FEATURE
5
University. “Practising clinicians have also requested
simple algorithms or summaries that highlight advanc-
es in care and treatment of common endocrinological
conditions that could be incorporated into their clini-
cal practice,” she said.
To meet this need, Dr. Khan explained that QI re-
sources were drafted on common endocrine conditions
in collaboration with clinicians regarded as leaders in
their respective areas of expertise. Input and endorse-
ment was also received from the Canadian Society
for Endocrinology and Metabolism to ensure these
educational resources provided relevant direction on
how a physician might improve their care of patients
with these common endocrine conditions.
“The QI resources can be referred to when I’m con-
ducting an assessment, and the physician can access
them from the CPSO website after they’ve received
my suggestions for quality improvement in their peer
assessment report,” she explained.
While not intended to replace other standards of
care within their discipline, Peer Assessment Hand-
books and QI Resources help provide direction to
assessed physicians before, during, and after their
assessment.
New Peer Assessment Handbooks are being imple-
mented across a dozen medical specialities this year,
and all remaining major specialties are expected to
incorporate new assessment tools over the next three
years. Before any individual specialty adopts new
handbooks into peer assessments, the tools are shared
for feedback from practising physicians and physi-
cian organizations as part of an external consultation.
Consultations planned for this year include diagnostic
imaging-radiology and rheumatology.
As for the new QI resources, they are being imple-
facts about Peer
Assessment Redesign
1 In 2016, 93% of physicians randomly
selected for peer assessment received a
satisfactory outcome. The new approach
to peer assessment is designed to
provide relevant direction for quality to
all physicians, including those already
providing good care.
2 More than 450 physicians serve as peer
assessors for the College spread across
more than 30 disciplines.
3 More than 1,000 physicians and 14
physician organizations provided feedback
on redesigned peer assessment tools.
4 Tools and education resources will be
periodically reviewed to reflect changes in
guidelines, policies, and best practices.
5 Assessed physicians may be contacted to
provide feedback on their experience with
the new tools.
mented in select specialties (including endocrinology,
family medicine, and walk-in clinic practice) and are
being evaluated for their educational benefit to as-
sessed physicians. If you have a peer assessment over
the next few years, you may be contacted to share your
experience in peer assessment, describe how it in-
formed your own quality improvement, and comment
on the factors that may facilitate or present a barrier
for change in your practice. This voluntary feedback
helps the College continue to improve the quality of
its programs.
For more general information on the peer assessment
program and process, visit the CPSO Peer and Practice
Assessment resources page: www.cpso.on.ca/CPSO-
Members/Peer-Assessment.
MD
Issue 2, 2017 Dialogue
13