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COFP BULLETINS
 

2008 Membership Drive

The Coalition of Family Physicians is returning back to its basics and focusing on what has made our organization a success.  Follow this link to our memnbership page to find out the details.

Click Here for Membership Page

Online Payment Now Availalbe

 

A COFP Bulletin Regarding the CPSO - THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS THE OMA MEMBER ALERT

January 17, 2008 - The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) has proposed a new policy that will impact family physicians, called “Establishing a Physician-Patient Relationship” and modified an existing policy on “Ending the Physician-Patient Relationship”. The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) has cautioned the profession about 3 other different CPSO policy proposals. We will not repeat the thoughtful concerns the OMA raised about those particular policy proposals.

Please read on.

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Media Advisory

September 28, 2007 - Dr. Douglas Mark, President of the Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario (COFP), announced today that the Coalition will be holding a focus group meeting of its key members on Saturday, September 29, 2007 at the Westin Harbour Castle Toronto hotel. Many important issues will be discussed from the background history of the COFP, the provincial elections, issues pertaining to family practice and its future, the upcoming 2008 OMA-MOHLTC master agreement negotiations, and the role of the COFP in the future.

 

In addition, Dr. Howard Wu, a family physician with special interest in smoking cessation, will provide a special presentation on tobacco dependence and new treatment strategies.

Event sponsored by

 

Ontario's sad legacy of failure…'

- Dr. Douglas Mark, President, Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario

A Prescription for Disaster: October 17 /06

During the past few weeks here in Ontario, we have witnessed the bizarre spectacle of a Premier telling the media that he was ‘caught off guard' by the ER crisis and a Minister of Health and Long-Term Care blaming everyone else he could think of for the failures of the Government of Ontario's ‘transformation agenda'. None of this comes as a surprise to us, however, for the sad reality is that the Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario has been warning of the consequences of bad healthcare planning for over a decade. It is only now that many people finally seem to be waking up to the news that our healthcare system is in crisis. Obviously, with an election on the horizon, the Government of Ontario cannot afford to pretend anymore that everything on the healthcare front is under control and proceeding according to plan. Or, to put it another way:

‘The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to its close. In its place, we are entering a period of consequences.'

- Sir Winston Churchill, November 12, 1936

Continued...

From 1987 until 2006, please read more for a brief history and our prognosis of Ontario's healthcare system...

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Attention Family Doctors

Our Family Practice Future Is At Risk!

September 25 /06 - All is not well in family practice. It is encouraging to see that the OMA appears to be more responsive and has managed to negotiate more funding for family practice. However, many aspects of care remain chronically underfunded, and there are more troubling changes planned for the near future as part of the government's health care agenda. Our concern is that these changes will remain unnoticed by physicians until such time as they will have already become firmly entrenched, to the detriment of physicians.

Continued...

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MOHLTC Aug 31/06 Bulletin (PDF)

 

Dr. Douglas Mark Speaks out about the CPSO 2005 Physician Survey June 23/06 – The 2005 survey of Ontario's physicians, conducted by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, found the number of family physicians accepting new patients at an all time low. The survey also shows that the medical profession is aging and that work patterns for many physicians and the demographics of the physician population are changing.

Dr. Mark appeared live on CH TV to discuss this issue on the television show "CH Live at 5:30".  Watch it now:

CH Live at 5:30 Introdution (mpg)

CH Live at 5:30 Main Segment (mpg)

 

COFP Official Response to PHIPA 2004 Proposed Amendments

May 9/06 - The COFP has taken decisive action against these proposed amendments.  Our letter outlining our serious concerns can be read by clicking on this link (PDF)

 

 

Sustaining Health and Healthcare -

Bold New Horizons

On Saturday, June 3, 2006 , the Coalition showed the kind of leadership our members have demanded by hosting a truly remarkable event. For the first time ever, in full view of the media, we presented an honest, forthright debate about the future of our healthcare system.

Read Full Details(HTML)

Download a Brochure (PDF)

Media Advisory - May 3/06

 

GOVERNMENT TO PUT
“Hands in Our Pockets”...AGAIN!

Proposed Changes to PHIPA Bad News for Doctors

May 3/06 - The Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario has serious concerns regarding proposed amendments to the Personal Health Information Protection Act 2004 (PHIPA).

Continued...

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New For COFP Members Only - A Complete Financial Check-Up

April 24/06- Queensbury Strategies Inc has specifically developed a fully integrated Financial Planning and Investment Management Program for COFP members.

