One of the very best aspects of the gradual return to normal working conditions after two-and-a-half years of careful pandemic response has been the ability to meet with colleagues in person, and to conduct the business of the College face-to-face. The interactions are so much richer, and the possibilities for additional insights and serendipitous conversations that much greater. It has been such a welcome return from the relative barrens of the videoconferencing landscape.
CCO Council resumed meeting in person on June 22, 2022 and worked through a fulsome agenda, followed by the College’s Annual General Meeting later that evening – similarly enjoyed by all who were able to attend onsite.
Speaking of dates, allow me to draw your attention to the following important calendar milestones and updates from the Colleges’ Quality Assurance Committee, ably supported in their work by CCO staff.
July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024 CE Cycle
The log for the new July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024 CE cycle will be found in the member portal. Members may begin participating and logging CE hours from July 1, 2022, and are advised to complete their
Self-Assessment within the first six months. Members may also use their online CE Log as their “professional portfolio”. (The previous editable PDF is still available; however, it is intended primarily for applicants applying from other jurisdictions)
Introducing Self-Assessment 2.0
CCO Council approved
Self-Assessment 2.0 (fillable PDF), intended for use by members who have completed two CE cycles and thus completed two initial Self-Assessments (SA 1.0). More information on Self-Assessment 2.0 can be found
here and on the
Self-Assessment page of CCO’s website.
CCO Virtual Regulatory Excellence Workshop – Compulsory attendance once every three CE cycles
CCO Council approved amendments to
Standard of Practice S-003: Professional Portfolio to require members registered in the General (i.e. Active) class of registration to attend the CCO Virtual Regulatory Excellence Workshop at least once every three CE cycles (or once every six years) as part of their structured CE hours. Members may complete this requirement over the next three CE cycles or until June 30, 2028.
The Regulatory Excellence Workshop builds upon the previous Record Keeping Workshop and includes topics related to all aspects of the regulation of chiropractic in Ontario. This virtual workshop is typically offered three times per year and is free for all CCO members. Consult the
CCO website for future workshop dates.
Deadline for July 1, 2020 – June 30 2022 CE Log Completion
Members may log and submit their CE hours for the July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2022 CE Cycle until December 31, 2022. If you have not completed your CE hours for this CE cycle, please do so and log them before December 31, 2022.
A reminder that members registered in the General (i.e., Active) class of registration are required to participate and log their CE hours in accordance with the CCO
Continuing Education requirements. CE hours for the period can be logged using the
member portal under “Continuing Education and Professional Development Log” by selecting the July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2022 CE cycle in the “Reporting Cycle” window.
Call for New Peer Assessors- Apply by July 22, 2022
Peer Assessment is one of the foundations of CCO’s Quality Assurance program and has been a powerful and successful, proactive way to provide members non-punitive feedback on their compliance with CCO regulations, standards of practice, policies and guidelines. The College is now welcoming new peer assessors to this important role. Please see the following
memo for more details on how to apply.
Amendments to Standard of Practice S-013 and Guideline G-001
Standard of Practice S-013: Consent
Amendments include language that the requirement for a patient to bring another individual to any future appointment is considered a breach of patient privacy and is inappropriate, except for reasons of capacity to consent and/or substitute-decision making. Amendments to this standard were approved based on a recent Inquiries, Complaints and Reports decision. A patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality must be respected and it must be the patient’s choice of whether they wish to bring another individual with them to future appointments.
Guideline G-001: Communication with Patients
Amendments include that members should be particularly sensitive to individual patient’s comprehension of verbal, written and non-verbal communication, and communicate using as plain language as possible. If there are any barriers in communication, language or interpretation, members should support patients in identifying potential resources for reducing these barriers.
Members should also ensure that communication with patients is consistent with Standard of Practice S-001: Chiropractic Scope of Practice and Standard of Practice S-013: Consent, including that communication should be patient-centred, focusing on the patient’s reasons, objectives and goals for seeking chiropractic care, using clear and concise language to communicate matters related to examination, care and informed consent, and referring a patient to an appropriate health professional if a matter is beyond the chiropractic scope of practice.
Members should respect any patient requests to have a third-party of their choosing present (e.g., spouse, trusted friend) for any appointments, subject to any safety, public health and privacy measures. However, it must be the patient’s choice whether they would like to have a third-party present, and a member must not require this, subject to any capacity to consent and/or substitute-decision making issues.
In Closing
While adhering to CE requirements, and staying abreast of changes to CCO standards and guidelines is part of the rigour and professionalism expected of all registrants, I hope you will also find some time in these warm summer months to relax and to rejuvenate. I mentioned earlier the affirming value of being able to meet again in person. We are indeed social creatures, and I believe quality time spent in the company of colleagues, friends and family is vital to our health and wellbeing.
Sincerely,
Dr. Dennis Mizel
Council Members Dr. Michael Gauthier and
Dr. Angelo Santin