Dialogue Volume 14 Issue 1 2018 | Page 12

FEATURE

4 THINGS TO KNOW

ABOUT THE DRAFT POLICY

1

Physicians must provide
90 days’ notice to active patients prior to a planned practice closure.

2

Physicians must notify the
CPSO of a practice closure as well as the arrangements made for storing and accessing patient medical records.

3

Steps must be taken to minimize the impact on patients and to not impede patients’ ability to access care. This includes assisting patients in arranging care from another health-care provider, meeting expectations around medical records, facilitating access to prescription medication, and managing any outstanding test results.

4

A sample letter of notice to patients will be provided as an appendix to the policy.

Participate in this consultation at www. cpso. on. ca

specific patients such as those in hospital or other care facilities. Physicians are advised to take reasonable steps to arrange for the ongoing care of all patients and consider providing additional assistance to complex or marginalized patients. However, it is also recognized that arranging ongoing care for patients will not be possible in many circumstances.
Two options are outlined that are available to physicians in respect to medical records upon the closure of a medical practice: that they either be transferred to another person legally authorized to hold them or be retained. The draft policy also notes the exception
contained in regulation that allows for a shortened period of retention for family medicine and primary care medical records in the case of a physician who ceases to practise medicine. The draft recognizes that, in some cases, a practice closure may be sudden, due to illness or death of the physician. In these instances, the actions articulated in this policy may be undertaken by a designate. The College recommends that physicians designate someone in advance to facilitate compliance with the policy in the event the physician is unable to do so. MD
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DIALOGUE ISSUE 1, 2018