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Our Selection Process

I enjoy the opportunity to interact with my colleagues and the belief I will do something that will help a colleague improve, reaffirm that what they are doing is valuable, and also help the College ensure that we provide a standard of care I feel proud about.
Peer Reviewer

Your overall eligibility for participation in the practice enhancement program is reviewed annually through the College’s annual licence renewal process.

To be eligible for participation, you must:

  • have an active clinical component to your medical practice;
  • have been in practice for three years or longer;
  • not have completed a practice enhancement with the College in the last seven years; and
  • hold a Full or Conditional medical licence.

Participation in the Practice Enhancement Process

On an annual basis, physicians eligible for the Practice Enhancement Program (PEP) receive a rubric score based on physician factors. A variety of factors may influence the quality of a physician’s practice and broadly speaking these factors can be considered to be physician related (e.g. age or gender) or practice-related (e.g. patient volume or professional isolation). Some factors pose a risk, while others are supportive of practice quality over time. Scores are ranked, and physicians are randomly selected from three ranked risk levels: Low, Moderate and High.

Low Score

Physicians with lower scores are associated with less risk for practice quality concerns and will be randomly selected to complete a Professional Learning Plan.

This quality improvement activity could include engagement with a College-appointed peer-support physician to assist the physician in identifying areas for practice improvement and directing their continuing professional development (CPD) activities.

Moderate Score

Physicians who score in the “mid-range” and have a balance of supportive and risk factors are randomly selected to participate in an off-site review of their practice.

A College-appointed peer reviewer will remotely access the physician’s patient records and perform a review of their documentation and clinical care. This review audit and feedback method provides the physician with an assessment of their practice, identifies gaps in practice quality and informs a practice improvement plan that directs their continuing professional development.

High Score

Physicians with higher scores associated with risk for practice quality concerns will be randomly selected to participate in an on-site review of their practice.

A College-appointed peer reviewer visits the physician’s practice location and reviews the physician’s practice facilities and medical record keeping via a random selection of patient records. The on-site review of the physician’s practice provides the physician with an assessment of their practice, identifies gaps in practice quality and informs a practice improvement plan that directs their continuing professional development.

Where necessary, physicians receive specific feedback and support to help address identified weaknesses in their practice. All participants receive guidance to promote ongoing quality improvement. A written report is provided along with one-on-one engagement with a physician peer.

Qualifying for a Six-Month Deferral from Participation

You could qualify for a deferral if you:

  • Are undergoing or have undergone a College-directed practice assessment for another purpose within the past three years; or
  • Have imminent retirement plans and can provide a retirement date not exceeding one year from the initial contact with the practice enhancement program; or
  • Are new in your primary clinical practice location (less than six months); or
  • Have recently returned to your clinical practice after an extended absence of more than six months because of illness, disability, sabbatical or maternity/paternity leave.

If you qualify for a deferral, please get in touch with us:

Phone: 902-482-2921
Toll-free: 1-877-282-7767 (ask for the Practice Enhancement Administrative Assistant)
Email: pep@cpsns.ns.ca