Autumn 2007
2008 license renewals due
by January 7, fees unchanged
Annual Licensing renewal forms will be mailed to
College members in mid-November. Physicians who have
not received their renewal packages by December 10
are asked to contact the registration department (see
below). Please notify the College of any recent address
changes or if you will be out of the province in December
2007.
College members with internet access have the option
of renewing and paying for their 2008 license using
a simple online renewal form. Information on using
the online option will be distributed with the license
renewal forms. Online license renewal can be paid
with VISA, MasterCard or American Express and involves
no additional charge.
Annual License fees remain unchanged from 2007.
If you do not wish to renew your Nova Scotia license
for 2008 please be sure to notify the College in writing
prior to January 7, 2008.
2008 License Renewal Deadlines (All times
AST)
2008 Fee
License renewal form and fee processed online or received
by the College before 4 pm, January 7, 2008. (Payment
and form must be received before this date for the
fee to apply).
2008 Late Fee
License renewal form and fee processed online or received
by the College from 4 pm, January 7, 2008 until 4
pm, January 31, 2008.
2008 Reinstatement Fee
License renewal form and fee received after 4 pm,
January 31, 2008. (Immediate Suspension – Requires
Reinstatement).
For further information, or if you have not received
your license renewal form in the mail by December
10, 2007, please contact the registration department
by phone at (902) 482-2920, toll-free in Nova Scotia
at 1 (877) 282-7767, or by e-mail at registration@cpsns.ns.ca.
2008 incorporation renewals due by December 3, 2007
Incorporation renewal forms for 2008 were mailed
in late September and are due by December 3, 2007.
If you have not received your forms, please contact
the College (see below).
Please note, for your convenience, renewal fees are
now payable by Visa, MasterCard and American Express
Cards. Please complete the credit card information
box on page two of Form “B” if you choose
to use this method of payment.
If the College has not received the payment and renewal
form on or before Friday, January 4, 2008, the permit
to practice medicine under that corporation will be
suspended and subject to a reinstatement fee of $100,
in addition to the annual renewal fee.
For further information, please contact Anastasia
Young by phone at (902) 482-2925, toll-free in Nova
Scotia at 1 (877) 282-7767, or by e-mail at ayoung@cpsns.ns.ca.
College guidelines and policies approved in October
2007
Council approved the following guidelines at its
October 12 meeting:
Conflict of Interest Guidelines
www.cpsns.ns.ca/publications/conflict-of-interest.htm
Last approved by Council in May 2002, this document
was re-approved with significant revisions on October
12, 2007.
Policy on Withdrawal of Physician Services
During Job Actions
www.cpsns.ns.ca/publications/withdrawal-service.htm
Last approved by Council in December 2000, this document
was re-approved with significant revisions on October
12, 2007.
Physicians and the Pharmaceutical Industry
www.cpsns.ns.ca/publications/physicians-pharma.htm
A policy of the Canadian Medical Association that
was endorsed by Council on October 12.
Doctors Nova Scotia pilot project gives financial
assistance to NSPAR participants
Editor’s Note: This article originally
appeared in the October 2007 issue of DoctorsNS, the
official magazine of Doctors Nova Scotia.
By Samantha Holmes
Financial assistance is now available to physicians
taking CME courses recommended by the Nova Scotia
Physician Achievement Review (NSPAR) program.
A total of $10,000 is being made available through
a Doctors Nova Scotia pilot program in collaboration
with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova
Scotia which oversees NSPAR.
NSPAR randomly and confidentially reviews physicians
through surveys with colleagues, staff and patients.
The outcomes are reported to the physician to highlight
areas of excellence, identify minor opportunities
for improvement or, in some cases, recommend continuing
medical education to upgrade on identified deficiencies.
The pilot project funding will reimburse a physician
up to $500 toward the cost of a CME program. Doctors
Nova Scotia will uphold the College’s commitment
to protect the privacy of any physician involved in
the NSPAR program.
Doctors Nova Scotia President Dr. Don Pugsley said
the association’s interest in the pilot project
is two-fold.
“Firstly, we recognize this as an opportunity
to individually support our members who participate
in the program.” he said.
“Just as importantly, it speaks to our support
for and belief in. continuing medical education. We
should never stop wanting to learn. If this financial
assistance supports a member who has decided to take
additional training, to be an even better physician,
then we all win,” he added.
The pilot project will run until funding earmarked
to the program is depleted. After that, the College
may submit a formal proposal to Doctors Nova Scotia’s
Member Services Committee to request the program be
a long-term benefit to members.
For more information on the Nova Scotia Physician
Achievement Review program visit www.nspar.ca.
From the Investigations Committees
The following summary describes a case examined by
one of the College's Investigations Committees. This
information is provided for educational purposes.
