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We review physician education, post-graduate training and, when necessary, arrange assessments to determine whether applicants are ready to practise. Physician qualifications and practice details are reviewed annually.

We favor an educational or training approach, but apply discipline if necessary.

We look at data (including prescribing patterns, Continuing Professional Development activity and practice demographics) to identify at-risk practices. We conduct assessments when necessary and work with identified physicians to make improvements. A College-sponsored program provides all physicians with feedback on their practice performance on a five-year cycle.

(e.g. diagnostic imaging, laboratories, non-hospital surgical services) We inspect facilities, using stringent clinical and safety standards, and approve the physicians who work in these facilities.

The Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice and Code of Conduct outline the College’s expectations of Alberta physicians.

 

• CPSA obtains court order against non-physician using the term doctor (July 20, 2011)

• CPSA suspends Dr. Khaled Smeida for sexual misconduct (Dec 29, 2011)
• CPSA strikes Dr. Carl Christopher Nqumayo from Register (Oct 6, 2011)

• About the College
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Publications
• Messenger Newsletter
• College Statistics
• Code of Ethics 

Physicians have the right to charge for services not covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. This includes writing a doctor’s note, completing insurance forms and making copies of medical charts.

Under the Health Professions Act (HPA), information about physician-related complaints is confidential unless it leads to a formal discipline hearing. Hearings that result from complaints received on or after January 1, 2010 will generally be open to the public. Hearings that result from complaints received prior to the CPSA's proclamation under HPA must be resolved under the rules of the Medical Profession Act and will NOT be open to the public. Disciplinary decisions are published in The Messenger newsletter and on our website once the appeal period passes.
          Discipline Information about Physicians
          Complaint Statistics 

The CPSA Code of Conduct was developed to give more specific guidance to physicians about maintaining and promoting professional behaviour.

Research has proven that a positive and responsive healthcare workplace results in better patient outcomes and improved employee satisfaction. As Alberta's 7,700 practising physicians play a key role in developing and maintaining this type of workplace, the College fully supports their cooperation in the HQCA's review of key areas within our healthcare system. Read our letter to the HQCA. 

International medical graduates (IMGs) are those physicians who have graduated from a medical school outside of Canada (including Canadians who have studied abroad). IMGs must have an education and post-graduate experience similar to graduates of Canadian medical schools in order to obtain an Alberta medical license and practise independently in Alberta.

In collaboration with related organizations, the College developed a comprehensive guidance document and toolkit to help fairly and effectively address disruptive behavior in the healthcare workplace.

The College does not have a Standard of Practice on this topic. However, we have posted general information on our website on the management of patients with Multiple Sclerosis who've undergone the CCSVI treatment outside of Canada. This information does NOT represent an official College policy and should not be used by physicians as a substitute for individual clinical judgement.

The College believes physicians should be responsible advocates for their patients (Sept. 2007 Messenger, Registrar's Report). Through our Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct and Standards of Practice, we have consistently advised our members they have a right and a responsibility to do what is best for their patients, and sometimes that means acting on their behalf.

Standards of Practice are required under the Health Professions Act and outline what the College expects of Alberta physicians regarding professional behaviour and good medical practice.

TPP was established in partnership with pharmacists and dentists to monitor the use of drugs prone to misuse and abuse for non-medical purposes.