Glossary

AAAASF

American Association of Accreditation of Ambulatory Plastic Surgery Facilities, Inc. 

AACLDS

Alberta Association of Clinical Laboratory Doctoral Scientists 

AASM

American Academy of Sleep Medicine 

ABPD

Alberta Provider Directory 

ACCLXT

Alberta College of Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technicians

ACCMDTT

Alberta College of Medical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technologists

Accredited facility

An accredited facility has successfully gone through the process of being visited and looked at by CPSA to make sure that it meets established standard requirements. CPSA accredits facilities that provide cardiac stress testing, diagnostic imaging, diagnostic laboratory medicine, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, non-hospital surgery facilities, neurodiagnostics, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, pulmonary function diagnostics and sleep medicine diagnostics.  

ACDI

Advisory Committee on Diagnostic Imaging (CPSA Committee) 

ACFP

Alberta College of Family Physicians (local branch of CFPC) 

ACLM

Advisory Committee on Laboratory Medicine (CPSA Committee) 

ACMC

Association of Canadian Medical Colleges 

ACND

Advisory Committee on Neurodiagnostics (CPSA Committee) 

ACNHSF

Advisory Committee on Non-Hospital Surgical Facilities (CPSA Committee) 

ACP

Alberta College of Pharmacy 

ACR

American College of Radiologists 

ACTT

Accelerating Change Transformation Team 

ADA

Alberta Dental Association 

Advice to the Albertan (ATA)

Advice to the Albertan documents are created to provide information that may be important to Albertans. These documents are meant to support patient care and safety by letting patients know what they should expect from the physician or physician assistant.   

Advice to the Profession (ATP)

Advice to the Profession documents are created to provide physicians and physician assistants with additional information and guidance to make sure they fully understand what is expected of them from the standard. These documents are often changing to make sure they are up-to-date and clear. Advice documents provide guidance for physicians and physician assistants while CPSA Standards of Practice detail mandatory requirements. 

AETC

Association of Electromyography Technologists of Canada 

AFC

Area of Focused Competence 

AFMC

Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada 

AFRHP

Alberta Federation of Regulated Health Professionals 

AFSMB

American Federation of State Medical Boards 

AH

Alberta Health (policy, legislation, funding, admin of AHCIP) 

AHCIP

Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan 

AHS

Alberta Health Services 

AIM

Access Improvement Measures Program 

AIMG

Alberta International Medical Graduate Program 

AMA

Alberta Medical Association 

AMR

Alberta Medical Register

Anti-Racism Anti-Discrimination Action Advisory Committee

A CPSA Council Committee that provides advice on how CPSA can action and influence change to disrupt racism and discrimination within CPSA as an organization and within the health profession.

APASS

Alberta Physician Assessment and Support Services 

API

Application Programming Interface 

APL

Alberta Precision Laboratories 

Appeal

Regulated members and applicants for registration have the right to appeal certain CPSA decisions under the Health Professions Act: 

• A hearing tribunal decision 
• A licensure decision
• An accreditation decision 

APRD

Alberta Physician Resource Database

AR

Assistant Registrar (position at CPSA) 

ARADAAC

Anti Racism Anti Discrimination Action Advisory Committee (CPSA Committee) 

ARC

Addiction Recovery Centre

ARDMS

American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

ARPA

Authorized Radiation Protection Agency 

ASA

American Society of Anesthesiologist

ASE

American Society of Echocardiography

ASLP

Alberta Society for Laboratory Physicians 

ASR

Alberta Society of Radiologists 

Associate physician

Physician who does not meet the requirements to practice independently and must work under supervision. 

ATP or AtP

Advice to the Profession

ATS

American Thoracic Society

AVMA

Alberta Veterinary Medical Association 

BBVI

Blood Borne Viral Infections in Health Care Workers 

Biological monitoring

A form of monitoring for physicians recovering from a substance use disorder. 

Boundary complaints

Boundary complaints can involve sexual abuse or misconduct against a patient by a regulated member, or personal boundary violations where the regulated member’s relationships or actions do not align with a professional physician-patient relationship (for example, having a business partner who is also a patient, which is a conflict of interest, or entering into a personal relationship with a patient). 

BRETC

Board of Registration of Electromyography Technologists of Canada 

C/S

Certificate of Standing 

CAAASF

Canadian Association of Accreditation of Ambulatory Plastic Surgery Facilities, Inc. 

CACC

Central Alberta Cancer Centre 

CACMID

Canadian Association of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 

CAET

Canadian Association of Electroneurophysiology Technologists, Inc. 

