The education program helps address the complexities that drive sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STI) rates in Saskatchewan and their impact on patient care. The content will include the clinical treatment and management of infections and will feature the involvement of HIV / HCV care providers, organizations and community members to create solutions made in Saskatchewan for the environment and unique challenges of province.
The faculty and staff of the Infectious Diseases Division of the Department of Medicine at USask College of Medicine are critical to the past and continued success of this program. Infectious Disease Specialists Dr. Alex Wong (MD) and Dr. Beverly Wudel (MD) will oversee the creation and delivery of medical education, with additional guidance provided by an advisory group of family physicians with experience in providing HIV and HCV care in clinics around the world. the province.
“We are very pleased to have worked with our partners and colleagues who are already involved in the execution of this important program so that we can now continue with this critical task,” Drs. Jim Barton (MD), associate dean of CME. “This would not have been possible without the support of our provincial government. And we are pleased to make this announcement today, on National HIV Test Day in Saskatchewan. “
For the past 10 years, Saskatchewan has had the highest rate of new HIV and hepatitis C diagnoses in Canada and the fastest growing rate of syphilis infections in the country, resulting in an urgent need to educate providers. of primary care to recognize, test, treat, and manage these infections in their clinical practices.
“The government is pleased to fund initiatives and programs that improve the capacity and confidence of health care providers to diagnose and treat sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STIs),” said Health Minister Paul Merriman. “Programs like the STBBI Treatment Education Program for Saskatchewan (STEPS) will help improve access for health professionals to more communities in the province and reduce the stigma that many feel around testing and the treatment”.
Until March 2022, the STBBI primary care provider education program was taught by the Saskatchewan Infectious Disease Care Network (SIDCN) as a Primary Care Capacity Improvement Project: Treatment as Prevention, with four years of funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Harm. Reduction subsidy. This new STBBI program, renamed STEPS, will feature the continuation and growth of education originally offered by SIDCN.
“I am very grateful that the incredible work that was being done continues, now with the educational leadership of CME, the participation of experts and experienced medical staff, the important guidance of existing project stakeholders and the support of the Ministry of Health, “said Dr. Satchan Takaya (MD), an infectious disease specialist.
STEPS will build on and use the resources used by the previous SIDCN project. This will include the continuation of the popular HIV and HCV virtual classrooms discussing the testing, treatment, and management of these infections in Saskatchewan. Based on the comments, a new Syphilis Virtual Classroom will be launched along with other new presentations, all related to the approach and management of ITSS in the province.
The program will be aimed at primary care providers, family medicine residents, professional nurses and registered nurses, as well as other related health professions. There will be a limited number of clinical mentoring opportunities available for professional physicians and nurses who can benefit from the application of virtual classroom content in a clinical setting under the guidance of HIV-experienced specialists and physicians. HCV.
With the hosting of a new ITS program at CME, there is the opportunity to reach more learners and showcase the experience and support of faculty from the Department of Infectious Diseases and Family Medicine. The program will also provide opportunities to collaborate with other ITS stakeholders and strengthen the efforts needed to support front-line providers and improve access to clinically informed and stigma-free ITS healthcare.