record ON THE VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING 2012 Standards for Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest

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1 record ON THE VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING 2012 Standards for Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest Normes sur la prévention et la gestion des conflits d intérêts QA Program: We Are All Participating Now! Tech Tips: COTO Webinars

2 SPRING 2012 ON THE record VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 Publications Account: On the Record is printed on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks. ON THE RECORD IS PUBLISHED THREE TIMES PER YEAR BY THE COLLEGE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS OF ONTARIO Contents Promoting Competent Practice Applying principles of competent practice Standards for Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest... 3 Normes sur la prévention et la gestion des conflits d intérêts... 4 ACOTRO Update Harmonizing Registration Practices Across Canada... 6 Essential Competencies Implementing A Third Edition!... 7 QA Program: We Are All Participating Now!... 8 Q&A... 9 Just The Facts Statistics and OT Practice Competency Review and Evaluation Update Tech Tips - COTO Webinars Should OTs Use Social Media? College News Registration Regulation Amendment Council Goodbyes & Welcome President Re-Elected Council Highlights People in Motion Newly released Standards for Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest will help OTs navigate issues in professional practice. Letters to the Editor To express your views on editorial content or any College matter, please contact the Editor by mail, phone or Jeff Payette Communications Coordinator College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario 20 Bay Street, Suite 900 P.O. Box 78 Toronto, Ontario M5J 2N8 Phone: ext 222 Toll Free: Fax: jpayette@coto.org Council Officers and Chairs Lesya Dyk, President Jane Cox, Vice President Upali Obeyesekere, Member at Large, Finance Sharon Kular, Member at Large, Education Maria Lee, Chair, Registration Committee Karen Taipale, Chair, Inquiries, Complaints Committee Frank Cardile, Chair, Discipline Committee Shannon Gouchie, Chair, Quality Assurance Committee Nicole Thomson, Chair, Fitness to Practise Committee Angie Mandich, Chair, Patient Relations Committee College Staff Karen Giallelis Quality Programs Associate Extension 239, kgiallelis@coto.org Anita Jacobson Practice Resource Liaison Extension 240, practice@coto.org Wendy A. Joseph Executive Assistant, Deputy Registrar Extension 228, wjoseph@coto.org Lisa Anne LaBillois Finance and Operations Associate Extension 221, llabillois@coto.org Matthew Lafond Manager, Investigations & Resolutions Extension 223, mlafond@coto.org Elinor Larney Deputy Registrar Extension 233, elarney@coto.org Beth Laughlin Investigations & Resolutions Associate Extension 234, blaughlin@coto.org Marnie Lofsky Manager, Quality Programs Extension 227, mlofsky@coto.org Tim Mbugua Policy Analyst Extension 246, tmbugua@coto.org Jeff Payette Communications Coordinator Extension 222, jpayette@coto.org Sue Price Registrant Services Associate Extension 224, sprice@coto.org Cathy Sannuto Executive Assistant, Executive Office Extension 232, csannuto@coto.org Serena Shastri-Estrada Practice Resource Liaison Extension 248, sshastri-estrada@coto.org Jewelle Smith-Johnson Director of Operations & Communications Extension 226, jsmith-johnson@coto.org Lara Thacker Manager, Registration Extension 229, lthacker@coto.org Barbara Worth Registrar Extension 225, bworth@coto.org 2 College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario o n t h e r e c o r d VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING 2012

