forms Survey
OMA will soon be issuing a survey to all physicians to inform the work of the Forms Committee. We encourage you to look out for it and complete it to ensure the perspectives of family physicians are reflected in the results and ensuing advocacy.

FHG to FHO transition
Are you transitioning from FHG to FHO? If you have questions on this transition and the steps involved, save November 22 in your calendar for an SGFP/OMA townhall.

Survey Questions (use survey link above to provide input)

1. What are your top challenges in family medicine that you want brought forward in our upcoming MPP Advocacy meetings? 

2. What content would you like to see in the SGFP’s upcoming website? 
- Common forms/requisitions used in family medicine
- Locum possibilities
- Billing information
- Reference resources for Family Practice (i.e., patient handouts, clinical guidelines)
- CME calendar of events for Family Medicine
- Discounts on medical supplies/services
- Other

Family medicine is the bedrock of our health care system. Our members need validation, encouragement, and support as we continue to provide exemplary care to our patients. Please support your section by contributing to our discretionary fund as we advocate for your needs.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to our profession,

Cathy Mastrogiacomo MD CCFP FCFP
Chair, SGFP
chair@sgfp.ca


The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) facilitates the distribution of communications for its various Constituency Groups, and therefore the views and the opinions expressed in this communication may not reflect the views, policies, and opinions of the OMA. The OMA does not warrant the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the information contained in this communication, nor does it accept any responsibility for its contents.