OTTAWA, August 14, 2024—The Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) presented the results of its financial performance, and demonstrated how it supported members, enhanced patient safety, and delivered on other key strategic initiatives at its 2024 Annual Meeting today. The event was held both online and onsite in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
During the business meeting, outgoing President, Dr. Jean-Hugues Brossard, and CEO, Dr. Lisa Calder, shared how the CMPA has advanced on its 2023-2025 Strategic Plan. The plan focuses on CMPA supporting its members, strengthening its foundation, and adapting to a changing healthcare environment.
One of the Association’s key priorities is to promote patient safety through medico-legal advice, support, and peer reviewed research that informs important learning opportunities to help doctors provide safer care. But when it’s proven that negligent care has occurred, both doctors and their patients can be confident that the CMPA is there to provide appropriate compensation that reflects the long-term care needs of patients and their families.
“In 2023, the Association paid $308 million in compensation to patients, on behalf of physician members, proven harmed by negligent medical care (fault in Québec),” said Dr. Brossard. “Over the past 10 years, the CMPA has paid $2.4 billion in compensation to patients or an average of $241 million per year.”
The CMPA also achieved the following notable results towards its Strategic Plan in 2023
Support members
- Engaged with members 49,468 times on the phone and online in English and in French, providing peer support and expert guidance to help physicians navigate medico-legal challenges.
- Provided just-in-time advice on key issues like the healthcare human resources crisis, treating non-Canadian residents, MAID, and more to help members reduce harm and practise safely. In fact, our 2023 member survey results indicate that 93% agreed that CMPA is creditable and 96% felt the range of CMPA services offered meets their medico-legal needs
- Launched a pilot peer-support program to support members experiencing emotional distress due to medico-legal issues and enhance physician wellness across Canada. Members who reported high stress levels experienced a 74% reduction in stress on average after speaking with a CMPA physician advisor.
Strengthen the Association’s foundation
- Acted on its responsibility to address EDI issues and to understand the impacts of racism, inequity, and discrimination by making significant advances on its 2022-2025 EDI Strategy. Notably, 96% of members surveyed after a call reported that CMPA physician advisors provided a safe and non-judgmental environment.
- Advocated on issues that align with its mandate by engaging with stakeholders and advising on policies that impact physicians, patient safety and the medical liability system by holding over 340 meetings with stakeholders and sending 34 submissions to medical regulatory authorities and governments on issues such as ethics and responsibilities, virtual health, and healthcare human resources.
- Explored the potential opportunities and challenges around AI in healthcare, cohosting an AI symposium with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, which brought together experts from many fields and advanced the conversation on key opportunities, risks, and barriers to the safe adoption of innovative AI technologies in healthcare.
Adapt to a changing healthcare environment
“One of our main priorities is to help prevent healthcare related patient harm from occurring in the first place through advice, learning, and research, said Dr. Calder. “In 2023, we held 330 face-to-face, virtual and hybrid learning events across Canada, sharing safe medical care strategies and resources with over 11,000 members.”
For more information, or to arrange an interview: [email protected].
About the CMPA
The CMPA empowers better healthcare by delivering efficient, high-quality physician-to-physician advice and assistance in medico-legal matters. Importantly, the CMPA provides appropriate compensation, on behalf of our members, to patients proven to be injured by negligent medical care (fault in Québec). Our peer-reviewed research results in evidence-based products and services focused on enhancing patient safety and reducing patient harm.
As Canada’s largest physician organization and with the support of our 111,000 physician members, the CMPA collaborates, advocates, and effects positive change on important healthcare related medico-legal issues. The Association is governed by an elected Council of physicians.