CAME

Canadian Association for Medical Education 

CAMP

Central Alberta Methadone Program 

CAMRT

Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists 

Canadian Medical Association’s Code of Ethics and Professionalism

The Canadian Medical Association’s Code of Ethics and Professionalism lays out the ethical and professional responsibilities that physicians and physician assistants need to follow.  

It can be viewed in full here: https://www.cma.ca/cma-code-ethics-and-professionalism.    

CAP

Canadian Association of Pathologists 

CAP

College of American Pathologists

CAPER

Canadian Post-M.D. Education Registry 

CAR

Canadian Association of Radiologists 

Cardiac stress testing facilities

Cardiac stress testing facilities do cardiac stress tests that examine the heart’s ability to respond to stress in a controlled clinical setting through activities that stimulate stress like exercise or using medication to affect heart rate. 

CART

College Analytical Reporting Tool 

CARTA

College and Association of Respiratory Therapists of Alberta 

CAS

Canadian Anesthesiologists Society 

CBD

Case Based Discussion 

CBRET

Canadian Board of Registration of Electroencephalography Technologists, Inc. 

CBS

Canadian Blood Services 

CC

Continuing Competence (CPSA department) 

CCC

Continuing Competence Committee 

CCFP

Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada 

CCHSA

Canadian Council for Health Services Accreditation 

CCS

Canadian Cardiovascular Society 

CDSA

College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta

CE

Certified Examiner (re: minor injury) 

CEQAL/HealthMetrx Canada

Canadian External Quality Assurance Laboratory 

CFPC

College of Family Physicians of Canada 

Change in scope

If a physician or physician assistant wants to add a new medical service to their work, they might need to be assessed to make sure they have enough training and experience to add this service to their repertoire for Albertans. 

Chaperone

Chaperones are independent, appropriately trained individuals who work with physicians to observe examinations and/or procedures. Their presence helps support and protect both the patient and the physician.

CIHI

Canadian Institute for Health Information 

CLEAR

Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation 

Clinician

A clinician refers to any person who provides health care goods or services directly to patients—this includes all healthcare workers.

CLPNA

College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta 

CLS

Calgary Laboratory Services 

CLXT

Combined Laboratory X-ray Technicians 

CMA

Canadian Medical Association 

CME

Continuing Medical Education 

CMLTA

College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Alberta 

CMPA

Canadian Medical Protective Association 

CMPT

Clinical Microbiology Proficiency Testing 

CMQ

College des medecins du Quebec 

Competency assessment

An evaluation of a regulated member’s knowledge, skills, professionalism and ability to provide safe, ethical and high-quality medical care. Competency assessments are geared towards international medical graduates (IMGs) who enter practice through CPSA’s accelerated route to registration and are intended to ensure their qualifications are equivalent to those of a domestically trained physician. 

Complaint process

The complaint process is a formal process under the Health Professions Act that outlines how a complaint must be made (in writing and signed) and the parameters in which CPSA can act on the complaint.  

Complaint Review Committee (CRC)

A CRC panel is a decision-making body made up of physicians and members of the public. The role of the CRC is to assess requests for review of dismissed complaints by independently reviewing the complaint submission and any information available to the Complaints Director when they made their decision, to determine whether the decision to dismiss the complaint was reasonable. 

Complaints Director

Under the Health Professions Act, CPSA Council must appoint a Complaints Director. The Complaints Director is delegated broad authority to manage the complaints process, including deciding what action to take, conducting investigations and making determinations about complaints, ultimately aiming to protect the public. 

COMPUS

Canadian Optimal Medication Prescribing and Utilization Service 

Conditions applied

Conditions added to a physician’s practice such as a requirement to have a chaperone present during patient encounters, prescribing restrictions, number of hours a physician is permitted to work, and more.  

Consultation

Standards of practice are reviewed regularly to make sure they are still up to date to support patient safety. Consultations are used to share new draft standards or suggested changes to existing standards with physicians, physician assistants, partner organizations, other healthcare professionals and Albertans with a minimum of 30 days for them to gather feedback through email, survey or commenting on the CPSA website.  

Council

CPSA’s governing body, to whom CPSA is accountable. Much like a business has a board, CPSA has a governing Council made up of an equal number of regulated members elected by their peers, public members appointed by government, and non-voting observers.  

Council Observer

A person appointed by Council by virtue of the position they serve within an organization, committee or other entity to participate in Council meetings, including discussions and debates, who does not have the right to vote. Observers include the deans of Alberta’s two medical schools as well as a medical student and medical resident representative. 

