Happy Saturday! Welcome to the 2nd edition of Postcall’s new Saturday issue. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the Postcall show.

Time for some stories! (4 minute read)

⌚️Tick Tock…

With a US TikTok ban on the table, the time is NOW to catch up on top doc TikToks before they’re gone. We’ve curated a couple of our favourites — is there a better way to start your weekend?

@medical_edm

It really did look like this for me during my first week on surgery😅 #medstudent #medschool #premed #prehealth #doctor #surgery #healthcare #medicine

@mamadoctorjones

They are kinda super human, now that I think about it.

Next week we’ll be back with “Guess What I Saw Today.” Have a riveting tale of your own? Send us your best story from the OR, ED, or clinic (anonymized, obviously).

Save Lives, Not Files! 

Helpful Tip Part 2 — Mastering the Art of Delegation as a Multidisciplinary Team Member

Time management is a challenge throughout your medical career — but it can be especially tough when you’re just getting started.

For part 2 of our delegation tip series, we’ll focus on outsourcing and delegating tasks on a team level.

This week’s tips are:

• Workload: Before you worry about optimizing time, think about how you’re filling time. Dr. Arlo Green (GP) suggests being mindful of the work you accept in the first place: “It is okay to say ‘no’ to some of these opportunities as you have to make decisions to guide your career in the path you want to take as well as protect some of your own personal time.”

• Divide and conquer: Task sorting methods can help divide tasks among team members, ensuring that the tasks are best aligned with each team member's strengths. Two great examples of these methods include the ABCDE Method (where you prioritize tasks based on consequences) and the MoSCoW Method (where you sort tasks into categories — see image below).

In a world where time management is the ultimate skill, delegate like a time-saving hero. Soon you'll be known for healing ailments, not wrestling with admin chaos!

Part Three: Mastering the Art of Delegation as a Leader… coming next Saturday!

Speed Reads 🚤 

1: 📱 ‘Member the MacBook Touch Bar? Apple has just been granted a patent that could bring a side-mounted display to future iPhones.

2: 🚲️ In market for an electric bike? Wired took a look at the top 15 best electric bikes for every kind of ride.

3: 👀 Don’t blink — after four record-breaking days, BTC peaked at $73K USD on Thursday before sliding down 9% on Friday.

4: 🦠 Swab my what? Microbiome startups have proliferated in recent years by offering tailored treatments based on genomic analysis of a swab, stool sample, or other biological source. Whether the industry is healthy or in "dysbiosis” remains to be seen.

5: 🚭️ BC is proposing legislation that would allow it to sue for health-related costs over damages — caused by social media giants and energy drink manufacturers. The new laws are modelled on previous legislation targeting tobacco and opioid manufacturers.

Postcall’s Declassified Tax Deduction Guide 💸

Last week, we tackled marginal taxes. This week, uncover what cash you’re missing out on with our doctors’ practice-related tax deduction list. (Remember: tax deductions are eligible expenses that can be used to reduce taxable income, to keep your tax bill lower.) Let’s get into it!

1: Union, professional, and other dues

This big category includes annual dues for medical associations, colleges, professional boards, as well as malpractice insurance premiums or other dues required to maintain professional status. While you don’t need to file official receipts, hold on to them in case the CRA asks.

2: Tuition Tax Credits

Depending on your situation, your tuition fees during med school or residency may be eligible for a tax credit. This also includes examination fees for licensing or certification when it’s required for professional status. And if you had student loans, don’t forget you can claim a % of interest paid on the loan. (If you missed out on this, you can claim it up to 5 years retroactively!)

3: Home Office Expenses

If you worked from home in 2023, you might also qualify for home office expenses. For self-employed physicians, this can include utilities, insurance, and mortgage interest for the workspace, as well as work-related devices or equipment used at home. If you’re an employee, just remember that the CRA eliminated the flat rate method for calculating home office expenses in 2023.

4: Family Salaries

If you’re self-employed, you may want to consider paying salaries to your spouse or children. In Canada, corporations can pay salaries to family members, provided they perform actual work for the company and the compensation reflects market rate. Just be sure to document work and hours, and discuss with your accountant what is reasonable.

And don’t forget: the deadline to file your personal taxes is Apr 30, 2024. If you or your partner is self-employed, the deadline is June 15, 2024.

Match Day! 🎉🎊

And finally…. 🥁 Tuesday, March 19 is Match Day for the 2024 R-1 Match! Good luck to everyone who is involved, and may the odds be ever in your favour!

🕹️ Game ⛳️

As promised — our Tuesday puzzle is now our Saturday puzzle!

First question: What do you call the fold of peritoneum extending from the pelvic wall to the ovary, a.k.a. the suspensory ligament?

Enjoyed our puzzle? Send it along to friends & co-workers!

Share Postcall, Get Merch! 🐕

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