Designated Medical Practitioner Handbook

Chapter 8: DMP Performance, Monitoring, Control and Evaluation

8.1 Performance Policy

Canadian immigration medical activities take place at hundreds of locations around the world and involve thousands of individuals. CIC has a responsibility to both ensure and demonstrate that IMEs are completed in accordance with standards and requirements wherever they are undertaken. The Department exercises those responsibilities and maintains the integrity of immigration medical examinations through DMP performance evaluation, monitoring, and control activities.

Performance that fails to meet standards, either professionally or administratively, can reflect negatively on the immigration medical program in general. As a consequence, DMP performance is subject to regular evaluation and review. In addition, all complaints and disputes related to the performance of IMEs that are brought to the attention of the Department will be evaluated.

8.2 Performance Standards

Standards of medical practice are developed and defined by the medical licensing and regulatory authorities at the DMPs’ location and by respective professional organizations. DMPs are required to meet those standards.

In addition, since the immigration medical process includes several organizational components, the provision of IMEs involves meeting client service requirements related to Canada’s immigration program. These client service issues are addressed through standards of service for communication, document management and administrative aspects of the IME. For example, the quality of reports and the time in which they are completed and transferred to RMOs can be the subject of performance standards. See Section 3.1 for a description of DMPs’ duties and responsibilities.

8.3 Monitoring, Control and Evaluation Process and Methodology

CIC may utilize various methodologies to monitor, assess and evaluate DMP performance. The following represent examples of such quality assurance and control activities:

• Review of medical documents for adherence to service standards
  • Ensuring that the appropriate sections A to E of the Medical Report form have been accurately and legibly completed. This review will include assessing the records of both positive and negative findings.
  • Ensuring that the conclusions, prognosis and summary recorded on the medical forms reflect the DMP’s objective findings.
• Review of the completion of required diagnostic tests
  • Ensuring that age-appropriate testing (urinalysis, syphilis serology, HIV, chest x-ray) has been carried out according to guidelines.
  • Adhering to standards and guidelines for the quality of the chest x-ray films submitted and for the appropriate identification of applicants.
• Document management
  
  • Ensuring that documents are completed and submitted according to recommended service standards.
  • Ensuring that requests for additional information (furtherance requests) have been dealt with appropriately and in a timely manner.
  • Ensuring that assessments and opinions provided by the DMP are appropriate to the circumstances, and of necessary substance and quality.

These monitoring and evaluation activities, while providing a standardized, systematic method of quality assurance and control, also improve the flow of communication between the Department and the DMP, and support the continuous improvement of the process.

 

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