Physician Health Monitoring Program (PHMP)
We support and monitor physicians whose ability to practise may be affected by a health issue.
Focus on Physicians Managing their Health
Management of physician health issues are confidential and occur outside the College’s disciplinary process.
Rules for Member Participation
We encourage physicians, medical students and residents with health conditions to seek medical attention early in order to minimize the impact on their practice.
Physicians deserve the same high level of care and compassion that they provide to their patients. The impact of a physician’s health condition is evaluated in the context of each physician’s individual practice.
We may require additional information from your health providers to ensure that you are managing your health condition and able to provide care safely to your patients. We will seek consent from you to request this information if this is required.
In some circumstances, we may require ongoing monitoring of a health condition to ensure you remain healthy and are able to carry out your duties.
Our aim is to ensure that you have the support you require in order to balance your health needs with your clinical responsibiities.
Click for rules for member participation.
More than 80% of physicians involved in the Physician Health Monitoring Program are currently in practice.
Our Principles
The Assistant Registrar provides direction and support, but does not directly provide any form of treatment.
The Assistant Registrar strongly encourages the physician’s right to access all available resources, including the Physician and Family Support Program operated by the Alberta Medical Association (the “PFSP”) and the Case Coordination function of the PFSP.
The Assistant Registrar will work collaboratively with physicians to manage health conditions to ensure safe, continuing practice.
Evidence and expert opinion will be used when determining the course of action.
Most physicians manage their health conditions in a way that the impact on the practice and care of patients is minimized.
The physician’s personal health information is kept strictly confidential at all times. Specific information about who has access to this information, and under which circumstances, can be found in the related document Physicians’ Personal Health Information.
FAQs
We may request that a physician temporarily withdraw from practice until their health is stable and we have assurance from their treating physicians that the physician is fit to practice.
On rare occasions it may be necessary to refer the matter to the Complaints Director for consideration of the use of provisions in Section 118 of the Health Professions Act, if the physician will not voluntarily withdraw and there is reason to believe that there is a lack of capacity to care safely for patients.
Yes, if the physician’s assessment determines he or she can practise safely while receiving treatment.
There may be limitations placed on the practice of the physicians to ensure they remain healthy. If these limitations solely relate to the health of the physician they are kept confidential, but if they are solely related to practice, they can be included on the physician’s practice permit. These conditions could include such things as: limitations to night call, restriction on the type and number of patients seen, or restrictions of the practice type or location.
- The AMA’s Physician and Family Support Program offers confidential support, referral and case management to all physicians, and only some of these physicians will have conditions that impact their practice. The College’s PHMP assists and monitors physicians whose health condition could impact their practice.
- With the consent of the physician, the two programs work together to ensure he or she has ready access to assessment, treatment and monitoring for health concerns.
- Alberta Medical Association: Physician and Family Support Program (PFSP)
Most physicians can return to work with appropriate supports in place. The Physician Health Monitoring Program may enter into a treatment agreement with the physician to ensure that the physician remains healthy and able to carry out their clinical duties.