Improving Transparency and Access to Information
Since 2013 the College has worked alongside other health regulators including representatives from medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and optometry as part of a group called the Advisory Group of Regulatory Excellence (AGRE). Together, we are working to determine how we can provide more information about Ontario’s regulated health care professionals, our decisions and our processes.
AGRE’s first project was to develop a set of transparency principles to guide discussions about making more information publicly available, including expanding the information available on the Public Register.
After extensive consultation with physiotherapists and other stakeholders, the new by-laws regarding additional information being made available on the Public Register were approved at Council meetings in December 2014 and March 2015.
Going forward, the College is committed to continuously and collaboratively working to identify and implement measures to enhance transparency, and ensure the public has access to the information in order to make informed decisions about their health care.
New Information on the Public Register
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Notice of Hearings and Hearing Status (as of December 2014)
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Criminal Convictions (as of July 1, 2015) — all Criminal Code and Health Insurance Act convictions, known to the College. Information will include the finding, the sentence, if it is under appeal, a notation indicating this and the dates of this information if the College knows it. This information would be removed upon request if an appeal is successful or the member is pardoned.
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Criminal Charges (as of July 1, 2015) — all Criminal Code and Health Insurance Act charges, known to the College. Information will include the fact and content of the charge and the place and date of the charge, if known.
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Cautions (for complaints initiated on or after July 1, 2015) — a summary of any decision where a caution is ordered by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee for investigations. A caution is ordered when the Committee has a significant concern about conduct or practice that can have a direct impact on patient care, safety or the public interest if it is not addressed.
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Undertakings (for complaints initiated on or after July 1, 2015) — if educational or remediation needs for a physiotherapist are identified by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee, the physiotherapist will be given the option to voluntarily agree to undertake some additional learning or remediation. This might include taking educational courses (e.g., record keeping, ethics or communications) or one-on-one instruction. There may also be a reassessment component to make sure that remediation was successful.
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Specified Continuing Education or Remediation Program (SCERPs) (for complaints initiated on or after July 1, 2015) — if educational or remediation needs for a physiotherapist are identified by the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee, a PT may be required to take a specified continuing education or remediation program (SCERP). This might include taking educational courses (e.g., record keeping, ethics or communications) or one-on-one instruction. There may also be a reassessment component to make sure that remediation was successful.
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Professional misconduct or incompetence findings in other jurisdictions or professions —information about the fact of the finding, the date of the finding, and the name of the governing body that made the finding will be posted on the Public Register if known.
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Licenses/or registration in other jurisdictions (as of July 1, 2015) — the College will post current licenses and certificates of registration held in other jurisdictions when the College is aware. As well, information about registration with other regulated professions will appear.