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Executive Summary November 21 & 22, 2008 Council Meeting

Introduction

The Council of the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Saskatchewan operates under an explicit set of governance policies. It strives to make its work as transparent as possible to the medical profession and the general public.

Those portions of the Council's deliberations that are not confidential are open to observation by any person subject to space availability in the meeting room.

At the conclusion of each Council meeting an Executive Summary of the meeting is widely distributed to the District Medical Associations, related organizations and the public media. This Executive Summary provides a brief overview of issues discussed, decisions made, and/or actions taken by the Council. If any person wishes more detailed information about any of the issues which are not subject to confidentiality constraints, these can be obtained by contacting Ms. Tracy Hastings, the College's Regulatory Services Coordinator, at 500, 321A - 21st Street East, Saskatoon S7K 0C1; Phone: (306) 244-7355; Fax: (306) 244-0090; e-mail: hastint@shin.sk.ca.

The Council conducted two separate penalty hearings at this meeting. Dr. Johan van Heerden Kruger of Moose Jaw was reprimanded pursuant to Section 54(1)(e) of The Medical Profession Act following a guilty plea to a charge of providing inaccurate information to the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the course of his application for registration with the College.

Dr. Werner van Tonder, formerly of Kamsack, entered a guilty plea to three separate charges of unprofessional conduct related to his abrupt departure from Kamsack without making appropriate arrangements for continuity of patient care, for not completing medical records in respect to patients whom he had attended in hospital, and for failing to respond to an inquiry from the Deputy Registrar in respect to his prescribing of drugs monitored by the Prescription Review Program. The Council imposed a fine under Section 54(1)(f) of $10,000.00 for the first offense and $1,500.00 for each of the two additional offenses.

The Council considered an appeal from Dr. A. Ali of Regina from the Registrar's decision to terminate his Provisional registration on the basis of his failure to obtain the LMCC after one discretionary extension of his registration. The Council denied the appeal.

The Council met with Dr. David Popkin, the Director of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, to discuss that agency's plans to develop a training program for clinical associates in oncology. The Council was favorably impressed with the rigor of this educational plan and did approve the plan.

The Council met with Dr. Chris Ekong of Regina to discuss Dr. Ekong's plans to establish an educational program in spine surgery in Regina for surgeons from developing countries. At the conclusion of its dialogue with Dr. Ekong, the Council determined that it will ask Dr. Ekong to provide more information in respect to the specific educational objectives of this program and strategies that will be followed to monitor and evaluate the performance of trainees in the program.

The Council received a presentation from and interacted with Ms. Mary Smiley and Ms. Keri Furniss from the Health Quality Council in respect to the Health Quality Council sponsored program known as Quality as a Business Strategy (QBS) and the potential benefits/implications of the College's participation in this program.

The Council considered a report from a Preliminary Inquiry Committee appointed by the Council to investigate whether a physician may be guilty of unprofessional conduct. After consideration of this report the Council laid charges of unprofessional conduct against the physician in question.

The Council also:

  1. Discussed its substantial concern about future risk to continuity of physician supply in rural Saskatchewan as a consequence of anticipated amendments to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) which could eliminate all barriers to inter-jurisdictional physician mobility in Canada. The Council endorsed a strategy arising from a joint meeting of the College and SMA Executive Committees on November 20, 2008 which will include a written request from the Presidents of the two organizations to meet with the Minister of Health and the Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour.

  2. Reviewed an extensive list of potential bylaw amendments that were generated by a Council subcommittee appointed by the Council to review all of the College's current bylaws. The Council endorsed in principle all of the proposed bylaw amendments and directed Mr. Salte to initiate formal consultation with the SMA and the Government of Saskatchewan in respect to the proposed amendments.

  3. Considered potential future amendments to The Medical Profession Act that would enable the College to:

    1. Consistently collect and maintain current contact information (i.e. e-mail addresses) for all members; and

    2. Have a right of access to physician offices for the purposes of inspecting physician compliance with safety measures such as infection control practices.

    The Council approved in principle both of these potential legislative amendments and directed Mr. Salte to engage in consultation with the Government of Saskatchewan and other stakeholders about these amendments.

  4. Received and discussed a report from the Registrar in respect to the Registrar's progress in implementing the Council's strategic plan.

  5. Discussed the "Patient First" Review that has been launched by the Government of Saskatchewan and determined that the Council will reserve a substantial portion of its January meeting to define how the College of Physicians and Surgeons will participate in this review.

  6. Affirmed its earlier plan to convene a Council Retreat in 2009 and committed itself at its next meeting to define the focus and objectives for the Council Retreat.

  7. Appointed the 2009 membership for the College's Complaints Resolution Advisory Committee, ECG Committee, and Expert Committee on Blood Borne Diseases.

  8. Directed the College staff to proceed with a plan to recruit a cohort of physicians who will be willing to serve on future Preliminary Inquiry Committees and to organize an educational program for all physicians who volunteer to serve in this capacity.

  9. Discussed potential appointments to the Senate of the University of Saskatchewan and gave direction to the Registrar in terms of recruiting a volunteer for this appointment.

  10. Reviewed and approved a report from the Council's Registration Committee in respect to criteria for potential LMCC exemption for specialist physicians practicing in defined practice arrangements.

  11. Received and approved a report from the Council's Registration Committee in respect to future strategies for assessment of specialist international medical graduates.

  12. Discussed a letter of concern from the College's Anatomical Pathology Quality Assurance Committee with respect to the reliability and safety of anatomical pathology services in Saskatchewan in the light of critical events in Newfoundland and New Brunswick that have triggered judicial reviews in both provinces. At the conclusion of its dialogue about this matter the Council directed the Registrar to ask the Anatomical Pathology Quality Assurance Committee and the staff of the College's Medical Laboratory Quality Assurance Program to develop and deliver to Council a more detailed report on the current standards for anatomical pathology services in the province, the measure of risk inherent in current practices, as well as potential future strategies to mitigate those risks.

  13. Discussed the sequential failure to obtain a physician nominee for potential election to the College Council in two by-elections and one regular election conducted in College Electoral Division #10 (the Heartland Health Region). Given the very small number of physicians (22) resident in this Electoral Division, the Council determined that it would be reasonable to merge this electoral region with a neighboring electoral region. The Registrar was directed to explore with physicians in Electoral Division #10 their preference to merge with either the Cypress Region, the Prairie North Region, or the Saskatoon Region.

  14. Reviewed a new template developed by the College's Associate Registrar and Ms. Karen Prisciak (Council member) for reporting to Council the current status of formal investigations and disciplinary actions in progress. The Council expressed its support for the new template.

  15. Discussed and accepted policies that will guide the Council's election of officers and members of the Executive Committee at the January 2009 Council meeting.

At the President's Dinner convened on the evening of November 21, 2008 the Council expressed its appreciation for the service of two public Council members, Ms. Peggi-Lynn Gatin and Ms. Brenda Righetti. The Council also conferred Senior Life Membership on Dr. J. Barretto of Ponteix, Dr. George Gilmour of Prince Albert, Dr. Madan Sharman of Regina and Dr. Shiu Yen of Lloydminster.

The highlight of the President's Dinner was a special tribute to Miss Jeannette Heinen who will be retiring from the College staff on December 31, 2008 after nearly 49 years of continuous service to the College. Jeannette received very heartfelt tributes from the Registrar, the President of Council and several Past Presidents who were in attendance for this special event.

The Council will next meet in Saskatoon on January 30 & 31, 2009.