3 P R O M O T I N G C O M P E T E N T P R A C T I C E Standards for Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest Elinor Larney, Deputy Registrar & Tim Mbugua, Policy Analyst In occupational therapy practice, a conflict of interest arises when the occupational therapist has a relationship or interest, which could be seen by a reasonable person as improperly influencing their professional judgement or ability to act in the best interest of the client. The College is pleased to present the new Standards for Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest (COTO, 2012). A conflict of interest, whether it is actual, potential or perceived, needs to be addressed. If not addressed, a conflict of interest may compromise the confidence, trust and respect the client has in the OT or the organization that is represented by the OT. This makes conflict of interest a significant issue of concern to Registrants and the College. These Standards were written with the intent that OTs should be expected to understand what constitutes a conflict of interest; to assist OTs to avoid them when possible and manage them effectively when not possible. A conflict of interest is often viewed in terms of monetary benefits. However, it may also be a result of a boundary-crossing or violation, such that the OT is meeting his/her own needs in the relationship, to the detriment of the client. When relationships are involved, it would be wise to review the Standards for Professional Boundaries (COTO, 2012). The Standards for Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest (COTO, 2012) were developed around three guiding principles that are expected to support Registrants in proactively identifying and addressing conflict of interest situations. Recognition: It is expected that OTs will understand what a conflict of interest is, and be able to recognize one that pertains to their practice. Prevention: While not every conflict of interest can be avoided, most can. The OT will make deliberate efforts, including communicating with clients to avoid or prevent an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest from occurring. Management: There are instances where a conflict of interest cannot be avoided. In those circumstances, the conflict of interest must be managed. For instance, in a small rural community, an OT may provide services to a client who is also a friend he or she met through the church that they both attend. While the 3 principles will provide guidance to OTs in a general way, the Standards also contain more specific situations that often involve conflict of interest. OTs should attend to the roles they may play with clients and their families and ensure that they avoid any secondary roles that also may interfere with exercising their best judgement. For example, if an OT uses the professional services of their clients, the OT may not be able to be objective when difficult decisions must be made. Referring to oneself or to a business where they have a financial interest amounts to a conflict of interest. A referral is a decision that should always be made in the best interest of the client. When one stands to benefit from this referral, they may be perceived to not have acted objectively. Ensuring one s business relationships are free from conflict of interest preserves trust and reinforces credible practice. For example, providing a prescription for equipment and then having continued page 5 College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario o n t h e r e c o r d VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING

4 PROMOTING COMPETENT PRACTICE Normes sur la prévention et la gestion des conflits d intérêts Elinor Larney, régistraire adjointe & Tim Mbugua, analyste des politiques Un conflit d intérêts survient dans une pratique d ergothérapie lorsqu un ergothérapeute a une relation ou un intérêt qui pourrait être perçu par une personne raisonnable comme influant de manière inappropriée sur son jugement professionnel ou sa capacité d agir dans les meilleurs intérêts du client. L Ordre des ergothérapeutes de l Ontario (OEO) est fier de vous présenter ses nouvelles Normes sur la prévention et la gestion des conflits d intérêts (OEO, 2012). Un conflit d intérêts, qu il soit réel, possible ou perçu, doit être traité. Sinon, il peut compromettre la confiance et le respect que le client a pour son ergothérapeute ou l organisme qui est représenté par l ergothérapeute. C est pourquoi les conflits d intérêts sont un sujet important pour les membres et l Ordre. Ces normes ont été rédigées pour aider les ergothérapeutes à comprendre ce que constitue un conflit d intérêts et comment ils peuvent les éviter lorsque cela est possible ou les gérer efficacement lorsque cela n est pas possible. Un conflit d intérêts est souvent associé à des avantages monétaires mais il peut aussi être le résultat d une transgression ou d une violation des limites, comme lorsqu un ergothérapeute veut satisfaire ses propres besoins au détriment des intérêts d un client, dans l immédiat ou possiblement plus tard. Lorsque des relations sont formées, nous recommandons aux ergothérapeutes de consulter les Normes sur les limites professionnelles (OEO, 2012). Les Normes sur la prévention et la gestion des conflits d intérêts ont été élaborées en tenant compte de trois principes directeurs qui devraient aider les membres inscrits à identifier et à traiter proactivement les conflits d intérêts. Identification : On s attend à ce que les ergothérapeutes comprennent ce qu est un conflit d intérêts et qu ils puissent identifier un conflit qui influe sur leur pratique. Prévention : Bien que l on ne puisse pas éviter tous les conflits d intérêts, ceci est possible dans la plupart des cas. L ergothérapeute fera des efforts délibérés, y compris communiquer avec ses clients, pour éviter ou prévenir un conflit d intérêts réel, possible ou perçu. Gestion : Il y a des cas où des conflits d intérêts ne peuvent pas être évités. Dans ces cas, le conflit d intérêts doit être géré (par exemple, un ergothérapeute dans une petite collectivité peut fournir des services à un client qui est également un ami qui fréquente la même église). Bien que les trois principes directeurs ci-dessus offrent une orientation générale aux ergothérapeutes, les normes décrivent également des situations plus précises qui posent souvent un conflit d intérêts. Les ergothérapeutes devraient examiner les rôles qu ils peuvent jouer avec des clients et des membres de leurs familles, et s assurer qu ils évitent tout rôle secondaire qui pourrait les empêcher de faire preuve d un jugement judicieux. Par exemple, si un ergothérapeute se sert des services professionnels d un client, il peut manquer d objectivité lorsque des décisions difficiles doivent être prises. Un auto-acheminement ou l acheminement de clients à une entreprise dans laquelle un ergothérapeute a des intérêts financiers constitue un conflit d intérêts. L acheminement d un client est une décision qui devrait toujours être faite dans les meilleurs intérêts d un client. Si un ergothérapeute 4 College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario on the record VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING 2012

