Family physicians and other specialists: Working and learning together. Conjoint Discussion Paper

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) addressed the issues surrounding the relationships between family physicians and other specialists in a two day Colloquium, with the goal of improving working and learning relationships to enhance patient care, and patient and physician satisfaction. Colloquium participants also discussed and refined the recommendations and guidelines of an earlier report published by the two organizations, The Relationship between Family Physicians and Specialist/Consultants in the Provision of Patient Care.

Five main themes emerged from the Colloquium: Collegial Relationships, Practice Environments, Changing Models of Care and Collaboration, Education, and Physician Resourcing. In addition, the enabling roles of Information Technology / Management and Communications Skills in improving intra-professional relationships were considered.