HEALTHY SYSTEM
2018
A Shared Commitment to Patient Safety
The trust and confidence of the public and our
effectiveness as professionals is influenced
by the system within which we operate. The
interdependence and collaboration of a variety of
health players is critical to serving in the public
interest and ensuring high quality care for the
patients and their families in Ontario. In 2018, with the introduction of right-touch
regulation at the College, we decided to clarify our
role, recognizing that others – those closer to an
emerging problem, for example – may be better
situated to address the concern. Simply put, we
recognized that we could not be a one-stop shop for
all concerns.
Finding ways to reduce harm to patients is at the
core of the College’s work, however, we recognize
that preventing harm is a system-wide effort. It is
an effort that requires collaboration, coordination
and communication among many players in
the health-care space. These include hospitals,
educational bodies, public-health institutions, and,
of course, doctors themselves, all of whom play a
crucial role in improving patient care. We have made a big shift in the last year. We
realize that to truly fulfill our mandate, we need
to strengthen our relationship with doctors
themselves, to champion their professionalism and
support their dedication and commitment to safe,
quality care. At the heart of right-touch regulation,
we understand that physicians themselves are often
best equipped to address risk – both with individual
patients and with the wider system. Whatever
regulatory measures we use should not be overly
prescriptive and instead support positive behaviour
and the exercise of professional judgment.
When the College becomes aware of a particular
instance of harm or the potential for harm, the issue
has to be fully considered as to whether regulation
is indeed the best tool to address the concern.
Sometimes it won’t be.
In 2019, we will be sharing more of our efforts to
develop policy and solutions that make sense for
the entire health system.
“The changes you are making at the
CPSO are inspirational in a time when
doctors have had little to celebrate.
Thank you for your leadership and
dedication.” – Ontario Doctor
CPSO ANNUAL REPORT 2018 // page 13