Courtesy register

The courtesy register is a temporary register for physicians visiting Alberta for a specific, short-term activity like teaching, learning or providing care.

CPD

Continuing Professional Development 

CPE

Coalition for Physician Enhancement 

CPG

Clinical Practice Guidelines 

CPP

Cumulative Patient Profile 

CPSA

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta 

CPSBC

College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia 

CPSM

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba 

CPSNB

College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick 

CPSNL

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador 

CPSNS

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia 

CPSO

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario 

CPSPEI

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Prince Edward Island 

CPSS

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan 

CQI

Clinical Quality Improvement and Continuous Quality Improvement 

CR

Courtesy Register 

CRC

Complaints Review Committee (CPSA Committee) 

CRNA

College of Registered Nurses of Alberta 

CSCN

Canadian Society of Clinical Neurophysiologists 

CSE

Canadian Society of Echocardiography 

CSMLS

Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science 

CSR

Chart Stimulated Recall

CST

Cardiac Stress Testing

CSTM

Canadian Society for Transfusion Medicine 

CTS

Canadian Thoracic Society 

Customer Experience (CX) team

A team within CPSA that is here to support our customers, including regulated members, patients and our partners in Alberta and across Canada. The majority of inquiries to CPSA by phone, email and live chat go through our CX team to receive a response or be redirected to a different department within CPSA for further support.

DAP

Diagnostic Accreditation Program (BC) 

DCWG

Data Collection Working Group 

Diagnostic imaging centres

Diagnostic imaging centres use technology that allows medical professionals to look inside the body and figure out what is causing an illness or injury.  

Diagnostic laboratory medicine facilities

Diagnostic laboratory facilities have equipment and staff that can look closely at biological samples (like blood, urine and more) to find out what is behind a patient’s illness and what can be done to help. 

DIN

Drug Identification Number 

DOC

CPSA’s database 

DPC

Document of Professional Conduct 

DSR

Delivery Site Registry 

e-CBAS

Electronic Competency Based Assessment Tool 

Early consensual resolution

Straightforward complaints that are resolved early in the complaints process. 

ECFMG

Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (the certifying body in the US for international medical graduates)

ECG

Electrocardiogram 

EHR

Electronic Health Record, aka Alberta Netcare (repository and portal for shared health information) 

EICS

International Credentials Services (Operated by ECFMG) 

EMRs

Electronic Medical Records (typically a stand-alone medical office system) 

ER

Education Register

ERP

Education Register Postgraduate

ERP

Alberta Expert Review Panel for Blood Borne Viral Infections in Health Care Workers (Panel)

ERS

European Respiratory Society

ERU

Education Register Undergraduate 

ESRS

European Sleep Research Society

Executive Committee

A CPSA Council Committee made up of CPSA’s Council Chair, Vice Chair and Member-at-Large. The Executive Committee sets the agenda for Council meetings, connects with Councillors annually regarding the Registrar & CEO’s performance evaluation and attends to other matters requiring attention between Council meetings.

Family physician

A family physician has accredited postgraduate training in family medicine. 

Finance & Audit Committee (FAC)

A CPSA Council Committee that assists Council in fulfilling its financial oversight responsibilities by recommending operating budgets and annual fees, approving external auditors, recommending CPSA’s annual audited financial statements and ensuring that CPSA has processes in place to manage risk. 

Fit to practise

The determination of whether a regulated member should or should not be allowed to work. This is based on several criteria, including the regulated member’s professional skills, training, knowledge and health.

FMRAC

Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada 

FRCPC

Fellow, Royal College of Physicians Canada 

FRCSC

Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons Canada 

General practitioner

A general practitioner has 24 months of postgraduate training after medical school but is not certified with the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

General register

The general register includes all physicians and osteopaths who are responsible and accountable for their medical practice, without supervision by another physician or CPSA. 

GOA

Government of Alberta 

Governance Committee

A CPSA Council Committee that ensures compliance with applicable regulations and practices, plans and supports learning opportunities for Council members to enhance effectiveness and promotes good governance practices at all Council and Committee meetings.

GPR

Group Practice Review (CPSA Program) 

Graduated Assessment of Prescribing Practice (GAPP) program

A GAPP is a systematic review of a physician’s existing prescribing conditions to determine whether the conditions should remain, change or be removed to proactively ensure patient safety. These reviews are managed by our Physician Prescribing Practices team when they receive a referral from another CPSA department.

