https://www.specialistsontario.com/news daily 0.75 2024-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1539573028392-BZPHEVJY2ZJHVD741NPV/shutterstock_421561867.jpg News https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2024/10/1/approve-kaplan-975-recommendation-as-an-across-the-board-increase-for-all-ontario-specialists monthly 0.5 2024-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/f04fdd6c-2c68-4820-bc55-c6e8c170ad8c/dobc_sub_1100x330.jpg News - Approve Kaplan 9.75% Recommendation as an Across-the-Board Increase for All Ontario Specialists - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2021/1/7/statistics-canada-chief-privacy-officer-upholds-confidentiality-of-physicians-tax-data-joint-response-from-statscan-amp-cra monthly 0.5 2021-01-07 https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2020/urgent-oma-council-meeting-alert monthly 0.5 2020-11-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1606499886272-B2F1DA0AMIOFNPY41MBV/Privacy+v2.png News - CRA-Statscan Privacy Update for Ontario Physicians https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2020/11/6/statistics-canada-privacy-response-to-physicians-objecting-project-stopped-pending-investigation monthly 0.5 2020-11-06 https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2019/11/28/osas-legal-letter-sent-to-the-oma-leadership-re-medical-services-payment-committee-mspc monthly 0.5 2019-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1574974010632-LAXLOM9VX9KILMXCDPTW/image-asset.png News - OSA’s Legal Letter Sent to the OMA leadership RE: Medical Services Payment Committee (“MSPC”) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1574974035605-GINFZLT37M111WFTAGP7/Screen+Shot+2019-11-28+at+3.42.24+PM.png News - OSA’s Legal Letter Sent to the OMA leadership RE: Medical Services Payment Committee (“MSPC”) https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2019/11/11/osa-membership-communique-rmspc-cuts monthly 0.5 2019-11-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1573528160337-9PC4FMVJO1BE9Z1BT7F6/OSA+Nov+11.png News - OSA Legal Counsel Calls on OMA President to Stop Improper Fee Reduction to Specialists https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2019/3/4/78-of-osa-physicians-asked-to-replace-their-oma-insurance monthly 0.5 2019-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1551706043958-DGMEJNLNO7REOKV5PB6P/Artboard+2+%282%29.png News - 78% of OSA physicians asked to replace their OMA Insurance https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2019/2/21/osa-statement-regarding-binding-arbitration-award monthly 0.5 2019-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1550790157430-7DFKP0BRR6FJ6XX66NBN/b2b-negotiations.jpg News - OSA Statement Regarding Binding Arbitration Award https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2019/2/19/osas-oma-insurance-replacement-program-update monthly 0.5 2019-02-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1550611160911-7QT147BG190F65OH3EFL/DwkbMCNW0AISX4f.jpg News - OSA’s OMA Insurance Replacement Program - Update https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2018/12/30/osa-communique-2019-a-year-of-change-for-ontario-physicians-1 monthly 0.5 2018-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1546212435443-KGLCXCTDSUDHG5EAHH84/Copy+of+Untitled-2.png News - OSA Communique - 2019 - A Year OF Change For Ontario Physicians https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2018/12/14/osa-positions-on-binding-arbitration-separate-representation-and-de-randing monthly 0.5 2018-12-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1544833355712-SRTCNVVWIGL6URW9X6V2/Screen+Shot+2018-11-30+at+4.03.19+PM.png News - OSA Positions on Binding Arbitration, Separate Representation and De-Randing https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2018/12/12/health-minister-invites-osa-to-discuss-representation monthly 0.5 2018-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1544627690115-2EIS3U6VBJZNP8NPTFB0/Screen+Shot+2018-12-11+at+10.11.45+PM.png News - Health Minister Invites OSA to Discuss Representation https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2018/11/30/ontario-specialist-groups-vote-overwhelmingly-to-leave-the-oma monthly 0.5 2018-12-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1543611852667-499D3PQ4HJO28N3N5ETK/Screen+Shot+2018-11-30+at+4.02.57+PM.png News - Ontario Specialist Groups Vote Overwhelmingly to Leave the OMA Historic Accomplishment Reached as Doctors Express Need for Separate Representation Several major Ontario specialists participated in the historic Ontario Specialists Association referendum voting from 63.4% to as high as 95.9% in favour of withdrawing from the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) sending an unmistakable message. The eight (8) major specialist groups want the new OSA organisation to negotiate directly with the Ontario government for the purpose of ending years of failure for both Ontario specialists as well as the patients they serve. The significance of the referendum results conveys an untenable amount of discontent underscoring the need for the Ontario government to make urgently needed changes as recommended by the OSA. Voting results by specialty in favour of seceding from the OMA include: Cardiac Surgery 78.6% Cardiology 84.7% Diagnostic Imaging 90.5% Ophthalmology (EPSO) 90.0% Gastroenterology 78.1% Nephrology 63.4% Neuroradiology 95.9% Nuclear Medicine 76.7% In the barely three months since the Ontario Specialists Association was formed, several actions have taken place including the formation of a Board of Directors and the creation of a Charter of Principles and Governance Mandate to set a new course