Registrar's Report August 2020 Registrar's message
Dear Colleagues,
There are three important membership responsibilities that are occurring over the next few months.
During the month of August, registered members are eligible to vote for who they believe would best suit the two open positions on Council. The voting is managed independently by Simply Voting and results will be announced September 1, 2020. I'd like to encourage you to take time to get to know each of the four candidates, which you can do by watching the candidate campaign videos and their answers to the virtual town hall questions on the ACAC Council candidates page. Please ensure that you take the time to vote using the unique link that will be sent to the email you have on file with the ACAC.
Participation in Council elections ranges from 50 per cent to 60 per cent of the membership, which is an admirable amount. For reference, some regulatory colleges have less than one per cent participation. The voting enthusiasm of the ACAC membership is valuable and speaks highly of the interest members have in the chiropractic profession in Alberta.
While annual membership renewal was deferred from June 30 to September 30, we encourage you to complete your renewal as soon as possible. Should a second wave of COVID-19 hit, or other conditions occur that limit your ability to renew, the ACAC is unable to defer registration any further. Today is the absolute best time to complete your annual renewal.
September will see a unique and new opportunity for the ACAC—our first virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM). Some aspects of the AGM will remain the same: all registered members may attend; members will hear from the ACAC and Council; pre-circulated resolutions will be tabled and voted on by members. There will also be some newer aspects. Members can now attend from wherever they live and participate from the comfort of their homes. Participation during the AGM will be different, but the ACAC is working to provide instructions and information to members well in advance.
While the virtual AGM will be different, members can rest assured that the meeting aligns with the rules of the Health Professions Act and Council governance. Please keep an eye on your email for more information from the ACAC about how to register and attend the AGM this year.
As you enjoy summer, I hope you take the time to vote, renew and prepare to attend our first virtual AGM.
Regards,
Dr. Todd Halowski Registrar
Reminder about masking bylaws As more cities implement indoor masking bylaws, we remind members to monitor and implement the requirements of municipal bylaws in their communities.
Share your thoughts via ThoughtExchange As we prepare for the anticipated second wave of COVID-19 and the recently announced plans for return to school in the fall, the risks of having a COVID-19 exposure are broadening. In an effort to help chiropractors and their staff prepare for how to manage these risks, we ask that you answer this question via ThoughtExchange:
What scenarios of possible COVID-19 exposure are you concerned about handling and want guidance on from the College?
Please list as many scenarios as possible, and we will work to provide clear guidance in how to respond and manage.
The ThoughtExchange will close Friday, August 14 at 4 p.m.
Renew your registration today Membership renewal is open and can be completed by clicking the orange "Renew your Registration" button in your members' centre. Please do not use the green "Proceed to Pay" button at the bottom of your profile—this will only process payment, not complete your renewal forms.
By visiting the renewal webpage, you can find FAQ's and a step-by-step guide outlining all renewal requirements, including:
Failure to complete renewal by September 30, 2020, will result in a $400 late fee. Your practice permit will be suspended or cancelled, and this will result in an additional $300 reactivation fee. Thank you to the 40 per cent of our membership who has already completed renewal.
Not planning to renew? If you do not intend to renew your permit, you must change your status to non-practising by September 17, 2020. You can do this by requesting a change in status. Doing so will allow you to remain a member in-good-standing and help prevent difficulties you might otherwise encounter in future attempts at licensure in Alberta or elsewhere.
Processing your change in status can take up to 10 business days, so please keep this in mind when you submit your application.
How formal, informal and implied consent vary Obtaining informed consent from your patients prior to treatment is essential for ensuring they are informed about their care. Having a conversation about the benefits and risks of treatment protects both you and your patients.
There are three types of consent: formal informed consent, informal informed consent and implied consent.
Formal informed consent involves:
Informal informed consent involves:
Implied consent involves:
A thorough treatment plan includes both formal and informal informed consent, whereas implied consent has no place in practice.
Please visit our website for more information on informed consent.
Mandatory record-keeping course introduced Chiropractors attend several courses and seminars over the year in order to keep their skills sharp. However, when it comes to professional development, record-keeping skills are often overlooked. From a liability point of view, chiropractors who do not keep adequate records have a difficult time defending their actions in civil suits or regulatory complaints.
