Medical Matters: Sponsorship numbers, model expansion and renewal updates

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It’s the end of the year, and I would like to acknowledge the busyness of this season, both in the communities you serve and at CPSA during the annual renewal process. The Registration department has taken the year’s end as an opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved as a department and collectively in 2024. As we head into 2025, we remain committed to improving the efficiency and accessibility of our processes to ensure that patients living in Alberta receive quality care.

By the numbers: Physician sponsorship in 2024

In March 2024, CPSA expanded our physician sponsorship model to welcome individuals, organizations, corporations and others to apply to sponsor a family physician position in their desired community. Physician sponsorship is a crucial step towards licensing internationally trained physicians—who make up 35% of our province’s physician workforce—in Alberta.

I can report an excellent response to the expanded sponsorship model, with 177 applicants approved to sponsor a total of 406 physician positions (family medicine and specialist) in Alberta as of Dec. 9, 2024. These numbers are in addition to positions sponsored by Alberta Health Services and reflect strong interest in sponsoring and recruiting physicians across the province. Furthermore, this expanded physician sponsorship model has resulted in more physicians joining Alberta’s workforce.

Physician sponsorship update: Specialties expansion

Following the successful launch of the sponsorship expansion for family medicine positions, CPSA has recently expanded the program further to include applications to sponsor specialist physician positions for community clinic practices (i.e. non-hospital). CPSA has also updated our Sponsorship page on the CPSA website to streamline the application process and address frequently asked questions we receive about sponsorship.

From the first contact with new-to-Alberta physicians to the moment they begin independent practice after completing the Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA) process, physician sponsorship is a true team effort. CPSA is dedicated to strengthening our processes to support sponsors as they bring qualified physicians into Albertan communities.

By the numbers: Practice Readiness Assessments & the Accelerated Jurisdiction Route

While CPSA does not oversee physician recruitment or retention efforts, we are always exploring strategies to support the timely and efficient licensing of physicians, while maintaining patient care standards. The final step to independent practice in Alberta for internationally trained physicians is CPSA’s Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA). The PRA is designed to ensure physicians have the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to practise independently in Alberta.

In January 2023, we launched a five-year pilot project called the Accelerated Jurisdiction Route, which condenses the PRA process for internationally trained physicians who have training comparable to that of Canadian universities. This means that certain requirements are waived, such as the first three-month Preliminary Clinical Assessment (PCA) and clinical review exams. Eligible physicians now go directly to communities where they have been sponsored and begin practising independently while completing their three-month Supervised Practice Assessment (SPA).

The Accelerated Jurisdiction Route has allowed internationally trained physicians to move through the registration process quicker, enabling them to begin independent practice sooner. Since January 2023, a total of 54 internationally trained physicians have completed this route as of Dec. 9, 2024, and are practicing independently in their respective communities.

I am proud that CPSA remains the leader in PRAs in Canada, accounting for more than 40% of the PRAs initiated across the country between 2018-2023. We are also one of only three provinces that complete PRAs in all specialties and not just family medicine.

Like many aspects of health care, the PRA process involves collaboration between CPSA and our partners, including the sponsor, physician assessors and communities throughout the province.

Annual renewal: Don’t forget to submit!

As we near the end of the year, I would like to remind all physicians and physician assistants (including those withdrawing or retiring from practice) to complete their annual renewals. As of Dec. 9, 2024, approximately 6,500 regulated members have already completed their practice permit renewal – which is about 20% more than this time last year! Complete your renewal before Dec. 31, 2024, to avoid a late fee.

Limited practice register renewal: Annual fee reduction

I am happy to share that CPSA Council has approved a fee reduction for Associate Physicians on the limited practice register (LPR) from $2,000 to $500 for the 2025 annual renewal. This fee reduction will be applied immediately to the current 2025 annual renewal to benefit regulated members on the LPR. Refunds will be issued in January 2025 for those who have already paid their fees. Please contact support@cpsa.ca for more information about this change.

Announcing CPSA’s new Assistant Registrar

As we prepare to welcome the new year at CPSA, we also look forward to embracing growth and development within the organization. I am excited to formally welcome Registration’s new Assistant Registrar, Dr. Sayra Khandekar.

Dr. Khandekar, a practicing cardiologist from Edmonton, will join CPSA on Jan. 6, 2025. Her extensive experience in quality improvement, bedside practice and accreditation processes will provide valuable perspectives for CPSA’s team. I look forward to further registration advances as she assumes leadership of the Registration department.

In January 2025, I will transition into a new role at CPSA as I join the Continuing Competence department as their Assistant Registrar. My time in the Registration department has been both enlightening and satisfying. I have witnessed the dedication of CPSA’s team as they enable the registration of hundreds of new physicians providing care to Albertans. The Registration department’s work has been critical to the many advances in both registration and assessment, ultimately benefiting the Albertans we all serve. I am humbled by the opportunity I have been given to work with this department, and I am thankful to each Registration team member for their dedication to the residents of this province.

As I move into my new role in 2025, I look forward to continuing my engagement with CPSA’s regulated members, who consistently deliver thorough, high-quality care to patients throughout Alberta.

Dr. Michael Caffaro has been a CPSA team member since 2015 and is currently the Assistant Registrar, Registration at CPSA. Prior to this role, Dr. Caffaro worked in CPSA’s Professional Conduct department for six years as Complaints Director and Assistant Registrar, Professional Conduct. Dr. Caffaro is a University of Alberta graduate and, before joining CPSA, spent 22 years as a family physician in Hinton, Alta.