November 19th 2003 Updates
- COTBC Elections2003 Results
- First Issue of COTBC Update Newsletter
- BOARD Approves Performance Indicators for Essential Competencies
- Health Professions Act Amended
- ACOTRO Participates in National Tele-health Advisory Committee
- National Consultation Announced on Changes to Entry-to-Practice Credential
- New Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)
COTBC Elections 2003 Results (November 19, 2003)
We are pleased to announce the results of the COTBC Board Election 2003. The new Board members are: Caroline Ehmann from Victoria and Jennifer Dickson from Langley. Angenita Gerbracht from Prince Rupert is re-elected for a second term. The elected Board members will serve a term from February 1, 2004 - January 31, 2006. New Board members participate in a comprehensive orientation including a Board manual, an in-person education session and observing a full Board meeting prior to the start of their term. Congratulations to the elected Board members and thank you to all nominees for agreeing to participate in an important process for our College governance.
First Issue of COTBC Update Newsletter
The first issue of our College Update has been sent to College registrants. It is also available for downloading here. This first issue signals our commitment to increasing our communication with registrants, the public and our regulatory colleagues. The College is establishing a communications panel to assist in refining the content and format for the newsletter. Let us know what you would like to see in future publications. We are planning the next edition for February 2004.
BOARD Approves Performance Indicators for Essential Competencies
At their Board meeting held on October 24, 2003, the Board approved the Performance Indicators for the Essential Competencies of Practice. The performance indicators project was an initiative of the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO), funded by COTBC in partnership with four other provincial OT regulatory organizations. The result is a nationally validated, professionally sound document. The College's Essential Competencies document will be revised to include the performance indicators, re-published and distributed to registrants.
Health Professions Act Amended
The Health Professions Amendment Act was passed in the B.C. legislature on October 7. The amendments prompt a review the College's Bylaws to ensure consistency with the new Act and also provide a timely opportunity to review and revise the bylaws originally approved by the government back in March 2000. The bylaws set out the details which govern the operation of the college including such matters as election, duties and responsibilities of the board, registration of registrants and committee structures and mandates.
ACOTRO Participates in National Tele-health Advisory Committee
Kathy Corbett, the COTBC Registrar participated on behalf of the Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO) on an advisory committee for the National Initiative for Tele-health Framework of Guidelines (NIFTE ) project. The project was funded by the Richard Ivey Foundation and its goal was to develop guidelines that provide a framework for the development of tele-health standards, policy and procedures. The 20 month project resulted in a comprehensive document that provides current status of policy and standards related to tele-health practice in Canada and outlines suggested guidelines in four areas: Clinical Standards & Outcomes; Human Resources; Organizational Readiness & Leadership; and Technology & Equipment. The information will be helpful to regulators considering such issues as standards and registration requirements for occupational therapists "tele-practicing" across Provincial boundaries. For more information go to www.nifte.ca
National Consultation Announced on Changes to Entry-to-Practice Credential
The Conference of Deputy Ministers (CDM) has requested that the Federal-Provincial committee, the Advisory Committee on Health Delivery and Human Resources (ACHDHR) undertake a consultation of national and provincial stakeholders on the issue of requests for changes to entry-to-practice credentials for health professions. A working group was established to provide policy advice and recommendations on how to improve assessment of requests for changes in entry-to-practice credentials. The initial consultation phase will result in a prototype assessment tool with recommendations to the CDM by December. COTBC will respond and ACOTRO will also participate in the consultation process. For more information go to http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/care/credentials/index.html
New Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)
On January 1, 2004 the Personal Information Protection Privacy Act (PIPA) comes into effect in British Columbia. PIPA applies to the entire BC private sector, both for-profit and not-for-profit. PIPA governs how organizations may collect, use and disclose the personal information of clients, employees and members. The COTBC as a governing body of a profession falls under the requirements of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) and therefore the provisions of PIPA do not apply. Registrants of COTBC already have a duty of protection of personal privacy (duty of confidentiality) as provided by the Health Professions Act, the College Bylaws, COTBC Essential Competencies and Code of Ethics. Registrants working in private practice, working for not-for-profit organizations or other agencies not covered by FOIPPA should visit the following website for more details of your responsibilities under this new personal information privacy legislation. Tools have been developed to assist organizations becoming compliant with the new PIPA legislation. Information can be obtained at http://www.oipc.bc.ca/private/ or http://www.mser.gov.bc.ca/foi_pop/
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