Accelerating access to health care
Estimated read time: 5 minutes
We see headlines every day painting a stark picture of ongoing physician shortages in our province:
“Alberta desperate for doctor shortage solution”
“Physician shortage in emergency department causes reduced access to care for local community”
Yet, this issue isn't confined to Alberta or even Canada—it's a global challenge with significant consequences for physicians and patients alike.
The complexities of health care mean there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Multiple factors contribute to the physician shortage, requiring problem solving and collaboration among organizations across—and beyond—the health system, each with a different role to play. For CPSA, addressing this challenge means continuously refining processes and programs to help qualified physicians enter the province.
“We're committed to refining our processes to support the seamless integration of qualified physicians into the province to provide high-quality, community-based health care."
CPSA Registrar and CEO Dr. Scott McLeod emphasizes the critical role of streamlining registration practices to ensure timely access for qualified physicians eager to serve Alberta's communities.
"For many physicians, their first point of contact with CPSA is through the registration process. It’s here where we lay the groundwork for their entry into Alberta's healthcare system,” says Dr. McLeod. “But ensuring registration processes are fair, effective and efficient is not just about filling vacancies—it's about maintaining a standard of care that Albertans deserve and can rely on.
“We're committed to refining our processes to support the seamless integration of qualified physicians into the province to provide high-quality, community-based health care."
Part of CPSA's role as Alberta's medical regulator is ensuring all physicians and physician assistants are licensed and meet stringent standards for patient care. For internationally trained physicians and even some Canadian medical graduates, this often means undergoing the Practice Readiness Assessment (PRA), a pivotal step toward independent practice.
Traditionally, the PRA is a six-month process, including a three-month Preliminary Clinical Assessment and three-month Supervised Practice Assessment. However, recognizing the need for expediency without compromising patient safety, CPSA introduced an accelerated PRA pathway in January 2023. This streamlined process reduces the assessment period to three months, allowing eligible physicians (as identified by experts in postgraduate medical training) to practise independently and provide patient care while completing the Supervised Practice Assessment in their identified community. Other requirements, such as clinical review exams, are also waived for eligible physicians.
The impact of this change reverberates throughout communities like Red Deer, where specialists such as anesthesiologists are in high demand. Dr. Alayne Farries, a PRA supervisor and Interim Chief of Anesthesiology at the Red Deer Regional Hospital, highlights the significance of CPSA's accelerated PRA in addressing recruitment and retention challenges. By reducing administrative barriers for international medical graduates (IMGs) wanting to practise in Alberta, CPSA contributes to alleviating staffing shortages and improving patient access to vital services.
“We want to retain really good quality surgical services in Red Deer, and we have already lost a couple of surgical programs because we don’t have enough anesthesiologist providers,” says Dr. Farries. “My family lives here, my friends live here. I don’t want people to come to harm because they can’t get the surgical services they need.”
The consequences of physician shortages extend beyond staffing concerns to include burnout and retention issues, which directly impact patient care. Cancelled surgeries and delayed obstetrical care due to insufficient anesthesia services illustrate the repercussions for patients and their families.
The accelerated PRA not only addresses immediate staffing needs but also enhances Alberta's appeal to prospective physicians, helping Alberta Health Services, Alberta Health and others attract and retain healthcare professionals. Dr. Farries notes the significant difference this streamlined process can make, particularly for IMGs navigating examination requirements.
“For example, physicians trained in South Africa can go to Australia and if they have a fellowship, they can work right away,” shares Dr. Farries. “Here, they were having to go through the six-month assessment and redo the examination process [prior to the accelerated route]. The examination process is quite onerous, and as you get older and away from those years of intense study, the thought of doing an exam is not pleasant.
“I think CPSA has responded to the needs of Albertans while still trying to keep the supervision process in place, so we don’t have bad outcomes for people, which you don’t want in communities.”
By balancing efficiency with appropriate oversight, CPSA ensures the delivery of safe, high-quality care while fostering a supportive environment for both physicians and patients.
Dr. Farries' dedication exemplifies the collaborative effort required to tackle the physician shortage effectively. Through her contributions as a PRA supervisor, she not only enhances her community's access to health care but also cultivates a sense of pride in supporting her colleagues' success in their path to independent practice.
“I now have more than one colleague who has gone on to a long-term successful career in my field, who has helped out my department, my hospital, my city—and who I can confidently say I am proud to have helped out.”
As Alberta continues its journey toward addressing physician shortages, CPSA's initiatives like the accelerated PRA serve as a step forward in contributing to a future where every patient has access to the safe, high-quality care they deserve.
