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