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Consultation 021

Telemedicine, Continuity of Care & Episodic Care

This consultation closed on Oct. 20, 2021.

We understand many in the healthcare community are facing difficulties due to COVID-19. If you were unable to participate in our consultation before the closing date, please let us know so we can consider options that will still allow you to provide your feedback.

About the standard

The COVID-19 pandemic means more healthcare professionals than ever are using forms of virtual care. As a result, many regulatory bodies across Canada, including CPSA, are in the process of updating their standards to support this evolving way of providing patient care.

In preparing the draft Virtual Care standard, a jurisdictional scan was done to determine what other medical regulatory authorities across the country are doing. Many are at various stages of reviewing and updating their own virtual care standards and there is currently considerable variation amongst provinces.

The Continuity of Care and Episodic Care standards were included in this consultation because of their relevance to the Virtual Care standard, particularly with respect to their interpretation in light of virtual care apps and various other situations.

Proposed amendments to three CPSA standards of practice relating to virtual care (Telemedicine, Continuity of Care and Episodic Care) were approved by Council for consultation at their September meeting.

HIGHLIGHTS OF PROPOSED CHANGES

Virtual Care (formerly Telemedicine)

  • Renamed to reflect current terminology;
  • Preamble added to define “virtual care” and ensure clarity that the standard applies to all regulated members;
  • Cross-border virtual care requirements delineated, including requirement to ensure liability coverage;
  • Removing the exemption for an out-of-province physician to register with CPSA if the total number of virtual care events are limited to five times per year;
  • Clarifying when virtual care encounters by out-of-province physicians can be done without obtaining a license with CPSA (emergency assessment or treatment of the patient, where there are no other care options available);
  • Clarifying that copying another regulated healthcare provider on requisitions or investigations doesn’t remove the ordering member’s responsibility for follow-up;
  • Explicitly stating that ordering investigations under another healthcare provider’s name is inappropriate; and
  • Clearly stating patients cannot be “cherry picked” and charging for insured services is inappropriate.

Explore the changes in the draft standard even further

Continuity of Care

  • Preamble added to clarify the standard applies to all regulated members and to acknowledge that continuity of care does not mean personally available at all times;
  • Discussing the importance of completing investigations in a timely manner with patients;
  • Clarifying that copying another regulated healthcare provider on requisitions or investigations does not remove the ordering member’s responsibility for follow-up; and
  • Explicitly stating that ordering investigations under another healthcare provider’s name is inappropriate.

Explore the changes in the draft standard even further

Episodic Care

  • Preamble added to clarify the standard applies to all regulated members and to acknowledge that continuity of care does not mean personally available at all times;
  • Discussing the importance of completing investigations in a timely manner with patients;
  • Clarifying that copying another regulated healthcare provider on requisitions or investigations does not remove the ordering member’s responsibility for follow-up; and
  • Explicitly stating that ordering investigations under another healthcare provider’s name is inappropriate.

Explore the changes in the draft standard even further

Your opinion matters

Changes to CPSA’s Standards of Practice impact your day-to-day practice. Your input is vital to ensuring the standards strike an appropriate balance between serving patient needs and setting reasonable expectations for your medical practice.

This consultation closed on  Oct. 20, 2021. Once amendments are finalized and approved by CPSA Council, physicians will be notified and made aware of any new expectations via The Messenger newsletter.

We respect your privacy

All feedback is subject to the CPSA’s Privacy Statement. CPSA reviews all comments before publication to ensure there is no offensive language, personal attacks or unsubstantiated allegations.

CPSA members, partner organizations, other health care professionals and Albertans were invited to provide feedback from Sept. 20-Oct. 20, 2021. Council will consider non-nominal feedback when approving final amendments to the standard in December.

Contact us about this consultation

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