Office assessments
The office assessment evaluates the clinical office as a whole and not each individual registrant who works there.
What are office assessments?
The office assessment is to review and evaluate key areas of a community-based clinical practice.
This is to ensure that registrants practising in community-based clinical practices follow the College’s practice standards and professional guidelines and the PPEP assessment standards.
How is a clinical office identified for an assessment?
A clinical office is identified through the assessment process of an individual registrant. A registrant is asked to provide information about their clinical practice and their location of practice before they begin their physician assessment process.
Once a clinical office is identified for an assessment, the College will liaise with the medical director of a multi-registrant practice or the registrant of a solo practice for all aspects of the assessment.
Key areas of an office assessment
The key areas of an office assessment include:
- after-hours coverage
- repeat prescriptions
- handling of critical lab results
- safe vaccine and medication management
- emergency preparedness
- infection prevention and control
- operational office components
These are the common areas where registrants may require additional guidance. The registrant may be asked to submit photos for some areas of the clinical office.
Preparing for the office assessment
Registrants are encouraged to review the following:
The College’s practice standards and professional guidelines and the PPEP assessment standards reflect best practice requirements and recommendations for community-based clinical practices.
Gathering information
Pre-visit Questionnaire for Office Assessment (PVQ-OA)
The medical director of a clinical office or the registrant of a solo practice will have to complete a PVQ-OA once their clinical office has been identified for an assessment.
The registrant will also be asked to submit photos for some areas of their clinical office.
Identifying areas for improvement
Action plan
PPEP staff will review the registrant’s completed PVQ-OA, including submitted photos. If any gaps or areas for improvement are identified, program staff will communicate them to the registrant in an action plan.
Registrants will be required to describe and demonstrate any required changes through this action plan, and may be asked to submit additional information.