Over the past several weeks, Albertans have watched as COVID daily case numbers, hospitalizations and ICU admissions have steadily increased. With fall fast approaching, children and youth returning to in-person learning in the coming days (if they have not already returned to the classroom), and the upward trend in case counts, there have been some recent changes to the management of the pandemic that physiotherapists should be aware of.

A patient safety incident is defined as an event or circumstance which could have resulted, or did result, in unnecessary harm to a patient. Harm is defined as an impairment of structure or function of the body and/or any deleterious effect arising therefrom. Harm includes disease, injury, suffering, disability, and death.

Under the Health Professions Act, to practice as a physiotherapist and use the titles physiotherapist or physical therapist or abbreviation PT you must be registered and have a valid practice permit.

All practice permits expire September 30, 2021.

If you have not already renewed your practice permit, time is running out.

Practicing without a valid practice permit is unprofessional conduct in accordance with the Health Professions Act. Failure to complete the annual renewal process and continuing to practice after a practice permit expires is a serious conduct issue requiring investigation and sanctions.

Physiotherapists have a key role to play in the non-pharmacological management of pain. This resource provides information to physiotherapists who do not often treat people with chronic pain.

Concussion management is emerging as a growing practice area in many health-care professions, and research on concussion and its management is evolving rapidly.

This toolkit was developed to help promote healthy aging in community-dwelling older adults.

The physiotherapy profession is well suited to incorporate health coaching as a means to promote patient self-management of chronic conditions.

Telerehabilitation Study – Participants Needed: COVID-19 has taught us that telerehabilitation is here to stay. We need to improve how we deliver virtual services, for the benefit of patients and providers. Researchers from the Universities of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Montreal are looking for help recruiting injured workers for a study on worker experiences of care in physiotherapy via telerehabilitation (videoconference or telephone). This would involve putting up a recruitment poster in your clinic and emailing study information to injured workers you are currently treating or have recently discharged. Your clinic can play an important part in improving telerehabilitation practice and policy. Contact Dr. Maxi Miciak at maxi@ualberta.ca - she will give you more details about the study, answer your questions, and get you what you need to start recruiting injured workers! Thank you for considering being a part of this exciting and timely study.