InTouch: Association news July 2020 President's message
Dear Colleagues,
Congratulations on two months back in practice! It has been encouraging to hear how successfully chiropractors are observing the new safety and cleaning measures as a part of practicing during the pandemic. Being responsive to the pandemic has required adjustments and changes to all of our practices but our diligence and commitment to these new measures speaks volumes for our profession and ongoing commitment to protecting our patients. Thank you for your hard work and effort. Let’s continue to do our best as we move forward. I would also like to thank our four Council election candidates for their interest in serving the profession. Serving on Council is hard but rewarding work and we look forward to welcoming the newly-elected members after the AGM. More information about each candidate and their platform is available on the ACAC website, as well as details about the elections process. Please remember that voting will be held from August 1-31 this year.
Speaking of our AGM, the ACAC has been organizing and planning our first virtual AGM, which will be held the morning of Sunday, September 20. While some of the details still need to be finalized, attendees can expect a 60 to 90 minute meeting instead of a full day-long session. The AGM agenda and package will be available for members in mid-August.
Finally, Council continues to support the government’s commitment to public protection. With the proposed legislative changes on council structures, which would require 50 per cent public member representation on Councils, hearing tribunals and complaint review committees, Council is moving to determine what changes, if any, are necessary. Given the recent trend of government activity related to regulatory bodies, we anticipate more activity to come and are continuing our discussions with government accordingly. I look forward to sharing more details as our work unfolds.
Despite the many areas of life that have slowed down or stopped altogether, there are some that have certainly ramped up in activity. That being the case, I hope everyone is able to take some time to rest this summer and enjoy the warmth and sunshine.
Sincerely, Dr. Brad Kane President
Enhancing ACAC engagement with our most important stakeholder—you! After two successful and insightful trials, the ACAC has decided to move ahead with using ThoughtExchange. Over the next year, we will use this tool to start conversations with members to table new ideas and gain feedback on ACAC activities, all with the goal of better understanding what matters the most to members.
Participating in these regular ThoughtExchanges offers a different experience than most survey tools. One important difference is the two-way communication this tool allows. Feedback that is submitted and voted by members as the most important can be answered and commented on by the ACAC. ACAC comments will be available while the ThoughtExchange is live, and afterwards in the evaluation report.
To view the results from the last ThoughtExchange on returning to practice, please click the image below.
Success of the patient confidence campaign When the pandemic instigated the closure of chiropractic clinics in Alberta, the Association took immediate action to support members and prepare for the future of re-opening. We wanted our members to be ready to re-open immediately once allowed but we also wanted the average Albertan to understand that it remained safe to access chiropractic. In order to achieve these two separate goals, a two-pronged campaign was launched—one aimed at practitioners and one aimed at the public.
On May 4, we launched the Patient Confidence campaign that communicated clinic re-opening plans and new cleaning protocols to the public. We were able to keep patients informed about clinic changes through social, digital and radio ads. It is our pleasure to report the Patient Confidence campaign experienced immediate and extraordinary success. The campaign ran until May 31, where the Patient Confidence webpage garnered over 44,000 visits. In the same timeframe, the ACAC website was visited just under 89,000 times, meaning that the Patient Confidence campaign accounted for over 30 per cent of our site traffic during the pandemic. Between May 4-31, the Patient Confidence campaign accounted for over 30 per cent of our website visits. Since May, the Patient Confidence campaign has continued to receive heavy traffic, with a total of 75,000 visits—meaning that the public is returning to that page to stay informed even after the campaign has ended.
ACAC blogs spread awareness of chiropractic The Association works hard to develop resources to support you in practice. One of the ways we do this is through our Everyday Chiropractic blog.
The Everyday Chiropractic blog has a variety of articles written by your fellow chiropractors, as well as blogs written by the Association. Sharing these blogs on your own social media accounts and in newsletters is an excellent way to connect with patients and promote your practice. The wide variety of blog topics also help patients understand the different ways chiropractic can be used and introduces them to treatment options they may not know of.
Toasty Toes planned as a fundraising event only This year has brought on unpredictable challenges and changes for all of us, and especially to the most vulnerable among us. Our nonprofit Toasty Toes partners have shared that they are bracing for a difficult year ahead and the support of Alberta’s chiropractors is more important now than ever.
