A symposium for doctors in Western Canada, presented by the Canadian Medical Protective Association, Education Department, Risk Management Services

Avoid breakdowns in hospital and office systems that may result from inadequate policies, processes or the infrastructure that supports patient care.

• Interactive workshops
• Case studies
• Mock trial of an actual medico-legal case
• Ask questions and share your experiences

Why you should attend:

• Learn to identify and manage your medico-legal risk
• Meet medico-legal experts one-on-one and in groups
• Meet other doctors facing similar challenges

Gain knowledge you can use:

• Strategies to communicate more effectively
• Dealing with a regulatory authority (College) complaint
• Obtaining informed consent
• Avoiding the risks when implementing electronic records
• Better ways to manage your office practice

This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by the CMPA for up to 6 MOC credits, and accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 7 Mainpro®-M1 credits.

07:00 Registration: (South Foyer, Conference Level)
Please note the program will begin promptly at 08:00

08:00 (Britannia, Conference Level)
Welcome: John E. Gray, MD, CCFP, FCFP, Executive Director and CEO, CMPA
Introduction: Jacques Guilbert, MD, Physician Risk Manager, CMPA
Purpose of the day: Michael Lawrence, MB, BS, President, CMPA

08:20 Plenary I – Mock Trial (Britannia, Conference Level)

See how breakdowns in office and hospital systems can have serious adverse outcomes, and identify strategies that may mitigate your medico-legal risk.

• List two aspects of patient care that were negatively impacted by system failures
• Identify three established hospital/office policies that were relevant in the defence of the physicians
• Explain the court’s definition of “reasonable patient”
• Incorporate three risk management strategies in your medical practice

10:00 Break (South Foyer, Conference Level)
Join Physician Risk Managers and legal experts from the firms of Bennett Jones LLP and Gowlings

Workshops 10:15, 11:30 and 13:30 (You may attend THREE of six workshops offered. Please indicate your three choices when registering.)

1. Open forum: What’s on your mind?

Send us a medico-legal question relevant to your practice and your questions will be discussed at the open forum. (Use the pre-symposium web page that will be sent to you with your confirmation email, or the attached registration form.)

• Identify three common medico-legal difficulties for CMPA members
• Develop a comprehensive approach to the identified concerns
• Explain how the medical record is “your best friend”

2. Responding to a complaint to a regulatory authority (College)

• Describe the role of the regulatory authority
• Identify the potential consequences of a complaint
• Explain three common mistakes when responding to a complaint
• Develop a strategy for responding

3. Consent: When a signature is not enough

• List the three key elements of consent
• Describe three situations where obtaining consent requires extra attention
• Outline an approach to obtaining consent when the patient is not competent to give consent
• Identify two resources to assist you in dealing with questions about consent

4. Electronic records: risks associated with implementation

• Recognize three areas of risk in the implementation of an electronic medical records (EMR) system
• Identify two practical strategies to protect patient data

5. Lost in translation—improving communication skills between physicians

• Identify three communication pitfalls in physician-to-physician communication
• Describe two communication tools that can be used to improve communication

6. Office practice risk management

• Identify three common causes of medical-legal problems in office practice
• Develop two strategies to improve office function and patient safety
• Explain the importance of tracking investigations and the risks of not acting on an abnormal result

12:45 Lunch (Belaire, Conference Level)

14:45 Break (South Foyer, Conference Level)

15:00 Plenary II: Meeting the standard of care when referring patients (Britannia, Conference Level)

Two cases will illustrate a court’s view.

• Identify two medico-legal risks associated with the transfer of care
• List three risk identification tips for managing patient follow-ups
• Explain two strategies for reducing medico-legal risk when policies and procedures need to be revised

16:00 Panel discussion: Leading experts in medico-legal risk management
will answer your questions

Panel:
Douglas Bell, MD, FRCSC, Associate Executive Director and Managing Director, Risk Management Services with legal experts from the firms of Bennett Jones LLP and Gowlings

16:30 Evaluation and wrap-up
Jacques Guilbert, MD, Physician Risk Manager, CMPA
Michael Lawrence, MB, BS, President, CMPA

16:45 Reception (Belaire, Conference Level)