Response to proposed scope-of-practice changes
We have partnered with Consultant Specialists of BC to express our concerns over the Ministry of Health’s proposed expansions of scope of practice for other allied health professionals. Our joint letter to the Ministry acknowledges the government’s goal of improving timely access to care while emphasizing our concerns that the proposed scope of practice changes may lead to heightened challenges around patient safety, continuity of care, equity of access and system capacity.
The proposed scope of practice expansion risks some potential unintended consequences:
- Expanding diagnostic and prescribing authority without equivalent training could increase the risk of misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and fragmented care.
- Family physicians already play a central role in coordinating care, yet these changes could increase administrative burden and liability, particularly in the absence of fully integrated electronic medical records.
BC Family Doctors supports collaborative care and the important contributions of allied health professionals. We are in discussion with partners, including Doctors of BC, the BC College of Family Physicians and the BC Radiological Society, to advocate for a collaborative approach on any expansions to health professional scope of practice.