Preparing family physicians to meet the evolving needs of patients and communities

2021-06-02

(Mississauga, ON) Family physicians play integral roles in the delivery of health care in Canada, and in this dynamic landscape we must ensure doctors are prepared to meet patients’ and communities’ changing needs. The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is addressing this important directive with the creation of the Residency Training Profile for Family Medicine and Enhanced Skills Programs Leading to Certificates of Added Competence (Residency Training Profile).

The Residency Training Profile provides a clear picture of the expectations of family medicine residency training in Canada. It defines a system of training that:

• Fosters a unique professional identity and value system, as described in the Four Principles of Family Medicine 
• Develops competent family physicians with generalist expertise, as described in CanMEDS–Family Medicine and the Assessment Objectives for Certification in Family Medicine
• Prepares physicians to provide a comprehensive scope of practice anywhere in Canada, enabled by a set of Core Professional Activities 
• Enables family physicians to practise in interdependent work arrangements, as described in the Patient’s Medical Home vision 
• Enables the unique skills and roles expected of family physicians who hold Certificates of Added Competence

In addition to serving as a guide for family medicine and enhanced skills training, the Residency Training Profile also provides an opportunity for other health care professionals, partner organizations, governments, and the public to better understand family medicine as a discipline.

The CFPC developed the Residency Training Profile as a key component of the Outcomes of Training Project. It also builds on the Family Medicine Professional Profile, a framework the CFPC published in 2018 to describe family physicians’ collective commitment to providing accessible, continuous, and comprehensive patient-centred care.

In fall 2021 the Outcomes of Training Project will culminate in the release of a full report and set of recommendations that will outline the actions and resources required to implement the Residency Training Profile. This will spark innovation and educational transformation and will inform the evaluation of family medicine training outcomes at the national level.

We look forward to advancing this work with multiple partners, perspectives, and voices at national, provincial, regional, and local levels. This will include paying careful attention to the response we receive to the Residency Training Profile and moving at a pace that respects training capacity, resource constraints, and any potential effects on learners.
 

About the College of Family Physicians of Canada

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is the professional organization that represents more than 40,000 members across the country. The College establishes the standards for and accredits postgraduate family medicine training in Canada’s 17 medical schools. It reviews and certifies continuing professional development programs and materials that enable family physicians to meet certification and licensing requirements. The CFPC provides high-quality services, supports family medicine teaching and research, and advocates on behalf of the specialty of family medicine, family physicians, and the patients they serve.
 

Contact

Jayne Johnston
Director, Communications
College of Family Physicians of Canada
Tel: 905-629-0900 ext. 303
Email: [email protected]