5 PROMOTING COMPETENT PRACTICE peut profiter d un acheminement, celui-ci peut être perçu comme non objectif. En s assurant que ses relations d affaires ne posent pas un conflit d intérêts, l ergothérapeute peut assurer à ses clients que sa pratique est digne de confiance et de respect. Par exemple, un ergothérapeute qui prescrit de l équipement à un client lorsque cet équipement est vendu par une entreprise dans laquelle l ergothérapeute a un intérêt financier a un conflit d intérêts. Les ergothérapeutes doivent s assurer que tout conflit d intérêts est géré de manière judicieuse lorsqu il implique des clients participant à des projets de recherche ou d amélioration de la qualité. Bien que la plupart des projets de recherche soient surveillés par un comité d éthique de la recherche, ceci n est pas le cas pour les projets d amélioration de la qualité. Les ergothérapeutes doivent s assurer que les meilleurs intérêts de leurs clients sont prioritaires lorsqu ils les font participer à ce type de projet. Finalement, ces normes examinent d autres sortes d activités dans lesquelles des ergothérapeutes peuvent être impliqués en dehors de leur pratique. Certains ergothérapeutes sont des membres de comités, conseils ou autres entités administratives du même genre où ils ont accès à des renseignements confidentiels qui peuvent influer sur la prise de décisions. Les ergothérapeutes devraient protéger l intégrité de ces groupes et éviter de participer à la prise de décisions ou à des activités qui pourraient poser un conflit d intérêts. Nous espérons que les nouvelles Normes sur la prévention et la gestion des conflits d intérêts (COTO, 2012) seront utiles aux ergothérapeutes. Avec une diversification des activités d ergothérapie, il faut accorder une importance particulière à cette question pour s assurer que la confiance et le respect des clients envers notre profession sont préservés. Ces normes ont été rédigées pour aider les ergothérapeutes à comprendre ce que constitue un conflit d intérêts et comment ils peuvent les éviter lorsque cela est possible ou les gérer efficacement lorsque cela n est pas possible. Standards continued from page 3 a financial stake in the company selling this equipment constitutes a conflict of interest. OTs should ensure that any conflict of interest is judiciously managed when involving clients in research or quality improvement projects. While most research involves the use of a Research Ethics Board, the same is not true for quality projects. OTs should ensure the client s interest is prioritized when involving them in any type of project. Finally, the Standards address other types of work that OTs may be involved in outside of their client activities. Some OTs are members of committees, boards, or similar bodies, where they have access to privileged information and they influence decision making. OTs should protect the integrity of any such committees with which they are involved and avoid participation in decisions or activities that may result in a conflict of interest. It is hoped that the new Standards for the Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest (COTO, 2012) are helpful for OTs. As OT practice becomes more diverse, attention to this important topic is critical for the credibility, trust and respect of our profession. These Standards were written with the intent that OTs should be expected to understand what constitutes a conflict of interest; to assist OTs to avoid them when possible and manage them effectively when not possible. College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario on the record VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING

