Dialogue Volume 12 Issue 3 2016 | Page 27

investigations Remedial Agreements Newest disposition identifies educational needs in low risk cases The Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC) – the Committee which oversees College investigations – is now proposing remedial agreements in certain cases. These are low risk cases where minor educational needs are identified, and where the Committee would like confirmation that those needs have been addressed by the physician. Remedial agreements became available to the ICRC on June 1, 2015. Below we answer some frequently asked questions about remedial agreements: four months of signing the agreement, and/or, in certain cases, reassessment at a later date by a third party assessor chosen by the College. The requirements of the follow-up are set out in the agreement. Upon completion, the self-study report will be reviewed by a staff member of the College, and if there are ongoing concerns as a result of that review, the file will be taken back to the ICRC for consideration. How do remedial agreements work? No, unlike undertakings or Specified Continuing Educations or Remediation Programs (SCERPs), remedial agreements are not made public. By entering into a remedial agreement, physicians are committing to engage in a self-directed educational process to address the needs identified by the ICRC and provide follow-up to the Committee indicating what they did to address the learning need, what they have learned and how they have changed (or plan to change) the way they practise as a result of the activity. photo: istockphoto.com What is the benefit of remedial agreements? The College recognizes that education is most effective when a physician undertakes a self-directed program based on identified needs. Individuals approach learning needs in different ways, depending on their learning styles, and for the purposes of a remedial agreement, the ICRC encourages physicians to approach this in a manner that suits them best. What type of follow-up might the Committee request? The Committee can request that a physician complete a self-study report of approximately 2,000 words within Are remedial agreements posted on the public register? What if the physician refuses to sign the remedial agreement? If a remedial agreement cannot be reached, the matter will be returned to the ICRC for disposition. At that point, the ICRC can order a SCERP in its place, which will be on the public register. Can physicians obtain any CPD credits through a remedial agreement? Yes, physicians engaging in self-directed education may gain and report the activity as continuing professional development (CPD). The College’s website includes education and practice improvement resources that physicians may wish to consider when developing their plan (www.cpso.on.ca/CPD/resources). For further information, please visit the Continuing Professional Development section on the College’s website (www. cpso.on.ca/CPD). MD Issue 3, 2016 Dialogue 27