• Approaches to caring for anxious patients

    Virtual Event

    Patients with anxiety can often overuse health-care resources by presenting multiple health concerns to their physician. Family doctors can face difficulty if the cause of a patient’s concern is anxiety. Diagnosing a patient with anxiety early allows patients to be treated for anxiety instead of ordering multiple unnecessary tests or counselling patients on why they do not require specific tests. Join us as we discuss how to identify anxiety in patients and how to counsel patients who require frequent tests due to underlying anxiety of health concerns. The Practising Well Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits, for up to a total of 15 credits. Panelists: Co-host: Moderator: Download the resources: Session slides (PDF) Resources (PDF) Psychotherapy for Treating Anxiety (PDF) Relaxation Exercise (PDF) Watch the Session: Listen or download the audio: Self learning Program: This session is part of the Practising Well Self Learning Program. Visit the Self Learning Program page to learn more and to participate. Need more information? Join Peer Connect for more individualized educational support.

  • Managing alcohol use: Understanding updated recommendations

    Virtual Event

    Harmful use of alcohol contributed to 17,000 deaths in Canada in 2020, with an estimated $6.3 billion spent that year on healthcare cost related to alcohol use. However, patients may be misinformed about the risks associated with alcohol use, how to reduce risk, or unaware of the first-line treatments available for alcohol use disorder. Family doctors often provide advice on reducing harms associated with alcohol use and need to be well versed with the latest available information. In this session, the panel will highlight the new evidence in the Canadian guideline on the management of alcohol use disorder, the tools needed to counsel patients on the risks of alcohol consumption and the available evidence-based treatments. The Practising Well Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits, for up to a total of 12 credits. Panelists: Co-host: Moderator: Download the resources: Session slides (PDF) Resources (PDF) Watch the session: Listen or download the audio: Self-learning program: This session is part of the Practising Well Self Learning Program. Visit the Self Learning Program page to learn more and to participate. Need more information? Join Peer Connect for more individualized, educational support on this topic.

  • Addressing Bias: Utilizing emerging therapeutics amidst fat-shaming

    Virtual Event

    Rising rates of obesity and diabetes, drug shortages, patient demand and societal discussions around fat-shaming, have placed family physicians in a difficult position, at times acting as gatekeepers for medications, determining which patients should gain access to GLP-1 agonists. Broader societal discussion around what constitutes ‘health’ and ‘overweight’ may leave physicians feeling alone in grappling with these ethical decisions. Watch our panel as they address their approach as stewards of these medications and share how they engage in these larger societal discussions. The Practising Well Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits, for up to a total of 12 credits. Panelists: Co-host: Moderator: Download the resources: Session slides (PDF) Resources (PDF) Watch this session: Listen to this session: Self-learning program: This session is part of the Practising Well Self Learning Program. Visit the Self Learning Program page to learn more and to participate. Need more information? Join Peer Connect for more individualized, educational support on this topic.

  • Pride in family medicine: Gender affirming care

    Virtual Event

    In Canada, one in 300 people ages 15 and older are transgender or non-binary, meaning that most family doctors care for gender non-conforming people in their practice.  However, these patients face unique societal and medical barriers that put them at higher risk for mental health issues and higher than average suicide rates. Providing a safe environment and knowing how to access or provide gender affirming care is essential to address mental health needs of these communities of people. In this session, our panel will share their experiences in creating safe spaces for transgender and or non-binary patients and share resources that will help family doctors to support these patients. The Practising Well Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits, for up to a total of 12 credits. Panelists: Moderator: Co-host: Download the resources: Session slides (PDF) Resources (PDF) Watch this session: Listen to this session: Self-learning program: This session is part of the Practising Well Self Learning Program. Visit the Self Learning Program page to learn more and to participate. Need more information? Join Peer Connect for more individualized, educational support on this topic.

  • Preventing burnout: Boundary setting strategies for family doctors

    Virtual Event

    Family physicians are often seen as the safety net for the entire health care system. Family doctors frequently face pressures from hospitals, specialists, families, and patients to fill the endless gaps in health care. However, this overreliance on family doctors has caused burnout and unhealthy work habits. In this session, our panel will discuss provisions of safe care and setting boundaries with patients, specialists, colleagues and others. The Practising Well Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits, for up to a total of 12 credits. Panelists: Moderator: Co-host: Download the resources: Watch this session: Listen to this session: Self-learning program: This session is part of the Practising Well Self Learning Program. Visit the Self Learning Program page to learn more and to participate. Need more information? Join Peer Connect for more individualized, educational support on this topic.

  • An introduction to supporting patients through the opioid crisis

    The Public Health Agency of Canada released data at the beginning of 2024 that showed the number of opioid-related overdoses and deaths in 2023 increased across the country. As such, family physicians should feel comfortable providing comprehensive care to patients prescribed opioid agonist therapies (OATs). In this session, our panel will discuss the benefits of OATs and collaborating with specialists to care for stable patients on OATs within primary care. The Practising Well Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits, for up to a total of 12 credits. Panelists: Moderator: Download the resources: Session slides (PDF) Resources (PDF) Watch this session: Listen to this session: Self-learning program: This session is part of the Practising Well Self Learning Program. Visit the Self Learning Program page to learn more and to participate. Need more information? Join Peer Connect for more individualized, educational support on this topic.