6 PROMOTING COMPETENT PRACTICE ACOTRO Update Harmonizing Registration Practices Across Canada Barb Worth, Registrar The Association of Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO) is a not-for-profit corporation with a board comprised of a member from each province s regulatory organization responsible for registering/licensing occupational therapists. For several years, ACOTRO has demonstrated a vision and commitment to promoting access to the profession for qualified internationally educated occupational therapists (IEOTs) through a number of shared initiatives. ACOTRO has secured over $2 million of funding to 2015 from the Government of Canada s Foreign Credential Recognition program. This generous funding allows ACOTRO to complete the final phase of a Pan-Canadian Harmonization Project aimed at implementing a common assessment approach for qualification and competence-based assessment of IEOTs. Academic Credentials Assessments Now into the second year of the project, two major components have been completed. The Board has agreed in principle to move forward with one provider for academic credential assessments. These agencies assess the authenticity of the educational certificate, as well as evaluate the equivalency of the curriculum of the international OT program to Canadian standards. Several factors were considered in selecting the provider: processing time, costs, and documentation requirements. Having one agency will foster an in-depth knowledge of international OT schools and their curriculum. Language Fluency Requirement The second component focused on harmonizing the language fluency requirements. There are a number of language fluency tests available for English and French. ACOTRO investigated the tests most commonly used by other regulators along with the acceptable standard or cut score. Most tests examine the skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing in addition to an overall score. Agreement in principle was reached on using three tests of English fluency and one for French, along with an acceptable cut score being set for each component of the tests. To implement these two components in the ten provinces, ACOTRO members will need to determine what regulatory mechanism will need to be changed. In some jurisdictions it may be as simple as an internal policy change, in others, as complicated as a regulation or an Act needing to be amended. Stay tuned for updates on other components of the Harmonization Project as ACOTRO continues its collaborative efforts. For several years, ACOTRO has demonstrated a vision and commitment to promoting access to the profession for qualified internationally educated occupational therapists (IEOTs) through a number of shared initiatives. 6 College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario on the record VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING 2012

7 PROMOTING COMPETENT PRACTICE Essential Competencies Implementing a Third Edition! Elinor Larney, Deputy Registrar Since the 3rd edition of the Essential Competencies (ECs) was released in 2011, the College has undergone a flurry of activity to update, and in some cases create new documents, tools and systems to reflect these changes. Every program of the College uses these written expectations of occupational therapy practice in some way. The ECs are a written document developed nationally which represents the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for the practice of an occupational therapist in Canada. The most dramatic change that OTs will notice is to the College s Quality Assurance Program. Every process and tool used by this program needed to be reviewed and revised to reflect the updated document. As well, as the 3rd edition of the Essential Competencies now includes competencies for OTs with a non-clinical nature of practice, tools for competency review and evaluation of those in these types of roles could be developed. In addition, the College has updated all of the tools for competency review and evaluation for OTs with a clinical nature of practice. OTs completing their self-assessment will notice that the self-assessment tool has undergone changes to make it easier to complete, but will also notice that the content has been updated as well and OTs can select whether they wish to complete the clinical or non-clinical version. The 3rd edition of the ECs is now also reflected in documents for the Registration Program. Any policies and procedures, as well as documents that support re-entry candidates such as the Practice Supervisor Guide and the learning contract template have been updated. Of importance to international applicants, the tool used to compare international OT programs to those in Ontario was updated to reflect the current competencies. OTs who use the Practice Resource Service for assistance with practice issues will note that the nature of their questions will now be tracked according to the updated competencies. These calls remain confidential as always, however, the College uses trends in practice issues to assist with the prioritization of development of resources for OTs. Complaints to the College are also tracked by essential competency for the same reason. With the updates and changes to all of these programs, the systems that support these changes have also been impacted. The College database was recalibrated for the 3rd edition ECs and the College website was scanned to identify any references to the previous versions that required updating. It has been a busy year locating and updating all of the processes dependent on the Essential Competencies, but the College team is now finished, ready to implement the new processes, and set up for the 4th edition when it eventually arrives! ECs are a written document developed nationally which represents the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for the practice of an occupational therapist in Canada. College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario on the record VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING

