About SIGs

The CAPM&R has a number of Special Interest Groups (SIG), each run by a volunteer Chair.

The CAPM&R recognizes Special Interest Groups (SIGs) as valuable to the promotion of the profession, from enhancing quality of care and standards of practice, to developing knowledge and competency through sharing amongst peers and organize continuing professional development (during the annual scientific meeting or webinars). Special Interest Groups are comprised of Members who have a common concern for professional development in a defined area of PMR, education, administration or research.

SIGs provide a valuable venue for our members to network with other colleagues with similar interests, to provide a forum to discuss issues concerning relevant topics to the SIGS, and work towards goals that will benefit the membership. Outcomes of the SIGS have include annual innovative meetings, invited speakers at the national PAS Meeting, development of research awards, topic-specific manuals, collaborative and/or research projects.

If you are interested in participating in any of the SIGs below, please contact the CAPM&R office at info@capmr.ca update your membership profile and select the SIGs of interest to you.

Endorsement by CAPM&R

Special interest groups wishing to be endorsed by CAPM&R should provide an outline of the following to info@capmr.ca:

  1. Subject Area/Interest
  2. Short Description
  3. Terms of Reference (includes Purpose, Goals, Objectives, Activities, Governance structure (Elections/terms) etc...)
  4. Number of meetings per year and purpose of meeting.
  5. Any projects, either in progress, past, or proposed
  6. Contact information for leads, and members of the group.

As an endorsed Special Interest Group, CAPM&R will provide the following:

  1. Access to meeting space at the Annual Scientific Meet or if applicable, at single topic conference or webinar. (providing the SIG submits the information prior to the program deadline).
  2. A listing and description on the CAPM&R website
  3. Facilitate SIG communication among its membership.

Learn About a Specific SIG

Amputee Amanda Mayo

Rationale and Purpose

The purpose of the Amputee SIG is to promote the most effective and evidence- based treatment for persons with limb amputation. The goal of the SIG is to disseminate updates and new information and treatment, to promote improved practices, to disseminate research by members, and to promote a quality improvement approach to care which will ultimately improve patient outcomes.

This includes:

  1. Increase awareness of the role of rehabilitation and the management of amputees.
  2. Increase awareness in the needs to improve patient outcomes and outcome measures in patients with limb amputation.
  3. Promote quality improvement approaches in amputees' care.
  4. Spread awareness of relevant research updates in amputee rehabilitation, related outcomes and prosthetic components.
  5. Promote education of trainees and practitioners in amputee rehabilitation.

Structure and Working Plan

  1. There will be a SIG Chair chosen by its members.
  2. The SIG will develop at least one educational offering per year which may be accompanied by a business meeting.
  3. Each SIG will provide a brief report fits workover the year to be included with the annual meeting information.

Community Tim Lapp

Rationale and Purpose

The CAPMR Community SIG was formed in 2017. The objective was to encourage and facilitate the successful practice of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in community settings across Canada. Further, we wanted to create an inventory of Community PMR Specialists across the country.

The SIG aspires to assist two constituencies. One, those currently in practice in non-academic centres. And the other, those considering the initiation of practice in a non-academic community setting (whether recently completed their residency, or an experienced colleague moving to a new community practice).

This SIG helps to navigate common practice concerns, provide a communication network to like-minded colleagues, and support and inform those considering a move to private practice in a community based setting. We are a nationwide SIG, with members from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island. We are relatively new, are growing, and have not yet maximized our effectiveness.

To date, we have met annually at the CAPMR conference. Topics covered have included:

  • Advantages of Community Practice
  • Community Networking-How Can We Help Each Other
  • Research in the Community
  • Getting Started in the Community
  • Finances in the Community

Future topics proposed include, but are not limited to:

  • Pitfalls and Challenges in the Community
  • Teaching in the Community
  • CME and the Community Physiatrist
  • Social Media Support
  • Customizing Your Practice
  • Community Partnerships
  • Hospital based Community Practice
  • Medicolegal Concerns
  • Starting IME's
  • Multiple Practice Sites
  • Urban versus Rural Practice
  • Adding a Practice Partner
  • Medical School Affiliations
  • Role of Technology in Community Practice

We welcome anyone to join our SIG, or to ask questions of our members. Please feel free to communicate with me at tjlapp@vianet.ca. There is also a list of community practice members' contacts available thorough the CAPMR.

