Choosing Wisely Alberta Symposium Schedule

Blood is a precious resource. This session shares insights from the Don't Misuse My Blood initiative, supported by grants from CWA and PRIHS, which aims to reduce avoidable transfusions and unnecessary testing in critical care and high-risk surgical units to improve patient safety while supporting responsible blood utilization.

These short presentations introduce key challenges in antimicrobial overuse and highlight practical stewardship strategies currently being used in Alberta. Speakers will explore principles of appropriate prescribing, the role of audit and feedback, and how data-informed approaches can support safer and more judicious antibiotic use. This session sets the stage for the optional facilitated audit and group feedback virtual workshop later in the day that will allow physicians to reflect on their own antibiotic prescribing patterns from their MD Snapshot reports and use this to embark upon a physician practice improvement project.

Despite years of inpatient stewardship efforts, inappropriate outpatient laboratory testing continues to grow. This keynote will explore what drives unnecessary lab testing, where overuse occurs, including the environmental impact of this problem.

The Facilitated Poster Walk will explore practical initiatives across three key areas: antimicrobial stewardship, using labs wisely, and sedating medications in seniors. Through guided small-group discussions, participants will engage directly with poster presenters to examine real-world successes, share experiences, and identify opportunities to spread and adapt these approaches in their own settings. There will be no formal presentations but expect an interactive poster walk focused on reflection, peer exchange, and practical next steps.

This facilitated Think Tank brings together clinicians, system leaders, data experts, and quality improvement professionals to reflect on how inpatient successes can be translated into the outpatient setting. It will highlight how our existing data and infrastructure can support change beyond the hospital walls and aims to co-design potential provincial outpatient laboratory stewardship initiatives. Although our panelists will share their thoughts and expertise, there will not be formal presentations, so expect a highly interactive session focused on identifying barriers, enablers, and practical next steps.

Healthcare contributes significantly to environmental impact. These short snappers highlight practical strategies clinicians and teams can use to embed sustainability into everyday care.

Sedating medications pose significant risks for older adults. This session explores how to define appropriate use, meet new benchmarks, and apply deprescribing principles while maintaining patient centred care.

Building upon the CWA and PLP projects to address overprescribing of anti-psychotics and other sedating medications to long-term care residents in Alberta, this Think Tank will address this issue and plan interventions to meet new national benchmarks from CWC.

We will close the day by thanking speakers and asking moderators and facilitators from the interactive sessions to share their lessons learned and plans for next steps. Attendees will be encouraged to share their feedback and complete evaluations.

(Optional Virtual Add-On – Preparation Required) Join this complimentary, accredited virtual workshop at the end of the day. After viewing the vodcast from the CWIP: Antibiotics Course, participants will work with their own data from the MD Snapshot Prescribing Reports to engage in facilitated discussions and develop practical action plans to improve antibiotic use. This virtual facilitated audit and group feedback workshop builds directly on the earlier antibiotics sessions and offers a hands-on opportunity for completing a Physician Practice Improvement Project (PPIP), a requirement of the College of Physician and Surgeons of Alberta. Complementary access to the MyPI tool is offered so that physicians can track their progress and earn additional MainPRO+ (CFPC) or MOC Section 3 credits (RCPSC).