Group Practice Review (GPR)

A GPR fulfills one of the quality improvement activities required by CPSA’s Physician Practice Improvement Program (PPIP). GPR is a collaborative, educational process designed to strengthen and enhance a group practice. The review is managed and facilitated by CPSA staff in collaboration with the clinic physicians and staff. 

HBOT

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 

HC

Health Canada 

HDB

Health Disciplines Board 

Health & Practice Conditions Monitoring (HPCM)

A CPSA program area. In collaboration with the regulated member, HPCM works with external service providers to ensure physicians with health conditions are fit to practise and that their health condition isn’t negatively affecting their ability to practise safely.  

HPCM also oversees practice conditions monitoring to ensure regulated members with a condition on their practice permit, such as a chaperone or scope of practice condition, are practising in accordance with their practice condition(s). 

Health condition

A physical, cognitive, mental and/or emotional condition that negatively impacts, or is likely to negatively impact, the regulated member’s work, such as physical and mental health challenges, substance use disorders, professionalism concerns and more.

Health monitoring

A regulated member’s health condition—including diagnosis, treatment and whether the health condition adversely impacts the member’s ability to practise—may be objectively determined through an independent medical examination (IME). Arrangements for an IME or health monitoring are arranged through Health & Practice Conditions Monitoring (HPCM). 

Health Professions Act (HPA)

The Health Professions Act (HPA) is a piece of legislation in Alberta that gives health professionals (like physicians) the ability to self-regulate. Regulatory colleges (like CPSA) are the mechanism for self-regulation. The Act governs the practice of self-regulation and sets out standards for regulatory colleges in the areas of registration, continuing competence, complaints and discipline.   

Hearing

When a complaint is submitted to CPSA, our Complaints Director may decide to the refer the matter to a formal disciplinary hearing. This can happen when there is no agreement between the complainant and the regulated member on the facts or quality of care provided, the issues raised in the complaint relate to public safety, or an investigation suggests the regulated member did not provide good medical care or has seriously breached a CPSA standard of practice. 

Hearing Director’s Office (HDO)

The HDO is responsible for coordinating hearings, Complaint Review Committee meetings, appeals and registration reviews pursuant to the Health Professions Act. The HDO is also responsible for the recruitment of physician members to Complaint Review Committees and Hearing Tribunals.  

Hearing notice

A notice of hearing is a legal document that lists the allegations against a physician. A published hearing notice will include the type of hearing, date(s) and time(s) of the hearing, the location and the charges against the physician.  

Hearing Tribunal

A Hearing Tribunal panel is an independent body made up of an equal number of physician and public members. The role of the Tribunal is to carefully consider all the evidence provided to make their decision. If the charges are determined to be proven, the Hearing Tribunal also decides what sanctions to impose as outlined in the Health Professions Act (Section 82). 

Hearing Tribunal decisions

Hearing Tribunal decisions are delivered in writing. The merits decision outlines whether a physician is guilty of unprofessional conduct. If there is a finding of unprofessional conduct, the sanction decision outlines the penalties levied against the physician by the Hearing Tribunal. These can be delivered as one written decision or two separate written decisions, depending on the circumstances of the case.

Hearing/legal referral

Approximately 1-2% of complaints are referred to a disciplinary hearing per year. If the Complaints Director determines a complaint should proceed to a hearing, the matter will be referred to the Hearing Director’s Office to schedule a hearing and arrange for a Hearing Tribunal. CPSA’s Hearing and Legal Referral team support the Complaints Director through this process.    

HIA

Health Information Act 

HIROC

Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada 

HISCA

Health Information Standards Council 

HPA

Health Professions Act 

HPB

Health Protection Branch 

HPCM

Health and Practice Conditions Monitoring (CPSA program) 

HQCA

Health Quality Council of Alberta 

HRSDC

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada 

HWIN

Health Workforce Information Network 

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy centres

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides pure oxygen in a closed space with higher than normal air pressure to increase oxygen in the body. This can help speed up wound healing or help with conditions like carbon monoxide poisoning.

IAMRA

International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities 

IC

Investigation Chairman 

ICANL

Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Nuclear Laboratories 

ICAVL

Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories 

ICCR

Interactive Clinical Care Record 

ICP

Institute for Clinical PET 

ICWG

Integrated Clinical Working Group 

IHI

Institute for Healthcare Improvement 

IM

Information Management (CPSA department) 

IMC

Injury Management Consultant (re: minor injury) 

IME

Independent Medical Examination 

IMG

International Medical Graduates 

Independent Medical Examination (IME)

A health evaluation of a patient carried out by a medical professional who has not previously been involved in the patient’s treatment.

