Performance

Chapter 5: Our Findings – Licensing
Key observations
The Provincial Physician Registry project being undertaken by the Ministry Action Team will assist in helping structure information on licensing and will make it
easier for information on restrictions on physician licenses to be made more readily available across the healthcare system.
In addition, the following key observations are covered in this Chapter:
The College has a robust and sound system for processing applications to be licensed in BC;
The Federation of State Medical Boards in the US has a universal database that contains information on any disciplinary procedure across the US since
the 1960s. BC would benefit from a similar system across Canada that incorporates standardization of aspects of the Agreement on Internal Trade; and
The UK system of revalidation requires all doctors to demonstrate their licenses are up to date and their ongoing fitness to practice through five years of
appraisal data, continuing professional development and multisource feedback. A similar system would reduce risk in BC.
Role of the key organizations
The College has absolute authority under the HPA to grant physician licenses. Hence, there are no findings which point to a conflict between the roles of different
organizations within the system.
Communication
The College issues Certificates of Professional Conduct (CPCs) which outline any restrictions on a physician’s license. CPCs are provided to the HA or
denominational facility when a physician first applies for privileges. However, since CPCs are not required to support the annual application to renew privileges,
HAs felt that the College was selective in the information provided when a restriction is placed on a physician’s license. For example, in communicating a
restriction on a physician’s license to a HA, the HA will only be informed about that specific constraint without disclosing any additional limits placed on the
license. While the College has acknowledged that it could improve its communication, it was noted that restrictions are due to privacy reasons.
All parties need to agree a way forward if information on restrictions can be made more readily available in the future and tracked through the Physician Registry
System that is currently being procured as part of the Ministry’s response to Dr. Cochrane’s report.
Ministry of Health 29
Provincial Review of Physician Licensing, Credentialing, Privileging & Performance Management
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