Annual Report 2016 | Page 39

LOOKING AHEAD trate our goals. The median age of physicians in Ontario is 51 years, so over the next 20 years, a significant number of our physicians are going to be over the age of 70. In harnessing the College data for analytics, we will be better able to answer the questions: • What will be the composition of active practis- ing physicians in Ontario over the next 20 years? • Do we need different assessment programs for physicians who are at different ages and stages in their career, based on how they practise and their practice experience? • Can we support physicians with early engage- ment to potentially prevent complaints down the road? We are also looking at further expanding our repertoire of assessments based on evidence. For example, the literature suggests that increasing physician age is associated with declining practice competency. To this end, we already assess all physicians who are 70 years of age or over in On- tario to fulfill our mandate of supporting physi- cian competence and practice improvement. The literature also suggests that other ‘risk factors’ may be associated with practice quality – such as being in a solo or isolated practice. There may also be ‘support factors’ for high quality practice – for example, physicians working in a group setting tend to have fewer practice issues. Using good data, current literature and our contextual experience as the basis for evidence, we can better tailor our programs based on risks and supports across a physician’s career to optimize the effec- tiveness of our programs, support our mandate, and use our resources efficiently. The use of data and analytics will be key to the many other initiatives across the College now underway, including the Education Strategic Initiative. One component of this strategy is to understand the data associated with measuring the constructs and effectiveness of educational decisions focused on professionalism and com- munication by College committees. Through the continuous evaluation of education at the Col- lege, the education strategy will continue to take shape over the next year. The long-term impacts of the data strategy will allow us to routinely use data and evidence to make good operational decisions; have con- fidence that our programs are effective and our operations are efficient; and have the ability to test new ideas and know that they work – all towards supporting safe physician practice and good patient outcomes. In the coming months, we will also continue our work in addressing the opioid crisis that is rav- aging the country. In 2017, we launched a strategy that takes a wide-ranging approach, one that puts patient and public safety at the forefront. The College has identified and committed to specific actions to ensure safe and appropriate prescribing. Our work in this area will be in- formed by the new Canadian Guideline, as well as by our continued work with a broad range of partners. Long-term success at addressing this crisis will continue to require the coordinated ac- tion of many and we are dedicated to continuing this work. As many of you know, this will be my last Annual Report message to you. I will be leaving the College in the spring of 2018 to pursue other interests. Serving as the Registrar of this College for the past 15 years has been the greatest professional experience of my life. It has been a true privilege. I would like to thank the many Presidents and members of Council for the opportunity and support given to me throughout the years. I would also like to thank the many, many Ontar- io doctors who have contributed to the College mission of public protection and, in so doing, have strengthened the foundation of professional regulation. And lastly, I would like to thank the smart, dedicated and hard-working College staff – if any credit is due, it goes to them. Thank you. ANNUAL REPORT 2016 39