Physician RepresentationÂ
Negotiations & Compensation
The NLMA is the exclusive negotiator for all physicians providing medically insured services in Newfoundland and Labrador. As the sole representative for physicians in negotiations with the provincial government, the NLMA believes that all physicians, regardless of practice type or mode of payment, should be given appropriate supports and resources to achieve balance between professional obligations and personal responsibilities. The NLMA also serves at the negotiator for physicians with WorkplaceNL regarding remuneration for medical services provided to injured workers. The NLMA serves members’, as well as the public interest, when the terms and conditions of physician employment, compensation, support and benefits have the strength to attract and retain the right complement of physicians in the province to ensure high quality and stable medical services. NLMA staff will also help members interpret the payment schedule and provide advice on rates for non-insured services.
Employer Relations
The NLMA can represent physicians with regional health authorities. Before signing a job description or an employment contract with your health authority or other employer, the NLMA advises you to avail of our contract review service beginning with a preliminary (non-legal) review by NLMA staff. It is recommended that physicians also retain a lawyer for a legal review; legal fees are the responsibility of the physician.
Electronic Medical Records
The NLMA has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Health and Community Services and the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information on the governance and cost-sharing of eDOCSNL, the provincial electronic medical record (EMR) program for physicians. The program is co-governed by the EMR Management Committee, composed of representatives equally appointed by the NLMA and the Department. TELUS Health Provider Solutions delivers the provincial program with its Med Access EMR product. Program fees are split with 70 per cent of costs funded by the Department and 30 per cent paid by individual physicians. The monthly fee is highly competitive with other EMR systems, but with the added benefits of robust integration with the provincial electronic health record (EHR), and comprehensive support for physicians’ practices. When fully integrated with the provincial EHR, eDOCSNL will allow physicians to access information from the Provider Registry, the Client Registry, laboratory results, medical imaging, patient encounters (ADT), and community medication profiles available from the Pharmacy Network.
Please visit www.edocsnl.ca.
Family Practice Renewal
The Family Practice Renewal Program (FPRP) is co-governed by the Family Practice Renewal Committee (FPRC), which has equal appointees from the NLMA and the Department of Health and Community Services. FPRP will design new programs and initiatives, and establish regional Family Practice Networks (FPNs) that will be physician-governed non-profit corporations. One of the most important functions of the FPNs will be to participate on Collaborative Services Committees with senior managers in regional health authorities to identify and solve problems facing family medicine in each region. The decisions of these committees will be made by consensus, thereby giving real influence to family physicians at the regional level.
Please visit familypracticerenewalnl.ca.