Regional Physician Health and Safety Working Group

The Regional Physician Health and Safety Working Groups (RPHSWG) have been formally established by the 2022 Memorandum of Agreement on Physical and Psychological Safety Health and Safety (the Agreement). The Agreement acknowledges how Doctors of BC and the health authorities have a shared interest in a coordinated approach to the physical and psychological health and safety of physicians working in health authority facilities across the province. The RPHSWGs provide an opportunity for Doctors of BC physician representatives and the Health Authorities to engage on matters of importance to physicians related to physical and psychological safety. 

Ensuring the physical and psychological safety of doctors in their workplaces is imperative in order to provide the best care possible to patients. The goals of the Working Groups are to establish or rebuild many of the processes and structures for physicians regarding physical health and safety, so that they are better supported and protected in their work environment.

This work was first negotiated as part of the 2019 Physician Master Agreement. Now with the 2022 Physician Master Agreement, the 2022 Agreement continues to build upon work from the last three years focusing on improvements to the health and safety of health care workers and providers. Additionally, it addresses renewing a provincial framework for occupational health and safety in the BC health sector and ensuring the inclusion of physicians.

The Provincial Physician Health and Safety Working Group (PPHSWG) is also established through the Agreement. Three Doctors of BC physician representatives are selected from the RPHSWGs to raise and discuss issues and projects that encompass a provincial scope, in addition to allocating Agreement funding to all of the relevant groups. Examples of projects include provincial data collection and reporting, violence prevention training, and best practices for onboarding. 

Physician representatives for each RPHSWG will be expected to represent the medical profession as a whole on behalf of Doctors of BC, and the physicians in their respective region. This will require the representative to work collaboratively with other regional representatives and staff in order to advance issues or projects that support the overall objectives of the Agreement. Please see here for examples of provincial and regional projects and activities.