8 PROMOTING COMPETENT PRACTICE QA Program: We Are All Participating Now! Marnie Lofsky, Manager, Quality Programs In May 2012, the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (the College) selected 120 OTs with a non-clinical nature of practice* for the Competency Review and Evaluation (CRE) process for the first time. It was only recently that the College was able to develop a process by which to include OTs with a non-clinical practice in the CRE process. With the release of the Essential Competencies of Practice for Occupational Therapists in Canada, 3rd edition, the College now has the minimum expectations by which to measure those OTs with a non-clinical practice. It is an important development that all College Registrants are now able to participate in the CRE process. Over the past few years, the College has held focus groups to identify the nature of non-clinical practice. Last year, the College, with the assistance of several of its Registrants, worked to develop a Self-Assessment Tool specifically for those OTs with a non-clinical practice. In addition, through focus groups and analysis, the Quality Assurance (QA) Committee identified criteria and considerations for the non-clinical CRE process, as follows: 1) The process should mirror that of the clinical process; 2) Some Registrants may define his/her nature of practice as a mix between clinical and non-clinical; and 3) Registrants move between practice roles and therefore the CRE process needs to be flexible to accommodate these transitions. Based on these criteria, the QA Committee approved the Step 1 and Step 2 processes and tools. In the Step 1 CRE process, OTs with a non-clinical nature of practice are required to submit the past five (5) years of their mandatory portfolio tools (PREP Modules, Professional Development Plans, and Self-Assessment Tools), and engage in a multi-source feedback (MSF) survey process. The MSF surveys are to be distributed to the colleagues of the participant, who completes a self-feedback survey. The time line for submitting these two pieces of the CRE process follows the same time line as the clinical process. The QA Committee approved the use of a criterion-reference score as the benchmark to engage non-clinical participants in the Step 2 process (peer/practice assessment). Criteria-reference scores are minimal expectations set by subject matter experts for each competency measured on the MSF surveys. Each OT that falls below this criteria, or minimum expectations of practice will be required to engage in a peer/practice assessment. As the OTs with a non-clinical nature of practice are fewer than those practising clinically, as well as having a wide range of roles, it is appropriate to use this type of threshold measurement. The Step 2 (peer/practice assessment) will be a behaviourbased interview (BBI), similar to that which is in place for the clinical process. The questions will be written by a group of OTs (item writers) during the spring/summer and will be in place by the early fall of 2012 ready for any OT moving onto this stage from the spring selection. There will be a pilot study of the questions over the summer. If you are interested in participating as a pilot participant for the BBI questions, please contact Marnie Lofsky at mlofsky@coto.org. *those that do not provide direct services to the public (e.g. assessment, treatment, consultation, or case management). 8 College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario on the record VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING 2012

9 PROMOTING COMPETENT PRACTICE Q & AQUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: I have heard that in order to join the new College of Registered Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Therapists, CRPRMHTO, prospective members are required to write an exam. As an occupational therapist, do I have to write this exam in order to practise psychotherapy? A: Occupational therapists practising psychotherapy will not be required to join the CRPRMNTO in addition to the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, nor will they be required to write their exams. OTs will be required to adhere to the College s Standards for Psychotherapy (COTO, 2010) and other College standards. This question requires some qualification, as there are two options for occupational therapists. If you intend to practise psychotherapy as an occupational therapist, and not join CRPRMNNTO when the new college becomes functional, you will not be required to write their exams, nor meet their registration requirements. You will be required to use the title occupational therapist (OT Reg. (Ont.)), in front of and before using the title psychotherapist and will be required to be a registrant of this College. You will not be permitted to use the title psychotherapist without using the title occupational therapist. The second option for OTs who wish to join the new college will require meeting the new college s registration requirements, or being grandparented in as college members. When this new college (CRPRMNTO) becomes functional, people wanting to join as members will have to meet a number of registration requirements including a registration examination and a Jurisprudence & Professional Practice Exam. That college is establishing grandparenting criteria which will be open for two years for Ontario practitioners who may not meet their full registration requirements. The College is currently updating the Standards for Psychotherapy (COTO, 2010) to provide clarification for occupational therapists regarding the use of title, based on new legislation. For further information about the CRPRMHTO, go to their website www. collegeofpsychotherapists.on.ca. Q: Are OTs permitted to transfer a patient from a wall to a portable O2 source as necessary to allow for participation in occupational therapy service components such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, etc.? A: This is a question that has raised a considerable amount of discussion, routinely among occupational therapists working with individuals requiring O2 therapy, and even more so since the release of the 2012 PREP module: Controlled Acts and Scope of Practice. It has been unclear exactly what is encompassed in the Controlled Act of Administering a substance by injection or inhalation. Some professions do not consider moving the client from a wall-based oxygen to a portable tank (as long as no change to the titration level is made) to be part of the Controlled Act. The rationale offered is that the profession is not involved in prescribing the oxygen and in fact is not changing the dose in any way. The intervention only involves changing the source of oxygen. It therefore follows that access to this activity does not need to come from delegation or the Activities of continued page 10 College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario on the record VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING

