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| CAPP Mentoring: Frequently Asked Questions |
Each CAPP physician in the CAPP must have a sponsor and a mentor as a condition of the defined licence. The sponsors are designated by the District Health Authorities (DHAs) and the mentors are proposed by the DHAs/sponsors. The mentorship is between an experienced, practicing physician and the CAPP physician; both within the same community and having essentially the same scope of practice. The mentorship is an opportunity for the CAPP physician to learn and experience family practice in Nova Scotia, with the coaching and facilitation of an experienced family physician. The mentorship has been designed to ensure that the CAPP physician establishes practice with competency and support, and that they are integrated into the local medical community and into the broader community in which they live and work. 2. What role does Continuing Medical Education play in the CAPP? Continuing Medical Education (CME) or Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an essential component of Part B of the CAPP. Those physicians who are granted a defined licence through the CAPP are expected and encouraged to actively participate in the development and implementation of a CME plan of action that addresses areas of practice that need to be strengthened. At the beginning of Part B the CAPP Physician will meet with the CAPP CME Coordinator who is an experienced physician and faculty member in the Dalhousie Faculty of Medicine Office of CME. The role of the CAPP CME Coordinator is to: i) identify learning goals which reflect the needs of the CAPP physician, as articulated in the CAPP Assessment Report and review of past training and experience, regarding practice areas that require strengthening; ii) consult with the CAPP physician about possible methods of attaining these goals; and, iii) provide information relating to resource material and personnel. The learning goals are designed to be addressed throughout the mentorship (Part B) and are the responsibility of the CAPP physician. These learning goals and progress towards them will be addressed during meetings between the mentor and the defined licensee. The mentor is a key person in providing guidance to assist the CAPP physician in achieving the goals. The CAPP CME Coordinator is available as an on-going resource throughout the mentorship and will be in consultation with the CAPP Mentorship Coordinator. The overall goal of the CME component of the CAPP is to assist the physician in becoming proficient in the learner centered approach to continuing medical education based on the model of the reflective practitioner. The physician is expected to continue to use this approach in their continuing education throughout their practice years. 3 . What is required of the mentor? The mentor of a CAPP physician is an established family physician, and is an important and essential member of the CAPP process. The mentor must be approved by the CPSNS, which takes into consideration the location and scope of practice of the proposed mentor, as well as their ability to facilitate and coach the process of the CAPP physician's learning. To prepare for the role and responsibilities of a mentor, and to familiarize themselves with the process and with the documentation that is part of this process, the mentor attends a CAPP-sponsored half-day workshop conducted by the Mentorship Coordinator of CAPP. 4. How do I, as a CAPP physician learn about the specific details of this process, before starting the mentorship? Before beginning the initial phase of the mentorship, the CAPP physician will meet with the Deputy Registrar from CPSNS. Following this meeting and when all licensure documentation is in place, the CAPP physician will have a session with the CAPP Mentorship Coordinator. This meeting will include a comprehensive orientation of the mentorship process, policies and formal documentation. Mentors and CAPP physicians are provided with a comprehensive Resource Manual which documents the process, and includes reference material. All CAPP physicians attend a one-week orientation program provided by the CAPP. These sessions cover a wide range of relevant topics in preparation for the mentorship. 5. What is the role of the Mentorship Coordinator in this process? The Mentorship Coordinator collaborates with the mentor and CAPP physician on a regular and on-going basis and reviews and monitors the progress of the CAPP physician. The Mentorship Coordinator serves as a liaison between the activities of the CAPP and the teaching and learning that takes place within the family practice mentorship setting. The Mentorship Coordinator is available for consultation with sponsors, mentors, and CAPP physicians regarding questions of progress and collaborative working relationships as well as concerns pertaining to problem identification and constructive resolution. Mentors and CAPP physicians are encouraged to initiate contact with the Mentorship Coordinator to discuss issues around supervision, evaluation, feedback and constructive resolution, in a timely manner. 6. How is progress monitored during the mentorship and who does this? The mentor not only facilitates the progress and learning of the CAPP physician, but also evaluates the physician's performance in practice. This involves providing feedback to the physician with respect to areas of strengths and areas requiring further work, while also assisting the CAPP physician in identifying and addressing professional development needs. The mentor provides progress reports to the CAPP and to the sponsor at pre-determined intervals. A standard format is used for these reports which may be supplemented as necessary by additional narrative. The CAPP physician also completes a self appraisal and mentor feedback, at these same pre-determined intervals. 7. What is the purpose of the first four week initial phase of the mentorship? Before the mentor and the sponsor establish a formal relationship with the CAPP physician there is an initial phase of four weeks. This phase is intended to permit the CAPP physician to work under the supervision and observation of the proposed mentor, possibly in a variety of clinical settings in order for the mentor and the CAPP physician to determine whether the CAPP physician can demonstrate the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate for the practice setting proposed by the sponsor and the mentor. The initial phase of the mentorship can begin once the mentor has completed the workshop and the CAPP physician has received their defined licence. CAPP physicians are encouraged not to make permanent commitments regarding the purchase of a home, vehicle, or moving their families into the community until all parties have agreed that the initial phase of the mentorship has been determined to be a good match, and that the formal mentorship can begin. 8. What is the duration of mentorship? The formal mentorship will last 13 months, including the initial phase. As part of the CAPP process, at the end of 13 months, the CAPP physician's performance will be reviewed by the Credentials Committee of the CPSNS to determine the status of the CAPP physician's defined licence, what continuing or new conditions should be attached to the defined licence, and whether a formal mentorship needs to continue. If a decision is made by the Credentials Committee that the formal mentorship need not continue (the formal relationship with the sponsor will continue during the entire time of the defined licence), the mentor may wish to continue an informal relationship as a colleague to whom the CAPP physician can approach on occasion for advice and support. 9. What if I want more information about mentorship? Please contact: Office Address:
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| Page Updated: December 17, 2007 |