CORECOM is a pan-Canadian initiative (across the academic, association and regulatory sectors) to develop one set of occupational therapy competencies for occupational therapists in the nation. This month we see the launch of a validation survey for input from all OTs in Canada. The College sent registrants an email on March 8 with information on how to participate in the validation survey and contribute to the evolution of this new single set of competencies for occupational therapists in Canada.
Learn more about the single set of competencies.
The College recognizes that March 2021 signifies one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This past year has brought the principles of infection prevention and control to the forefront of providing safe, effective and ethical occupational therapy practice.
The new COTBC Practice Standard for Infection Prevention and Control was developed following the recommendation of the Patient Relations, Standards and Ethics Committee and in consultation with the Provincial Infection Control Network of British Columbia. While we acknowledge registrants are already immersed in this work, please take a moment to review the new standard to ensure you are meeting practice expectations.
Occasionally occupational therapists or their employers contact the College about a breach of security of client information. A breach of security occurs when there has been unauthorized access, use or disclosure of personal information. For example, an email may have been accidentally sent to the wrong recipient, a letter or file mailed to the wrong address, a client file lost, a work laptop stolen and accessed, or client information inadvertently displayed to the wrong individual.
Occupational therapists are encouraged to review the Advisory Statement on Remedying a Breach of Security: COTBC Reporting Requirements to refresh themselves on their obligations should such an event occur in their practice. When in doubt, please do not hesitate to contact the College . A member of the practice team will be happy to discuss required next steps.
Filing your taxes? Your tax receipt for your annual registration fee is available online. Login into Alinity to access your tax receipt for this year and previous years.
With COVID-19, many people have faced interruptions to employment and may have experienced a decrease in hours worked. To renew, College Bylaws require registrants to meet one of the following currency hour requirements:
Given registration renewal will be for the 2021/2022 period, the hours completed during the following years will be eligible towards meeting the 600 hours requirement: 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Please review your currency to ensure you will be eligible for renewal in June.
Worried you do not have enough currency hours? Learn more about what to do.
It can be challenging for any individual college to gather input from the public in a meaningful way. Partnering with other Colleges on the BC-PAN has made this possible. Following a successful pilot phase in 2019, COTBC has continued to work with College partners on the BC-PAN initiative.
Together we've hosted three virtual meetings between September 2020 and February 2021. BC-PAN members provided their perspectives on topics such as virtual care, appropriate use of social media by registrants, expectations about colleges' codes of ethics, and more.
Learn more about the BC-PAN and the feedback compiled in summary reports.
We are taking steps to integrate the principles of cultural safety and humility into our organizational culture, governance, and operations. We are working on a comprehensive COTBC plan that will embed culturally safe practices within all levels of how we regulate the occupational therapy profession. The College is committed to doing our part in supporting the changes needed in the health care system to eliminate Indigenous-specific racism, systemic racism, bias, and discrimination.
Our plan will include such activities as identifying and developing learning opportunities for registrants as well as board, staff, and committee members, engaging with and building relationships with key stakeholders and partners, and reviewing and updating relevant College governance and operational policies and procedures. We will be considering how all aspects of our core work, from our complaints processes to standards of practice and conduct expectations for registrants, need to be adjusted to achieve increased cultural safety in the system.
Our work will ensure meaningful consultation and involvement of Indigenous consultants and allies, and we will continue coordinate efforts with our partner BC health profession regulators.
Learn about the College is doing as part of the BC Health Regulators.
While last year's ACCR was deferred related to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the requirement for completion will be in effect for this spring's registration renewal cycle. The ACCR is comprised of an online self-review related to roles, transitions, supports and continuing professional development goals which are important to maintaining and enhancing competence.
It also includes a practice quiz to support occupational therapists to solidify or identify gaps in their understanding of newly released standards, recent changes in legislation or specific clinical areas where new evidence, best practices or new processes should trigger changes in practice. The College does not have access to individual quiz results, only anonymized aggregate data. Registrants are able to review their own results, which includes detailed answer rationales and links to relevant essential competencies of practice and resources to encourage further exploration and learning.
In previous years, the majority of registrants have reported requiring 45-90 minutes to complete the ACCR.
Consider setting aside time in your calendar now! Registrants will receive further information in April with details about how and when to access the 2021 ACCR.
Visit our website for more information on the ACCR.
In case you missed it in the Annual Report or on our social media channels, the Continuing Competence Exam scheduled for 2022 has been deferred. The Quality Assurance Committee is hard at work determining next steps for the College's Quality Assurance Program (QAP). Registrants can expect to receive further communications from the College regarding changes to the QAP Framework as decisions are made.