10 JUST THE FACTS Competency Review and Evaluation Update Marnie Lofsky, Manager, Quality Programs In October 2011, 350 Registrants were randomly selected to participate in the Competency Review and Evaluation (CRE) Step 1 process. An additional 34 Registrants were required to participate in October, as they had been previously deferred from prior random selections. A total of 324 Registrants engaged in the CRE process after removing the 60 new deferrals/exemptions that were granted. Of those engaged in Step 1, 271 Registrants (84%) completed the requirements (i.e. completed portfolio submission and multi-source feedback surveys above the established threshold), while 53 Registrants had incomplete portfolio submissions (16%). A total of thirty-six (36) Registrants were required to participate in Step 2, peer/practice assessment. In April 2012, the College notified 200 clinical Registrants of their participation in the Competency Review and Evaluation process. In addition, 34 Registrants who had previously been granted deferrals where required to participate. There are now fewer than 1000 Registrants who have a clinical nature of practice that have never participated in a CRE process. Over the next months, the College will complete the CRE process for these remaining OTs. New this year, the College randomly selected 120 OTs who have a non-clinical nature of practice to engage in the Competency Review and Evaluation process (May 2012). Registrants who have a mixed nature of practice (i.e. their time is divided between both clinical and non-clinical activities) will engage in the CRE process beginning in the fall of Q&A continued from page 9 routine living exemption under the Controlled Acts legislation. When applying this rationale, if an OT were to perform this activity, the OT should consider their competence in performing this task (moving the client from the wall O2 source to the portable tank) and consider it within the overall provision of occupational therapy service. For example, it is vital that the OT consider how the provision of the occupational therapy service components will be impacted by the client s O2 needs. Will the increased activity level resulting from participation in occupational therapy, coupled with the nature of the client s condition, require an increase in the flow of O2 required by the client? If the answer is yes, then in addition to changing the source of oxygen from wall to portable, the client will probably also require a change in their O2 titration level, which is considered part of the Controlled Act. If the client s medical status is stable and their O2 needs, when at rest or during activity, have been well established over time, then adjusting the titration levels according to these well-established protocols may fall within the Activities of routine living exemption of the Controlled Acts legislation. Recognizing that all activities related to this Controlled Act are not explicitly listed in the Regulated Health Professions Act (1991), from a risk management perspective, there may be value in initiating discussion within your facility as necessary to develop policies and procedures around the Controlled Act and required provision of care. At this point, the College would agree with those colleges that hold the position that changing the source of oxygen from the wall to a portable O2 source is not part of the Controlled Act of Administering a substance by inhalation or injection. 10 College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario on the record VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING 2012