The ACAC evaluates record-keeping as part of the practice visit program. Every four years, members submit a practice review package to their peers for review and comment on record-keeping and clinical decision making. Due to diminishing record-keeping performance, the Continuing Competence (CC) committee made a recommendation to Council that all Alberta chiropractors be required to complete a mandatory record-keeping course. In March, Council approved that recommendation.
The ACAC has been working with CMCC to offer a record-keeping course, which should be ready for registered members in early Fall. This annual, mandatory course will be a condition of renewal.
In light of the financial impact COVID-19 has had, Council will cover the cost this year's training course. In subsequent years, members will be required to pay to complete the record-keeping course annually. Completion of the course will also earn each member 4 CC credits. By comparison, every other province already participates in a mandatory record-keeping course.
Watch your email for the announcement of the official introduction of the ACAC mandatory record-keeping course.
Telehealth approved as a permanent modality At the June Council meeting, Council motioned for Telehealth being a permanent modality for chiropractors. Information about Telehealth requirements, eligibility and more can be found on our Telehealth webpage.
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 delivery and recommendations that can be given.
When is it okay to release patient information to an insurance company? Occasionally, members are asked by insurance companies to confirm treatment dates for patients. It is your responsibility to ensure a degree of due diligence when releasing patient information. There are two fail-safe processes by which you can ensure you are releasing information responsibly:
Under the Health Information Act (HIA), information in a patient’s file may only be released by patient file custodians under the following circumstances:
It's important to understand that inquiries from insurance companies are generally requests. They do not constitute patient permission to release information. This is different from audits, where you are asked to confirm treatment dates.
In the case of audits, you may encounter two specific petitions from insurance companies:
Such proof and information is considered sufficient approval for the release of this limited information in the audit process, as it satisfies the requirement for permission to release the requested billing information.
In all cases of an insurance company inquiry, we recommend you seek additional confirmation of patient acknowledgement or obtain specific patient permission prior to releasing any information. The ACAC does provide a free HIA General Awareness Training course, worth two CC credits for members who would like to brush up on their understanding of the HIA. If you have other questions about patient information files, you are welcome to contact the College.
Updated practice visit program The Health Professions Act (HPA) mandates that the ACAC Council must establish a Continuing Competence (CC) Committee as a condition of operation practice visits. Practice visits are an established tool to ensure professional competence as the college fulfills the mandate to protect the public. To fulfill the practice visit requirements of the HPA and, the ACAC has established an updated self-submission practice visit program.
Council candidate videos now available The ACAC is pleased to present the 2020 Council election candidates: Drs. Kirsten Baxter, Helen Cox, Jason Hollingsworth and Bronwen Stevens-Samuel. You can view their campaign videos and read their answers to the member-submitted questions by clicking any of their photos below. Learn more about Council elections and serving on Council.
Enroll in 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.
Discipline reporting Member Name: Dr. Paul McConnell Violations: ACAC Standards of Practice 6.0, 7.0, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.7, and ACAC Code of Ethics Articles A14 and A7. Finding: Resolved by Hearing Tribunal
Highlights: Upcoming laser registration renewal Laser registration renewal is due September 30, 2020. Members affected will receive specific notification regarding requirements. Return to Practice feedback survey We want to hear how implementation of the Return to Practice plan is going in your clinic. Please submit your feedback to us using this survey. New email for CC submissions If you have earned a certificate of completion from an eligible CC seminar or from a mandatory Standard First Aid with CPR-C/AED training, we strongly encourage you to forward it to the ACAC office now. Fax: 780-425-6583
Certificates are normally processed within 10 business days. CC credits will appear in your profile once processing is complete. Diagnostic image viewing AHS will stop providing CDs of diagnostic images. In order to view these images, you will need Netcare access.
If you already have Netcare access, please stop requisitions for CDs and start to use the Netcare portal to view all diagnostic images.
MVA and DTPR: Diagnostic and treatment protocols Now is a good time to brush up on your knowledge in the processing and handling of MVA. In light of COVID-19, please remember vaccination and immunization are not within the chiropractic scope of practice.
The ACAC directs members to refer all patient questions, consultation and education regarding immunization and vaccination to the appropriate public health authorities and/or health professional whose scope of practice includes vaccination.
We continue to screen members’ web and social media for compliance with the Advertising Directive.
Please ensure you are regularly reviewing your website and social media accounts and removing any content in contravention. |