Perspectives
Reading Perspectives is the best way to stay up to date with news and updates from the College. It’s also packed full of helpful resources for physiotherapists.
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Understanding Substitute Decision-Makers:
What PTs Should Know
Informed consent is an essential part of all physiotherapy care.
But what happens when a patient can’t make decisions about their health care? That’s where substitute decision-makers come in.
In this blog post, we’ll go over key things physiotherapists should know about substitute decision-makers and how to prioritize communication and patient autonomy when having important conversations about consent.
Updated Resource: Create a Process for Reviewing Your Billing
All physiotherapists must routinely review billing and invoices that use their name and registration number, even when invoices are prepared by administrative staff.
So what should you include in your billing review? To support you in your practice, we’ve developed an updated resource: Create a Process for Reviewing Your Billing.
It includes a checklist of what to look for when reviewing patient invoices and tips on creating your own review process.
Case of the Month: When Supervision Falls Short
When a physiotherapist assigns care to a physiotherapist assistant, they remain responsible for that care.
Some duties cannot be assigned and must be performed by the physiotherapist themselves. That includes anything that would require the physiotherapist assistant to change the treatment plan on their own without consulting with the physiotherapist.
In a new case of the month, we explore what happens when a treatment plan lacks detail.
Trauma-Informed Care Modules
Deepen your understanding of trauma-informed care with these free modules from Alberta Health Services.
The seven self-study modules are designed for health-care workers who support people who have experienced trauma.
Each module can be completed in 30 minutes or less. To learn more about trauma-informed care in physiotherapy specifically, read our blog: How to Make Your Practice Trauma Informed.
Featured Standard: Documentation
This standard came into effect on August 1, 2025, replacing the previous Record Keeping Standard.
It requires physiotherapists maintain patient records that are accurate, legible, complete, and written in a timely manner.
Top five highlights from the Documentation Standard:
Top five highlights from the Documentation Standard:
- Maintain Clear, Accurate, and Timely Documentation
Ensure all documentation is legible, written in a timely manner, complete, and accurately reflects each patient encounter.
- Include Clinical Details
Record key information relevant to the patient’s care such as their relevant health history, your assessment findings, treatment details and the patient’s response to treatment, consent conversations, risk incidents, and discharge summaries.
- Keep Complete and Transparent Financial Records
Maintain accurate and retrievable financial records as part of a complete patient record. Include dates, fees for services and products, payment information, and the names of those involved in providing the care.
- Protect Patient Confidentiality
Be sure to safeguard personal health information throughout the collection, use, storage, sharing, and disposal of patient records. When using electronic record keeping, ensure entries are traceable to a specific user and that data is backed up and can be recovered if needed.
- Keep High Quality Documentation
Make sure that your records are free of undefined abbreviations or acronyms. Clearly document late entries or corrections while keeping the original content readable and intact, unless you’re using an Electronic Medical Record system that captures the information automatically when changes are made.
Make sure you’ve reviewed the full Documentation Standard.
Myth vs Fact
Physiotherapists can reference information collected by another physiotherapist or regulated health care provider when documenting in a patient’s clinical record.
Is this a myth or a fact?
Practice Advice Question
Do I need to include all communication with patients in the physiotherapy record?
Last Chance: Supervision Standard Consultations
We’re looking for feedback on a new proposed Supervision Standard.
This standard would combine two current standards – the Working With Physiotherapist Assistants Standard and the Supervision Standard.
View the draft standard and share your thoughts at the link below.
Consultations close August 23, 2025.
Welcome New Registrants
The College would like to welcome our newly registered physiotherapists.
Share Your Thoughts