Professionals Involved
What are the categories of persons authorized to write a collective prescription?
According to the practice guideline of the Collège des médecins du Québec (05/2017) entitled Les ordonnances collectives (p. 8): “Only physicians are authorized to write a collective prescription. While medical residents are authorized to write individual prescriptions, they may do so only as part of their training. Certain professionals, such as pharmacists, specialized nurse practitioners and some nurses are also authorized to write individual prescriptions but only pursuant to the activity authorization regulations adopted by the Collège.” [Translation]
Who are the professionals and the persons authorized to engage in professional activities further to a prescription?
According to the practice guideline of the Collège des médecins du Québec (05/2017) entitled Les ordonnances collectives (p. 8): “The notion of “authorized person” refers to persons other than professionals within the meaning of the Professional Code who are also authorized to write a prescription, under the Collège’s regulations. These authorized persons include physician assistants in the Canadian Forces, clinical perfusionists, ambulance technicians in advanced care and athletic therapists, who, although they are not members of a professional order, may engage in certain professional activities reserved to physicians provided that they have a prescription.” [Translation]
In May 2017, the Collège des médecins du Québec published the Liste des professionnels et des personnes pouvant être habilitées à exercer des activités professionnelles à la suite d’une ordonnance [list of professionals and persons who may be authorized to exercise professional activities further to a prescription].
Can all of the collective prescriptions developed by a physician or an institution or originating with INESSS be managed by nursing assistants?Nursing assistants cannot necessarily handle all of the collective prescriptions developed by a physician. Nursing assistants are part of the professionals who may be authorized to apply a collective prescription. Their involvement could be limited because they are not authorized to perform evaluations. The determination as to whether nursing assistants may be among the professionals authorized to use a collective prescription can be made when the collective prescription is being written and will depend on the activities involved.
The practice guideline of the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) makes reference to “authorized persons.” An authorized person is identified in each prescription and may vary from one prescription to another, depending on the skills required. For further information on authorized persons, please see the question Who are the professionals and the persons authorized to engage in professional activities further to a prescription?