Features cont’d
34 Methadone Exemption Lifted,
Expectations Remain
Methadone prescribers no longer require a federal
exemption to prescribe methadone. But given
the safety risk that methadone represents if not
prescribed appropriately, the College will continue to
have expectations for physicians who wish to enter
this area of practice.
35 Training Requirements for Assessing
Sex Reassignment Surgery
Physicians are reminded that they must have the
appropriate training in WPATH standards of care in
order to assess patients for sex reassignment surgery.
38 Opioid Wisely
Choosing Wisely Canada has launched a campaign
to raise awareness around the importance of
clinician-patient conversations to reduce harms
associated with opioid prescribing.
40 Legalization of Recreational Cannabis
As of October 17, Canadians will be able to
consume marijuana recreationally without criminal
penalties. Given this change, the prevalence of use
may increase, and patients may be more open to
sharing information about their use with health-
care professionals.
45
Practice Partner
41 Civil Service
Civility may sound like a quaint concept, but it’s
needed more than ever. It is also something that
doesn’t just happen. It is something we need to
value, learn more about, practise and encourage.
45 Infection Control and Prevention
Transmission of blood-borne pathogens can
occur from unsafe and improper medication
administration by injection and infusion. To ensure
that physicians are using medications appropriately,
Public Health Ontario has developed some FAQs
about medication administration.
47 Practice Points – A Breakdown in
Professionalism
We look at how a tense interaction between a
doctor and her patient could have been improved.
49 Patient Safety
When treating patients who are taking medications
that cause constipation, it is critical to anticipate,
monitor and prescribe laxatives as a routine part of
care.
52 Understanding your Privacy, Security
Obligations
41
OntarioMD has developed a module to assist
Ontario physicians, particularly those who use
electronic medical records and other digital health
tools, to keep up to date with privacy and security
obligations for personal health information.