We look forward to your participation at the next CAPMR Annual Meeting. Suggestions for content are welcome.

Cheers, Tim Lapp MD MSc FRCPC
Assistant Professor, Northern Ontario School of Medicine
Community SIG Chairperson
Huntsville ON Qualicum Beach BC

International Sivakumar Gulasingam

We are Canadian Physiatrists who through collaboration, education and direct action, aim to facilitate sustainable rehabilitation efforts and the empowerment of persons with disabilities everywhere.

  • Chair: Dr. Sivakumar Gulasingam

Objectives

  • Establish a national forum for communication and sharing of experiences, through the International Rehabilitation Hallway, http://rehabilitationhallway.com/forum
  • Facilitate and encourage sustainable rehabilitation efforts, education and training in under-resourced areas
  • Support empowerment and the rights of disabled persons everywhere
  • Facilitate collaboration opportunities for Canadian health care workers and trainees to participate in international and related activities, including encouraging exchange programs
  • Formalize solid working relationships with organizations with similar aims, including non-physician groups
  • Compile all activities and collaborations of the SIG on the CAPM&R website.

Membership

Physiatrists, physiatry trainees, sponsored individuals (introduced to group by current member)

Opportunities

Presentations

Interventional Vacant

Medical Education Ricardo Viana

Rationale and Purpose

The purpose of the Education SIG to discuss and share experience regarding evidence based medical education initiatives and learning techniques to improve the educational experience of our learners (medical students and residents) given the varied contexts of our unique environments. The Goal of the SIG is to disseminate updates and new information regarding educational initiatives, support and promote best practices, to disseminate research by members, and topromote a quality improvement approach to education.

The Education SIG and committee members also have the goal of providing information to CAPM&R members regarding changes to residency and CPD training requirements, review the potential impact of these changes in clinical practice and explore evidenced based tools and educational strategies to meet these challenges as future educators.

These goals are realized by:

  1. Discussion of education and training changes and strategies with the membership due to increased presence in larger conference presentations as well as SIG discussions.
  2. Increase awareness of the changes in education theory and the impact on learner outcomes
  3. Support changes in resident training as described by the Royal College and provide the membership an opportunity to learn about these changes and the evidence in support of these.
  4. Increase awareness of education research and the potential impact in how we interact with and educate our learners.
  5. Promote the education of residents and practitioners in PM&R.

Structure and Working Plan

  1. There will be a SIG Chair chosen by its members
  2. The SIG will develop at least one educational offering per year which may be accompanied by a business meeting.
  3. The SIG will provide a brief report of its work over the year to be included with the annual meeting information.

Rationale and Purpose

The purpose of the SCI SIG is to promote the most effective and evidence-based treatment for persons with SCI. The goal of the SIG is to disseminate updates and new information and treatment, to promote improved practices, to disseminate research by members, and to promote a quality improvement approach to care which will ultimately improve patient outcomes.

This includes:

  1. Increase awareness of the role of rehabilitation and the management of injuries within a medicolegal context
  2. Increase awareness in the needs to improve patient outcomes and outcome measures in patients with injuries within a medicolegal context
  3. Promote quality improvement approaches in medicolegal assessments.
  4. Spread awareness of relevant research updates in injuries relevant to medicolegal assessments
  5. Promote education of trainees and practitioners in performing medicolegal assessments.

Structure and Working Plan

  • There will be a SIG Chair chosen by its members.
  • The SIG will develop one educational offering per year which may be accompanied by a business meeting.
  • Each SIG will provide a brief report of its work over the year to be included with the annual meeting information.