All names and certain details have been changed to
preserve confidentiality.
Timely transfer of medical records
Ms. White changed physicians on May1, 2007 after moving
for work reasons. She met with her new physician,
Dr. Black, on June 10, 2007. At that visit, she signed
a consent to copy and transfer her medical records
from her previous physician, Dr. Green. Dr. Black’s
office faxed the consent to Dr. Green’s office
on June 11, 2007. When Ms. White returned to Dr Black
on July 10, 2007 she was informed that her previous
records had not yet been received. Ms. White contacted
Dr Green’s office by phone on July 10, 2007
and was told that her records would not be transferred
until she paid a $30.00 copying fee. Ms. White mailed
a cheque the following day. The cheque was cashed
on July 14, 2007.
On August 14, 2007 Ms. White went to see Dr. Black
and was informed that Dr. Black had still not received
her records. Ms. White called Dr. Green’s office
and was told by Dr Green’s secretary that Dr.
Green was very busy and would get to her records when
she had time. Ms. White was also told that Dr. Green
was taking a vacation soon and that the records would
probably not be ready until September. Ms. White told
Dr. Green’s secretary that she had seen a specialist
in May to be assessed for Lupus, and that that her
new doctor needed to see her records, particularly
the specialist’s note. Ms. White was told that
Dr. Green would get to her records when she had time.
On August 16, 2007, Ms. White informed the College
that she wanted to file a complaint against Dr. Green.
The College informed Dr. Green that Ms. White was
considering filing a complaint unless her records
were transferred promptly. Dr. Green informed the
College that she was going on vacation and that Ms.
White would have to wait until she returned in September.
She further stated that “the College should
find better things to do than harass me.”
On August 24, 2007 Ms. White filed a complaint with
the College. Dr. Black received Ms. White’s
records from Dr. Green on September 5, 2007.
In reviewing the complaint, the Investigation Committee
expressed concerns about the time it took Dr. Green
to transfer copies of the records to Dr. Black. The
Committee was also concerned about Dr. Green’s
response to the phone call she had received from the
College. The Committee met with Dr. Green, who explained
that she was a busy solo physician, that Ms. White
had few medical problems, and that there was no harm
done by the delay.
The Committee issued a Counsel to
Dr. Green that she was expected to respond to inquires
from the College in a professional manner. The Committee
also issued a Caution that such a
delay in transferring the care of a patient was unacceptable
and that if it occurred again, further actions might
be necessary.
June CAPP assessment results announced
Four of the 20 candidates in the June 2007 Clinician
Assessment for Practice Program (CAPP) cohort were
deemed eligible for licensure. Orientation for the
successful candidates took place on October 15-19,
followed by practice site visits.
The next CAPP assessment is scheduled for June 2008.
Maudsley “superb leader and visionary”
Dr. Robert Maudsley, who has been Executive Director
of CAPP since its inception, stepped down in late
October to become the program’s Director of
Assessment, Research and Program Evaluation. “Dr.
Maudsley has been a superb leader and visionary,”
said Dr. Cameron Little, Registrar. “The success
of CAPP is a testament to his vast expertise and profound
commitment to medical education and professionalism.”
Dr. William Lowe, the College’s Deputy Registrar,
Registration, will also now assume the role of Executive
Director of CAPP.
College approves undergraduate medical student observership
policy
Responding to requests from Doctors Nova Scotia,
district health authorities and undergraduate medical
students, the College has approved a policy that will
permit second-year and higher undergraduate students
attending any of the 17 Canadian medical schools to
undertake clinical observerships in Nova Scotia medical
practices. Before this policy, clinical observerships
were limited to international medical graduates wishing
to obtain North American experience by observing a
medical practice.
Particularly in rural areas of the province, there
is a recognition that many local students attending
Dalhousie or other Canadian medical schools are interested
in observing a medical practice in their early undergraduate
years. It is believed that this could be useful for
rural communities seeking to encourage local students
to return home to practice after graduation.
The policy (below) was approved by Council on October
12, 2007. For further information and applications,
please contact Susan Williams, Registration Manager,
at (902) 421-2203, toll-free in Nova Scotia at 1 (877)
282-7767, or by e-mail at swilliams@cpsns.ns.ca.
Policy Regarding Observerships for Canadian
Medical Students
As an observer Canadian medical students will interact
with patients and will have access to private personal
patient information. For these reasons observers require
supervision by a fully licensed physician. The College
of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia needs to
ensure that a student observer is a legitimate Canadian
medical student and is undertaking this observership
to further their knowledge of medical practice in
Nova Scotia.