11 J U S T T H E FAC T S Tech Tips COTO Webinars Jeff Payette, Communications Coordinator For the past several years, the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario has been conducting webinars in support of the fall education sessions and other developments that impact OT practice. Most recently, the College hosted several webinars that focused on getting familiar with the Practice Development Portal. The demand for the Portal webinars was outstanding, and Registrants showed their interest by filling up 500 spots over the 5 webinar sessions. The webinars were an overwhelming success, and participants shared their questions and concerns regarding completing QA processes in the Portal, QA deadlines, as well as familiarized themselves with the functionality of the Portal systems. As the individual responsible for making sure all the systems to host the webinar were in place and functioning, as well as taking calls from Registrants and ensuring they could access the webinars from a technological standpoint, I was able to determine what the biggest obstacles are that stand in the way of Registrants successfully attending and participating in the webinars. Here s what I learned, I hope this helps! Registering successfully is a 6-step process 1. Once a notification is sent to all College Registrants indicating that registration is open for a webinar event, Registrants may log into the Registrants Only section and select the link to register for a webinar; you will land on a page that allows you to select the event you would like to attend (fig.1) (fig.1) 2. Complete your registration for the event on the College website. There are no costs involved, and you will receive a 4 digit Member ID number, which is the number that the database has assigned you for that particular event. You have now reserved a spot in the webinar, however you are still required to register with the webinar provider, GoTo Webinar days prior to the webinar session, the College will send an to each participant of a webinar event that contains a link to register for the event through the webinar provider. A large blue button that says REGISTER NOW will bring you to the GoTo Webinar website and allow you to input your name and address. (fig.2) (fig.2) 4. Once you have completed the registration with GoTo Webinar, you will receive an directly from GoTo Webinar that contains a large blue button that says JOIN WEBINAR, select that button and you will be brought to the webinar. This will also contain your personal telephone access code. (fig.3) (fig.3) College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario o n t h e r e c o r d VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING

12 JUST THE FACTS 5. You will either arrive in a virtual waiting room before the webinar begins, or you will directly join the webinar. If you are properly viewing the webinar, you will see the presenter s desktop and a control panel to the right of your screen. (fig.4) (fig.4) 6. You must call in to the toll free (1-877) telephone number provided, enter your personal AUDIO ACCESS CODE and AUDIO PIN number in order to access the audio portion of the webinar. The AUDIO PIN number is provided once you have successfully logged into the webinar. The AUDIO tab on the control panel should display your 3-digit AUDIO PIN number; this number will allow you to ask questions over the phone and join in the discussion. Tips for attending webinars: Previous participants have noted difficulties getting connected by phone. The College recommends joining the webinar minutes ahead of the scheduled beginning of the session. If you are attending a webinar as a group at your workplace, only one OT is required to register with the College. Ensure you have a speaker phone; only one phone line per attendee is available. Participants will not be able to access audio via the web, you must call in to the toll-free telephone number provided. Many workplaces, especially health care facilities have fire walls in place to prevent viruses and unwanted programs running on their systems, and therefore may restrict the GoTo Webinar software from downloading to your desktop. Please check with your IT support to ensure you will be able to run the GoTo software. The College webinars have been a fantastic way to inform OTs of developments that affect practice, as well as open up the dialog with Registrants around areas of confusion or uncertainty with College processes and procedures. Webinars also allow the College to gain a better understanding of those processes from the Registrant s perspective. Thanks to all those OTs who attended past webinars; the College looks forward to further use of this method of communication. Contact Jeff Payette, Communications Coordinator, with any questions regarding the College webinars at jpayette@coto.org. The College webinars have been a fantastic way to inform OTs of developments that affect practice, as well as open up the dialog with Registrants around areas of confusion or uncertainty with College processes and procedures. 12 College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario on the record VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING 2012

13 JUST THE FACTS Should OTs Use Social Media? Leanne Fernandez and Jessica Yu are student occupational therapists at McMaster University who completed an evidence-based practice project on social media with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario during the winter of Both students would like to thank the 892 Registrants who took part in the social media survey in January The results of the survey highlighted OTs beliefs and attitudes on social media and shed light about how they currently use social media either personally and/ or professionally. The survey found that respondents felt the risks of using social media outweighed the benefits; yet most respondents used social media in their personal lives. Overall, 61% of respondents used social media, more so for personal reasons as opposed to in OT practice. Most respondents used social media in their personal life to connect with family and friends or for educational purposes. Respondents who used social media Student OTs Jessica Yu and Leanne Fernandez in professional practice mainly used it for continuing education/ professional development purposes as well as to network with other OTs. An overwhelming majority of all respondents indicated their concern regarding protecting personal privacy. It was interesting to note that some OTs indicated that participating in this survey raised their awareness of the issues of using social media, especially the risks. Most respondents felt confident or proficient in their ability to navigate privacy settings, however, some respondents felt either unsure or had never tried to use privacy settings. Therefore, it is important for all Registrants to be aware of the risks and benefits of using social media regardless of whether it is used for professional or personal reasons. In general, it was suggested that all OTs be competent, ethical and accountable when using social media. By participating in the survey, OTs will have provided valuable information to the College in the development of guidelines on the use of social media. The findings will be presented by the students at the McMaster University Symposium on June 12th, The survey found that respondents felt the risks of using social media outweighed the benefits; yet most respondents used social media in their personal lives. College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario on the record VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING

