College of Family Physicians of Canada

The CFPC was founded in 1954 in Vancouver, British Columbia, as the "College of General Practice of Canada" out of a need to ensure family physicians were dedicated to continuing medical education.[4] There were 400 members at inception.[5] and Victor L. Johnston, the first executive director, remained in office for ten consecutive years. The first executive committee and board of representatives consisted of 17 members.[6] In 1964, the College obtained its current name.

The CFPC is governed by members of the executive committee and the board of representatives. The current executive director and chief executive officer is Dr. Francine Lemire.

In 2013, the CFPC collaborated with the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) to deliver a new "harmonized" certification examination in family medicine. Those who passed the new examination and met all other qualifications of both organizations were awarded both the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC), the medical license to practice in Canada, and the certification in family medicine designation (CCFP).[7] Nevertheless, upon review of the harmonized examination, the CFPC determined that the Certification Examination in Family Medicine did not result in the anticipated benefits for the Certification decision. For this reason, starting in 2016, the two examinations were once again run separately, as they were prior to 2013.[8]

The CFPC has numerous opportunities for the continuing professional development of its physician members.

In collaboration with the Canadian Medical Association's Forum on General and Family Practice Issues, the CFPC released a list of "Eleven Things Physicians and Patients Should Question" as part of the Choosing Wisely Canada campaign. Recommendations 1 to 5 were released on 2 April 2014 and recommendations 6 to 11 were released on 29 October 2014. Recommendations specific for Canadian family medicine include:

1. Don't image patients for lower-back pain unless the patient is presenting with red flags.[13][14]

2. Don't use antibiotics for patients who have upper respiratory infections that are likely viral in origin, such as influenza-like illness, or self-limiting, such as sinus infections that lasts less than seven days.[15][16]

3. Don't order screening chest X-rays and electrocardiograms (ECGs) for patients who are asymptomatic or low risk.[17]

4. Don't screen women with Pap smears if they are under 21 years of age or over 69 years of age.[18]

• Don't do screening Pap smears annually in women with previously normal results
• Don't do Pap smears in women who have had a hysterectomy for non-malignant disease

5. Don't do annual screening blood tests for patients unless they are directly indicated by the risk patient's risk profile.[19]

6. Don't routinely measure Vitamin D in adults who are low risk.[20]

7. Don't do screening mammography for low-risk women aged 40–49.[21][22]

8. Don't do annual physical exams on asymptomatic adults who have no significant risk factors.[23][24]

9. Don't order DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) screening for osteoporosis on patients who are low-risk.[25][26]

10. Don't advise patients with diabetes who do not require insulin to routinely self-monitor blood sugars between office visits.[27][28]

11. Don't order thyroid function tests in patients who are asymptomatic.[29][30]

The CFPC recognizes several enhanced skills programs that generally last between three and twelve months. These advanced programs are accessible to practicing family physicians as well as Canadian medical residents who are completing their second year of residency in family medicine. In some cases, the enhanced skills program counts as a third year of residency. The following are some existing enhanced skills programs, which are recognized by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and lead to the obtention of a Certificate of Added Competence (CAC) in a specialized domain of family and community medicine:[31]

• Emergency medicine (post-nominal designation: CCFP-EM)[32]
• Palliative care (post-nominal designation: CCFP-PC)[33]
• Care of the elderly (post-nominal designation: CCFP-COE)[34]
• Sport and exercise medicine (post-nominal designation: CCFP-SEM)[35]
• Anesthesia (post-nominal designation: CCFP-FPA)[36]
• Addiction medicine (post-nominal designation: CCFP-AM)[37]
• Enhanced surgical skills (post-nominal designation: CCFP-ESS)

Some other enhanced skills programs which do not necessarily lead to a certificate of added competence with the CFPC but are nonetheless accessible for graduating or practicing family physicians include the following:[38]

• Maternal and child care
• Clinician-scholar program with various streams including research, education, or management (often involves the completion of a Master's degree in science [M.Sc.] or business administration [MBA] or a Doctor of Philosophy [Ph.D.])
• Medical oncology
• Breast diseases
• Clinical environmental health
• Global health or vulnerable populations
• HIV care
• Hospital medicine
• Indigenous health
• Low-risk obstetrics
• Women's health
• Special populations

Physician members of the Canadian Forces can benefit from supplementary training and obtain the Certificate of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine via subsidized education from the Department of National Defence of Canada.[39]

Several medical schools in Canada have student interest groups in family medicine, as well as other medical specialties. These student interest groups often organize activities that allow fellow medical students to explore some facets of the medical specialty. In September 2014, for example, the family medicine student interest group at McGill University hosted the sixth family medicine student symposium, gathering over 600 students from the four Quebec faculties of medicine (McGill University, Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and Université de Sherbrooke), as well as the University of Ottawa.[40] While the conferences took place in the McIntyre Medical Sciences Building, the workshops led by practicing physicians and family medicine residents took place in McGill's medical simulation center near the downtown campus.

• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
• Collège des médecins du Québec
• Ontario College of Family Physicians
• Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons
• Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons

• Official website