​On February 11 and 12, 2020 the Policy, Legal and Regulatory Affairs Advisory Committee (PLRA) met in person in wonderful, spring-like Vancouver.

The committee is mandated to provide strategic advice that enables CPSI to influence patient safety issues and directions as they relate to federal, provincial, and territorial health priorities and policy, health law and legislation, and regulatory systems and processes. Membership of the inter-professional committee consists of experts with health care leadership and policy experience from across Canada, including representation from Patients for Patient Safety Canada, government, legal and policy expertise, and regulatory bodies.

Rob Attwell, cofounder and COO of Careteam, led the committee on a tour of the Careteam Dev Hub during the afternoon of the 11th. That evening Dr. Alexandra Greenhill, CEO of the Careteam, presented on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in support of patient safety and quality. Discussion followed the fascinating presentation regarding AI, its uses, and issues to be considered for the future.

The PLRA then participated in a full day meeting on February 12th to provide guidance on current and emerging issues in a policy context. Special guests Dr. Chris Hacker, Registrar/CEO of the College of Dental Surgeons (CDS) of BC, and Mr. Harry Cayton, International Advisor to the Professional Standards Authority, provided details about the recommended overhaul of CDS regulations and changes to the BC Health Professions Act to prioritize patient safety as mandated by the provincial government. Mr. Cayton also provided a presentation on how regulations can inform and improve patient safety. 

The day concluded with an interactive exercise that centered on the CPSI Policy Framework’s five policy levers. CPSI developed a conceptual model to identify, implement and evaluate policy levers that would improve patient safety: legislation, regulations, standards, organizational policies and public engagement. The PLRA Committee reviewed initiatives advancing each of the policy levers to advise on priorities, potential roadblocks, and ways to overcome the roadblocks.  

Moving the needle on patient safety in Canada requires an overall shift in culture, values and expectations at all levels of the health system and the active engagement of various policy actors. Patient safety does not just depend on specific improvement efforts, practices and rules, but on achieving a culture of trust, reporting, transparency and discipline across the healthcare system. What will be key to the effectiveness of the policy levers, such as legislation and public awareness, is the ongoing evaluation of policies and mechanisms for knowledge exchange.

CPSI published this new policy framework in November 2019: click here to learn more.