Victoria Divisions of Family Practice

Policies


Click the links below for more information:

VDFP Bylaws

Membership Policy

Member Code of Conduct

Privacy Policy

Engagement and Consultation Policy Guidelines (effective January, 2020)

Purchase and Serving Alcohol Policy


VDFP Bylaws

The Bylaws have been updated. Please click here to review. 

Go back to the top of the page ^


Membership Policy

The board of directors of the Division aspires to attract as many eligible physicians to join the Division as possible. This will have the greatest impact on supporting and advocating for family physicians, and improving patient health.

Members play a strong role in assessing and improving Division projects. Members can help the Division by providing information and regular feedback to staff and board members, or by participating in the service agreements negotiated and administered by the Division.

Member involvement is key to the success of the Division. The Division will have several committees for the Divisions, and others that work with partners in primary health care. There are funds budgeted for committee work of members.

The board of directors of the Division sets policy for membership, and reviews that policy on a regular basis.

  • Members are required to submit an application online through the division website or complete and sign a printed, paper copy of the current membership form, as well as to update their contact information if there are any changes.
  • The Operations Coordinator will review and process applications according to the criteria established by the division. Applicants’ names will be reviewed and approved by the board of directors, in accordance with the bylaws of the Division at each month’s board meeting.
  • The membership list must be reviewed and approved annually to reflect changes in the membership such as retirement and relocation of physicians who are no longer practicing in the community.
  • A membership term will be five years, at which point, the member must reapply for membership. There are no membership dues.
  • Members are eligible to receive all the benefits of Division participation, including a complimentary copy of the constitution and bylaws, and updates and information related to the work of the Division.

Criteria

There are two types of membership in the Division as described in the Bylaws: “General Members” and “Associated Members”

A General Member (voting) must be:

  • A general practitioner or family physician, licensed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and in good standing with, the college and active in clinical practice in the Division’s geographical boundaries.

An Associate Member (non-voting) is not eligible as a General Member and belongs to one of the following categories:

  • Family medicine resident in good standing with the College
  • Medical student
  • General practitioner or family physician retired from all clinical practice, and in good standing with the College.
  • General practitioner or family physician who has primary membership with another division of family practice in British Columbia.
  • And, reside or practice (practiced) as one of the above categories within the area.

A member may be:

  • A physician with or without hospital privileges, or;
  • A physician who is providing family physician services on a sessional or other basis;
  • A family physician who provides focused (e.g. RCI, obstetrical, ER, sports medicine, hospitalist, palliative care, etc.) or full-service family medicine and/or walk-in clinic services;

For general practitioners or family physicians with primary membership in another Division of Family Practice, but for whom the work of the Victoria Division is relevant:

  • The member’s FPSC funding would remain with his/her primary division (i.e., the division representing the catchment area where that physician provides the majority of his/her services).
  • The member would not be eligible to vote in Victoria Division elections, but would be eligible to participate in all Victoria Division events and activities, unless the Division identifies specific exclusion criteria (e.g., activities that are dependent upon a member’s funding).

Go back to the top of the page ^


Member Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct sets out the minimum standard of conduct required of all Members of the Division (General and Associate) when participating in any events, meetings or other activities sponsored by the Division. This Code addresses the main relevant areas, but is not designed to be exhaustive.

  • Members shall deal with each other, and with staff of the Division, openly, honestly, truthfully and in good faith and shall observe proper decorum at all times.
  • Members’ interactions shall be courteous, respectful and free of animosity.
  • Members shall engage in respectful communication, honouring opinions, and focusing on issues not personalities.

Go back to the top of the page ^


Privacy Policy

The Victoria Division of Family Practice has a Privacy Policy in place to ensure the personal information entrusted to it is kept secure and confidential.

Accountability for Personal Information : The Victoria Division of Family Practice is responsible for personal information under its control and has designated an individual who is accountable for compliance with established privacy principles. All Board and Staff members have been oriented to and follow our Privacy Policy and Protocols. The Division has contractual agreements in place that ensure that third parties protect personal information as well.

Identifying Purposes for Personal Information: The Victoria Division of Family Practice identifies the reason for collecting personal information before or at the time of collection. The need for the information is clearly documented and only information with an identified purpose is collected. Processes are in place to review requests for the collection of personal information.

Consent for the Collection, Use or Disclosure of Personal Information: The Victoria Division of Family Practice ensures that consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information is obtained. The Division does not disclose personal information for purposes secondary to the identified purposes for which it was collected. Consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of information is not a condition for service unless the information is required to fulfill a specified and legitimate purpose. The Division informs individuals of their right to withdraw consent.

Limiting Collection of Personal Information: The Victoria Division of Family Practice limits the collection of personal information to that which is necessary for the purposes identified. Information is collected by fair and lawful means.

Limiting Use, Disclosure and Retention of Personal Information: The Victoria Division of Family Practice does not use or disclose information for purposes other than those for which it was collected, except with the informed consent of individuals or as required by law. Personal information will be retained only as long as necessary for the fulfillment of these purposes. Limitations on the use of information are communicated to persons who require access to it. Personal information that is no longer required is safely and securely destroyed.

Accuracy of Personal Information: The Victoria Division of Family Practice is responsible for ensuring that personal information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date for the purposes for which it was collected, and takes steps to update information as required.

Safeguards for Personal Information: The Victoria Division of Family Practice ensures personal information is protected by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information, to guard against loss or theft and unauthorized access, disclosure, use, or modification.

Openness about the Management of Personal Information: The Victoria Division of Family Practice makes information available about its policies and practices related to the management of personal information, including making available the contact information for the person responsible for the Division Privacy Policy and Protocols.

Individual Access to Personal Information: The Victoria Division of Family Practice makes available the personal information it holds about an individual upon request and provides access at no cost. Where the Division is unable to provide full access to an individual’s request for information, the reasons for limiting access are stated in a specific, reasonable, and justifiable manner. The Division informs individuals of what personal information it holds and provides opportunities for an individual to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.

Challenging Compliance: An individual has the ability to challenge the Division’s compliance with these principles by contacting the designated individual accountable for the organization’s compliance.


Disclaimer

The policy described above applies to the work and activities of the Victoria Division of Family Practice only. Aspects of this website are the purview of the Provincial Divisions Office and are covered by their policies.


Questions

For more information or to view a full version of the Victoria Division of Family Practice Privacy Policy and Protocols, please contact the Privacy Officer, Kristin Atwood, at katwood@victoriadivision.ca.

Go back to the top of the page ^


Engagement and Consultation Policy Guidelines (effective January, 2020)

The Division’s communication channels provide our members - family physicians in urban Greater Victoria - with news on opportunities, programs and service updates that help them care for their patients and support the VDFP mission to improve access to excellent patient care.

The Division currently uses these channels for member communication:

  • Website
  • NewsFlash newsletter
  • Pathways resource platform for physicians

The Board welcomes content submissions from our members, community partners and other stakeholders. It has tasked its Communications Committee to review all submissions and ensure they meet these criteria:

  • Direct benefit for local physician members (must be physician-centric, not patient-centric) 
  • Free from pharmaceutical/industry funding or association.
  • Related to the VDFP vision and mission:
    • Fostering physician engagement and professional fulfillment
    • Influencing decisions that impact patients and primary care providers
    • Partnering to facilitate an effective and sustainable healthcare system
    • Improving access to excellent primary care
  • Research requests must be formally approved by a university research ethics board (confirmation required in submission form).
  • Submissions can include:
  • Primary care research and engagement opportunities
  • Job postings
  • Teaching opportunities
  • Information on events, clinics or services
  • Educational opportunities and resources
  • Soliciting representation for a committee or seeking member perspective*
    * Note that in this informal capacity, individual members do not represent the VDFP view or endorse a particular position on behalf of the VDFP.

If we are unable to post your submission, you may consider a mail out to all family physicians through an external direct mail provider.


How to submit news items

Please use our submission form and craft your submission using this format:

  1. A clear title that tells the reader why this matters to them and what you would like from them
  2. A brief summary (3 sentences) that must include:
    • Clear relevance/benefit to Victoria Division members. Again, why does this matter to them and what would you like from them?
    • Clear indication of time commitment, deadline, or compensation/cost (when appropriate)
    • A website link for more information such as contact information, or for the full article if applicable. This information will be shown when the readers click to view more information.
      Unfortunately we are unable to process pdfs or non-digital submissions (fax, mail).

Your submission will be reviewed by the Board’s Communications Committee. If it meets the criteria and we have space available, it will be published on the most appropriate channel(s). We may edit your submission for clarity, style or length.

Please submit your item at least two weeks before the desired publication date.

If you have questions about your submission, please email victoria@victoriadivision.ca and we will get back to you.


How to submit other requests

Are you looking for VDFP feedback or endorsement?
Our Board meets once per month. Please request our review at victoria@victoriadivision.ca at least 30 days before you need the response. Note that we are unable to guarantee a full review.


Disclaimer:

While the VDFP is committed to educating and informing our membership about events/opportunities for them in primary care, we cannot guarantee access to our membership. We typically receive more submissions than we are able to publish and will review each request independently, in a timely fashion.

Go back to the top of the page ^


Purchase and Serving Alcohol Policy

As per the direction from the FPSC and Ministry of Health, Victoria Division of Family Practice will not use any funds provided through the Physician Master Agreement for purchasing alcohol. This includes all collaborative funds, the divisions’ infrastructure funds and any initiatives funded by joint committees.

Therefore, VDFP will not purchase, serve or supply alcohol at any meetings or events using funds as indicated in the paragraph above. If members choose to purchase an alcoholic beverage from the venue bar/lounge or consume alcohol purchased from any outside source they do so of their own volition and without the financial support of the VDFP. The Division does not accept liability for guests actions thereafter, following the consumption of alcohol.

Go back to the top of the page ^

 

Have a question or comment? Not finding what you are looking for? Please contact us.