practice partner office consult
The purpose of this column is to answer questions about issues that we either hear about frequently , or that have a wide applicability across the profession . If you have any questions or topic suggestions for this column , please email them to feedback @ cpso . on . ca , or contact the Physician Advisory Service .
Offered free rent for your practice ?
Steer clear of deals that present a conflict of interest
Support patients ’ freedom of choice
Apharmacist is offering to provide me free rent if I relocate my practice adjacent to his pharmacy . Is this permissible ? This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive at the Physician Advisory Service , a practice consulting service for members that manages over 7,000 inquiries per year . It is not uncommon for a physician to be approached by a pharmacist who is willing to pay the physician ’ s rent , and sometimes overhead expenses , in exchange for the physician relocating her / his practice to the pharmacy or directly adjacent to the pharmacy . This is done in an attempt to increase business , assuming the physician ’ s patients will now fill their prescriptions at that pharmacy . You probably have seen advertisements in professional journals and magazines from pharmacies offering exactly this type of incentive . The offer sounds great but is it permissible ? The answer can be found in the Conflict of Interest Regulations of the Medicine Act , which stipulates the following :
16 . It is a conflict of interest for a member where the member , or a member of his or her family , or a corporation wholly , substantially , or actually owned or controlled by the member or a member of his or her family , ( c ) rents premises from ,
( i ) a supplier to whom the member refers his or her patients or their specimens , or
( ii ) a supplier who sells or otherwise supplies any medical goods or services to the patients of the member , except where ,
Issue 4 , 2016 Dialogue 55