For community-based physicians, ensuring their offices are healthy and safe workplaces is a key priority. The Community Physician Health and Safety (CPHS) program, created in partnership between Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health and managed by SWITCH BC, supports doctors working in their communities by providing tools to enhance workplace health and safety, streamline business efficiency, and ensure compliance with WorkSafeBC and BC’s Occupational Health and Safety regulations—all in a helpful, non-regulatory approach that sets doctors and their teams up for success.
Dedicated support for community physicians
Dr Kathy Lee, a full-service General Surgeon at Surrey Memorial Hospital, played a key role in creating these important tools. Like many community physicians, she saw the role of a health care professional evolve far beyond solely providing patient care to include tasks such as hiring and retaining quality staff, navigating the constantly changing legal landscape, and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment, which now form part of an ever-expanding list of responsibilities.
“It used to be just me, my late husband, and our amazing Medical Office Assistant. We were lucky to have each other, but it was still incredibly demanding. We were doctors, accountants, HR, and IT support all rolled into one.”
This experience of balancing patient care with the demands of managing a practice led Dr Lee to co-chair the Community Physician Health and Safety Oversight Group (CPHSOG), where she is leading efforts to create safer and more efficient workplaces for community physicians.
Resources to ensure safe and healthy community offices
Dr Lee is committed to inspiring her fellow community physicians to use the support offered by the CPHS program to ensure the health and safety of their practices. “SWITCH BC has been a revelation. Through the CPHS program, they provide comprehensive resources to support creating a safe work environment, such as a comprehensive and physician-friendly OHS guide, a web portal to build a health and safety clinic program, free health and safety clinic assessments with tailored recommendations, and de-escalation tools for medical office staff.”
Dr Lee says the program is especially beneficial for new graduates who may need help navigating the health and safety requirements of running a practice, emphasizing how the tools and resources support managing risks and ensuring compliance with regulations from WorkSafeBC and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC’s Practice Standards.
Creating safer clinical environments
Dr Lee believes that by fostering collaboration and making the most of the resources available through the CPHS program, physicians can alleviate their burdens, create safer and healthier environments, and remain focused on delivering exceptional patient care.
The CPHS program was negotiated through the 2022 Physician Master Agreement under the Memorandum of Agreement on Physical and Psychological Health and Safety. If you are interested in learning more, including having a free clinic assessment, please visit the CPHS program website.