  • Best practices for treating and diagnosing ADHD in primary care

    Currently, there are long waitlists for free psychiatric assessments for adults with suspected ADHD, leaving patients unable to receive the necessary treatments. However, many family doctors are not comfortable with managing and diagnosing ADHD themselves. In this session, our panel discusses best practices for diagnosing and treating patients with ADHD in order to meet their patients’ needs. The Practising Well Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits, for up to a total of 12 credits. Panelists: Moderator: Co-Host: Download the resources: Session Slides (PDF) Resources (PDF) Q&A (PDF) Watch this session: Listen to this session: Self-learning program: This session is part of the Practising Well Self Learning Program. Visit the Self Learning Program page to learn more and to participate. Need more information? Join Peer Connect for more individualized, educational support on this topic.

  • Integrating AI and technology into family medicine

    AI and technology are changing the ways family doctors practice family medicine. This includes through the adoption of virtual visits and consults, and using AI to chart patient records, all of which family physicians need to stay up to date on. In this session, our panel will discuss how to integrate AI and technology into your practice, and maintain wellness in an increasingly virtual world. The Practising Well Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits, for up to a total of 12 credits. Panelists: Moderator: Co-host: Download the resources: Resources (PDF) Session slides (PDF) Watch the session: Listen to this session: Self-learning program: This session is part of the Practising Well Self Learning Program. Visit the Self Learning Program page to learn more and to participate. Need more information? Join Peer Connect for more individualized, educational support on this topic.

  • Approaches to caring for children and youth with depression

    Due to current challenges in healthcare, there are often delays in getting referrals for children and youth with depression, leaving family physicians to manage their care. During this session, the panel will provide family physicians with guidance for providing care and discuss evidence-based approaches to care, assessment tools and resources, treatment options and pathways for referrals. The Practising Well Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits, for up to a total of 12 credits. Panelists: Moderator: Co-host: Download the resources: Session slides (PDF) Resources (PDF) Watch this session: Listen to this recording: Self-learning program: This session is part of the Practising Well Self Learning Program. Visit the Self Learning Program page to learn more and to participate. Need more information? Join Peer Connect for more individualized, educational support on this topic.

  • Strategies to help family doctors transition from practice

    Leaving or transitioning back into your practice, or decreasing your hours due to retirement, relocation, illness, or maternity leave can be challenging, especially amid the current family medicine crisis where patients struggle to find new family doctors and there is a shortage of locums. The difficulty in finding a locum, or the feeling of being unable to retire or take a leave of absence, can lead to increased physician burnout. Join our session as we explore resources that can help and hear from our panel as they share their experiences in finding locums or transitioning out of practice. The Practising Well Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits, for up to a total of 12 credits. Panelists: Moderator: Co-host: Download the resources: Session Slides (PDF) Resources (PDF) Watch this session: Listen to the audio: Self-learning program: This session is part of the Practising Well Self Learning Program. Visit the Self Learning Program page to learn more and to participate. Need more information? Join Peer Connect for more individualized, educational support on this topic.

  • Exploring Psychosocial Interventions in Chronic Pain

    Chronic pain is widely recognized as a bio-psycho-social phenomenon, yet family physicians often rely solely on medication management strategies. Understanding the scientific role of biological, psychological and social factors in mediating chronic pain, as well as the resources available beyond medication management, can leave providers feeling more empowered in caring for patients with these issues. In this session, our panel will review the current understanding of the etiology of chronic pain, including its biological, psychological and social/environmental components and discuss non-pharmacologic strategies for managing all three. Psychological factors such as unhelpful beliefs, worries, fears, and avoidance behaviours, as well as resources to support patients in this area, will be addressed. Social factors like unsupportive work environments, stressful situations or insurance issues will also be covered. The Practising Well Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits, for up to a total of 12 credits. Panelists: Moderator: Co-host: Watch & Listen: Download the resources: Session Slides (PDF) Resources (PDF) This session is part of the Practising Well Self-Learning Program Explore more topics and deepen your knowledge at your own pace—visit the Self-Learning Program page to get started and participate. All sessions are Mainpro+ certified. Need support managing chronic pain challenges in your practice? Join Peer Connect for individualized, educational support in this, or other areas. You can also earn Mainpro+ credits through this program.

  • Harm Reduction in Family Practice: Responding to changing policies

    Evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of harm reduction interventions in improving health outcomes, building trust, and reducing substance-related harms. In this session, we explore the impact of SCS closures on family practice, focusing on the potential health sequelae and the importance of harm reduction-informed primary care. Our panel will include a lived experience perspective and will discuss what harm reduction-informed care looks like in practice, how closures and supply restrictions impact patient care, and strategies for family physicians to prepare and respond effectively. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and learn practical approaches to support patients and communities impacted by these closures. The Practising Well Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+Ⓡcredits, for up to a total of 12 credits. Panelists: Moderator: Co-host: Download the resources: Session Slides (PDF) Resources (PDF) Watch this session: Listen to the audio: Self-learning program: This session is part of the Practising Well Self Learning Program. Visit the Self Learning Program page to learn more and to participate. Need more information? Join Peer Connect for more individualized, educational support on this topic