Continuous quality improvement is one of the College’s strategic pillars because we know our work must constantly improve and evolve to respond to the changes we see in the practice of medicine. The College’s Physician Practice Enhancement Program (PPEP) is a prime example of how the College’s commitment to continuous quality improvement continues to evolve. Ten years of PPEP data has shown most registrants are performing well and may benefit from having diverse assessments that better fit their practice. As such, the program is restructuring and will now include three assessments: peer, self-directed and office.
The three assessments will apply to registrants who provide community-based care in private offices or multi-physician clinics, or work as long- or short-term locums. Registrants will be selected to participate in assessments based on a combination of professional characteristics and practice context factors.
The peer assessment is conducted by an experienced peer assessor. It provides an opportunity for feedback, discussion and collaboration to identify areas for improvement.
The self-directed assessment requires participants to use professional learning plans to guide activities in the areas of clinical support, practice support, and professional support over a longer period. Guidance and support are provided through discussion with a peer.
The office assessment evaluates aspects of a participant's clinical practice environment, including a review of office operations, emergency preparedness, medication management, infection prevention and control, medical device reprocessing, and practice standards.
The peer assessment and office assessment will be similar to previous PPEP assessments. Medical device reprocessing, which formerly fell under Physician Office Medical Device Reprocessing Assessments (POMDRA) initiative, is now part of the office assessment. The new self-directed assessment will allow registrants who don’t require a peer assessment to participate in a flexible, self-directed assessment guided by the program’s medical advisors, assessors and staff. It will give registrants more agency and flexibility to tailor their professional learning plan to best suit their practice and professional development goals.
The three assessments will also fulfill the requirements of the new Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) to assess the professional performance of registrants. Under the HPOA, the College must establish and administer a quality assurance program to help registrants improve their professional performance, identify issues or gaps and recommend remedial measures.
The assessments build on the professional development activities that registrants are already doing. By offering feedback, support and learning that is relevant to registrants and their practices, the PPEP continues to pursue continuous quality improvement and the goal of ensuring safe, competent, and ethical care for patients.
You can learn more about the assessments in the video below or on the College website.
Patrick Rowe, MD, CCFP (EM), FCFP
Registrar and CEO
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