New Continuity of Care Standard for Physicians
Immediately after the CPSA’s Continuity of Care* standard took effect on June 11, 2015, the College followed-up with a member survey to benchmark current compliance and offer individualized support to physicians challenged by the standard.
The CPSA is encouraged by the high number of physicians who report compliance with the standard. Almost 70 physicians have offered to share their processes with the College to help others develop practical solutions. The College has also responded individually to more than 40 physicians at their request.
Recognizing that no individual physician can be available to patients 24/7, the standard does expect physicians to have a system in place for after-hours triage of patients currently in their care and to receive and respond to critical test results.
The CPSA notes such a system should start with good communication with patients about appropriate follow-up based on medical need, and may include:
- Collaborating with colleagues in an on-call rotation (solo practice is acceptable, practice in isolation is not) or
- As a practice group, pursuing a formal agreement with a healthcare provider or referral service. Referral to another provider or such a service without an agreement does not absolve physicians of their responsibility to have a system in place.
The Continuity of Care standard and advice to the profession are available on the College website at cpsa.ab.ca. Physicians with questions should contact College Assistant Registrar Dr. Owen Heisler at owen.heisler@cpsa.ab.ca
*Formerly After-Hours Access to Care and Preventing Follow-up Care Failures
CPSA consulting on Patient Records, Faxing Prescriptions standards
Provide your feedback at by September 11, 2015 on draft amendments to these standards related to Administration of Practice:
- Patient Records Content (amendment, currently Patient Records)*
- Patient Records Retention (amendment, currently Patient Records)*
- Transmitting Prescriptions (amendment, currently Faxing Prescriptions)
*The proposed amendments would split the current Patient Records standard into two standards.
To review the draft amendments and comment, go to cpsa.ab.ca/consultation. For more information on the consultation process, email sarah.thomas@cpsa.ab.ca.
