Emergency medicine a specialty in Quebec

The Collège des médecins du Québec has finally recognized emergency medicine as a specialty. More than 90% of the 1500 emergency physicians working in the province are family physicians, but the specialty will be limited to approximately 90 physicians who will research standards of care, develop protocols and adopt a clinician-consultant role.

"The new specialist status won't push [FPs] away, but will provide better training, teaching and support for emergency physicians in general," said Dr. Marc Afilalo, director of emergency medicine at Montréal's Jewish General Hospital. "Emergency physicians will have a pool of colleagues who are dedicated to advancing emergency medicine." The Department of Emergency Medicine at McGill University has trained approximately 40 specialists in the field.

| CMAJ July 1, 1996 (vol 155, no 1) | News in health and health care |