The ACAC is committed to balancing that need with ensuring the continued safety of our members.
To help prevent clinics from becoming drop off centres for physical sock donations, the ACAC would like to offer the Toasty Toes sock drive as a fundraising event only.
Unfortunately, if we do not have at least twenty clinics and chiropractors interested in participating in the Toasty Toes fundraiser, we will postpone Toasty Toes until 2021.
Returning to fundamentals in complex times By Dr. Dean Wright, DC CEO, Canadian Chiropractic Protective Association
Dr. Wright became CEO of the Canadian Chiropractic Protective Association (CCPA) in January 2020 after more than a decade as part of the CCPA claims team. From supporting members through an array of malpractice claims to guiding fellow chiropractors towards exceptional risk management and patient care, Dr. Wright has gained a wealth of insight over the years. Armed with this insight, he has taken the CCPA reigns, managing the complex day-to-day operations of the organization.
Over the past few months, as we have seen our world radically altered by the pandemic, members have asked us whether they would be protected in the case of a COVID-related professional liability claim. The answer to that question is simple: we will always be here for our members.
One of the things that sets us apart from other insurers is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that when you call CCPA, someone will listen and do all they can to help. During the pandemic, we’re no different. Even if you do become involved in an incident involving COVID-19, CCPA will be in a position to support you.
Yet you, as a doctor, have a responsibility that goes beyond the measures everyone has been asked to participate in to help stop the spread of COVID-19. With your license to practice comes the obligation to be accountable, ensuring you take exceptional care of your patients while managing yourself professionally, no matter the circumstances in practice.
We’ve heard of situations across Canada in which some doctors have continued like it is business as usual – without regard for the recommendations around PPE or physical distancing issued by provincial regulators. While this may or may not lead to a claim, practicing this way is a danger to the profession, the DC, and their patients.
It’s true you’re getting inundated these days with information about how to practice, and things are changing so rapidly it can seem hard to keep up. But we can’t stress enough that following the directives and guidance of your provincial regulator – and documenting your processes – are critical to the outcome of any liability situation. We can’t stop all incidents from happening. But should you find yourself in an unfortunate situation, including something involving COVID-19, it is how you behave throughout that makes all the difference in a claim.
Our job at CCPA is to guide you towards the right decisions about how to proceed in any complex situation in practice. And if we aren’t the individuals to answer your questions, we’ll point you in the direction of those who can. We’ve supported our members through tough times, and we’ll continue to be here for you throughout the current public health crisis and beyond.
You can reach out to the CCPA claims team by calling 1-800-668-2076 or emailing admin@ccpaonline.ca.
Best practices for Telehealth Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative (CCGI) recently developed a list of best practices when treating patients via Telehealth. This guide outlines the core elements of Telehealth, key considerations for Telehealth delivery and recommendations that can be given through Telehealth.
Enroll in a free online course bundle for CC credits We are pleased to present "Alberta Chiropractic Support Program 63764," provided by the CMCC for free to ACAC members. This eight-course online program was developed by CMCC Continuing Education, in collaboration with the ACAC and is available until December 31, 2020. Credits earned from this course can be applied towards your 2019-2021 CC requirements.
ACAC blog: the role diet plays in headaches Chiropractor Dr. Jillian McKinnon explains the important role that diet plays in headache management.
In her blog, "Headaches: the role your diet plays," McKinnon highlights common food sensitivities and explains the importance of tracking food and environment to identify your personal headache triggers.
Council contact
Each member is assigned a Council contact to connect with for questions or comments related to the profession.
Do you know who your Council contact is?
First aid & safety training services inc.
Need to get your standard first aid and CPR-C to renew your license? We offer regularly scheduled classes.
For more information, visit www.safetyclass.ca
[advertisement] Reminder: media calls
With the increased mention of chiropractic in the news recently, journalists may reach out to you to request an interview or response to a story.
If you receive one of these requests, please forward the request to Mikiko Van Horn, Senior Public Relations Coordinator, or call 780-420-0932. |