The CFPC’s update on COVID-19

2020-03-01

COVID-19 is forcing us all to change how we work and how we go about our daily lives. Like other organizations, the CFPC is committed to taking the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of our staff. We greatly appreciate everyone’s efforts to implement significant changes and, in particular, your efforts to address the increased volume of patient visits and provide support to your communities during this time of an unprecedented pandemic.

The CFPC has established a crisis management team called PANguard to oversee the details required to maintain CFPC operations and provide recommendations to our Executive Team. Effective March 18th, the CFPC National Office in Mississauga will be closed and all staff will work remotely. Please be assured that key College services are still available and staff remain in place to support you. The remote working arrangement will be in effect until April 30th, at which time we will reassess the situation.

A few other key changes have also been implemented:

• All face-to-face meetings have been cancelled through May 31st. Meetings will proceed virtually via Skype or Zoom. Further details will be communicated by committee coordinators or other staff members who support committee and meeting activities. If in-person meetings are required for any reason we ask that social distancing recommendations be respected.
• All CFPC business travel has been cancelled through May 31st. Flights that had been booked through Vision Travel have been cancelled for this time period. If you have made travel arrangements with any other vendor or hotel, please ensure they are cancelled.

We regret that it was necessary to postpone the spring Certification Examination in Family Medicine, but we believe this action was appropriate to protect the health and well-being of candidates, examiners, and everyone else involved. We are collaborating closely with the Medical Council of Canada, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, licensing authorities, and others. We are working to reschedule the exam to take place in October pending the confirmation of the logistics and assuming that the status of the pandemic allows us to proceed by then. Additional details will follow shortly for those directly affected.

The current situation is fluid and many changes occur each day. We will provide updates as needed to keep you informed of CFPC actions. Updated COVID-19 information and resources continue to be posted on the CFPC website.

Once again, thank you for your dedication during this difficult time. Be well.

Francine Lemire, MD CM, CCFP, FCFP, CAE, ICD.D
Executive Director and CEO
College of Family Physicians of Canada