Neuromuscular Larry Robinson

Rationale and Purpose

The purpose of the Neuromuscular SIG is to promote the most effective and evidence-based approach to diagnosis and treatment for persons with neuromuscular disorders. This includes, but is not limited to: compression neuropathies, radiculopathies, plexopathies, polyneuropathies, and myopathies. The goal of the SIG is to disseminate updates and new information and treatment, to promote improved
practices, to disseminate research by members, and to promote a quality improvement approach to care which will ultimately improve patient outcomes. This includes:

  1. Increase awareness of the role of rehabilitation and the management of neuromuscular disorders.
  2. Increase awareness in the needs to improve patient outcomes and outcome measures in patients with neuromuscular disorders.
  3. Promote quality improvement approaches in neuromuscular care
  4. Spread awareness of relevant research updates in electrodiagnostic medicine and care of those with neuromuscular disorders.
  5. Promote education of trainees and practitioners in neuromuscular medicine.

Structure and Working Plan

  1. There will be a SIG Chair chosen by its members.
  2. The SIG will develop one educational offering per year which may be accompanied by a business meeting.
  3. Each SIG will provide a brief report of its work over the year to be included with the annual meeting information.

Pain Management Dinesh Kumbhare

Rationale and Purpose

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs offer the most effective and evidence-based treatment for persons with chronic pain (Gatchel & Okifuji 2006). Research has shown that multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs are the best way to pursue the various outcome measures in Pain Medicine. The goal of pain management is not only the reduction of pain level but also the increase in function, the improvement of quality of life and the return to work.

Chair: Dinesh Kumbhare

Purpose:

  1. Increase awareness of the role of rehabilitation in management of chronic pain
  2. Increase awareness of the need to produce proper outcome measures in pain medicine
  3. Increase awareness on the vocational rehabilitation (rehabilitation programs designed to address the return to work issues) for the individual with chronic pain
  4. Establish a patient education center on rehabilitation issues
  5. Set up refresher courses on rehabilitation for chronic pain patients.

Structure and working plan

  1. The SIG will operate in accordance with the Mission and Bylaws of the SIG
  2. There will be SIG chair.
  3. There will be an executive committee with members representing all health professionals involved in the rehabilitation of people with chronic pain (e.g. rehabilitation physician, physiotherapist, occupation therapist, kinesiologist etc).
  4. An inaugural meeting of the SIG will be organized and their chairs and the committee members will be decided at the meeting.
  5. The SIG objectives and action plans will be presented for approval and adopted at that meeting.

Pediatric David Berbrayer

Rationale and Purpose

The purpose of the Pediatric SIG is to promote the most effective and evidence- based treatment for children with PMR needs.

The goal of the Pediatric SIG is to disseminate updates and new information and treatment, to promote improved practices, to disseminate research by members, and to promote a quality improvement approach to care which will ultimately improve patient outcomes.

This includes:

  • Increasing educational opportunities to determine enablers and barriers in practice of pediatric rehabilitation across Canada.
  • Awareness of national opportunities to practice pediatric physiatry in academic and community settings.
  • Dissemination on the role of developmental milestones and the impact from: physical barriers (such as adaptive playgrounds), IEP and evaluation of costs in paediatric (as they transition to adulthood)
  • Offering a database of relevant articles and exciting advances in the field
  • Exploring if transitions to adults works differently in different regions and why
  • Promotion of education of physiatrists, both in training and in practice, in the specialty so they are comfortable dealing with children with physical needs
  • Explore creation of fellowships with partners in developmental Medicine Orthopedist and Neurologist/ neurosurgeon

Structure and Working Plan

  • There will be a SIG Chair chosen by its members.
  • The SIG will develop at least one educational offering per year which may be accompanied by a business meeting.
  • Each SIG will provide a brief report of its workover the year to be included with the annual meeting information.
  • Have a representative on relevant RCPSC task force(s) to have a voice in what is needed to succeed as a PMR specialist dealing with children

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Dr. Alexander Lo & Dr. Chris Fortin

Rationale and Purpose

The purpose of the Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS) SIG is to support and promote QIPS work by physiatrists across Canada, to improve the quality and safety of care delivered to all rehab patient populations and improve patient outcomes. This includes:

  1. Providing opportunities for networking and collaboration between physiatrists with an interest in QIPS
  2. Supporting QI education, training, mentorship and scholarly output amongst PM&R trainees and practitioners
  3. Advocating for
    • Recognition of achievement in QIPS as scholarly output;
    • A system of ethics review that is appropriate for QIPS scholarship, and
    • QIPS curriculum development within PM&R residency training programs across Canada.