Independent practice

Physicians in independent practice can work in medicine in the areas they have been trained in, are responsible for their medical practice and do not need another physician to look over any part of their medical practice. 

Indigenous Advisory Circle

A CPSA Council Committee that focuses on listening to and learning from those with lived Indigenous experiences across Alberta. Through collaboration and creating a safe space to share these experiences and ideas, the Circle helps CPSA reflect on our own processes and identify how we can better support First Nations, Métis and Inuit patients in Alberta and better guide the physicians who care for them. 

Individual Practice Review (IPR)

One of CPSA’s continuing competence programs where we work with physicians to strengthen their practice. IPR is a customized and collaborative process. Tailored individually for assessment and remedial needs, IPR emphasizes targeted educational support to improve a regulated member’s practice.

Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC)

Standards, protocols and guidelines aimed at reducing the risk of the spread of infections and disease in medical settings. 

International Society for Quality in Healthcare

The International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua) is a member-based, not-for-profit community and organization dedicated to promoting quality improvement in health care. CPSA is proud to be a member of ISQua and to have multiple accreditation standards externally reviewed and ratified through the organization.  

IPAC

Infection Prevention & Control (CPSA department program) 

IPR

Individual Practice Review (CPSA program) 

IRB

Institutional Review Board 

ISFA

Information Sharing Framework Agreement 

ISO

International Standards Organization 

ISQua

International Society for Quality in Healthcare 

LMCC

Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada 

Locum

A locum is a temporary position, usually for a physician who steps in for another physician who is away, or who fills a role needed by a medical facility that is short-staffed. 

MAINPRO+

Maintenance of Proficiency Plus (College of Family Physician of Canada) 

MCC

Medical Council of Canada 

MCC 360

Medical Council of Canada’s Multi-Source Feedback tool 

MCC 360

Administered by the Medical Council of Canada (MCC), MCC 360 provides regulated members with feedback from a sample of their colleagues, co-workers and patients, which is combined with a self-evaluation for a complete “360 degree” perspective. The feedback focuses on the regulated member’s role as a communicator, professional and collaborator.

MCCEE

Medical Council of Canada’s Evaluating Examination 

MCCQE1

Medical Council of Canada’s Qualifying Examination Part 1 

MCCQE2

Medical Council of Canada’s Qualifying Examination Part 2 (cancelled as of 2021) 

MD Snapshot-Prescribing

An interactive tool that provides physicians with relevant and timely information about their opioid, opioid-naïve, benzodiazepine/z-drug and antibiotic prescribing. The goal is to increase prescribing awareness; identify opportunities to optimize prescribing and, ultimately, patient care; and support individual physicians in self-directed, continuous quality improvement. MD Snapshot-Prescribing is customized for each recipient and produced quarterly and is available through the secure CPSA Portal.

MDR

Medical Device Reprocessing 

MDSC

Medication Domain Steering Committee 

Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR)

The process that ensures reusable medical devices are properly cleaned, disinfected, or sterilized to prevent infection and ensure patient safety. CPSA sets standards that outline our minimum expectations for MDR.

Medical learner

A medical learner is working towards becoming a physician and can only provide care under supervision of a physician.

Merits decision

The merits decision outlines if some or all of the charges against a physician are proven and whether or not they constitute unprofessional conduct. 

MFAC

Medical Facility Accreditation Committee (CPSA committee)

MINC

Medical Identification Number for Canada 

MoC

Maintenance of Certification (Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada) 

Modalities

Within health care, a modality can refer to a type of treatment, a piece of equipment or a strategy for providing care for a patient. As an example, ultra-sound and x-ray are two distinct types of diagnostic imaging modalities.

MPAC

Medical Prescribing Assessment Committee   

MRA

Medical Regulatory Authority 

MRO

Medical Review Officer 

MRT

Medical Radiation Technologist  

MSF

Multi-Source Feedback 

NAC 3

National Assessment Coalition 3 

NAPRA

National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities 

NCVA-PR

National Credentials Verification Agency and Physician Registry 

ND

Neurodiagnostics 

Neurodiagnostic laboratories

Neurodiagnostic laboratories use technology to test nervous systems, muscular and brain activity to help with neurophysiological diagnoses to find out what may be behind patient symptoms related to the nervous system and how to help.

