We're being set up

I read with interest the remarks of Dr Paul Rainsberry, director of education with the College of Family Physicians (CFPC) on certification of practice eligible candidates in the article "It's not the testing, it's the test" (Vol 2 No 3) published in the February 15 issue. I'm outraged to hear him assert that the opportunities to learn patient-centred care exist, and that the CFPC isn't trying to close any doors.

The CFPC requires candidates to take a course in evidence-based medicine for $950, which is provided online. However, the College does not require or offer any courses in patient-centred care. Competence in patient-centred care is necessary to pass the oral portion of the exam but older family doctors like myself have never been trained in this interview method. We cannot pass the exam without this course that, as mentioned before, the College not only doesn't require but doesn't offer either.

The only course in patient-centred care available to doctors in Ontario is given by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in Toronto, which incidentally is not available online. Doctors outside of Toronto must travel there at their own expense to take a course that they have to pay for out of pocket and that they will never use except to pass this exam. Physicians aren't given these facts before they write the $1,200 exam. To top it all off, doctors are required to learn evidence-based medicine yet this is not covered on the exam!

This is such a set-up. The College is using us to balance out their failure rate and maintain credibility. I ask that Dr Rainsberry tell the doctors across Canada who read this newspaper that this is not the case. Explain why the course we need is not offered or required. Enlighten us as to why you think certain doctors fail the exam. Disprove my accusations.

— Dr Barbara Watts, Orangeville, ON

Submitted as an open letter to Dr Paul Rainsberry, director of education, CFPC