Public Consultation: Collaborative Care

CPSM requests feedback from registrants, stakeholders, and the general public regarding the draft Standard of Practice – Collaborative Care.

The 30-day consultation is open for feedback from January 13 - February 13.

Watch the video below to hear a message for the medical profession

Background

In 2022, CPSM surveyed registrants on the existing Standard of Practice – Collaborative Care (the Standard) after becoming aware of serious concerns affecting the delivery of medical care.

Registrants identified several barriers and concerns in meeting the Standard, including staffing shortages, limited resources, administrative burden, and burnout.

Supporting data from our Standards and Quality Assurance and Complaints & Investigations departments indicate serious issues with how medical care is currently delivered, particularly in the communication and acceptance of doctor-to-doctor consultations.

A working group made up of specialists, family physicians, and members of the public, was created and tasked with updating the Standard.

This draft Standard is the product of over two years of development by the working group and is substantially different than the current Standard, which has become outdated (view a timeline of its development here). 

What has changed?

The principles for the Standards are built on the Code of Ethics and Professionalism and were developed with one goal in mind: improving patient care.

The updates include an expanded focus between members of the medical profession through non-urgent and urgent consultation, clarifies roles, introduces the concept of closed-loop communication, and timelines for turnaround communications.

The Standards are concise, focusing on registrant behaviour.

There are now three separate standards. Each Standard is supported with its own Contextual Document, which includes FAQs, to assist with applying the Standard in practice.

These new Standards will require all registrants to reflect on collaborative practices and, for some, adjustments in behaviours and practices.

Pre-Consultations

Pre-consultations were held throughout 2025 with those in referring and consulting roles, Chief Medical Officers, system leaders, and Doctors Manitoba to ensure the draft ready for your review is patient-centred and reflects the reality of the medical profession and systems we work within.

In October 2025, we partnered with Doctors Manitoba and Shared Health to introduce the principles of the Standards at the Referral and Consultation Summit, which over 100 physicians attended and provided important feedback that led to some adjustments. 

It is a privilege for the medical profession to write our own Standards

The one thing that matters to us all is providing quality care to patients. These Standards are designed to help make that possible.  Working collaboratively is vital to putting the patient first, and when executed well, it will also improve physicians' experiences in delivering care. 

It is not about perfection; it is about progress.

Your perspective is critical, and your constructive feedback will help shape the Standards before they are finalized.

Share your feedback – what you like, what you don’t –and most importantly, why. Your input helps enhance the Standards.

How to provide your feedback 

1. Review the draft Standards (three parts) at the links in the table above in the What has changed section.
2. Provide your input in one of the following ways:

• • Complete the survey here
  • By email: CPSMconsultation@cpsm.mb.ca
  • By mail:

The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba

1000-1661 Portage Avenue

Winnipeg, MB R3J 3T7

The deadline for feedback is Friday, February 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.