CPEP’s Return to Clinical Practice Program (RCP)
Life Gets in the Way Sometimes
Many clinicians step away from daily patient care for completely voluntary reasons. These may include:
- A desire to raise a young family
- Time spent in administrative medicine or research
- Exploring non-medical career options, or other lifestyle choices
Often, these clinicians want to return to practice and want to do so in a safe and confident manner. CPEP’s RCP Program is here to help.
Back in the Saddle
Clinicians seeking to reenter practice often need to demonstrate competence to licensing bodies or prospective employers. They need to prove that they can actually practice medicine in today’s increasingly complicated and changing medical world. They also need educational support and resources to be successful.
Our Reentry to Clinical Practice Program has been proven effective in case after case. We focus on the individual and personalize our program based on the clinician’s specific needs, specialty, and anticipated scope of practice. This approach starts with the initial evaluation of clinical skills and continues in the development of a personalized Reentry Plan.
The Fine Print…
Please Note: To qualify for the RCP Program, clinicians must have left the medical field in good standing and plan to reenter areas of clinical practice in which they have had prior clinical training and experience. Clinicians looking to get back into practice after a disciplinary sanction or who are switching specialty areas may qualify for the CPEP’s Clinical Competence Assessment Program.
Ready to enroll? Call us in Denver, CO at 303-577-3232 or in Raleigh, NC at 919-238-6436 and speak with one of our reentry professionals.
What You Need to Know
Phase 1: Clinical Skills Evaluation
A one-day evaluation is done at CPEP offices in Denver or Raleigh. It includes:
- Clinical interviews by specialty-matched clinicians
- Simulated patient cases
- Simulated patient chart analysis
- Health information review
- Cognitive function screening
- Written testing, as needed
Need more information or ready to enroll? Call us in Denver at 303-577-3232 or in Raleigh at 919-238-6536. Alternatively, you may e-mail us at info@cpepdoc.org.
Phase 2: Personalized Practice-based Learning
The evaluation leads to the development of a personalized Reentry Plan. That plan is usually accomplished in the clinician’s home community. It often includes the following components:
- Direct patient care experience with preceptor guidance in a clinical practice setting identified by the reentry clinician
- Training in use of contemporary medical information resources
- Continuing medical education courses, online education and self-study resources
- Regular reports and tracking of progress and completion
Need more information or ready to enroll? Call us in Denver at 303-577-3232 or in Raleigh at 919-238-6536. Alternatively, you may e-mail us at info@cpepdoc.org.
What does the RCP program cost?
The total cost of each reentry evaluation and reentry plan varies depending upon specialty and scope of practice.
Need more information or ready to enroll? Call us in Denver at 303-577-3232 or in Raleigh at 919-238-6536. Alternatively, you may e-mail us at info@cpepdoc.org.
How long does the entire process take?
Most primary care physicians can expect the entire process to take about 6 months from the time they enroll. That includes preparation for the evaluation, the evaluation itself, the development of the report and plan and the preceptorship. Most specialists can expect the entire process to take about 9 months from the time they enroll.
Need more information or ready to enroll? Call us in Denver at 303-577-3232 or in Raleigh at 919-238-6536. Alternatively, you may e-mail us at info@cpepdoc.org.
My medical license has lapsed – is that a problem?
The Patient Care Module is a key element of our reentry plans, and in order to care for patients, you need to have a medical license. We encourage you to talk with the medical board in your state to determine the best course of action. In addition, you will need to ensure that insurance coverage, DEA registration, and privileges/credentials, as appropriate, are obtained and any other legal requirements are met as appropriate to your potential practice circumstances.
Need more information or ready to enroll? Call us in Denver at 303-577-3232 or in Raleigh at 919-238-6536. Alternatively, you may e-mail us at info@cpepdoc.org.
What is a preceptorship?
A key part of the Reentry Plan is the development of a relationship with a preceptor and a practice site. A preceptor is a physician who will serve as an educator and mentor. In most cases this will be someone in the clinician’s community. The preceptor will work closely with the clinician during the transition back into patient care and will work with CPEP to provide regular progress updates.
It is the clinician’s responsibility to identify a preceptor as well as a clinical practice setting in which the patient care components of the Reentry Plan will take place.
CPEP cannot guarantee that a preceptor and/or an appropriate practice site can be identified to address educational needs.
Need more information or ready to enroll? Call us in Denver at 303-577-3232 or in Raleigh at 919-238-6536. Alternatively, you may e-mail us at info@cpepdoc.org.
Does CPEP provide a preceptor?
No, it is the clinician’s responsibility to identify a preceptor as well as a clinical practice setting in which the patient care components of the Reentry Plan will take place.
CPEP cannot guarantee that a preceptor and/or an appropriate practice site can be identified to address educational needs.
Need more information or ready to enroll? Call us in Denver at 303-577-3232 or in Raleigh at 919-238-6536. Alternatively, you may e-mail us at info@cpepdoc.org.
Can’t I just shadow some colleagues locally for a few weeks to get back up to speed?
Consider whether that would be the best course to take when thinking about patient safety and the potential for liability. The purpose of the RCP program is to get you back to practice safely and with confidence and peace of mind – for you, your patients, and your employer.
In addition, some medical boards require a formal reentry evaluation if you haven’t seen patients in over two years. We encourage you to check with the medical board in your state before making any decisions.
Need more information or ready to enroll? Call us in Denver at 303-577-3232 or in Raleigh at 919-238-6536. Alternatively, you may e-mail us at info@cpepdoc.org.