Medical Matters: an update on physician health and the importance of self-reporting

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By Dr. Samuel Lou, CPSA Senior Medical Advisor

It’s been just over a year since CPSA began shifting its approach to physician health. The Physician Health Monitoring Program is now Health & Practice Conditions Monitoring (HPCM), with all health assessments and monitoring transitioned to external service providers. While our processes now look different, CPSA’s commitment to patient safety and a regulated member’s duty to report a health condition have not changed.

As a regulated member myself, I recognize self-reporting is not easy, but it demonstrates incredible professionalism and commitment to safe patient care, and I want to personally thank all the regulated members who have taken this step. Health challenges can be a contributing factor to uncharacteristic lapses in conduct or performance, and self-reporting can help all of us understand these issues and how best to address them, for the benefit of the regulated member and their patients. From Jan. 1 to June 30 of this year, HPCM opened new files for 52 regulated members, 40 of whom self-reported. This is encouraging to see, as underreporting is a recognized issue among healthcare professionals.

I want all members to know that self-reporting does not always mean prolonged involvement with HPCM, and members will not necessarily be required to complete an independent medical exam or engage in health monitoring. Once we become aware of a regulated member’s health condition, there is an intake process with a CPSA Senior Medical Advisor like myself, to discuss their individual circumstances and the appropriate next steps, determined on a case-by-case basis. Throughout the process, our discussions are kept confidential and the regulated member will not be asked to provide CPSA with any personal health information.

Ultimately, if an assessment or health monitoring are required, it’s to reduce potential risks to patients while supporting the member in restoring and maintaining their health. In some cases, temporarily withdrawing from practice might be the best option while a member attends to their health condition, but this is not standard. Our goal is to provide support to members who need it, so they can continue or return to providing safe, high-quality care to Albertans.

More information about HPCM, along with an online form that can be used to self-report, is available on our website. CPSA’s annual renewal information form (RIF) is launching in November, which provides another opportunity for regulated members with health conditions to self-report. This information helps us help you, so when you complete your RIF, please be sure to respond to any health-related questions honestly and accurately.

If you are experiencing a health condition and need support, please let us know—we’re here to help.

Dr. Samuel Lou is a family physician and Senior Medical Advisor with CPSA. Since joining our team in 2022, Dr. Lou has worked with CPSA’s Continuing Competence and Registration Assessment teams, providing his expertise, perspective and advice to CPSA’s Quality Assurance and Improvement programs, Practice Readiness Assessment program and most recently, Health & Practice Conditions Monitoring.