ROYAL COLLEGE SPECIALTY COMMITTEE IN PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION - 2000 REPORT

Chair: Hugh Anton

The Specialty Committee in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation met via teleconference on December 16, 1998 and at the Royal College offices in Ottawa on April 14, 2000.

The Committee completed the revision of our Training Objectives to reflect the Royal College’s CanMEDS 2000 document. We anticipate the revised objectives will be approved by the Royal College Credentials Committee meeting in May, 2000.

One area of concern is the development and certification of subspecialties in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has moved forward with subspecialty certification in Spinal Cord medicine and will soon do the same in other areas. At present, only Canadians with American Board certification are eligible to write US examinations. While the American Board has indicated willingness to allow non–Board certified Canadians to write their examinations, they would not be prepared to take on the task of certification. The Specialty Committee recognizes the importance of the issue but lacks the resources and mandate for that role. The Committee has in any case identified pediatric physiatry as a first priority for any subspecialty certification. Discussion about pediatric physiatry continues. Dr. John Latter will bring the issue forward to the new CAPM&R Pediatric Interest Group.

The Committee is currently reviewing Specific Standards of Accreditation for training programs in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

The Committee has had further discussion about its potential role in the Royal College Maintenance of Certification program. While Committee members are supportive and many have been involved with development of the program, the Committee’s main role will probably be liaison and support of the new CPD Committee.

I would like to thank the members of the Specialty Committee and the Examining Committee for their hard work over the past year.

Respectfully submitted,
Hugh Anton
Chair, Royal College Specialty Committee
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation