October 17, 1997
(Health)

New Training Program for family physicians

Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health, announced today that Memorial University's School of Medicine will be offering a new training program this fall entitled the Clinical Assessment and Enhancement Program (CAEP), designed to enhance and refresh the skills of family practitioners who, for various reasons, do not fully meet the current licensing requirements of the Newfoundland Medical Board. Partners in the program include the Department of Health, MUN's School of Medicine, the NLMA, the NMB, and the NLHCA. The minister made the announcement this morning to delegates attending the 1997 Rural Health Forum at the Health Sciences Complex in St. John's.

"While we anticipate that the CAEP will be accessed primarily by international applicants, graduates of Canadian universities who have been out of clinical practice may also avail of this opportunity, as well as family physicians who wish to improve their skills in a specific area of practice," said the minister.

Training for upgrading and refreshment purposes currently offered may be difficult to access, particularly for physicians trained outside of Canada who are required by the NMB to upgrade before obtaining a license to practice in this province.

The minister noted that participants in the program will be expected to enter a return in service contract to fulfill the need for family practitioners in rural areas of the province. Students will have the option to undergo a clinical skills evaluation, comprised of two components: a test with a written exam and a practical skills assessment involving hands-on supervision in doctor-patient care situations.

"We are trying to help, to the extent that we can, physicians who have shown a willingness to enhance and refresh clinical skills for the purposes of meeting the full licensing requirements needed to practice in the rural areas of the province," said the minister.

Contact: Glenn Bruce, Director of Communications, (709) 729-1377.