14 C O L L E G E N E W S Registration Regulation Amendment The amended Registration Regulation was passed by the government and proclaimed by the Lieutenant Governor. For more information regarding the new requirements please refer to the article entitled Registration Regulation Amendment Approved in the Winter 2012 issue of On the Record, Volume 12, Issue 1. Council President Lesya Dyk (front left) and Registrar Barb Worth (front right) signing the Order in Council to submit the regulation. Back row: Elinor Larney, Deputy Registrar. Goodbyes & Welcome Welcome to New Council Members Council and staff are pleased to welcome one new professional member of Council; Julie Colbourn from District 6 (North West) joins Council as an elected member. Shannon Gouchie from District 5 (North East) and Jane Cox from District 3 (South West) were reelected and return to Council for a second 3 year term. Terry Krupa from Queen s University has joined Council as an academic member. A Fond Farewell to Departing Council Members Christy Mackenzie leaves Council after serving one term ( ) as an elected member of Council from District 6. Throughout her time on Council, Christy was a member of the Patient Relations statutory committee and Council s Nominations Standing Committee. Christy served as Chair of the Patient Relations Committee this past year. Mary Egan of the University of Ottawa leaves Council after serving one year as an academic member of Council. She has served as a member of the Fitness to Practise Committee. While the arrival of new Council members brings new ideas and energy to the table, this is accompanied by sadness at losing people we have enjoyed working with over the past several years. Our sincere best wishes to Christy and Mary. 14 College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario o n t h e r e c o r d VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING 2012

15 C O L L E G E N E W S President Re-Elected Lesya Dyk of Hamilton was re-elected President during the election of officers at the March meeting of Council. Lesya was first elected to Council in 2005 and is currently serving her third elected term from District 2. During her previous years on Council, Lesya was a member of the Discipline, Fitness to Practise and Quality Assurance Committees and served as Chair of the Registration Committee. Previous to being elected in 2011 as President Lesya was elected and served as Vice-President of Council and chaired the Practice Issues Subcommittee of the Executive Committee. This is Lesya s second elected one year term as President. Council Meeting Highlights (of the March 29, 2012 Council Meeting) The following are highlights from the March 29, 2012 Council Meeting: Council approved the January, 2012 Financial Report and Balance Sheet, as presented at Council; Council reviewed the December 31, 2011 investment memo; A presentation was made to Council, providing an update from the Scope of Practice Regulatory Mechanisms Task Force; Council approved, in principle, the use of guidelines, standards, and a public roster if and when a request for an expanded scope of practice is pursued; Council approved the revisions to Position Statement on Use of Title; A presentation was made to Council on the Inquiries Complaints and Reports Committee s role and function; A presentation was also made to Council, providing a brief overview of the Registration Committee s role and function. Upcoming Council Meetings: June 28, 2012 People in Motion 2012 The College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario will once again be exhibitors at the annual People in Motion show, taking place at the Queen Elizabeth Building on the Exhibition Place grounds in Toronto. People in Motion is a 2 day event and is the largest trade exhibition in Canada for people with disabilities. College staff (including staff OTs) will be on hand to answer questions for the public on the nature of OT practice, as well as the role the College takes in a selfregulating health care profession. The College welcomes all Registrants to attend, and stop by the College s booth to say hi and discuss practice updates. We look forward to seeing you! College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario o n t h e r e c o r d VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 SPRING

16 credible competent committed DOC # 0802 College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario 20 Bay Street, Suite 900, PO Box 78, Toronto, ON M5J 2N8 Tel: Fax: