But Dr. Paul Hart’s offer of three months of his medical services — free of charge — ran into licensing issues with the College of Physicians and Surgeons. On Friday, Hart received a letter informing him that his application for registration had been rejected. Hart — originally from Toronto — came to Newfoundland and Labrador for university and was in the first graduating class of Memorial University’s medical school in 1973. He says offering his services is his way of giving back to province. “It is my desire to say thank you to the province of Newfoundland for providing me with this amazing education and a wonderful medical career,” Hart told CBC News in a recent interview. Hart contacted Fogo Island Health Center and Central Health offering to work as a family physician for up to three months. He said his services would be free and he would cover his own travel and living expenses. “I’m not going to ask for any compensation,” Hart said. “And indeed, if you give me money, I will turn around and write a check back to Fogo City and the island for them to use as they need.” Hart says the response to his offer from hospital management and the provincial health minister has been positive. I gave this information to the college and said, look at this, can we have a dialogue? We never had that dialogue.- Dr. Paul Hart However, problems began during the online application process for a provincial medical license, required by the provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons.
The application was rejected
While fully licensed in Massachusetts, Hart does not meet certain provincial licensing requirements for the provincial application. “I haven’t been in active practice two of the last three years,” Hart said. “I have done telemedicine… telemedicine is not considered an active medical practice.” In an emailed statement to CBC, the College of Physicians and Surgeons said applicants must have practiced medicine for at least 120 days within the three years preceding the application date. “Right now, for new applicants, virtual [or] The practice of telemedicine does not qualify for active practice. These licensing practices are under active scrutiny.” According to the letter, Hart also does not meet the postgraduate clinical training requirement for family medicine. Hart said he began his training in Canada, but did not need to complete the Canadian exams to practice in the United States — where he has worked as a family physician for nearly five decades. Dr. Paul Hart, a licensed physician wants to work as a family doctor on Fogo Island for free. However, he faces hurdles to get a provincial medical license. (Dr. Paul Hart) Doctors must also have malpractice insurance, but Hart says he needs a provincial medical license to get it. “I don’t have a license number to give them, I can’t be registered, so there’s a couple of catch-22s,” Hart said. Hart contacted the college directly to explain his situation and was told to fill out the online application and pay the application fee as a first step. Knowing that his application would be denied, Hart decided to email his request for reconsideration instead of submitting it online. “They wanted $780 and I felt like no, I’m not going to spend that money knowing I’m going to be turned down,” Hart said. “I gave this information to the college and said, ‘Please look at it. Can we have a dialogue?” We’ve never had a dialogue like that.” Hart said he eventually submitted his application through the online portal with the help of the provincial government. On Friday, his application for registration was rejected. “Based on the information you provided, the College is not satisfied that the requirements for a primary care (family medicine) license are met,” the College of Physicians and Surgeons said in a letter to Hart, shared with CBC News . Hart said he’s disappointed and wishes the college had been more willing to communicate throughout the process — especially given the dire situation Fogo Island residents face without a doctor. “I have never, in 20 years of volunteering, spent so much time and effort to try and volunteer,” he said. The college declined to comment specifically on Hart’s case.
Help from the province, health authority
Provincial Health Minister Tom Osborne, who called Hart’s offer “generous,” said his department has been in contact with the college for guidance. “Based on his offer specifically to come and volunteer his time, we would offer to cover the permit fees to make sure we get him here,” Osborne said. “We’ve had conversations with the college, we’ve had conversations with him where we’re trying to complete that process.” Health Minister Tom Osborne, who called Hart’s offer generous, says his department would welcome the doctor to the province. (Darryl Murphy/CBC) Hart said both Osborne and Central Health were helpful throughout the application process. “Everybody supported us except the college,” he said. “No, I don’t have those two things. They didn’t even go further: ‘you don’t have them, that’s it, they deny you.’ Hart wrote to Prime Minister Andrew Fury about the experience. Despite the rejection, Hart said his offer still stands. He believes the college should explain why it rejected his application after Fogo Island lost its only doctor. “If you say no, that’s your right, you’re the sponsoring body,” Hart said. “But if you say no, then I think it’s up to the board or the college to go to the people of Fogo Island and say, ‘This is why we’re refusing a licensed physician in the state of Massachusetts to come for three months and at no cost. ». Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
