Complete a PPIP requirement with Group Practice Review

As regulated health professionals, physicians are committed to lifelong learning. While quality improvement is a continuous process, CPSA’s Physician Practice Improvement Program (PPIP) requires physicians to participate in a combination of quality improvement and personal development activities at least once over a five-year period.

Some physicians have been incorporating practice improvement strategies into their work for years, and others may just be starting out in their journey. For those looking for a little more direction on where to begin, CPSA has several tools and resources in place to help, including a Group Practice Review.

What is Group Practice Review (GPR)?

GPR is a collaborative, educational process designed to strengthen and enhance a group practice. This competence program was developed using evidence-based research to evaluate and assess medical group practices.

Clinics receive an in-person or virtual visit from a nurse reviewer, which includes a standards of practice review, in addition to a follow-up meeting with a physician facilitator who shares feedback, talks about best practices, identifies opportunities for improvement and offers resources tailored to each clinic’s needs.

CPSA recognizes that clinics, now more than ever, are supporting Albertans through virtual access to care. In 2020, CPSA’s GPR team developed a tool specifically to assess medical group practices that operate virtually, and will continue to conduct GPRs with clinics in this category.

Whether your clinic does only a handful of virtual appointments or identifies as virtual-only, it’s important for every physician to be familiar with CPSA’s standard of practice on Telemedicine and the associated Advice to the Profession document. (Please note, the standard of practice on Telemedicine and Advice to the Profession document are being updated to reflect the current medical landscape; please check back periodically for the most up-to-date version.)

Currently, CPSA selects most clinics that participate in a GPR, however, clinics are welcome to self-refer to the program.

Learn more about what to expect during a GPR

What do I gain from GPR?

In addition to coming away with facilitator feedback and an action plan to address any opportunities for improvement, GPR participants qualify for completing a CPSA standards of practice quality improvement activity within their five-year PPIP cycle.

General practitioners and family physicians who participate in GPR are eligible for 13.5 Mainpro+ credits through the College of Family Physicians of Canada, while specialists may be eligible for Maintenance of Certification credits through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Is there a cost? 

At this time, there is no cost to participate in a GPR.

What if I’ve already completed a GPR?

Good news! You qualify for completing a CPSA standards of practice quality improvement activity and can check this off on your 2022 annual Renewal Information Form.

Find out more about GPR and whether it’s the right fit to help you and your clinic qualify for a PPIP quality improvement activity. Questions or comments can be directed to PPIP@cpsa.ab.ca or submitted through CPSA’s website.