July 1st Starts

In early March fellows who will commence training on July 1 will receive a communication from the PGME office informing them that they will soon receive an email from a Medportal account.  Learners will need to check their spam/junk mail if they do not receive the message by mid march.

The email will lead them to a registration site that will inform them of what they must do and know in order to be able to start on July 1. This includes:

1. Being informed of the three McMaster systems they will be using: Medportal, MedSIS, and McMaster Account.
2. Completing tasks in the MedSIS system: completing the registration wizzard, signing  the letter of appointment (LOA), paying  the registration fee (if applicable).
3. Applying for licensure/membership: College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) and Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA).
4. Completing the Health Screening Form.
5. Reviewing the PGME policies.
6. Completing e-modules.
7. Scheduling a PGME in-person registration appointment.
8. Noting the PGME & Hamilton Hospital Orientation session.

Off Cycle Residents

Fellows who are off cycle and do not begin training in July will also receive the above email; however, they will not be able to book the in-person registration appointment as the event occurs at the end of June.  Before the start of training they will need to register in the McMaster PGME office where they will receive their Photo ID and other important information.

Existing fellows who will continue their training into a new session will receive an email from the PGME office reminding them of the requirements to continue training:

• In MedSIS complete the registration wizzard, sign the letter of appointment (LOA), and pay the registration fee.
• Renew licensure/membership with College of Physicians of Ontario (CPSO) and Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA).
• Renew work permit (if applicable).
• Registration rebate form 

Applying for OHIP while in self-isolation:
If you are self-isolating and cannot go to Service Ontario to register for coverage, please contact ServiceOntario INFOline at 1-866-532-3161. INFOline staff will advise on next steps as appropriate. You will be registered for immediate OHIP coverage and provided with a transaction record to use to demonstrate eligibility for OHIP until your health card arrives in the mail. Please review the UPA Toolkit for more info.

• Guide to Obtaining UHIP
• UHIP Application Form
• Ontario – apply for OHIP and get a health card 

Renewing OHIP:
There have been no proposed changes to health cards/OHIP for workers with work permits expiring and working under implied status by the government at this time. OHIP eligibility ends when the current work permit expires; however, if a Learner re-applies and receives a new work permit then eligibility will be reinstated retro actively.

• If a Learner/family member requires hospitalization, the hospital will bill them for services rendered. Learners should hold onto any paid bills and when they receive their new work permit and new healthy card/OHIP they can take the bill along with the new health card to the hospital for reimbursement.
• If a Learner/family member needs to go to a physician/clinic they have to pay up front for services rendered and then request reimbursement from the physician/clinic directly or submit it to the Ministry of Health (OHIP) once they receive a new work permit and new health card/OHIP.

Learners requiring a Social Insurance Number:
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/apply.html 

Criminal Record Check:

Hamilton Police
https://hamiltonpolice.on.ca/how-to/obtain-criminal-records-check/Criminal%20Record%20%26%20Judicial%20Matters%20Check

Hamilton Police On-line Application:
https://hamiltonpolice.on.ca/sites/default/files/101312_dec18_hps_police_record_check_application_update_051.pdf 

NOTE: We do not recommend that you attempt to use this system if you:

• Have lived in Canada for less than one (1) year, and/or;
• Are under the age of eighteen (18) years, and/or;
• Have no established personal credit history – i.e. no credit cards, bank loans, mortgage, etc. – that is required in order to authenticate your ID using EIV

Please be aware of these requirements before creating an account. If you fail to authenticate your ID, you will be required to attend our offices in person with two pieces of ID.

RCMP
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/index-eng.htm

Maskfit
If you do not have a current N95 respirator mask fit test (within the last two years), are not clean-shaven, or have any object or material that could interfere with the face-to-respirator seal or safe operation of the mask, you cannot participate in patient care activities or other tasks that require the use of an N95 respirator mask.

Those with facial hair/beards for religious reasons or those who cannot shave due to medical reason, need to work with their Supervisor to be accommodated. HHS & SJHH do not have an alternate solution for PPE if facila hair inhibits the use of an N95 respirator mask. N95 respirator mask fit exemption forms are attached for both Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph’s Healthcare. Completed exemption forms must be emailed to Fittest@hhsc.ca for HHS and poverhol@stjosham.on.ca for SJHH. In addition, you must also notify your Program
Director of your N95 respirator mask fit exemption.

To book an appointment at HHS you must be logged in to citrix and use the following link: http://corpapps.hhsc.ca/reg_fittesting/

To book an appointment SJHH, please contact: Pam Overholt
Phone: 905-522-1155 ext. 33413 Email: poverhol@stjosham.on.ca

Information & Resource Guide for International Learners