for more representative negotiations between government and the Ontario medical specialists who deal with many of the sickest and most complex patients across the province. As its first official activity subsequent to the tallying of the referendum results, the OSA Board convened to discuss and ratify the voting by their respective Sections. The next step is to arrange a meeting with senior representatives of the Ontario government to share the referendum findings and to provide them the evidence they needed to confidently recognise that specialists require a unique organisation to negotiate with government. This includes seeking government agreement to amend the Representation Rights Act and the Medical Dues Act which currently restrict the Ontario government to only negotiate with the OMA and to make it compulsory for all physicians to be a member of the OMA. Voluntary membership is a critical element of the OSA. The referendum was independently managed and certified by Simply Voting, an experienced company in conducting elections, referendums and plebiscites. Voting in the OSA referendum was organised for each participating specialty section. Voting occurred from Sunday, November 25that 12:00AM to Tuesday, November 27 at 11:59PM. In total, slightly more than 7,000 specialists were entitled to vote with a significantly high 54.4% turnout. Anaesthesiology and Emergency Medicine members elected, by a majority vote, to stay with the OMA. The diverse physician composition of these particular sections makes these results not entirely unexpected. Some other specialty sections resulted in tightly contested outcomes that did not achieve the OSA target at this time. The OSA respectfully recognises the democratic wishes of those sections that wish to remain within the OMA, or where the referendum resulted in tight races, or those specialist sections that need time to ponder the significant degree of discontent within their own section towards the OMA. The OSA looks forward to other specialty sections joining the OSA in the near future. For more information, visit www.specialistsontario.com . To speak with OSA Board Chair, Dr. David Jacobs Contact: info@specialistsontario.com Ontario Specialists Association Referendum Question Be it resolved that the [________] Section of the OMA should withdraw from the OMA and join the OSA to permit the OSA to negotiate directly with the Ontario government on behalf of the section. Attached is an article published earlier this week by former ER Section Chair, Dr. Myron Haluk. https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2018/11/21/osa-referendum-reminder-for-specialists monthly 0.5 2018-11-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1542837946836-OULAAEXTF4UVOO6ON2F1/Screen+Shot+2018-11-21+at+5.02.14+PM.png News - OSA Referendum Reminder for Specialists https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2018/11/20/official-says-ontarios-government-will-respect-the-results-of-the-specialists-referendum monthly 0.5 2018-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1542732521165-UR1YWAODPSQD88U0J2OG/Screen+Shot+2018-11-20+at+11.11.43+AM.png News - Official says Ontario’s government will respect the results of the specialists referendum https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2018/11/17/updated-faq monthly 0.5 2018-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1542496426595-1O2DOVB952S2KUQZC5JZ/2.png News - Updated FAQ & About OSA https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2018/11/14/more-sections-joining-the-osa-1 monthly 0.5 2018-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1542247156163-Q3KUI3DR5FJV0B1PQCR6/shutterstock_479614822.jpg News - More Sections Joining the OSA https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2018/11/9/momentum-builds-for-osa monthly 0.5 2018-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1541802140687-V7LHM25Q6DVJHS40H518/Screen+Shot+2018-11-09+at+5.19.23+PM.png News - Momentum Builds For OSA Referendum Update: Thousands of Ontario Specialists will be eligible to vote in the OSA’s historic referendum to seek the choice to form an organisation other than the OMA for the purpose of specifically representing the needs of Ontario specialists, particularly as it applies to negotiations. While some Section leaders have chosen not to participate in the referendum, the OSA believes that Ontario specialists should be given the opportunity for self-determination to achieve real results at the negotiation table. We encourage Specialists to ask their Section/Association leaders to support their specialty’s involvement in the referendum. Contact the OSA to get involved: info@specialistsontario.com Several OMA Sections are reporting difficulty obtaining the promised support from OMA leadership that they would not interfere in providing necessary membership information to any interested section. Despite that, we are pleased to report that many sections now have complete membership lists that permit them and the OSA to communicate and participate in the referendum. Referendum Question: Whereas the number of general practitioners in the Ontario Medical Association (“OMA”) is far greater than the number of physicians in any speciality section; And whereas a new organization, the Ontario Specialists’ Association (the “OSA”), has recently formed to represent the interests of physicians practising in specialty areas; And whereas the OSA is committed to be a non-Randed organization; Now therefore, the members of this specialty section are hereby asked to vote on the followingresolution: 1. Be it resolved that the [________] Section of the OMA should withdraw from the OMA and join the OSA to permit the OSA to