August 2021
PTAlberta
COVID-19 Pandemic
Update: July 29, 2021
On July 28, 2021, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr Hinshaw provided an update regarding COVID-19 in Alberta. At that time, she announced new and upcoming changes to how Alberta will manage the pandemic.
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Good Practice: What to Know About Changing Practice Settings
The flexibility this profession offers in terms of practice type, practice location, area of focus, and the populations we can provide care to is one of the benefits of being a physiotherapist. Many of us have had the opportunity to work in numerous areas of practice and practice settings and may change our employment sites several times over our career.
Time to Renew
Online renewal for the 2021/2022 registration year (October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022) is coming early next week.

While your current practice permit does not expire until September 30, 2021, you must renew by midnight September 15 to avoid paying the $130 late fee.
DO. LEARN. GROW.
Continuing Competence: Completing the SSA

It is renewal period, and by now most physiotherapists have already completed a Self-Selected Activity. If you haven’t, the process and options for a Self-Selected Activity are presented below. You have until the date you submit your renewal to update or complete your Practice Improvement Record.
Leadership Message: August 2021
Summer Greetings from the Council of Physiotherapy Alberta – College + Association! The past few months have been a busy time for us.
Restricted Activity Standard of Practice
In June, Council approved the Restricted Activity Standard of Practice after considering feedback from the Minister of Health and external stakeholders. The Restricted Activity Standard of Practice will be in effect October 1, 2021.
Webinar: What Does It Mean To Be A Member Of A Self-Regulating Profession In 2021?
Date: September 23, 2021
Time: 8:00 a.m.

The physiotherapy profession became a self-regulated profession in Alberta, governed by the then College of Physical Therapists of Alberta, over 35 years ago. Decades later, does professional self-regulation still matter?

In this session, we will make the case for professional self-regulation and discuss:
  • What would it mean if physiotherapists were not self-regulated?
  • What do regulators like Physiotherapy Alberta mean when we talk about protecting the public interest, and why does that focus matter?
  • What happens when regulators fail to put public interest ahead of that of the profession?

Presenter: Shenda Tanchak
2021 Funding Opportunities for Members
Did you present your research/work or complete professional development in 2020? You could qualify for financial assistance from Physiotherapy Alberta.

Every year Physiotherapy Alberta provides financial assistance to members in good standing on the General Register who exemplify knowledge translation and lifelong learning.

Applications are due midnight August 30, 2021 and must include a completed form and proof of presentation/professional development attendance. Applications will be reviewed and selected by the Awards Committee.
Awards Nominations 2021
This is your opportunity to recognize and honor a colleague who in your opinion, has contributed significantly to Alberta’s physiotherapy profession in one of the following ways:
  • Improving the quality of care or service delivery
  • Excellence in practice and/or promotion of the profession
You may also nominate a physiotherapy student for their demonstrated leadership skills.

The nomination deadline is midnight August 30, 2021.
2020 Annual Report Available
College Conversations Podcast

Listen to the College Conversations Podcast wherever you get your podcasts, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Want to get caught up? Listen from the beginning, all episodes are also available in Physiotherapy Alberta's eLearning Center!
Episode 26: Treatment and Counselling Following Sexual Abuse or Sexual Misconduct
Date: July 15, 2021

It’s the second anniversary of College Conversations! This episode takes us back to the discussions of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct of patients by regulated health professionals, which was the spark that led to the creation of the podcast. We begin the episode by reviewing key definitions related to changes to the Health Professions Act which were passed in late 2018.

We go on to discuss the patient relations program that the College established in response to those legislative amendments. This includes the funding program created to provide financial support for treatment and counselling of patients, if a complaint is made respecting a physiotherapist that relates to sexual abuse of or sexual misconduct towards the patient by the physiotherapist.

At the 9:03 mark we talk about changes made to mandatory education requirements for all new and recent applicants to the College. These changes are designed to ensure that all Alberta physiotherapists have a basic understanding of the legislation, key definitions, and why and how the Standard of Practice – Sexual Abuse and Sexual Misconduct and related guidance documents apply to their practice.
Resource Corner
Other News
The Bone and Joint Strategic Clinical Network (BJH SCN) is seeking new members for the provincial
Conservative Osteoarthritis Working Group (Conservative OA WG). This group was struck in 2017 to
guide, continuously improve and implement the standardization of clinical practices, protocols, scopes
of care and services for conservative management of osteoarthritis (OA) in community care. Click here for more information.
Physiotherapy Alberta | 780.438.0338 | info@physiotherapyalberta.ca | www.physiotherapyalberta.ca