A Case Example
Quality Care
It ’ s our responsibility to ensure that only qualified , competent and ethical physicians are licensed to practise medicine in this province – whether they have received their education and training in Ontario , in another province or in another country .
When we receive an application for licensure , we look at an applicant ’ s education , training and experience . We also ensure there are no concerns about behaviour , health or performance that could prevent the physician from safely caring for patients . In 2021 , we registered 5,948 newly qualified physicians .
Once a physician is registered by the College , we partner with the doctor to ensure they maintain competence throughout their career .
Supporting physicians in their lifelong learning helps Ontario doctors and , ultimately , their patients . Our Quality Improvement ( QI ) for Individuals Program modernizes our approach to ensuring quality care by providing physicians with the tools to evaluate and improve upon their practice . Launched in March 2020 , the program had its first full year of operation in 2021 . By the end of that year , more than 2,500 physicians had engaged in the program , despite the obstacles that continue to be imposed by the pandemic .
With the program in operation for a full year , CPSO surveyed 530 physicians as to their experience in the program . The survey results found that :
75 % of respondents took 16 hours or less to complete the QI program .
82 % found the time to complete the QI program to be somewhat reasonable or very reasonable .
90 % reported that their peer provided them with useful feedback about their practice .
86 % reported that completing the Practice Improvement Plan was a “ valuable part of my quality improvement effort .”
Using Data to Improve Patient Care
A family physician uses data from her Screening Activity Report from Cancer Care Ontario and observes that the mammography rate in her practice is 50 percent , falling well below the Ontario average of 65 percent . She structures a goal for improvement : interventions could include educating target patients with respect to benefits and risks of breast cancer screening ; communicating with patients regarding their screening status ; and any other mechanisms to promote and enhance uptake of mammography . At the end of the 12-month intervention period , the screening rate will be reassessed ( outcome of the intervention ) and used to inform ongoing improvement strategies .
20 CPSO ANNUAL REPORT 2021