Winter (Volume 28, Number 4)
B.C. Society of Rheumatologists (BCSR) – Update from the Pacific
By Jason Kur, MD, FRCPC
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Several projects are underway to help evaluate the impact of negotiated
special fee codes in B.C., in particular the impact of rheumatology
nurses in the province as well as the changing demographics of the
rheumatology community. In 2010, we documented a critical shortage of
rheumatologists in BC. In the past eight years we have seen a transformation
from 34 full-time-equivalent (FTE) rheumatologists to more than 55 FTEs
in 2018. Plans are underway for a provincial rheumatology human resources
summit to discuss the inequity in distribution of rheumatologists in the
province. Work has also begun to look at the impact of nursing through a
collaboration with the Doctors of B.C. and the Specialist Services Committee.
Provincial mandated non-medical biosimilar switching. We anticipate
that the provincial government will mandate non-medical switches from
originator to biosimilar in the coming months, one of the first jurisdictions
in Canada to do so. We have been working with the province to try and make
this process as safe and seamless as possible for patients and physicians.
Dr. Bob Offer is retiring this year after a highly decorated rheumatology
career in B.C. His contributions to teaching, leadership, and patient
care were recently celebrated at a reception hosted by the BCSR at the
BRIESE meeting.
The Northwest Rheumatism meeting is going to be hosted in Vancouver
April 25-27, 2019. Updates are available at www.nwrsmeeting.org
In September, the members elected a new board for the
Society. Congratulations to the new Board for the next two
years. The board includes the following members: President,
Jason Kur; Vice President, Carson Chin; Treasurer,
John Wade; Secretary, Michelle Teo; and Members-at-Large,
Megan Hiltz and Mitch Uh.
Jason Kur, MD, FRCPC
Artus Health Centre
University of British Columbia
President,
B.C. Society of Rheumatologists
Vancouver, British Columbia
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