NHSF

Non-Hospital Surgical Facility 

Non-hospital surgical facilities

Surgical services in Alberta can be provided at public hospitals or non-hospital surgical facilities. Most surgical procedures, including all major surgeries, are performed at hospitals, where there are more tools and equipment to help with complicated procedures and things that could go wrong.  

However, some operations can be provided by non-hospital surgical facilities that meet accreditation requirements. Some examples of other operations that could happen at an NHSF include some ear/nose/throat procedures, dentist procedures, plastic surgery and more.  

Non-renewals

When a registration has an end date applied within a given year and no subsequent registration. 

NOUGG

National Opioid Use Guideline Group 

NP

Nurse Practitioner 

NPAA

Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta

NPNU

Non-prescription Needle Use  

NTP

Notice to Practitioner 

OAT

Opioid Agonist Therapy 

OHRP

Office for Human Research Protection (U.S.)

OIPC

Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner 

OME

Oral Morphine Equivalency 

Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT)

A treatment therapy for opioid use disorder that uses prescribed medications like methadone, buprenorphine/naloxone and slow-release oral morphine.

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)

A type of substance use disorder involving a reliance on opioids and characterized by continued use despite the user’s desire to stop, withdrawal symptoms and negative effects on the user’s physical and emotional well-being.

ORNAC

Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada 

Outright dismiss

A complaint is dismissed when there is insufficient or no evidence of unprofessional conduct, or the complaint is found to be frivolous or vexatious in nature. 

P5

Part 5 physicians 

PA

Physician Assistant 

PAF

Physician Assessment & Feedback 

PARA

Professional Association of Resident Physicians of Alberta 

Patient Relations Program

CPSA’s Patients Relations Program provides funding for counselling and therapy services for complainants who need support dealing with the impact of sexual abuse or misconduct by a regulated member, as it relates to their complaint.  

PC

Professional Corporation 

PCA

Preliminary Clinical Assessment 

PCI

Primary Care Initiative 

PCN

Primary Care Network 

PCRC

Physician Credentials Registry of Canada 

PD-QI

Practice Driven Quality Improvement 

Permits denied

When an individual proceeds with a full application and is subsequently denied registration. 

PFSP

Physician & Family Support Program 

PGMEC

Post Graduate Medical Education Committee 

PGMEC-AG

Post Graduate Medical Education Committee Advisory Group 

PGY1

Postgraduate Year 1 – Resident 1 

PGY2

Postgraduate Year 2 – Resident 2 

PGY3

Postgraduate Year 3 – Resident 3 

PGY4

Postgraduate Year 4 – Resident 4 

PGY5

Postgraduate Year 5 – Resident 5 

PGY6

Postgraduate Year 6 – Resident 6 

PHAC

Public Health Agency of Canada 

PHELO

Population Health, Ethical, Legal and Organizational 

PHN

Personal Health Number 

PHP

Personal Health Portal 

Physician Assessment & Feedback (PAF)

One of CPSA’s continuing competence programs, PAF, is a proactive approach to quality assurance that provides selected regulated members with an assessment of their practice. Regulated members participate in a structured review with a CPSA-trained physician assessor.

Physician assistant

Trained healthcare provider who works under the supervision of a physician.

Physician Practice Improvement Program (PPIP)

A quality improvement program that requires regulated members to complete one personal development and two quality improvement activities at least once during a continuous five-year cycle. 

PPIP supports the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada (FMRAC)’s Physician Practice Improvement framework, which is intended to support regulated members’ continuous quality improvement and is based around the CanMEDS roles (medical expert, communicator, collaborator, leader, health advocate, scholar and professional).

Physician Prescribing Practices (PPP)

PPP is an educationally focused program that engages physicians through collaboration and advice to support safe patient care through better prescribing practices.   

The goal is to work with physicians by providing support and information to help resolve questions and concerns about prescribing. PPP works with physicians to collaboratively address concerns and complex patient situations as well as share prescribing data in several ways (reports, letters, etc.) to encourage self-reflection and help physicians identify opportunities for improvement.  

PIA

Privacy Impact Assessment 

PIN

Pharmaceutical Information Network 

PLP

Physician Learning Program 

PLR

Possible Letters Report 

PMR

Patient Medical Records 

POSP

Physician Office System Program 

PPC

Physician Performance Committee  

PPIC

Protection for Persons in Care 

PPIP

Physician Practice Improvement Program (CPSA program) 

PRA

Practice Readiness Assessment (CPSA program) 

Practice permit conditions monitoring

Under the Health Professions Act (HPA), CPSA can place conditions on a physician’s practice permit as a protective measure to ensure patients are receiving safe medical care.  

