The College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
Enewsletter | November 2020
In this issue…
  • COVID-19 Updates - New Lockdowns in Peel and Toronto
  • Opportunity: Quality Assurance Subcommittee
  • Revised Code of Ethics and Standards for Acupuncture
  • Reminder: Bylaw Consultation
  • Upcoming Elections and Webinar
  • Practice: Q&A - Clients and Masks
  • Practice: Case of the Month
  • QA Deadlines and Upcoming PPA & QA Webinar
  • Reminder: Update the College within 30 days of a change
  • Council Highlights and Annual Report
COVID-19 Updates
New Lockdowns in Toronto and Peel
On November 20, 2020, the Ontario Government announced that Toronto and Peel Region (Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon) would move into the grey zone (lockdown) of the province's COVID-19 response framework. This framework puts each public health unit in the province into one of five levels, depending on certain indicators.

How does the recent lock down announcement in Toronto and Peel regions impact occupational therapists providing services?
 
Occupational therapists working in Toronto and Peel regions are reminded to continue to adhere to provincial Directive 2 and the accompanying COVID-19 Operational Requirements: Health Sector Restart for guiding principles when making decisions about service delivery. Directive 2 requires that health care providers continue to monitor COVID-19 spread in their community and regions to determine the most appropriate service delivery models (in-person, virtual or modified services).
 
Occupational therapists can continue to provide the necessary health services to clients while implementing all the safety and infection prevention and control measures outlined by the Government and Public Health Ontario, including screening, personal protective equipment (PPE), risk assessment, and offering virtual care where appropriate. Importantly, the level of comfort of the client with respect to having others enter the home needs to be carefully considered.

Occupational therapists are best-suited, using their professional judgment, to determine whether they should provide in-person or virtual service delivery on a case-by-case basis.

For more information about Ontario's revised COVID-19 response framework, visit our website.

We encourage OTs to continue to check the Ministry of Health's website for the latest updates on testing and revisions to guidance for the health care sector.

If you have any questions please contact our Practice team at 1-800-890-6570 ext. 240 or practice@coto.org.
Revised Standards & Code
The College's Standards for Acupuncture and Code of Ethics
The Standards for Acupuncture have been updated and will be in effect as of November 3, 2020.

In the revised Standards for Acupuncture you will find:

  • A new College position on electrostimulation and acupuncture
  • A direct link to the occupational therapy scope of practice in the Occupational Therapy Act, 1991
  • Additional requirements under competence to perform acupuncture
  • New expectations for the consent discussion between the OT and the client pertaining to acupuncture
  • Updated format and terminology 

View the revised Standards for Acupuncture in English and French.

The Code of Ethics was originally issued in 2011 and required updating to meet the current need of registrants and other stakeholders.

The main changes that have been incorporated in the revised document include increased principles under the values of Trust and Respect for Autonomy.

The updated Code of Ethics has also added diversity, equity, and inclusion to align with the updated College values.

The Guide to the Code of Ethics has yet to be revised but will soon be updated to reflects the changes made in the Code of Ethics.

View the revised Code of Ethics in English and in French.

Reminder: Bylaw Consultation
The public consultation closes January 11, 2021
As part of our governance review project, the College is looking to revise its bylaws to ensure they are in line with governance best practices and align with our mandate to serve the public interest.

We want to hear from occupational therapists, stakeholders, and the public about the proposed changes.

See our public consultation: surveymonkey.com/r/HSQVXM6  

Review the changes and submit your feedback by January 11, 2021.
Upcoming Elections and Webinar
Elections coming soon! Join us for a webinar on December 2, 2020
Elections to the College Council are coming soon! Nominations open on December 2, 2020. This is an opportunity to help guide the profession and the College towards quality occupational therapy care in Ontario.

This year we have one Council seat up for election in each of the three districts:

  • District 3 (London, Windsor, and Perth areas)
  • District 5 (Sudbury, Parry Sound, and Muskoka areas)
  • District 6 (Kenora, Rainy River, and Thunder Bay areas)

Join College Registrar, Elinor Larney on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM for a webinar about the upcoming 2021 College Council elections.

Learn about how you can get involved, and what it means to be on Council.

Q&A: Clients and Masks
Information and considerations if a client declines to wear a mask
You asked us: What should I do if a client declines to wear a mask during a visit in their own home? Can in-person services be deferred?
Case of the Month
Occupational Therapy Services in the Client's Home: Infection, Prevention and Control – Are You Prepared?
Sally is a community OT scheduled to complete a home visit with a new client Mr. Garrison. During the initial pre-screen phone conversation, Mr. Garrison speaks openly about his concerns about COVID-19 cases on the rise and reveals that he is nervous having someone enter his home. Mr. Garrison considers himself high risk as he has underlying medical conditions. What should Sally do?
Opportunity: QA Subcommittee
Seeking an OT with community-based experience working with adults
The College is seeking an occupational therapist (OT) with community-based experience working with adults to serve on its Quality Assurance Subcommittee. As a member of the QA Subcommittee you will help develop learning objectives, key messages, and case scenarios for the annual Prescribed Regulatory Education Program (PREP) for occupational therapists.

You can learn more about this opportunity (including how to apply) on our website.

Please contact Sonia Mistry, Quality Assurance Project Lead at 416.214.1177 or 1.800.890.6570 ext. 221 or smistry@coto.org with any questions.
Quality Assurance Reminder
Self-Assessment and the 2020 PREP are due December 31, 2020
Reminder: 2020 QA Requirements Extended Due Date of December 31, 2020
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the College extended the due date for the 2020 Self-Assessment and the 2020 PREP to December 31, 2020.

Log in MyQA to access your 2020 Quality Assurance requirements.
Upcoming PPA & Webinar
Sign up for our Quality Assurance Webinar on January 12 to learn more
Coming in Early 2021: Registrant Selection Based on Risk Indicators.

The College will be piloting the new risk-based selection process for registrants to participate in a peer and practice assessment. Registrants will be notified by email in late November 2020 regarding participation in a peer and practice assessment between January and May 2021. For more information about the College’s new risk-based approach, visit our website.
Join Seema Sindwani, Manager of the Quality Assurance Program on January 12, 2021 from 12:00pm-1:00pm for a webinar as she provides information about the College’s Quality Assurance program. This includes information about the new risk-based selection and peer and practice assessment process.

The webinar "Demystifying the Quality Assurance Program" will have special focus on the peer and practice assessment. You can sign up for the webinar at: register.gotowebinar.com/register/3519509643895471629

If you have any questions, you can contact Seema Sindwani, Manager, Quality Assurance.
Reminder: Update the College
Registrants are required to update the College within 30 days of a change
Reminder that registrants are required to update the College within 30 days of a change to information like your address, employment, professional liability insurance, and more.

For the full list of information that occupational therapists are obligated to update with the College, visit our website. All information can be updated online through the member login.
Council Highlights
Highlights from the October 29 meeting and launching our Annual Report
The College Council had a virtual meeting on October 29, 2020. All Council meetings are open to the public and meeting dates and materials are posted online.

Our 2019 Annual Report was accepted by Council and is now available online and in PDF format in French and English. The report highlights the work of the College to protect the public and summarizes outcomes of the final year of its 2017-2020 strategic plan.

You can view the 2020 annual report online and learn more about key accomplishments for the College.

Learn about other key decisions in the highlights from the meeting.
Any changes to your profile information in the last 30 days? Make sure you update your profile.
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20 Bay Street, Suite 900, Toronto, ON · 416.214.1177 1.800.890.6570 · www.coto.org · info@coto.org