Therefore, if a Canadian medical student wishes to
act as an observer in Nova Scotia he/she must:
- be a second, third or fourth year student enrolled
in a medical school in Canada
- have the approval of the undergraduate medical
education office of their medical school
- have a licensed physician supervisor in good standing
with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova
Scotia
- have the approval of the College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Nova Scotia
- submit an application form to the College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Nova Scotia for an observership
permit
The permit will remain valid at the discretion of
the College but will usually be time limited and location
specific.
The Canadian medical student must submit a written
application to the College for approval of their proposed
observership. This must be accompanied by a sponsorship
agreement from the supervising physician describing
the proposed activities for the observership. If approval
is granted by the College the observer and supervisor
will be notified in writing outlining their duties/responsibilities/restrictions/limitations.
Observers may:
- observe
- conduct supervised (direct and indirect) interviews
- conduct examinations under direct supervision
Observers are not allowed
to do the following:
- make entries on the patient’s medical record
unless cosigned
- give medical advice to a patient or make a medical
diagnosis
- prescribe treatment
- take a telephone call regarding clinical matters
on behalf of their supervisor or other physicians
- perform medical procedures
- discharge a patient from care.
Approved by Credentials: August 29, 2007
Approved by Council: October 12, 2007
College produces "Advice for Retiring Physicians
about Licensing and Notification"
"Advice for Retiring Physicians about Licensing and
Notification" contains straightforward information
designed to facilitate physicians' retirement from
practice. Included is information on notification,
medical records management, license retention after
retirement and re-licensure after retirement.
The document is available on the website at www.cpsns.ns.ca/advice-retiring.htm,
or by contacting the Registration Department by phone
at (902) 482-2920
Prescription drug abuse FAQs available
The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse has prepared
a frequently asked question (FAQ) document on prescription
drug abuse. Some of the topics include:
- What kinds of drugs are used for non-medical purposes?
- How and why does diversion of prescription drugs
occur?
- What is being done to monitor, minimize and prevent
prescription drug abuse?
- How effective are measures aimed at reducing prescription
drug abuse?
- What are some of the treatment strategies used
with those who abuse prescription drugs?
- What is the bottom line when it comes to diversion
and abuse of prescription drugs in Canada?
This document is available on the College website
at:
www.cpsns.ns.ca/prescription-drug-abuse.pdf
Evidence-based information on natural health products
and CAM available
Health Canada estimates that upwards of 71% of Canadians
use some form of natural health products including
herbs and homeopathic medicines. The increased popularity
of these products has led to questions about their
safety, efficacy, dosage and interactions with other
agents. Below is a sample of evidence-based information
on natural health products and complementary and alternative
medicine (CAM) that may be of use to physicians.
CAMline
www.camline.ca
Free website for healthcare professionals and the
public that presents peer-reviewed, objective information
on the safety and efficacy of complementary and alternative
medicine from a Canadian perspective.
Medeffect Canada
www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect
Health Canada website that supplies information about
suspected adverse reactions to Canadian marketed health
products, including natural health products.
Alternative Medicine Alert
www.ahcpub.com
Subscription-based monthly newsletter that takes a
critical look at popular therapies and outlines the
clinical data that either support or refute the use
of each therapy. Describes how therapies are supposed
to work, potential beneficial uses, and the dangers
of some popular therapies that have no available clinical
proof of efficacy.
MedlinePlus Herbs and Supplements
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/herb_All.html
Website of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
that contains detailed information on safety, efficacy
and interactions for a number of common herbs and
supplements.
Université de Montréal offers unique
medico-legal program
Editor’s Note: The following information
was provided by the Université de Montréal.
In January 2008, the University de Montreal will
launch an English-language web-based program in insurance
medicine and medico-legal expertise that is the first
of its kind in North America. The program provides
formal and comprehensive training for health professionals
practicing or interested in medico-legal assessment
and insurance medicine.
The deadline for registration is December 1, 2007.
For more information visit www.mae.umontreal.ca.
Change of name, address or e-mail?
The College depends solely on submissions from members
to keep its address information up to date. For members'
protection, the College requires that change requests
be submitted in writing. Address changes submitted
by e-mail are acceptable if the e-mail is sent from
the e-mail address the College has on record for the
member.
Third-party change requests are not accepted. Name
changes must be accompanied by the appropriate legal
documentation. Address or name changes can also be
submitted on an Address or Name Change Notification
Form, which is available on the website at http://www.cpsns.ns.ca/address-name-change-form.htm
or by contacting the College by phone at (902) 422-5823
or toll-free in Nova Scotia 1-877-282-7767, by fax
at 902-422-5035, or by e-mail at registration@cpsns.ns.ca.
How to contact the College
A complete list of College contacts is available
HERE.
