We are pleased to invite all new Learners to join our online orientation on June 30th. We will be speaking about important topics that will help introduce you to your new academic and professional workplace.

Time: 8:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom
The Zoom login information has been sent via email.

Zoom Guidelines 

2021 Orientation Agenda

Please note:

• A lieu day will be given to those who attend the orientation on June 30th.
• The session will be recorded

The mission of the Resident Affairs Office is to ensure the success of residents and fellows by promoting wellness and resilience and by helping address issues of concern in their professional and personal lives.

Resident Affairs provides confidential support for all residents and fellows, and assists Learners as they manage issues with or within their program, hospital, university or home. They will act as an advocate, and will support or represent the Learner requiring work place accommodations or further support.

The Resident Affairs Office is confidential, functioning at an arm’s length to the PGME office, Program Directors, and hospital administration. Learners may contact the office at any time.

Please see the following Resident Affairs contact sheet and website for further information.

The CBME Learner Development Committee and the Resident Subcommittee have put together some resources to help orientate you to the world of Competency by Design (CBD). Please review the following information sheets, and do not hesitate to contact Dr. David Callen, Chair of the CBME Learner Development Committee, Dr. Spencer Van Mil Chair of the CBME Resident Subcommittee, or the CBME Office should you have any questions.

Information to Review:

• CBME Checklist
• CBME Talk the Talk
• CBME Walk the Walk
• CBME Letter to Residents
• Competence Committees for Residents

Medportal is the online intranet utilized by Postgraduate Medical Education at McMaster University. Learners are advised that Medportal is their first stop when searching for information (ie. announcements, important dates, links, etc).

Learners are encouraged to use Medportal for all information pertaining to training. We recommend that you check the news and announcements in Medportal once a week, as this is how the majority of PGME and hospital communications will be distributed.

Useful information you’ll find on Medportal includes:

• Regional Site information
• Financial – payroll, benefits, call stipends, chief & senior bonuses, tax information, resident registration rebate
• Hospital – mask fit, pagers, parking, photo ID
• Resident Affairs & Wellness – contacts for professionalism, mental health support, family physicians, etc.
• Recordings of educational sessions for Learners. This includes the recording of Orientation on June 30th.
• Research and mentorship opportunities with undergraduate Learners.

MacCARE supports high quality educational opportunities in community and rural areas by providing funding to the preceptor and to the learner for accommodations and/or travel in eligible community rotations, during the rotation period. Core and elective rotations are available in the Niagara Regional Campus, Waterloo Regional Campus, Grand Erie Six Nations Clinical Education Campus, Halton, Burlington and Osler Clinical Education Campus.

Please see the following MacCARE checklists before leaving your academic home base to complete a community clinical placement (core & elective) and MacCARE overview.

If you have any additional questions, please visit their website where you can find more information and contact information for the MacCARE team.

During your time as a Learner at McMaster, there are many opportunities for you to get involved and take part in PGME and hospital committees. Please see the following Resident Volunteer Committee request form where you can indicate the type of committee you would be interested in joining as a Learner representative.

Resident-led groups are also available for Learners interested in connecting with peers outside of “work”. Get Involved with Residents by checking out the groups available, fully organized and led outside of PGME and Resident Affairs.

The COVID-19 communication hub homepage houses important information. Topics include:

• PGME & Hospital messages to keep Learners continuously informed
• Vaccine Information
• Redeployment Information
• Details on hotel and campus accommodations for Learners needing to self-quarantine or self-isolate
• PPE Videos & Resources
• Employee Health  Services (EHS)/ Occupational Health Services (OHS) contact information
• Public Health Information by region

Vaccine information for Learners new to McMaster University can be found on the COVID-19 communications hub. Topics include:

• Signing up for your second dose
• How to change or cancel your appointment
• Hospital memos regarding vaccines

As COVID-19 continues to evolve, all PPE updates, bulletins and information will be posted on the PPE website to keep you as up-to-date as possible.

The PPE website houses the most up to date PPE policies and procedures for SJHH, HHS, and regional site hospitals. Please note, each hospital may have a different PPE protocol. It is important to review and be informed of the PPE requirements of the hospital you will be at for your rotation prior to your start date.

You will also find various videos on:
– Donning and Doffing procedures
– Masking 101
– Donning and Doffing PPE Public Health Ontario

Additionally, please review:
– The PPE section on the Infection Prevention and Control Principles (IPAC) Learner Checklist 
– PGME PPE Guidelines

Resident Affairs has put together COVID-19 related resources, such as mental health supports, community resources, relevant articles and reflection pieces, and more.

