2020 Annual Report

We remain a highly trusted source of risk management and safe medical care advice and medico-legal assistance for members, delivering timely and relevant COVID-19 information, while working to remove barriers to help members respond to the pandemic.

In 2020, we:

• Responded to 23,000+ advice calls, providing empathetic support and expert guidance to help members manage patient safety challenges, including navigating emerging issues such as personal protective equipment challenges, adapting to virtual care, and critical care triage protocols. Members who spoke to one of our 45+ experienced physician advisors reported a: 97% satisfaction rate; 72% reduction in severe stress levels.
• Provided regular and timely COVID-19 information and advice through our COVID-19 Hub, quarterly Perspective magazine, ad hoc eBlasts, and monthly eBulletins. Members who accessed our COVID-19 information reported an: 87% satisfaction rate.
• Simplified membership processes for members returning from retirement or seeking to change scope of practice during the pandemic, enabling physicians to return to practice to support COVID-19 care efforts across Canada.

The CMPA is here, listening to members concerns with a compassionate ear and offering meaningful, one-on-one support.

We recognize that the safety and sustainability of our healthcare system is linked to provider wellness, and that members remain committed to serving patients during these times of uncertainty, resource limitations and personal risk.

We remain steadfast in our efforts to collaborate with stakeholders to promote changes that support member wellbeing at the individual, institutional, regulatory, and policy levels.

In 2020, we:

• Continued internal education, enhancing our ability to understand and effectively support our members during periods of distress.
• Published numerous articles, videos, and podcasts addressing wellness issues and supported members with accessing resources and coping strategies.
• Collaborated with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) and the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) Physician Health Program (PHP) on the distress and suicide recognition and response project, creating opportunities to improve awareness of physician distress and suicide.
• Contributed to key discussions with the OMA’s PHP Advisory Panel, other provincial PHPs, and the Canadian Medical Association, sharing CMPA’s insights and expertise to support physician wellness.

The CMPA is a not-for-profit organization. Physicians pay membership fees which are used to:

• compensate patients harmed by negligent medical care (fault in Québec)
• provide safe medical care education
• support members facing medico-legal difficulties

While we educate and support physicians to prevent patient harm, we also compensate patients on behalf of members quickly, when appropriate.

We invest prudently to maintain adequate funding for compensation paid now and into the future.

In 2020, we:

• On behalf of members, provided $206 million in compensation to patients harmed by negligent medical care (fault in Québec), helping to support their short and long-term care needs.
• Generated a 4.8% return on investments, positioning us to continue to provide appropriate compensation to patients on behalf of members – no matter when the care occurred.
• Closed 2020 in a strong financial position, providing the stability to weather uncertain financial markets and continue to hold the funds required to compensate patients on behalf of our members in the decades ahead.

Our data, insights, and unique perspectives enable us to provide input on key legislation, regulation, and policies regarding a range of healthcare and medico-legal issues.

Throughout the pandemic, we have supported calls to action on key issues, collaborated with healthcare leaders, and called on governments to influence emerging COVID-19 regulations and policies.

In 2020, we:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE): Supported the Canadian Medical Forum’s call to action on PPE, urging governments to develop recommendations that protect the safety of physicians and patients.
• Critical care triage protocols: Engaged with governments, Medical Regulatory Authorities and other healthcare stakeholders to support the development of critical policies, such as critical care triage protocols, providing physicians the guidance and support they need to care for their patients.
• Legislation for protection during COVID-19: Urged provincial governments across the country to enact legislation that provides medico-legal protection to physicians delivering care during COVID-19.
• Virtual Care: Worked with Colleges and provincial medical associations and federations to facilitate virtual care across provincial borders, enhancing access to needed COVID-19 care for patients.

Through our safe medical care education, the CMPA substantively contributes to the reduction in the likelihood and impact of patient harm from care provided by physicians and other health professionals.

In 2020, we:

• Transformed the signature CMPA Resident Symposium (and associated Faculty Development Workshop) into Prepped for practice: Medical-legal essentials for residents, an online, interactive educational event for residents and their faculty.
• Published Good Practices, a centralized, virtual repository of educational resources to help members navigate the challenges they face at all stages of their careers.
• Provided accredited, evidence-based eLearning activities, helping members refine their skills and obtain CPD credits.
• Launched the Practically Speaking Podcast, featuring episodes with topics that support safe and effective patient care.

Saegis developed specialized programs on topics like cybersecurity and privacy to help healthcare professionals, interdisciplinary teams, and institutions manage the risks of an increasingly digital world.

In 2020, Saegis:

• Developed a free, online learning course (COVID-19 Cybersecurity Threat) to help healthcare professionals understand the increased risk of cyber-attacks and breaches.
• Launched the accredited Saegis Shield Cybersecurity and Privacy eLearning program at a number of clinics across Canada, equipping healthcare teams with skills and resources to combat cybersecurity concerns and protect the privacy of patient health information.
• Delivered specialized programs on topics such as disclosing harm and managing unprofessional behaviours to 225+ healthcare professionals and their teams, helping them perform at their best and provide safe and effective care.

Our data and insights inform our safe medical care education, creating learning opportunities which are broadly applicable and tailored to the needs of members in specific specialties.

We also share insights from our data and research with members and stakeholders across Canada and actively collaborate to drive changes that advance safety improvements throughout the healthcare system.

Some examples in 2020 include:

• Published research in respected peer-reviewed journals such as the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, and Medical Education, providing risk management strategies to reduce harm in healthcare delivery.
• Provided expertise to the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada’s Phase 2 Opioid Action Plan Steering Committee, supporting education in pain management and addiction medicine.
• Collaborated with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada on a certificate program for safe obstetrical care (English only).
• Worked with a number of Canadian patient safety organizations to advise on the development of the "Oxytocin to Start or Advance Labour: 5 Questions to Ask" handout, providing patients with valuable information to help manage their care.

We are committed to supporting employees’ well-being and safety, exploring opportunities such as flexible work arrangements, and taking steps to understand and promote workplace equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

We maintain a compelling employee experience, fostering ongoing learning and career growth, and equipping staff with modern tools and technologies that help them deliver their best work.

In 2020, we:

• Launched the 2020-2022 People Strategy, helping us nurture and build a culture that is supportive, diverse, inclusive and high-performing, and encourages continuous learning.
• Partnered with the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) and created leadership and governance structures to foster the development of an organization-wide multi-year Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy. Work will begin in 2021 to help us understand employees’ lived-experience around equity, inclusion, and diversity at the Association.
• Enhanced internal processes, systems and technologies that support financial services, membership services, medico-legal assistance and education delivery.