Opportunity for BCCFP Members to Provide Input on Proposed CPSBC Bylaw Amendment Recognizing FPs as Specialists in Family Medicine
This past spring, the BCCFP launched a campaign raising awareness of family physicians’ training and certification as specialists in family medicine. As part of this work, we submitted a letter requesting that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) consider amending its bylaws in alignment with other regulatory Colleges across Canada so that family physicians who hold certification with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) are recognized as “specialists in family medicine”.
We did this because we feel that the distinctions between healthcare providers is becoming blurred in our province’s increasingly complex primary care landscape. To maintain patient safety and public trust, the BCCFP believes that patients need to be aware of the credentials and training of the health care professionals providing their care.
In response to our request to amend its bylaws, the CPSBC approved amendments to Section 7-4 of its College Bylaws under the Health Professions Act. The proposed bylaw states: “Nothing in section 7-4(3) prevents a registrant who is a certificant of the CFPC from calling themselves a “specialist in family medicine” or a “family medicine specialist”.
We appreciate the CPSBC’s receptiveness to our request and the well-meaning intent of the proposed changes. While we see the proposed amendment as a step in the right direction, we believe that using clearer, more affirming language would be in the best interest of family physicians and the public.
As such, in our response to the CPSBC, we have respectfully requested that the following language be considered: “A family physician who is a registrant and certificant of the College of Family Physicians of Canada is designated as “a specialist in family medicine” or a “family medicine specialist”.
BCCFP members have the opportunity to provide comment on the proposed amendment until January 15, 2022.
To facilitate your response, we have provided suggested language you can use to email the CPSBC and the Ministry of Health (see below).
Please send your feedback directly to:
College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC
Attn: Registrar and CEO
Email: bylaw10@cpsbc.ca
Fax: 604-733-3503
and
Ministry of Health
Director, Regulatory Initiatives
Professional Regulation and Oversight Branch
Email: proregadmin@gov.bc.ca
Subject: Feedback re: proposed amendments to Section 7-4 of the CPSBC Bylaws
T0 the Registrar,
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) recently approved amendments to Section 7-4 of its College Bylaws to acknowledge that “Nothing in section 7-4(3) prevents a registrant who is a certificant of the CFPC from calling themselves a “specialist in family medicine” or a “family medicine specialist”.
As a family physician and registrant of the CPSBC, I see this proposed amendment as a step in the right direction of ensuring that the public understands and trusts the credentials and training of the health care professionals providing their care. I appreciate the well-meaning intent of the proposed changes, but believe that using clearer, more affirming language would be in the best interest of family physicians and the public.
I respectfully request that you consider amending the bylaw to state: “A family physician who is a registrant and certificant of the College of Family Physicians of Canada is designated as “a specialist in family medicine” or a “family medicine specialist”.
Thank you,
(Name)
