NSPAR Report Follow-up
For the majority of physicians, an NSPAR review ends when they receive their confidential report. For the 10 to 20 percent of physicians who receive a "flagged report," or who request assistance in interpreting the results of their review and report, there is further help. This follow-up is designed to be helpful and formative.
NSPAR program advisors (who are experienced physicians themselves) assist physicians to better understand the results of their reviews. They also help reviewed physicians use these results to make practice improvements and/or choose professional development opportunities. This assistance can take the form of in-depth telephone interviews and/or practice visits.
Great care is taken to ensure that 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 happen only 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. NSPAR information is designed strictly for educational and practice improvement purposes.