April 2020
PT Alberta
COVID-19 Pandemic
April Leadership Message from Registrar Jody Prohar
It has been over one month since Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH), reported Alberta’s first presumptive case of COVID-19 and with that announcement our normal routines changed.

Adhere to Public Health Orders

Physiotherapy Alberta has received concerns from Albertans, public health officials, and other professionals about some physiotherapists not following the recommendations from the CMOH and the directions of only providing urgent care. We will be addressing these concerns alongside public health officials. We will be reaching out to physiotherapists to understand this decision-making. Should a physiotherapist ignore the direction and continue to put the public at risk, we will address these situations in more formal ways through our complaints process. To date, the CMOH has supported having regulated health professionals available to provide urgent care; however, if this order is not followed further action could be taken. We trust that physiotherapists will respect and adhere to the orders.
Direction for Physiotherapists Working in Long-Term Care or Continuing Care

Over the last few days, Physiotherapy Alberta has received a number of concerns and questions from stakeholders in the long-term care and continuing care community in response to direction published on March 29 regarding urgent physiotherapy services. In response to these concerns, we would like to clarify earlier statements. 

Find a Physiotherapist Changes for COVID-19
We are in the process of modifying the Find A Physiotherapist section of the website to reflect which practice settings are available to provide urgent care and what physiotherapists are providing telerehabilitation services. Physiotherapy Alberta has used Find a Physiotherapist to connect patients seeking services with those who are able to help.

We are trying to make do with the current website technology available to us in a short period of time to offer this modified search function. Thank you for your understanding.

An email was recently sent out asking business owners if they are available to provide urgent care and asking registrants if they are providing telerehabilitation services. If you are providing these services, please respond to the email directly to ensure your information is captured and displayed in the Find a Physiotherapist function.
AHS/Covenant Health Recruitment

If physiotherapists are interested in assisting Alberta Health Services or Covenant Health to meet the increased demand on Alberta’s health-care system in response to COVID-19 please consider applying through the provided links.


Nasopharyngeal Swabbing

Physiotherapy Alberta has been asked by Alberta Health Services to provide direction on the capacity for registered physiotherapists to undertake nasopharyngeal swabs. Although nasopharyngeal swabbing is not part of a physiotherapist’s typical range of practice activities, consideration for this change is motivated by the exceptional need for competent practitioners who can undertake this activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Learning
Upcoming Webinar: The Continuum of Care for Patients with COVID-19

Date: April 14, 2020
Time: 8:00 a.m.

This 75-minute session will provide an overview of the physiotherapy management of patients diagnosed with COVID-19, across the continuum of care.

Visit Physiotherapy Alberta's website for up-to-date announcements and information.
2020 Council Election: Don't Forget to Vote!
Ten members have been nominated for the 2020 Election! Funsho Aronito-Owohunwa, Grant Fedoruk, Roya Hamad, Carla Mason, Dan Matchullis, Joey Mo, Julie Rabnett, William Tung, Linda Wells and Tom Young have all put their names forward!

Two candidates will be elected to serve a three-year term joining fellow colleagues Simon Cooke, Christina van der Lugt, Karin Eldred and Amarjit Mann.

Voting ends April 15. Check your email for your unique link to vote.

Diagnostic Imaging Changes
As previously reported, effective March 31, 2020, the Ministry of Health is making changes to the Schedule of Medical Benefits. Claims for Diagnostic Imaging (DI) services that are referred by a physiotherapist, chiropractor or audiologist are de-insured and no longer covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan.

Job Opportunity: Conduct Coordinator

Physiotherapy Alberta has a job opportunity for a physiotherapist interested in supporting the Professional Conduct Department. The Conduct Coordinator will be responsible for receiving and responding to inquiries into this department.

Clinical Research Innovation Fund 2020

Have you thought of a research topic that interests you but you are not sure where to even start? Please review the Clinical Research Innovation Fund guidelines and consider developing a proposal. The CRIF is available to support clinically-relevant research by clinicians in the physiotherapy community.

March Council News

News from the March Council meeting.

Upcoming Webinars

The Continuum of Care for Patients with COVID-19
Date: April 14, 2020
Time: 8:00 a.m.

Improving the Identification of ACL Tears in Primary Care
Date: May 21, 2020
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Physiotherapy Alberta | 780.438.0338 | info@physiotherapyalberta.ca | www.physiotherapyalberta.ca