College Connection | Page 4

college connection PEER ADVISORY PROGRAM Quality Assurance Program COLLEGE DEVELOPING PEER ADVISORY PROGRAM TO SUPPORT CONTINUING COMPETENCE AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE Over the past year, the College Council has been further considering elements of a Quality Assurance Program that will provide support to the profession’s continuing competence and foster public confidence in the profession. It is Council’s goal that program elements be accessible and relevant to all types of veterinary service for those working in the province, that the program elements provide a positive learning experience for the profession and inspire veterinarians to embrace and actively participate in the QA Program. Some of the elements of the Quality Assurance Program are already in place and available for use by veterinarians and their staff. The College currently conducts Communications Workshops around the province, develops on-line learning modules directed at known risk areas, provides online access to a Continuing Professional Development Portal, provides access to a Practice Advice Service and develops Professional Practice Standards and Guides. Peer Advisory Program Council has established the Peer Advisory Program as the core of the Quality Assurance Program. This program is designed to assist practitioners as they engage in the delivery of quality care and service. It will provide a formalized framework for a discussion between a trained Peer Advisor and a practitioner. This discussion will center on elements of, and approaches to, Quality Practice: strategies for managing known risk areas, incorporation of the College’s Professional Practice Standards and other elements of the regulatory framework into clinical practice, adherence to current standards of practice, and approaches to engaging in Continuing Professional Development. The development workshop for the Peer Advisory Program will occur this summer. Volunteer participants in the workshop are being recruited from the profession with a view to convening a group of practitioners that represents the spectrum of clinical practice within the profession. This group will then be tasked with establishing the framework for the Peer Advisory Program. Once this framework has been established, Peer Advisors will be identified and trained. The program will then be piloted with volunteer veterinarians and modified as needed. This is an exciting piece of the College’s Quality Assurance Program development and the College looks forward to the engagement of veterinarians in the development and pilot phases of the Peer Advisory Program. PROFESSIONALS HEALTH PROGRAM Confidential Ontario Toll-free Line: 1-800-851-6606 http://php.oma.org The Professionals Health Program is a free, confidential service. The PHP provides prompt advice and support to veterinarians and/or their family members. Stay Well - Your health is important to your competence. 4 / College Connection Professionals Health Program