Update to Availability and Coverage practice standard clarifies expectations for after-hours care

CPSBC has revised its Care Coverage Outside Regular Office Hours practice standard, now titled Availability and Coverage, to clarify expectations for after-hours care and address identified gaps. Updates include a more concise title, clearer guidance on when after-hours coverage is required, new expectations for voicemail systems and critical lab results, and direction on appropriate use of emergency departments. CPSBC has also published a revised FAQ document to support the practice standard.

The changes come following an extensive engagement process that gathered feedback from registrants, key health partners and the public through both survey data and qualitative written feedback.