Responsibilities and Authorities of the Practice Enhancement Committee

Background and Purpose

The Medical Act of Nova Scotia requires that Council approve a practice assessment program with an overall objective of “promoting a culture of continuous quality improvement within the profession; and enhancing the competence of individual members by linking their practice assessment to their professional development.”

Policy

The Practice Enhancement Committee (PEC) is responsible for the operation and oversight of the Practice Enhancement Program. The PEC is governed by the Assessment Committee (AC), which in turn reports on its activity to Council.

General responsibilities of the PEC include directing member participation and reviewing and making decisions on physician files that are forwarded by the program for committee review, as further outlined in its Terms of Reference.

General Statements

Under the jurisdiction of this policy, the PEC can require a member to:

• Cooperate with the practice enhancement program and any peer reviewer it appoints.
• Confer with the Peer Reviewer or the Committee if requested to do so by either.
• Participate in a peer or practice assessment using, but not limited to, any of the assessment methods that are outlined in the “Duty of Members to Cooperate” policy.
• Comply with the direction of the Practice Enhancement Committee using such methods and supports as the Committee may recommend.
• Undergo a repeat assessment, once the physician has been given an opportunity to address the Committee’s original concerns and direction.
• Should the results of the reassessment indicate a lack of improvement, the Practice Enhancement Committee may direct a second reassessment take place at the cost of the physician under assessment.

The PEC can also:

• Refer the physician for assessment by another program or process within the College. 
• Refer the physician to the Registrar when:
  • The physician has not complied with the requirements of the Practice Enhancement Program
  • There is a patient safety concern that cannot be reasonably mitigated given the resources and authority of the Committee.
  • Notwithstanding the above, there are reasonable grounds to believe that a physician who is the subject of a practice assessment is engaged in professional misconduct or conduct unbecoming or is incompetent or incapacitated. 

In any of the above circumstances, the Practice Enhancement process will be terminated, the physician advised by the Chair of the PEC and the matter referred to the Registrar.

In the case of such a referral, the Chair may only disclose such limited information as is necessary to allow the commencement of an investigation.