Practice condition categories include chaperone requirements, scope of practice restrictions, prescribing restrictions and more. Conditions can be applied by CPSA’s Registration, Professional Conduct and Continuing Competence departments, depending on the situation. 

Monitoring of the regulated member’s adherence to their practice condition is coordinated by Health & Practice Conditions Monitoring (HPCM), performed in a timely and comprehensive way and uses a number of verification methods.  

Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA)

A practice readiness assessment (PRA) is the last step for individuals to become an independently practising physician in Alberta who do not meet general registration requirements. 

CPSA supports two PRA routes:  

• The traditional PRA route has two parts: a 3-month Preliminary Clinical Assessment (the physician works while being supervised by a CPSA-approved assessor) and a 3-month Supervised Practice Assessment (SPA) (the physician works independently in the community they choose with another physician supervising them).  

• The accelerated route lets physicians that meet the criteria go right into the 3-month SPA to get them helping Albertans as soon as possible.   

Prescribed Health Service

A health service prescribed in the bylaws of the college as a health service that may be provided only in an accredited medical facility or an approved hospital, healthcare facility operated by Government of Canada or Alberta or provincial health agency, or other circumstances.

Private medical facilities

Private medical facilities can be used without the help of an AHS case manager by contacting the facility directly. Fees are set by the operator of these facilities and are paid for by the individual using the services.

Provisional register (conditional practice)

The provisional register includes physicians and osteopaths who do not meet the criteria for the general register yet, but are working on getting what they need to get onto the general register
(paperwork, experience, etc.).

PRPC

Physician Resource Planning Committee 

PRS

Provider Registry System 

PSAC

Planning Sub-Committee of the Admissions Committee (a sub-committee of PGMEC) 

PSI

Physician Support Initiative 

PSSP

Provider Self-Serve Portal (an AHS & Alberta Health initiative) 

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy clinics

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy (PAPT) clinics provide psychedelic substances (like ketamine and psilocybin) in an accredited environment. PAPT service provider are also required to satisfy licensing requirements with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.

Public medical facilities

Public medical facilities provide health and personal care services under government or regional health authority oversight, e.g. AHS.  

Public Member Councillor

An Albertan who is appointed to sit on CPSA’s governing Council by the Lieutenant Governor.  

Pulmonary function diagnostic facilities

Pulmonary function diagnostic facilities can do tests to measure how well the lungs work. Pulmonary function testing can help evaluate respiratory symptoms, response to bronchodilators, workplace exposure effects, pulmonary disability, and the severity/progression of lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  Some of the tests can see how much air the lungs can hold, the rate of breathing and other important measurements that help a healthcare provider find out how to best care for the patient’s lungs. 

PV

Practice Visit 

QA

Quality Assurance 

QI

Quality Improvement 

QMP-LS

Quality Management Program – Laboratory Services  

Quality Assurance (QA)

The systematic process of establishing and maintaining standards and guidelines and ensuring those held to the standards and guidelines are meeting them consistently. 

Quality Improvement (QI)

The structured approach to systematically improving an organization’s processes to enhance its products, services or outcomes. QI involves goal setting, measurement and testing to ensure that changes lead to tangible improvements, not just alterations.

QUEST

Quality, Usability, Efficiency, Security, Teamwork (CPSA resource) 

RCPSC

Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada 

Regulated member

Health professionals who are registered with CPSA: physicians, surgeons, physician assistants, osteopaths, residents and medical students. These individuals must be registered with CPSA in order to practise medicine in Alberta.  

Regulated Member Councillor

A physician, surgeon, osteopath, physician assistant or medical learner who, through CPSA’s election process, is voted by their peers to sit on CPSA’s governing council.  

Request for review of dismissed complaint

If a complaint was dismissed by CPSA’s Complaints Director, the complainant has a right to request a review of that decision (within 30 days). A review is not an appeal, a hearing or an opportunity to testify and provide new evidence. 

Research & Evaluation Unit (REVU)

REVU is a team of researchers within CPSA’s Analytics, Innovation and Research department. They evaluate existing CPSA programs (such as competence programs); support the design, development and evaluation of new programs; and liaise with CPSA team members and external experts to conduct meaningful, practical and innovative medical regulatory research.  

The REVU team supports the public by striving to create a culture in which patients can be confident in the care provided to them by a CPSA-regulated physician. REVU also supports Alberta physicians by advocating for evidence-based programs and processes.

