HEALTH CARE
“During the clinical field assessment the role of the assessors is
of immense importance; they are the eyes and ears of the SIPPA
program and also add to the orientation of the candidates so
that they are ready for practice as soon as the assessment is over.”
-Dr. Penny Davis
“You need to meet with and familiarize yourself with your
candidate as soon as possible after first meeting. You also
need to try and learn more about the candidate’s cultural
and previous working background. You need to make sure
the candidate understands your role and duties as an assessor, as well as the rules surrounding your method of practice in your clinic and your town/city. Expectations should
be clarified from the start and all issues should be dealt with
as they appear.
“You need to make sure your patients are informed about
the whole process and try and get them on board. Also
make sure your staff is familiar with the process.
“In the end your role is to closely observe the candidate and
their ability to practice medicine in a safe way in the Canadian environment. You will have to be cognizant of some
cultural differences and be ready to jump in if needed.”
SIPPA PROCESS THOROUGH AND FAIR
Dr. Penny Davis leads the SIPPA program. She says that in order to abide by national standards, to avoid any suggestion
of bias or conflict of interest, a SIPPA candidate cannot be
assessed within the health region to which he or she is recruited. SIPPA assessors are very aware of this fact and that
they are acting on behalf of another region in carrying out
the assessment. They also realize that there is no immediate advantage to themselves in recommending the candidate for licensure. In all, she adds that the program is both
rigorous and accommodating; rigorous by ensuring that all
candidates are qualified (thanks to the assessors) and accommodating due to the fact that an IMG going through
the program cannot practice medicine in the province
without passing both a written and field exam. The Medical
Council of Canada is leading a process to develop national
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SMA NEWS DIGEST | SPRING 2014
standards for practice ready assessments like SIPPA, and
Saskatchewan’s program is very close to the “gold standard”
being considered.
“SIPPA is a made-in-Saskatchewan solution, and it is working. We are delighted by the success of the program and will
continue to work in partnership with other bodies to ensure
continued success of H