Benefits of the program include:

•  A fully-integrated personal financial plan comprised of:

  1 Lifestyle/Retirement Planning

  2 Cash Flow Analysis

  3 Investment Review and

      Recommendations

  4 Estate and Insurance Analysis

  5 Tax Minimization Strategies

•  25% discount on financial planning fee (savings of up to $750.00)

•  No annual fee for individual RRSP/RRIF accounts through MRS Trust Inc. www.mrs.com (a savings of $133.75 per year).

•  No purchase or selling commissions for mutual funds, investment counsel services, and managed accounts (does not include individual stock trading)

This special program is being offered exclusively by Rona Birenbaum, President, and Clifford Boland who are both financial and investment advisors at Queensbury Strategies Inc. Their advice is entirely independent and non-proprietary. Please review their backgrounds and services on their website, www.caringforclients.com

Continued...

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Physicians on the Front Lines - Conscripted, Coerced and Unprotected

March 8/06- The COFP believes you should be aware of the potential infringement on your personal and professional rights if Bill 56, The Emergency Management Statute Law Amendment Act , is passed this summer. This bill has raised the consternation of many professional health groups.

Bill 56 (click here to view online)gives the Ontario Government the right to ”authorize” any person reasonably qualified to provide services in a declared emergency such as a pandemic in a geographic area deemed in need of said services. Although the bill does not specifically cite physicians, it nonetheless raises important questions about what the government's plans are for Ontario physicians in times of crises. Continued...
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Navigating the Storm Together - Take Charge of Your Future

January 25/06- Family Medicine in Ontario, as in the rest of Canada, is in crisis, with fewer and fewer doctors choosing it as their career path.  There exist both catalysts and obstructions to meaningful change, with time quickly running out as doctors retire or simply leave the profession.  In June 2005, the Supreme Court of Canada decision on the Chaoulli/Zeliotis case was a catalyst for necessary change.  In Ontario, however, the government's highly restrictive Bill 8, the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, is a severe obstruction to such change.  By concentrating power in the hands of government, it prevents much-needed innovation and punishes those doctors who attempt it.  It is ironic that this Bill, touted to improve the rights of individuals, actually violates a myriad of civil rights including those of physicians and patients alike. Continued...

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Navigating the Perfect Storm -

COFP Celebrates its 10th Anniversary by Launching our 2006 Membership Drive
December 7/05 - Ten years ago, we embarked on a voyage together. We travelled through the storms and gales of government policies created to control our professional lives. We were uncertain where these transformations would lead and whether we would successfully navigate through these tides of change.

Continued...

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A Balanced Approach -

Transforming the Government's Transformation Agenda

Nov 30/05 - Moving forward with transforming the health-care system requires a balanced approach. We can appreciate positive change, but we must remain vigilant for pitfalls while advocating for solutions that will lead to improvement for both physicians and patients alike.

Continued...

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COFP Endorses CallerMD

December 7/05 - The Coalition has decided to lead by example and encourage family physicians to offer these services, not covered by OHIP, to their patients at reasonable rates. They include telephone advice, prescription renewals, sick notes, missed appointments, and insurance forms. By providing a simple means of paying for these services, patients can have access to family physicians on their terms, instead of having their healthcare controlled by nameless, faceless bureaucrats. This will restore the value of the work you do and provide needed services to patients.

Read More

 

Don't Be Fooled by Political Rhetoric - Family Physicians Know 'Which Way the Wind Blows'

November 23/05 - Prevailing winds have the potential to alter one's course; it can be difficult to steer in the right direction. In the context of Ontario's changing medical climate, physicians can sometimes feel overwhelmed by political bluster. Now, with the increasing daily pressures of practice, physicians must demonstrate solidarity and find the means to enable and support each other. Physicians and patients will depend on this.

Continued...

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  Time for Leadership - Energized to Lead the Fight for Embattled Family Physicians
November 16/05 - Leadership: you know it when you see it. But leadership is in short supply when it comes to health-care transformation. You need to know what to look for and where to find it.

Continued...

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Full Bulletin (PDF)

 

The Justice Cory Report - A Civil Rights Proposal for Ontario Doctors - The Full Cory Report (PDF)

May 4/05 - The Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario is truly grateful that Justice Cory's report has recognized and addressed all the injustices inherent in the former MRC structure.  The contributions of the COFP and several dedicated organizations and individuals lead to the Ontario government's moratorium on the Medical Review Committee (MRC) audits and Justice Peter Cory's review and report on Ontario's doctor audit system. Continued...