Resolution after expert review

An expert, usually with similar training and experience as the subject of the complaint, is consulted to determine whether the care provided aligns with the expected standard of care. Resolution is based on the expert’s findings and often includes education or other training.    

Resolution after investigation

A process used for more complex complaints that requires the collection of additional facts before a decision on next steps can be made by the Complaints Director. After the investigation gathers the information needed on what led to the complaint, the appropriate requirements can be included in the resolution. 

Resolutions

A formal process under the Health Professions Act, which allows for an agreement to be reached between the Complaints Director and the regulated member to resolve a complaint provided certain requirements are met (which could include education, practice improvements, etc.). This can only be done with the agreement of the complainant. 

Return to practice

If a physician or physician assistant has not been working for more than three years, they might need to do a return-to-practice assessment to see if they need to do some training or need other supports before going back to caring for Albertans.

REVU

Research and Evaluation Unit (CPSA team) 

RHAO

Radiation Health Administration Organization 

RhPAP

Rural Health Professions Action Plan 

RIF

Renewal Information Form 

RIRC

Reportable Incident Review Committee 

Risk and support factors

Individual or group characteristics and behaviours that can positively or negatively affect a physician’s or group of physicians’ practice. 

RLP

Rural Locum Program 

RxA

Alberta Pharmacists’ Association 

Sanction decision

If the physician is found guilty, the sanction decision will outline the penalties levied against the physician by the Hearing Tribunal. 

SCN

Strategic Clinical Network 

Sexual abuse

As defined by the Health Professions Act, the threatened, attempted or actual conduct of a regulated member towards a patient that is of a sexual nature.  

Sexual misconduct

As defined by the Health Professions Act, any incident or repeated incidents of objectionable or unwelcome conduct, behaviour, or remarks of a sexual nature by a regulated member who knows or ought reasonably to know will or would cause offence or humiliation to the patient or adversely affect the patient’s health and well-being, but does not include sexual abuse.  

SHR

Shared Health Record 

Sleep medicine diagnostic facilities

Sleep medicine diagnostic facilities can do overnight sleep studies in a sleep lab or hospital that can looks at the brain, heart, eye movement, limb movement and blood oxygen to see how they can help with a patient’s quality of sleep and diagnosis of possible sleep disorders.  

SMA

Senior Medical Advisor (position at CPSA) 

SOP

Standard of Practice 

SOP-QI

Standard of Practice – Quality Improvement 

SPA

Supervised Practice Assessment 

Specialist

A specialist can practice in the area for which they have received specialty training and hold certification in that area.  

SR

Special Register 

SRP1

Special Register – Part 1 

SRP2

Special Register – Part 2 

SRP3

Special Register – Part 3 

SRP4

Special Register – Part 4 

SRP5

Special Register – Part 5 

SRP6

Special Register – Part 6 

SRP7

Special Register – Physician Extender 

SRP8

Special Register – Psychiatry Practice (physician extender) 

Standards of Practice (SOP)

CPSA’s Standards of Practice set out the minimum expectations of professionalism and ethics physicians and physician assistants working in Alberta need to follow. These standards (rules) are created and updated by working together with our members, Albertans, the Minister of Health and relevant partners through consultations. All standards need to be approved by CPSA Council before becoming official.  

Summative assessment

When a physician or physician assistant has been on the Provisional Register for six years, they need to do a pass/fail test of their medical knowledge and related skills to show that they can be moved to the General Register.  

TORA

Terms of Resolution Agreement 

TPP

Tracked Prescription Program 

Tracked Prescription Program (TPP Alberta)

TPP Alberta is a program that monitors use of prescription drugs prone to misuse, using data to optimize safe patient care. This program tracks and oversees the secure, responsible prescribing of Type 1 medications (including methadone, morphine and oxycodone), Type 2 medications (including antibiotics, codeine and benzodiazepines) and certain veterinary medications. CPSA has administered this program since 1986 on behalf of Alberta Health and other member organizations. 

TPP Alberta issues secure prescribing pads to authorized prescribers to safeguard against inappropriate and forged prescribing. 

ULI

Unique Life Identifier 

Unprofessional conduct

Unprofessional conduct encompasses several behaviours defined by the Health Professions Act, including lacking knowledge, skill or judgment in professional services, violating the Act, code of ethics, or standards of practice, and other related misconduct. 

VCUR

Vendor Conformance & Usability Requirements (a part of the POSP Program) 

VE

Voluntary Erasure 

WCDAA

Western Canada Diagnostic Accreditation Alliance 

WHO

World Health Organization