Violetta Ilkiw, Vice PresidentApril 2010

Transitional Councilof the College of Homeopathsof Ontario

Countdown to Proclamation

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Purpose of Health Professional Regulation

The RHPA and health profession Acts provide a common framework for Ontario’s regulated health professions, incorporating a number of underlying principles, including:

• As a primary principle, advancing the public interest;

• Protecting the public from harm and unqualified, incompetent or unfit providers;

• Promoting high quality health care services and accountability of health care professionals;

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Purpose of Health Professional Regulation - Continued

• Providing patients/clients access to health care professionals of their choice;

• Achieving equality and consistency by requiring all regulated health professions to adhere to the same purposes, objects, duties, procedures and public interest principles;

• Treating individual patients/clients and health professionals in an equitable manner;

• Providing flexibility in roles of individual professions and room for evolution of professions through broad scopes of practice provisions.

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Key Features of the RHPA Framework

Scope of Practice • A general statement in the health profession Act describing in broad

terms what the profession does and the methods it uses.

“The practice of homeopathy is the assessment of body system disorders and treatment using homeopathic techniques to promote, maintain or restore health.”

Harm Clause• Prohibits anyone – unless a member of a regulated profession

treating or advising within the scope of practice of their profession – from treating or advising a person with respect to his or her health when it is foreseeable that serious harm may result from the treatment or advice.

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Key Features of the RHPA Framework

Protection of Title and Holding Out• Professional titles are restricted, enabling the public to identify

regulated professionals and to distinguish among regulated health professionals.

• For example, when the Homeopathy Act, 2007 comes fully into force no person may use the titles “homeopath” unless they are a member of the new College. Also, no person other than a member of the new College may hold themselves out as a person qualified to practise in Ontario as a HOMEOPATH.

• There is no abbreviated designation.

• These restrictions are enforced by provincial offences provisions.

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Key Functions of Health Regulatory Colleges

Registration / Entry to Practice• Health colleges set the registration requirements for entry to the

professions.• Registration requirements are the primary method of assuring the public

that a registered practitioner is competent to practice the profession.

Quality Assurance• Health colleges must have a program to assure the quality of practice of

the profession and to promote the continuing competence of members.

Professional Misconduct• Professional misconduct is the act of failing to do something, or doing

something that is a breach of accepted ethical or professional behaviour.

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Key Functions of Health Regulatory Colleges

Standards of Practice• Colleges develop standards of practice that establish how health

professionals do their jobs in an effective, safe and ethical manner. • Members of health professions are legally obliged to adhere to

standards of practice.

Complaint and Discipline Processes• Colleges must investigate any written complaint made about a

member’s practice. • If a complaint is determined to be substantiated the member may be

referred to discipline where significant penalties may be imposed on the member.

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Key Functions of Health Regulatory Colleges

Other Functions• Promote and enhance relations between the College and its

members, other health profession colleges, key stakeholders, and the public.

• Promote inter-professional collaboration with other health profession colleges.

• Develop, establish, and maintain standards and programs to promote the ability of members to respond to changes in practice environments, advances in technology and other emerging issues.

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Transitional Council Responsibilities

• Establish accountability agreements with the MOHLTC• Establish core business processes to create operating organization• Develop policies and by-laws for initial start up (e.g., fees, data

collection, composition of statutory committees)• Develop and submit to MOHLTC essential regulation proposals

needed to fulfill the Colleges’ statutory mandate (e.g., registration, professional misconduct)

• Consider whether a grand-parenting process would be appropriate, and any applicable or necessary regulations to administer it

• Develop communication strategies to advise professional practitioners about regulation and registration; and

• Assess and register members.

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What Next?

• Council based committees – Registration, Professional Practice and Executive – have been struck to research and develop regulations and policies.

• Focus is on:• competencies development process and setting entry to practice

requirements• registration, professional misconduct and quality assurance

regulations• process for grand-parenting (under consideration)

Timeline: regulations to take approx. 12 months to develop; minimum of 60 days input from stakeholders; 12 to 18 months for government approval.

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What Next?

• Open communication with profession, public and stakeholders is a governmental requirement and critical for a smooth transition.

• The work of the transitional Council is expected to take 3 years before proclamation is received and registration of members begins. (i.e. as early as 2012).

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How to Stay Informed

• Visit transitional Council, College of Homeopaths of Ontario website www.collegeofhomeopaths.on.ca

• Sign up for Information Alert Service at info@collegeofhomeopaths.on.ca

• Participate in profession information gathering and stakeholder consultation when announced

• Understand the legislation, visit Ontario legislation/ regulations www.e-laws.gov.on.ca

• Email us your questions and concerns

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Transitional Council of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario

Basil Ziv, BCom, RSHom (NA), CCH

Registrar

phone: 416-862-4783

email: info@collegeofhomeopaths.on.ca