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Less, but Better: Stewardship that Works
The Choosing Wisely Alberta Provincial Symposium is a one‑day, interactive event bringing together physicians, health system leaders, researchers, learners, and quality improvement partners from across Alberta to advance practical, evidence‑informed clinical resource stewardship.
Taking place on June 8, 2026, this symposium moves beyond traditional lecture‑based CME to offer an interactive, action‑oriented experience focused on real‑world challenges in everyday clinical practice. Participants will explore how to reduce low‑value care while maintaining patient‑centred, high‑quality outcomes—together.
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Date and Time
Location: HRIC Foothills Medical Campus
Schedule
| Time | Clara Christie Theatre | Atrium |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 AM |
Registration & Coffee
|
|
| 8:00 AM |
Welcome / Opening Remarks from CWA / CWC
Moderator: Dr. Thomas Raedler
CWA - Dr. Kelly Burak
CWC - Dr. Wendy Levinson
|
|
| 8:30 AM |
Don't Misuse My Blood
Moderator: Dr. Kelly Burak
Speaker: Dr. Dan Niven
Blood is a precious resource. This session highlights common scenarios of inappropriate transfusion and reviews evidence based thresholds to improve patient safety while supporting responsible blood utilization.
|
|
| 9:00 AM |
Short Snappers: Antibiotics: Stewardship in Practice
Moderator: Mr. D'Arcy Duquette
Short, focused sessions examine antimicrobial overuse, audit and feedback strategies, and practical approaches clinicians can use to make prescribing safer and more appropriate.
- Antimicrobial Stewardship: Dr. Lynora Saxinger
- Audit and Feedback for Antibiotics: Dr. Kelly Burak
|
|
| 9:30 AM |
Keynote: Using Lab Wisely – From Inpatient Success to Outpatient Practice
Moderator: Dr. Katrina (Tina) Nicholson
Speaker: Dr. Chris Naugler
Despite years of inpatient stewardship efforts, inappropriate outpatient laboratory testing continues to grow. This keynote will explore what drives unnecessary lab testing, where duplication occurs, and how existing data and infrastructure can support change beyond hospital walls.
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|
| 10:00 AM |
Nutrition Break
|
|
| Provincial Planning | ||
| 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
Concurrent Session
Think Tank: Using Lab Wisely in Outpatients
Facilitator: Drs. Oliver David & Katrina (Tina) Nicholson
This facilitated Think Tank brings together clinicians, system leaders, data experts, and quality improvement professionals to co-design potential provincial outpatient laboratory stewardship initiatives.
Expect a highly interactive session focused on identifying barriers, enablers, and practical next steps.
|
Concurrent Session
Fishbowl Presentations: Share Your Work
Moderators: PLP Team (Aaron & Johanna)
Fishbowl sessions provide an open, low-barrier forum for sharing ideas, early-stage projects, research in progress, or system challenges related to stewardship.
No slides required. Just honest conversations, peer feedback, and networking.
|
| 12:30 PM |
Lunch
|
|
| Wise Prescribing in Primary and LTC | ||
| 1:30 PM |
Planetary Health – Short Snappers
Moderator: Dr. Sonia Butalia
Healthcare contributes significantly to environmental impact. These short snappers highlight practical strategies clinicians and teams can use to embed sustainability into everyday care.
|
|
| 2:00 PM |
Keynote Address: Sedating Medications in Elderly
Moderator: Dr. Heidi Schmaltz
Speaker: Dr. Zahra Goodarzi
Sedating medications pose significant risks for older adults. This session explores how to define appropriate use and apply deprescribing principles.
|
|
| 2:30 PM |
Coffee Break
|
|
| 3:00 PM |
Workshop: Sedating Medications in Elderly
Facilitator: Dr. Doug Woodhouse
|
Fishbowl Presentations: Share Your Work
Moderators: PLP Team (Aaron & Johanna)
|
| 4:00 PM |
Report Back & Reflections
Moderators and Facilitators
Closing Remarks and Evaluations
Dr. Kelly Burak
|
|
| 4:30 PM |
Adjourn
|
|
| 5:00 PM |
Bonus Add-On (Virtual): Antibiotics Audit & Feedback Workshop
Optional · Virtual
Facilitator: Dr. Katrina (Tina) Nicholson
Join this free, virtual workshop at the end of the day. Participants will work with their own prescribing data and develop practical action plans.
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|
Learning Objectives
By the end of the symposium you will be able to:
1 Identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary tests, treatments, and interventions in both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings
2 Apply Choosing Wisely and stewardship principles to improve appopriate use of laboratory testing, antimicrobials, and medications in everyday clinical practice
3 Evaluate quality improvement strategies (e.g. audit and feedback, clinical pathways, and implementation initiatives) that support sustainable reductions in low-value care
4 Integrate environmentally sustainable and patient-centered approaches into efforts aimed at improving healthcare resource stewardship
5 Assess strategies for implementing stewardship and deprescribing initiatives that align with emerging quality benchmarks and system-level priorities in healthcare
Key Themes
The symposium focuses on four priority areas central to clinical resource stewardship in Alberta:
- Antibiotic prescribing and stewardship
- Wise prescribing in seniors, with a focus on sedating medications
- Appropriate laboratory and blood utilization, particularly in outpatient care
- Planetary health and sustainability in healthcare decision‑making
Each theme is explored through a blend of evidence, data, lived experience, and facilitated discussion.
Who Should Attend
This symposium is designed for:
- Primary care and specialty physicians
- Health system and policy leaders
- Quality improvement and data experts
- Pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and interdisciplinary team members
- Residents, students, and early‑career clinicians
- Researchers and innovation leaders interested in stewardship
Whether you are implementing change in your own practice, leading system‑level initiatives, or exploring new ideas, this event offers something relevant and valuable.
Choosing Wisely in Practice: Antibiotics Audit & Feedback Workshop
(Optional Virtual Add On – Preparation Required)
(Optional Virtual Add On – Preparation Required)
Join this complimentary, accredited virtual workshop at the end of the day. Participants will work with their own prescribing data, engage in facilitated discussion, and develop practical action plans to improve antibiotic use.
This facilitated audit and feedback workshop builds directly on the earlier antibiotics sessions and offers a hands‑on opportunity for practice improvement. Participants will work with their own prescribing data to reflect on patterns, compare benchmarks, and develop actionable stewardship plans.
To participate fully, attendees are expected to:
- Complete the CWPI: Antibiotics course in advance; and
- Access their CPSA MD Snapshot Report, which will be used during the session for guided reflection and discussion.
This virtual add‑on session supports data‑driven self‑reflection, peer learning, and practical change planning, and may be used toward CPD and CPSA practice improvement requirements.
Bring your data. Leave with a plan.
Join the Conversation
The Choosing Wisely Alberta Provincial Symposium is an opportunity to be part of a growing community of practice committed to delivering care that is thoughtful, evidence‑based, and sustainable.
Less, but better—together.
