PHMP is leaving the building: Why the CPSA is outsourcing physician health assessment and monitoring

A recent move by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta to outsource physician health assessment and monitoring will ensure compliance with updated legislation and bring the province in line with best practices in other safety-sensitive industries, according to the CPSA. “Moving PHMP (Physician Health Monitoring Program) functions to providers independent of CPSA supports regulated members feeling more comfortable self-reporting and more inclined to seek support when they need it,” the regulator wrote on its website. “Privacy has always been an important part of PHMP, and this new process will further safeguard the confidentiality of a regulated member’s personal and health information.” After announcing the change in September, the college started transitioning health and fitness-to-practice assessments as well as biological monitoring functions to external service providers. These third-party providers will be responsible for diagnosing and treatment, and will determine whether a member physician’s health condition has an adverse impact on his or her practice. “The service providers will provide CPSA with reports on fitness to practise and recommendations for practice accommodations and conditions, as required,” wrote the CPSA. Read: Physician health and wellbeing in the spotlight: CCPH 2023 While the college is taking this new approach, their members’ obligation to report a health condition that could impact their work remains unchanged. While this information may be reported on the annual renewal information, it’s best to notify the college’s PHMP as soon as possiblethe college’s new approach, added the college. “Similarly, members are required to notify CPSA under our Duty to Report a Colleague standard of practice if they have reasonable grounds to believe a fellow member has a health condition which could impact their work,” wrote the CPSA. “This duty also remains unchanged.” Anyone reporting a health condition with potential impact to a physician’s practice will be contacted in confidence by the college’s PHMP team. “Our discussion will focus on your fitness to practise, guided by our mandate to protect patients,” wrote the college. “We will not ask you to share your health or personal information.” Read:Alberta physicians learn where their college fees go

PHMP is leaving the building: Why the CPSA is outsourcing physician health assessment and monitoring

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