Leave of Absence

When taking a leave of absence (LOA) from your practice, for any reason, the first thing you must do is report the dates of your leave to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba’s (CPSM) Registration Department. CPSM recognizes that if your LOA is personal or medical in nature, you may not know the return to practice date at the time of reporting; please ensure to let the Registration Department know your return date as soon as possible.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO COMMENCE LOA MUST BE SENT TO:

CPSM registration department at registration@cpsm.mb.ca

INFORMATION YOU MUST PROVIDE

Date of cessation of practice (day/month/year)
Patient records

o Location of records

o Contact person to obtain copies of records

o How records can be transferred

o Particulars of any arrangement for medical care made for the patients (if applicable)

Forwarding mailing address and email
Return to practice date (if known)
Whether your LOA will include any administrative duties

How does an LOA affect my practice?

When your LOA is a planned one, you must ensure:

You make the appropriate plan for coverage and for handling critical test results; if your LOA from practice is related to an urgent health concern, you and/or your colleague(s) will still need to ensure critical results are being handled appropriately.
You must be in compliance with the requirements of the Standard of Practice for Good Medical Care. Other requirements are included in the Practice Management Standard of Practice, which addresses how a member must advise patients of their LOA and how to make alternative care arrangements for patients.

While you are on an LOA your class of registration could be affected. It is imperative that you contact the Registration Department directly to report your LOA. They will provide you with the details respecting your registration status.

Do I need to notify CPSM if I am taking paternity or maternity leave?

Yes, you must notify CPSM of paternity or maternity leave no later than 15 days after your leave has commenced.

This would be applicable to any other type of leave of absence from your practice.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM ONE ASPECT OF YOUR PRACTICE

Your leave may only affect one aspect of your practice (e.g. you are still able to do administrative work but are unable to do clinical work). You must specify this to CPSM’s Registration Department upon reporting your LOA so they can note this change in your scope of practice. Once you can resume your clinical work, you will need to report this back to the Registration Department.

REFERRAL TO PHYSICIAN HEALTH FOR MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCES

All members who take a medical LOA are referred to the Physician Health Program (PHP) for review. The PHP supports physicians, residents, medical students, physician assistants, and clinical assistants who choose to prioritize their personal health while continuing to provide safe and effective care to patients. The program is safe, confidential, and non-punitive. All referrals to the program must participate in an intake phone call with the Assistant Registrar and/or the program coordinator.

How can the Physician Health Program help me?

The PHP can assist you in a variety of ways. While the program does not provide direct care, it connects members with the appropriate care. Here are a few other ways they can help:

Providing guidance for setting boundaries within the practice environment to support optimal well-being
Providing formal direction to employers/health authorities regarding recommended work hours, call frequency, volume of shifts, etc.;
Formal agreements to support abstinence and recovery
Provide overall support and encouragement

During your involvement with the PHP, they may advise you that a final check-in with their program is required before you are able to return to work. In these cases, the PHP will advise the Registration Department that final approval is required before your practice can resume. This is CPSM’s way of ensuring your wellness and safety to practice. Once PHP has approved your return, they will provide a confirmation to the Registration Department.

REQUIREMENTS FOR RETURNING TO PRACTICE FROM LOA

Approval from PHP (if applicable)
Notify the Registration Department approximately four weeks prior to your start date
Renew your certificate of practice (if lapsed while on LOA)
Pay applicable fees
Provide confirmation of your practice location
Provide confirmation of your Professional Liability Coverage

INACTIVE PHYSICIANS

In instances where a member has been on LOA for three years or longer, the Registrar must assess their ability to provide safe, competent care before they can issue registration. An inactive physician is defined as a physician who is planning to re-enter practice after being on leave for three years or more, whether it is a general absence from all clinical activity or a specific absence from one or more fields of clinical practice through restriction of practice or through practice in a specific setting.

Please see CPSM Practice Direction - Qualifications and Registration for additional information on returning after a lengthy LOA.