The residents at U of T have circulated an infographic with wellness resources for Learners, which has been extremely helpful.

The Hamilton and Regional Hospital Updates house the COVID-19 related information for HHS, SJHH, and the regional sites.

Access to Screening Tools prior to hospital entry:
– HHS Screening Tool
– SJHH Screen Tool 

Hospital Communication Hubs:
– HHS Communication Hub
– SJHH Communication Hub

All current and archived information regarding exams and licensing updates can be found here.

All trainees who have travelled from an international destination are required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Please review the following Self-Isolation Plan and Important Information for McMaster International Postgraduate Medical Trainees and Entry into Canada after International Travel Workflow

The PGME office recognizes that sometimes Learner’s may have a question they would prefer to ask anonymously. We have created an anonymous form that you can submit your question through and the answer will be posted on the FAQ page

The Royal College is the national professional association that oversees the medical education of specialists in Canada. They accredit the university programs that train resident physicians for their specialty practices, and write and administer the demanding examinations that residents must pass to become certified as specialists.

The Royal College would like to extend their sincere congratulations as you embark on a learning odyssey within a Royal College accredited Residency Training Program and beyond.

Please see the following resources, which will explain who the Royal College is and how integral they will be to your training:

• An orientation package
• A welcome video message from Dr. Susan Moffatt-Bruce, CEO of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
• A welcome letter co-signed by Dr. Richard Reznick, 46^th President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
• A new Resident Affiliate digital form for quick, easy registration
• Brief animated presentation on the benefits of signing up!

For any questions, please reach out to residentaffiliate@royalcollege.ca.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is the professional organization responsible for establishing standards for the training, certification, and lifelong education of family physicians in Canada. Please review the following documents provided by the CFPC.

• Resident Welcome Letter (English and French versions)
• Resident brochure (English and French versions)
• Section of Residents Council 
• Section of Residents Resources
• Guides for Improvement of Family Medicine Training (GIFT) – Chronic (non-cancer/non-palliative) Pain Management/Opioid Therapy
• Guides for Improvement of Family Medicine Training (GIFT) – Chronic (non-cancer/non-palliative) Pain Management/Opioid Therapy – Questions to consider
• Guides for Improvement of Family Medicine Training (GIFT) – Quality Improvement
• Guides for Improvement of Family Medicine Training (GIFT) – Advance Care Planning (ACP)
• Guides for Improvement of Family Medicine Training (GIFT) – Advance Care Planning Guide to Conversations
• Guides for Improvement of Family Medicine Training (GIFT) – Periodic Reviews
• Guides for Improvement of Family Medicine Training (GIFT) – Effective Feedback

The Canadian Medical Association is the national voice of the medical profession. Their focus is on creating strong and accessible health systems, fostering well-being and diversity in medical culture, and ensuring every person in Canada has equal opportunity to be healthy. In partnership with physicians, medical learners, patients and others, they advance these goals through advocacy, knowledge sharing and granting.

The Canadian Medical Association is here to support you during your residency and beyond. Visit cma.ca/newresident to learn about the learning opportunities, advocacy programs, clinical tools and practice management resources available to you.

The Professional Association of Residents of Ontario is the official representative voice for Ontario’s doctors in training.

PARO’s priority is to advocate on behalf of its members, addressing professional and educational concerns in order to optimize the training and working experience of Ontario’s newest doctors thus ensuring that patients receive the best possible medical care.

Members of PARO are, by definition, post-graduate medical residents training in accredited programs which lead to certification by either the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), in one of their recognized specialty or subspecialty programs.

Please see the following PARO-CAHO Collective agreement, a short PARO Orientation video, and “Starting Residency” website.

PARO will be having a PGY1 Orientation Social on June 30, 2021 at 6pm. PGY1s will participate in The Trip, an online experience that aims to take them on a “mental holiday”, facilitate relationship building, and test their puzzle solving skills. They’ll also have the opportunity to learn a bit about PARO, residency training at McMaster, and the city of Hamilton as a number of PARO reps will be present.

Each PGY1 who attends the Orientation Social in full will receive a digital Skip the Dishes card to enjoy a meal on PARO during their 1st week of residency. PGY1s can click here to register! The Zoom details will be sent to each PGY1 following registration.

