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HOT TOPICS June 8, 2009 Essential Competencies for Physiotherapists
The National Physiotherapy Advisory Group (NPAG) needs your expertise! Many of you will know that there is a national document describing the essential competencies required by physiotherapists at entry to practice and over the course of their careers. This document, called the Essential Competency Profile for Physiotherapists in Canada, recently underwent a review by a group of subject matter experts appointed by NPAG. We are now looking for a diverse sample of registered physiotherapists to evaluate the revised document and have created an on-line survey for this purpose. This Competency Profile is a foundational document for the profession that reflects the diversity of physiotherapy practice and helps support evolution of the profession. The document will be of value to a wide variety of stakeholders within the profession and will provide the public with information about the role and competencies of physiotherapists in Canada. It will also provide guidance for physiotherapists to build on their competencies over time. Your participation in this survey represents an important contribution to the physiotherapy profession by ensuring the continued quality of physiotherapy practice in Canada. NPAG extends its sincere thanks in advance for your valuable contribution. If you are willing to participate in this survey, please type or click on the following link: http://www.asitest.ca/npag. We would appreciate your completing this survey by June 29, 2009. In order to access the survey you will require:
Use of Credentials Acceptable credentials include an academic qualification from a recognized university. Use of membership credentials in associations or special interest groups is not permitted. Examples of this would be MCPA (Member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association or CAFCI (Certified with the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute). This is an area where many physiotherapists have been noticed adding a number of credentials behind their name on business cards or other advertising. Sometimes, the credentials are very extensive and unrecognizable to members of the College, let alone the public.
CIHI Releases Physiotherapy ReportDecember 1, 2008 - In a series of five new reports released today, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) provides the latest available and most comprehensive data in Canada about the supply, distribution, migration, education, demographic trends and work patterns for seven major health professions. The reports highlight changes in workforce trends over several years for physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, as well as recent data for occupational therapists, physiotherapists and pharmacists. “More than one million people in Canada are employed in health occupations, working together as part of a health care team,” says Francine Anne Roy, Director of Health Resources Information at CIHI. “The services offered by these workers are critical to the health and well-being of Canadians. Understanding who they are, their work patterns and how their workforce is evolving is vital in planning for the future of health care in Canada.” Physiotherapists
About CIHIThe Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) collects and analyzes information on health and health care in Canada and makes it publicly available. Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments created CIHI as a not-for-profit, independent organization dedicated to forging a common approach to Canadian health information. CIHI’s goal: to provide timely, accurate and comparable information. CIHI’s data and reports inform health policies, support the effective delivery of health services and raise awareness among Canadians of the factors that contribute to good health. See the full CIHI report on Physiotherapists
Grant from CIHI (The Canadian Institute for Health Information)The Canadian Institute for Health Information and the physiotherapy regulators across Canada have been working together for several years to establish a database for the collection of information on physiotherapists across the country. In order to be in a position to provide the required information to CIHI, the College purchased Alinity which is a specially designed database for licensing bodies from the Softworks Group based out of Edmonton. The physiotherapy regulators in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have each purchased the same database, making for economies of scale. In December 2007, CIHI announced a funding opportunity for data providers. It is a onetime only funding opportunity to assist with development costs faced by data providers who are participating in the CIHI Database Development Project. The maximum funding available was $10,000.00. The College submitted a proposal and Council is pleased to announce that CIHI granted CPM the maximum allowable funding of $10,000.00. This allowed the College to recoup some of the costs associated with the database as well as purchase two new computers for the office.
Focus on Support Workers In Manitoba, support workers (also known as physiotherapy assistants or rehabilitation assistants) have traditionally received on the job training. Short term training programs established by several educational facilities are currently operating in Manitoba. In other provinces, a large number of support worker education programs have developed in formalized settings. Some of these programs offer up to two years of physiotherapy specific assistant training. With the advent of these training programs, the Canadian Physiotherapy Association has formed partnerships with the Alliance and others, to determine the role of the physiotherapy assistant and to develop a document which lists the competencies of this group of worker. CPA is currently organizing focus groups across the country to receive input from physiotherapists, support workers and other stakeholders about the role and competencies of support workers.
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