The start of the year remains very challenging for many physicians trying to provide excellent care in an extremely stressed health system. The present situation is unsustainable and CPSO continues to work closely with health-care partners to identify and support solutions.
The March issue of Dialogue dives into various cognitive biases that can result in medical error. When we are tired, working too much, or cognitively overloaded, it is natural to take mental shortcuts that simplify situations. These shortcuts can improve efficiency and workflow, but at times, can also result in preventable patient harm. This article raises awareness of the cognitive traps which are common in health care and outlines strategies that physicians can use to mitigate them with positive impact on patient outcomes.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has great potential to support health care. However, like other game-changing technologies, its full-scale adoption faces delays. “The Between Times” explores the current phase, where we envision AI’s possibilities before it becomes widely integrated and optimized.
“These changes are aimed at enhancing the usefulness of information accessible to the public through the register.”
In recent years, the College has made considerable progress towards our goal of becoming a fully digital regulator. We transitioned to electronic regulatory processes, including annual renewals, introduced a registrant portal for online communication with the College and updated our policies to better support physicians practising in a digital medical environment.
As part of our ongoing digital transformation, the latest issue of Dialogue will be the last available in print. Going forward, our focus will shift to enhancing the digital version of the publication and providing important regulatory updates to you in a more dynamic and environmentally friendly way.
CPSO’s ongoing work includes the development of a new public register, slated for launch later this year. By-law changes related to what information will be displayed on the register were approved in September 2023, but not put into effect, pending the new system’s implementation. As decided by the College’s Board of Directors (formerly Council) during their February/March meeting, a subset of these by-law changes came into effect on March 1. These changes are aimed at enhancing the usefulness of information accessible to the public through the register.
“As part of our ongoing digital transformation, the latest issue of Dialogue will be the last available in print.”
Finally, the regulation of physician assistants (PAs) is expected to receive final government approval by April. The new regulations will set high-level expectations for PAs, aligning with the principles of right-touch regulation and the present delegation model between physicians and PAs will continue. In addition, the new regulations will be flexible to accommodate future growth of the PA profession. Provided that approval timelines are met, PA registration will begin on July 1, with regulation taking effect on October 1.
Thank you for your continued commitment to excellence in health care.
Nancy Whitmore, MD, FRCSC, MBA
Registrar and CEO
