NSPAR Report Follow-up
An NSPAR review is ordinarily complete when physicians receives their confidential report from the research firm contracted to coordinate the review process on behalf of the program. Exceptions are when the report is “flagged” or if a physician requests assistance in interpreting the results.
In these cases, the physician is contacted by an NSPAR program advisor. NSPAR program advisors are experienced physicians who provide assistance in the form of an in-depth telephone interview and/or practice visit. Their goal is to help physicians use the report results to make practice improvements or to choose professional development opportunities.
Great care is taken to ensure physician anonymity is protected during this process.
Only in rare instances could a physician be referred to the Registrar of the College through the NSPAR process. This would only occur if the review determined that the public was at immediate risk of harm; if there were a serious breach of ethics identified during the review; or if there were an unreasonable failure to comply with the requirements of the NSPAR process.
Under the Nova Scotia Medical Act, NSPAR review results and reports are protected from use or disclosure in any disciplinary process or legal proceeding.