negotiate directly with the Ontario government on behalf of the section. Referendum Logistics: The OSA has contracted Simply Voting, an established referendum/election company that is experienced in municipal elections and other major activities. They have the proven capability to conduct the OSA referendum in a fully professional manner that will safeguard all participants anonymity and security. Specialist voters will receive an email containing a double authentication containing unique identifiers from the referendum company providing them with the necessary information to vote electronically via their section. As with OMA and other organised voting activities, 50.1% is a majority vote. Specialists who do not have an identified email address will receive a “ballot letter” mailed to them by Simply Voting. It provides them with their authentication info permitting them to vote online. We encourage these specialists to also take the opportunity when voting to provide their email address so that their sections can communicate with them. The decision of the referendum will be announced first to the participating Sections and then more widely to the physician community. Referendum Town Halls for Your Section: Please contact the OSA to set up an electronic Town Hall meeting for your Section to discuss why the OSA is the only credible option for your specialty colleagues. Interest from sections can come from rank and file members as well as section leaders. Find out how your section can be empowered by joining the OSA. For more info contact info@specialistsontario.com or our website www.specialistsontario.com OSA in the News: See the Op-Ed piece written by Dr. David Jacobs in the Toronto Sun describing why the OSA is needed. OSA Makes Contact with Quebec Specialists Federation: The OSA has been in contact with the Quebec Specialists Federation. Their representatives spoke about their great success in the 2015 negotiations. Our Quebec counterpart has offered to provide logistical support in the form of sharing key documents addressing governance, by-laws and organisation. The OSA looks forward to working together with the Federation to advancing the collective agenda of specialists through combined synergies. OSA Strikes a Governance Sub-Committee: The last OSA Board teleconference confirmed the need to fast-track the development of our governance model. Some board members accepted the task and have already produced a concise and powerful document that will ensure the fairness, transparency and accountability for all specialty areas, particularly the small sections who have been ignored for far too long. OSA Receives Letter of Intent for Insurance: Recently the OSA sent out a communique to Ontario Specialists on life, disability and critical illness insurance. Insurance is a primary concern for members who join the OSA, specifically their current OMA group life, disability and critical illness insurance. The OSA made it a priority to obtain equivalent or better high-quality insurance from a major conservative Canadian insurer to ensure that important concerns of Ontario specialists were addressed. We are continuing to work closely with this major insurance company to bring services that will meet the needs of our members. More details will be following shortly. Momentum is Building: Get Involved in Your OSA https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/rbcinsurance monthly 0.5 2018-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1541443420272-4FQ2TRDQ99T2OWTFJQGG/b2b-negotiations.jpg News - RBC Provides Letter of Intent: Insurance Coverage https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2018/10/28/osa-announce-founding-board-of-directors-amp-referendum-date monthly 0.5 2018-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1540775601378-D2E3I6PP3IMM0HIR6FEJ/dobc_sub_1100x330.jpg News - OSA Announces: Founding Board of Directors and Referendum Date https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2018/10/14/open-letter-to-ontario-specialists monthly 0.5 2018-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1539574161072-P6ZJ592JUZCJOTAETJVX/image-asset.jpeg News - Open Letter To Ontario Specialists https://www.specialistsontario.com/news/2018/10/14/an-open-letter-from-david-jacobs-why-i-resigned-from-the-oma-board monthly 0.5 2018-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1539577372406-AOA0S9J8Q19F2GZNH4W7/image-asset.jpeg News - David Jacobs - Why I Resigned From the OMA Board https://www.specialistsontario.com/membership daily 0.75 2018-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1539608289169-UT9GE4J70P3U10R0HGCN/Untitled+design-33.png Membership https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1539571213230-PHRJ3NJIHXG8QFT2LIAY/image-asset.jpeg Membership https://www.specialistsontario.com/contact daily 0.75 2018-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1539459027103-VILY4IH0LGYIGBA73GU9/image-asset.jpeg Contact https://www.specialistsontario.com/charter daily 0.75 2018-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1539486555916-OSPJW80YDWGTG5S1GB15/image-asset.jpeg OSA Charter https://www.specialistsontario.com/home daily 1.0 2018-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1539576552419-MMV6ZKZV3N1RYOUXQ8VS/image-asset.jpeg Home - About Find out about our organization, purpose, our vision, and our priorities that accurately and fairly represent the unique needs of Ontario’s specialist physicians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5bc0bb47e5f7d128bd017d83/1539580534169-ZU560G2SJPGR109942E5/image-asset.jpeg Home - SUPPORTING PATIENTS Improve patient access to medical services. 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