Annual Report 2017 | Page 14

Facility Oversight As a medical regulator, our primary focus is on risk of harm and patient safety as well as the quality of care provided to patients. The Oversight of Health Facilities and Devices Act, 2017 (OHFDA) provides for a single legislative framework for the Independent Health Facilities Program (IHFP), the Out- of-Hospital Premises Inspection Program (OHPIP) and energy applying and detecting medical devices (EADMDs). The College has been involved in facilities regulation since the early 1990s. Under the Independent Health Facilities Act (IHFA) the College is assigned, through its Registrar, specific duties regarding the regulation of independent health facilities. In 2010, the College expanded its involvement in facilities regulation with the development of the Out of Hospital Premises Inspection Program (OHPIP). The College sought to develop the OHPIP to address a significant threat to patient safety related to facilities providing uninsured, complex surgical interventions for cosmetic purposes, but that were not captured by the IHFA or any other form of oversight. The OHFDA’s focus on patient safety brings changes to a new regulatory system of oversight for community health facilities (CHFs) in Ontario. The College voiced support for the legislation as it provides an inspecting body with effective tools to take action to protect the public where quality issues are identified by the inspecting body. The College is also supportive of the flexibility that the new legislation possesses to capture medical services that are delivered in the community and that should be subject to quality The College’s involvement in facilities regulation has continued to grow in scope. In May 2017, the College proposed a regulation amendment, following the Minister’s request, to provide the College with authority to enter and inspect premises where fertility services are performed, regardless of whether anesthesia or sedation is used. This program is not yet operating; however, it demonstrates the College’s commitment to ensuring a modern system of patient protection in Ontario. For that reason, the College was pleased to welcome, in 2017, legislation that consolidates oversight for Ontario’s out of hospital facilities and services, better ensures patient safety, and takes important steps to increase transparency and public reporting. oversight. Implementation of these changes will be up to the next Ontario government. CPSO ANNUAL REPORT 2017 // page 14