November 3rd 2003
- COTBC Elections
- 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
COTBC Elections
Three COTBC Board member terms expire on January 31, 2004. Four nominations were received and an election is underway. Ballot packages were mailed on October 23 to all registrants eligible to vote. The names and a brief biography are available on the website Please refer to the "REVISED Candidate Bios" sent by separate mailing on October 27, 2003. (REVISED Candidate Bios - Election 2003). Ballots must be received in the College office by November 17, 2003 at 4:00 pm. Please follow the instructions for the ballots to ensure your vote is counted on November 18, 2003. Contact the College if you need another ballot package.
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 www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/care/credentials/index.html
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