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Bylaws Related to the Practice of Telemedicine

The following is a consolidation of Bylaws of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan as they relate to telemedicine and the policy adopted by Council:

Bylaw 1:

Bylaw 1 contains the following definition for telemedicine

"Telemedicine" - means the provision of a medical opinion concerning diagnosis or treatment of a patient in Saskatchewan by a physician located outside of Saskatchewan as a result of transmission of individual patient information by electronic or other means from within Saskatchewan to such physician or his or her agent; or

The provision of treatment to a patient in Saskatchewan by a physician located outside of Saskatchewan as a result of transmission of individual patient information by electronic or other means from within Saskatchewan to such physician or his or her agent.

Bylaw 21:

Bylaw 21 paragraph 6 (subparagraphs (s), (t) and (u) state:

s. The Council may register and issue a special licence under subsection 30(1) of the Act to a person who produces evidence in a form and manner that is acceptable to the Council that the person:

  1. is of good character; and,

  2. possesses good standing as a medical practitioner; and

  3. meets the requirements for registration under section 28 of the Act; and;

  4. is fully licensed, without restrictions, in another province or territory of Canada; and,

  5. has signed a declaration that the person will limit his/her practice of medicine in Saskatchewan to the practice of telemedicine with the number of patients located in Saskatchewan that corresponds to the fee required under section 45 of the College bylaws.

t. A licence issued pursuant to paragraph (s) will contain a restriction, limiting the physician named therein to practicing telemedicine while the physician is physically located outside the province of Saskatchewan.

u. A physician may, during the course of a year, sign a substitute declaration that the person will limit the physician's practice of medicine in Saskatchewan to a larger number of patients than specified in the original declaration, and pay the additional fee corresponding to the fee required under section 45 of the College bylaws.

Bylaw 59 addresses what is required of physicians who seek to renew their licences. Paragraph 59(5) states:

5. In addition to complying with paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 above, a physician who seeks to renew a special licence issued under bylaw 21(6)(s) and (t) shall be required to sign a declaration that during the preceding year, the physician has limited his/her practice of medicine in Saskatchewan to the practice of telemedicine with the number of patients located in Saskatchewan that corresponds to the fee paid to the College under section 45 of the College bylaws

Bylaw 63:

Bylaw 63 provides an exception for physicians who only practice telemedicine by providing follow up care to patients who they have treated in their clinics in another province.

63. Telemedicine for follow-up care

A person who:

  1. holds a full licence to practise medicine granted by a medical regulatory body in Canada; and

  2. resides in another province or territory of Canada, and practises medicine in that province or territory; and,

  3. has received a referral from a Saskatchewan physician to provide medical care to a Saskatchewan patient; and,

  4. has provided medical care to that patient in the province or territory where the physician resides; and,

  5. intends to provide follow-up care to that patient with respect to the condition for which the patient was referred by the Saskatchewan physician, from the physician's province or territory of residence, while that patient is located in Saskatchewan

is authorized to provide such follow-up care without being licensed to practice medicine in Saskatchewan.

Bylaw 45:

Bylaw 45 sets the fees for registration and annual fees for Saskatchewan physicians. As they relate to telemedicine, they state:

4. The annual fee to be paid by a person registered under Section 29 of the Act and bylaw 21(6)(s) and (t) with a licence limited to telemedicine shall be

  1. $0 if the person has signed an undertaking to limit his/her practice of telemedicine to no more than twelve Saskatchewan patients per year

  2. $250 if the person has signed an undertaking to limit his/her practice of telemedicine to no more than fifty-two Saskatchewan patients per year

  3. $1,250 in all other cases