Definition of A Physician Organization (PO)
NOTE: Only a physician organization may seek accreditation/certification via the McGill University, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Office.
The McGill University Office for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) only accredits/certifies activities developed by a Physician Organization (PO). The PO must develop all aspects of a CPD activity, from appointing the Scientific Planning Committee (SPC) members to the evaluation outcome.
The PO and/or SPC must have ultimate authority over all decisions, and must be accountable to ensure compliance with the administrative, financial, educational and ethical accreditation/certification standards as established by CPD/CME regulatory authorities external to McGill University.
As per the National Standard for Support of Accredited CPD Activities (page 9), the definition of a PO is:
a not-for-profit group of health professionals with a formal governance structure, accountable to and serving, among others, its physician members through continuing professional development, provision of health care, and/or research.
The above definition includes the following groups:
- Faculties of medicine departments or divisions
- Hospital departments or divisions: Three physicians from the same department that are developing the activity as members of the department are considered to be a PO. If the three physicians are from different departments, the group cannot be equated as a physician organization.
- Medical societies
- Medical associations
- Medical academies
- Physician research organizations
- Canadian provincial medical regulatory authorities (MRAs)
The above definition does NOT include the following groups:
- Hospitals and/or health authorities
- Pharmaceutical companies or their advisory groups
- Medical/surgical supply companies
- Disease-oriented patient advocacy organizations (e.g. Canadian Diabetes Association)
- Government departments or agencies (e.g. Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada)
- Industry (e.g. pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, etc.)
- Medical education or communications (MEC) companies
- 'For-profit' online educators, publishing companies, or simulation companies (e.g. Medscape)
- Small number of physicians working together to develop educational programming
- Any other for-profit organizations/ventures
As per the CQDPCM Code of Ethics (page 7), the definition of a PO is:
a for-profit or non-profit organization that has more than one healthcare professional as a member.
The above definition includes the following groups:
- Educational institutions
- Medical clinics
- Professional associations, scientific organizations, and physicians group
- Faculties of medicine
- Other medical organizations at the provincial or national level
The Physician Organization must be Canadian or have a Canadian chapter. The scientific planning committee (SPC) may include non-Canadian members if the results of the needs assessment indicate the need.
To determine if the PO meets CPD standards, please answer the questions below:
1. Is the PO a McGill University or McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) unit? If no, see questions 2 to 5.
[ ] Yes [ ] No
2. Is the PO registered as a not-for-profit Canadian (federal) corporation? The PO may also be registered as a provincial not-for-profit corporation.
[ ] Yes [ ] No
3. Is the PO made up of a group of health professionals accountable to one group of specialists?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
4. Does the PO have a formal governance structure with official member bylaws?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
5. Does the PO serve its members?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
If you answered yes to questions 1 or 2 to 5, you may be compliant with CPD standards.
* Page Version 08Dec23