Resources for physicians during COVID-19

Learn about how CPSA plans to handle postponed certifying exams. See our email to residents. (March 25, 2020)

The Medical Council of Canada (MCC), the College of Family Physicians (CFPC) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) have made the difficult decision to postpone their spring exams due to COVID-19. We are still looking at the impact this will have on physicians applying for independent practice and exploring the options available, including registration on the Provisional Register until such time as credentials can be obtained for the General Register. You will be kept informed as this process is finalized.

Health Canada has updated their COVID-19 prescribing exemptions since the first notice went out on March 19. Physicians (or any prescriber with authority in Alberta to prescribe controlled drugs) are able to verbally initiate prescriptions for controlled substances if needed. Please refer to Health Canada’s FAQ document for more information, and read CPSA’s updated notification.

Please note, pharmacists will only dispense up to one month’s supply of medication at a time. This will assist in stabilizing Alberta’s drug supply and ensure all patients have access to the medicine they need.

• Message to Facility Medical Directors

As per clause 9(2) of the Physicians, Surgeons and Osteopaths Profession Regulation, CPSA Registrar, Dr. Scott McLeod, activated an Emergency Register on March 19, 2020.

The CPSA Emergency Register will allow physicians currently registered in another province or territory to temporarily work in Alberta during emergency circumstances, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. This registration is free and there is no formal registration process. Here is our criteria to apply:

Interested physicians must:

• be on the general register (and unrestricted) in another Canadian jurisdiction.
• send us a Certificate of Professional Conduct (CPC) from the jurisdiction(s) they are currently registered in (verbal confirmation from their College will be acceptable).
• confirm that they have CMPA membership.
• submit a piece of government issued photo ID.
• agree to the terms outlined in the CPSA Registration Understanding and Acknowledgement for the Emergency Register, which CPSA will send you once you email us.

The CPSA Emergency Register expires after 60 days. Physicians may renew beyond this point.

Lastly, the CMPA will extend assistance to physicians are providing care outside of their usual field of practice or in a different province.

Physicians who are interested and meet the criteria can email us directly at registration@cpsa.ab.ca.

CPSA recognizes that during the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians may be required to work outside of their normal scope of practice and training. We are working hard to ensure you have all the resources you need to be able to focus on providing front-line care to Albertans during these are extraordinary times

During this time, any physician who has privileges and is working in an Alberta Health Services (AHS) or Covenant Health facility can be deployed in any way they see fit.

Physicians will be exempt from the CPSA’s requirement to work within their recent experience and training as long as they are doing so at the direction of AHS and for the duration of the pandemic only. We will also not require a change in scope of practice form or approvals in these instances.

In addition, the CMPA will extend assistance to physicians are providing care outside of their usual field of practice or in a different province.

This temporary exemption does not apply to physicians who are working in private practice. Physicians who are in private practice or physicians who wish to wish to change their scope of practice after the pandemic is concluded will need to apply for a formal change in scope of practice through CPSA.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, CPSA is postponing most non-urgent assessments and committee meetings until further notice.

We are still prioritizing some registration assessments to help put physician resources into Alberta’s health system.

At this time, it’s most important for health care professionals to be on the front lines supporting patients. We will connect with you at a later date to reschedule your committee meeting or assessment.

Please know we are here to help however we can. Thank you for your efforts and tireless support of Albertans during this time.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact info@cpsa.ab.ca or your CPSA Assessment contact.

As the COVID-19 situation in Canada and abroad continues to evolve rapidly, the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) and Pan Canadian PRA programs have made the difficult decision to postpone the June 3, 2020 TDM exam session.

MCC worked with us to consider the risks as well as the impact on candidates for postponing the exam. By postponing, we are doing our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

We’ll continue to work closely with MCC to find an alternative exam date that meets recommendations from public health authorities. Our priority is the health and safety of all involved.

For more information, please see MCC’s announcement.

For any questions or concerns, please contact PRA-AB at RegistrationAssessments@cpsa.ab.ca.

• Update to Cessation of FIT  (Apr 3)
• Cessation of Routine Laboratory & Fecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) Testing (Mar 25)

Changes to Routine HBV, HCV and HIV Viral Load Testing and HSV/VZV Phoning

The Northwest Territories are looking to physicians from Alberta, for help responding to the pandemic. Find how to get involved.

• COVID-19 and CMPA protection

The Alberta College of Pharmacy (ACP) has provided pharmacists with the following direction to follow during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keep this in mind when you are prescribing:

ACP recommends pharmacists advise and assist their patients who require medication on a regular basis, to ensure they are up-to-date and have a sufficient supply to manage their chronic conditions. If the patient does not have an adequate supply, pharmacists should take steps, including contacting the prescriber or adapting prescriptions as appropriate. Aim to provide patients only an adequate supply, as stockpiling medications in large quantities is unnecessary and could trigger drug shortages.

If self-isolated patients require medications, ideally the patient should have someone to act as their agent to pick up the medications from the pharmacy (who is not ill and has not been exposed). If this is not possible, medications may be delivered to the patient, but processes should be developed to prevent direct contact with the patient while maintaining security of the drugs and patient confidentiality.

When presented with patients whose pharmacies are closed and have no access to their patient records, pharmacists are advised to review Netcare and other evidence of ongoing therapy as a part of their assessment to renew the prescriptions. Refer to the ACP Prescribing algorithms for adaptation and renewal to aid in decision-making.