Structure and Working Plan

  1. There will be a SIG Chair chosen by its members.
  2. The SIG will develop one educational offering per year which may be accompanied by a business meeting.
  3. Each SIG will provide a brief report of its work over the year to be included with the annual meeting information.

Spinal Cord Injury Colleen McGillivray

Rationale and Purpose

The purpose of the SCI SIG is to promote the most effective and evidence-based treatment for persons with SCI. The goal of the SIG is to disseminate updates and new information and treatment, to promote improved practices, to disseminate research by members, and to promote a quality improvement approach to care which will ultimately improve patient outcomes.

This includes:

  1. Increase awareness of the role of rehabilitation and the management of SCI
  2. Increase awareness in the needs to improve patient outcomes and outcome measures in patients with SCI
  3. Promote quality improvement approaches in SCI care
  4. Spread awareness of relevant research updates in SCI Rehab
  5. Promote education of trainees and practitioners in SCI Rehab

Structure and Working Plan

  • There will be a SIG Chair chosen by its members.
  • The SIG will develop one educational offering per year which may be accompanied by a business meeting.
  • Each SIG will provide a brief report of its work over the year to be included with the annual meeting information.

Stroke Sean Dukelow & Heather MacNeill

Rationale and Purpose

The purpose of the Stroke Rehab SIG is to provide a forum for collaboration, education and dissemination among physiatrists, and other stroke rehabilitation professionals in Canada.

The SIG meets yearly at the CaPMR annual scientific meeting, although may also be in contact with its members throughout the year around issues and events related to stroke rehabilitation. Topics chosen often reflect the theme of the CaPMR conference and involve collaboration, hands on and interactive learning wherever possible. Topics also are chosen based on group needs/ circulated needs assessments.

Topics recently covered include:

  • Virtual reality in stroke rehab
  • Non-invasive brain stimulation in stroke rehab
  • Cognitive therapy and outcomes in stroke rehab

Future topics may include:

  • Stroke Accreditation
  • National stroke education resources for patients, caregivers, trainees and staff

Relevant Canadian Stroke rehabilitation projects include:

Although these organizations are not run by the Stroke SIG, several of our members are involved in with them.
Membership is open to anyone involved in stroke rehabilitation, either in Canada or internationally. Please feel free to contact CaPMR for further information or the stroke SIG co-chairs as below.

Heather MacNeill, MD, BScPT, MScCH, FRCPC
Associate Professor, Dept of Medicine, University of Toronto
Medical Director of Stroke Rehabilitation,
Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, Sinai Health System, Toronto
Heather.MacNeill@sinaihealth.ca

Sean Dukelow, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Associate Professor, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary
Medical Director for Stroke Rehabilitation
Calgary Stroke Program, Calgary, Alberta
sean.dukelow@albertahealthservices.ca

Traumatic Brain Injury Julio Furlan

Rationale and Purpose

The purpose of the Traumatic Brain Injury SIG is to promote the most effective and evidence-based treatment for persons with traumatic brain injury. The goal of the SIG is to disseminate updates and new information and treatment, to promote improved practices, to disseminate research by members, and to promote a quality improvement approach to care which will ultimately improve patient outcomes.

This includes:

  1. Increase awareness of the role of rehabilitation and the management of short-term and long-term consequences after traumatic brain injury.
  2. Increase awareness in the needs to improve patient outcomes and outcome measures in patients with traumatic brain injury.
  3. Promote quality improvement approaches in the care of individuals with traumatic brain injury.
  4. Spread awareness of relevant research updates in traumatic brain injury.
  5. Promote education of trainees and practitioners in traumatic brain injury.
  6. Promote research and educational activities on prevention of traumatic brain injury.

Structure and Working Plan

  • There will be a SIG Chair chosen by its members.
  • The SIG will develop one educational offering per year which may be accompanied by a business meeting.
  • Each SIG will provide a brief report of its work over the year to be included with the annual meeting information.