The Ontario Medical Association is an advocate for and support for doctors, with a mission to strengthen the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients.

Whether you’re an Ontario, Canadian or International Medical Graduate, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) welcomes you to this next stage in your career. They are here to support you both personally and professionally through all your successes and challenges.

Please see the following OMA orientation resources to learn about the benefits, advocacy, programs and learning opportunities available to OMA members.

Health Force Regional Advisors are part of Ontario Health, a 21^st century government agency responsible for ensuring Ontarians receive high-quality health care services where and when they need them.

Health Force Regional advisors would like to extend their congratulations on the acceptance into post-graduate medical residency at McMaster University.  Please see the following Welcome Letter that offers tips as you start out in residency and an overview of their services to help you prepare for medical practice.

MD Management exists to help Canadian physicians and their families achieve their financial goals at every stage of their career. They have been successful through the decades by being open-minded to change and always looking for new ways to help you achieve long-term goals.

As you begin residency you may find yourself facing exciting and new aspects of medicine: clinical rotations, increased responsibility, as well as finding work-life balance, to name a few. With this transition you will also find yourself shifting to a new financial situation as you face debts accrued in medical school, while also beginning to manage a salary. MD Financial Management is here to help guide you towards financial wellness. Their early career segment is here to help educate you on various topics of personal and professional finance, as well as provide personalized support and advice. Their team is happy to meet with you one-on-one as requested, as well as offer you access to webinars and events to help you through your financial journey. MD is the only financial management company dedicated to Canadian physicians, focusing on helping you and your families meet your financial goals throughout your careers. With over 50 offices across Canada, we’re here for you — wherever you’re located.

To connect further please feel free to reach out to ecs@md.ca

MedSIS stands for Medical School Information System. MedSIS manages the administration of Medical Education Office support for the clinical components including academic scheduling, clinical rotation scheduling and assessments.

Please see the following Orientation Package, which will take you through your trainee portal, your evaluation dashboard and more. We also encourage you to review the Request for Time Off module. Further MedSIS resources can be found on the MedSIS website.

Electronic Health Record (EHR) at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS).

When it comes to a patient’s EHR, HHS uses two computer systems to deliver this information; Meditech and PatientLink (EPIC)

Meditech

• Is the electronic system for all of HHS for services such as Laboratory, MDU and Diagnostic Services
• The quickest and most efficient tool to view results from these areas is through the Meditech Module, PCI (Patient Care Inquiry)
• Is the  HER/documentation system for all Inpatients, ED patients, and some specialty services such as Endoscopy, Oncology Day Services, Cardiac Arrhythmia Unit and Interventional Radiology.
• All Nursing and Allied Health documentation for these areas occurs in Meditech.
• The quickest and most efficient tool to view all documentation is through a program VFS (Visual Flowsheet) which can be accessed through PCI.

PatientLink (EPIC)

• The EHR for 32 pediatric and 5 adult outpatient clinics located at MUMC and all of the Ron Joyce Children’s Center.
• Access to PatientLink is provided after the learner completes two (2) elearning modules.
• At this time, due to contractual requirements, completion of these elearning modules must be completed at the HHS HITS learning center at 293 Wellington St. N. (across from the General Hospital)
• Coordination of this training is usually organized by the clinic or the school.
• Learners are required to participate in training prior to gaining access. Learners are to email patientlinktraining@hhsc.ca to register. Once training is completed their Clinical Informatics Team will contact PassAdmin to have their access set up.

Resources

The following link will take you to some addition resources available to physicians:

https://eshare.hhsc.ca/corporate/informatics/ci/_layouts/15/start.aspx#/SitePages/Resources%20for%20Physicians.aspx

Hamilton Health Sciences provides a Centralized Dictation System and Transcription Services to ensure access to timely clinical documentation.

Dictators are assigned a unique author ID number. This number is required to dictate into the system.

Please review the following instructions on how to dictate.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton has implemented NirvSystem to manage their learner onboarding processes effective for all new/returning learner placements starting July 1^st 2021.

Please review the NirvSystem introduction and overview.

All Learners registered with the Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Office will be added to the ScrubEx system in advance of the start of their rotation, which will allow them to access greens using the card reader for the specified location at that site.

Please see the following ScrubEx information sheet, with instructions of use and SrcubEx hospital locations.

HHS has also provided a document regarding PERI – Surgical Attire Policy. Please review this, with attention to item 3.1.3.