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Link to The Honourable Peter Cory Website

 

The Future of Family Practice - Reality After the New Deal

April 26/05 - The endorsement of the second OMA-MOHLTC Master Agreement must be respected and accepted as the will of the majority of Ontario Physicians.  We were instrumental, along with other groups, in successfully bringing about a rejection of the first contract offer because it did not fulfill the needs of Ontario physicians and our patients.  The result was that Ontario physicians received a better second offer. Continued...

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The COFP Does Not Endorse the 2005 OMA/MOHLTC Deal

March 17/05 - The Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario (COFP) has decided not to endorse the recent deal between the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC). Continued...

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Media Release (HTML)
Canadian Press Article (HTML)

Other Related Bulletins:

Mar 7/05 We Are Very Concerned(PDF)

Mar 22/05 The Abyss(PDF)

Mar 28/05 It'sTime to Speak Up(PDF)

2005 OMA/MOHLTC Offer

Summary Document - 13pgs (PDF)

Full Document  -  124 pgs (PDF)

Public Campaign Continues

Feb 21 /05 - The COFP has printed 1 million information Patient Pamphlets that are arriving in members' offices.

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Media Release

Feb 8 /05 - COFP Announces Launch of Province-Wide Public Education Program to Draw Attention to Serious Shortage of Family Doctors

Full Media Release (HTML)

Full Media Release (PDF)

Listen to Our Public Campaign Radio Ads:

Ad Number 1    Ad Number 2

Media Release

Jan 7/05 - COFP Meets with OMA Negotiating Team

Click here to read news release in PDF

2004 OMA/MOHLTC Offer
As you know, this lengthy and complex contract offer was resoundly rejected by Ontario's physicians. To understand some of the reasons for this, please read the series of our bulletins below.

Oct 12/04 - COFP Reject Deal (PDF)

Oct 26/04 -COFP Response to OCFP

Nov 1/04 Read full legal opinion (PDF)

Nov 4/04 - Flaw in Agreement (PDF)

Nov 9/04 - National Post Article (PDF)

Nov 10/04 - Needed Vote Result(PDF)

Nov 26/04 - OMA Rejects Deal

Art of the Deal Bulletins

An Overview of the 2004 Contract Offer
This is a series of informative bulletins

(Part 1)(Part2)(Part 3)(Part 4) (Part 5)

 

Media Release

Mar 10/04 - An Open Letter To Premier McGuinty From the COFP
Read More
Media Release (PDF)

*MRC Information Pages*
*Bill 8 Information Pages*
Feedback
 
HOT TOPICS

Negotiapause?

August 12 , 2008 - One month has passed since Ontario Medical Association President, Dr. Ken Arnold, informed the doctors of Ontario that the OMA/MOHLTC negotiations had paused and that the Ministry had advised the OMA they would not be in a position to meet until at least Labour Day . So, is this a negotiapause – a little break in the action at the table to give both negotiating teams a rest – or has something else happened here? We believe that the OMA and MOHLTC are philosophically so far apart that negotiations have actually broken down – plain and simple . There is no other valid explanation.

Or in the immortal words of Yogi Berra: “It's like d éjà vu all over again.”

Please read on.

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PUBLIC INFO

Ontario Ministry of Health

For current information from the McGuinty Government's latest information click hereDon't forget you flu shot too! Learn more about Ontario's HPV vaccination and colorectal screening programs.

Organ Donation

Give the gift of life through Ontario's organ donation network called the Trillium Gift of Life Network

Donate Blood

Donating blood saves lives, maybe yours.  Visist Canadian Blood Services to find out how.

New Vaccines

Several new vaccines are available in Ontario.  Click here to find out more.

Canada's New Food Guide

Follow this link to help you make healthy food choices.

MedicalPost.com: OPED: Inside an audit - A Cambridge family doctor penalised working under demands of under serviced area.
Canadians Give a Grade B to the Health Care System
National Report Card
States
  • Canadians give the health system B grade. Governments receive poor marks for their performance in health care.
  • Governments get a C grade for health human resources planning.
    Click here
    to read the full report
    .
  • (more public info)
    © 2005 Coalition of Family Physicians - Organization Profile - About us - Contact Us
    Send mail to info@cofp.com with questions or comments about this web site or our organization.
    Last modified: August 12, 2008