Improving contraceptive access across Alberta
Family planning expert Dr. Renee Hall, MD, is set to bring a first-of-its-kind training workshop for health-care providers to Calgary in time for International Women’s Day on March 8.
This initiative, spearheaded in collaboration with Mount Royal University’s Faculty of Continuing Education, provides an opportunity for local health-care providers to enhance their skills in inserting long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants.
Mount Royal approached the University of British Columbia’s Department of Continuing Professional Development (UBC CPD) in its Faculty of Medicine, where Hall leads a successful LARC training program. “MRU had heard about the program’s success and were fortunate to secure funding to provide a similar initiative in Alberta,” Hall explains. “When they reached out, I was excited to bring this training closer to home for Alberta-based health-care providers.”
Filling training gaps for health-care providers
Some of the knowledge gaps regarding LARC insertion methods can be attributed to the variability in a practitioner’s exposure to them during residencies, Hall says.
“Some providers come out of training feeling confident, while others may have only observed the odd IUD insertion and may not have had the chance to practice at all. Additionally, implants are relatively new to Canada, and some practitioners haven’t yet been trained to insert or remove them.”
The workshop aims to bridge these gaps, ensuring providers are equipped with both the skills and confidence to offer LARC methods effectively.
Participants will engage in a blended learning approach, beginning with a recorded webinar followed by an interactive, hands-on training day. During the workshop, attendees will practice inserting implants into simulated arms and IUDs into model uteruses, providing realistic, practical experience.
“We ensure participants are familiar with, and able to insert, every type of IUD available on the Canadian market,” Hall adds.
The workshop welcomes not only family physicians but also nurse practitioners, midwives, and any other regulated health-care providers eligible to perform these procedures.
“In British Columbia, they have regulated nurses to insert implants and are just working on the regulations for them to insert IUDs also. It may be useful to have similar expansion of scope in Alberta, particularly in remote communities.” Hall says. This inclusivity aims to increase the number of providers capable of offering LARC, ultimately improving community access to these highly effective contraceptive options.
Addressing patient concerns and expanding access
A significant portion of the workshop is dedicated to pain management during IUD insertion, a topic Hall believes is critical for improving patient experiences.
“We emphasize discussing pain management options with patients and offer training on local anaesthesia, oral pain medications and newer options such as inhaled analgesics like Penthrox,” she explains. “Our goal is to encourage access and alleviate concerns when it comes to fear around these procedures.”
Additionally, the course tackles common myths and misconceptions about contraception, including fears of long-term effects or “hormonophobia,” as Hall calls it. Emphasizing the importance of patient counseling, Hall adds, “Addressing these myths helps make sure that patients are equipped with accurate information, even if they initially opt for a different method.”
The Calgary workshop is accredited for 18 Mainpro+ credits for health-care professionals seeking continuing education. “These high credit programs will become rare, as recent changes to accreditation standards have reduced the credits awarded for our CME programs,” Hall notes.
While the program is new to Alberta, Hall is optimistic about its growth. “In BC, different iterations of this training have been around for over 20 years and there’s always a waitlist,” she says. “We hope to replicate that success here, making it easier for patients to find a provider nearby rather than traveling long distances or settling for less effective methods.”
The workshop offers a micro-credential, providing participants with a digital badge to showcase their enhanced skills. With local trainers delivering Alberta-specific insights on billing and referrals, the program promises to be highly relevant for practitioners within the province and a step toward facilitating broader access to effective and patient-centered contraception options.
Those interested in participating can register on the workshop webpage.