Registrar's Report November 2020 Registrar's message
Dear Colleagues,
I wanted to start by saying thank you to the over 60 per cent of members who have already successfully completed their professional corporation renewal! If you have a professional corporation, don't forget to complete renewal by November 30, 2020.
This week, I was on the phone with a member who had just completed the mandatory record-keeping course. During the conversation, we discussed the record-keeping skills they were taught in school and how much the clinical record has evolved since they graduated. We agreed on the importance of record-keeping and how important keeping a comprehensive record of patient care is when providing treatment.
Each ACAC member will have received a different education around record-keeping based on the time and place they attended school, which can make it difficult to ensure consistency and competency with record-keeping.
As a fellow ACAC member and Alberta chiropractor, I know that proper record-keeping is essential to patient care, and I also know that an Alberta-focused record-keeping resource doesn't exist. Record-keeping reflects the health information that you receive for each patient and what procedures have been performed on their behalf. When a record is incomplete, it puts both the chiropractor and the patient at risk.
That's why we are so excited to be offering the new mandatory record-keeping course. This course, approved by Council supports patient safety and continued competency for Alberta chiropractors.
The course content is reflective of a record-keeping course developed for the College of Chiropractors of British Columbia and demonstrates current record-keeping requirements. Applying learnings from this course will ensure that you continue to deliver safe care to Alberta's patients.
Regards,
Dr. Todd Halowski Registrar
Rapid testing program impact on COVID-19 Pandemic Directive Since Alberta began to pilot a rapid testing program for travelers returning from international destinations, the ACAC has received several questions on how this impacts practitioners and their patients.
We are currently seeking clarification from Alberta Health to see if this impacts the quarantine requirements outlined in the ACAC COVID-19 Pandemic Practice Directive. Please continue to follow the requirements as outlined, and once we receive any further information, we will let you know.
New resource for managing challenging situations As we head into winter and continue to experience the unknowns of the pandemic, you may experience an increase in challenging situations when treating patients. These situations can range from suicidal ideation to patients who may be victims of domestic abuse.
In order to help you navigate these situations, the ACAC has received permission from Physiotherapy Alberta to share a resource they developed on managing challenging situations.
We will continue to expand this resource as necessary, and don't hesitate to contact the ACAC if you need assistance navigating a challenging situation.
Eight months until CC credit requirements must be met As you are aware, the 2020/2021 CC credit reporting period has been extended and a total of 48 CC credits are now due by June 30, 2021.
Broken down, this equates to an average of 4 credits that must be obtained each month over a 12-month period, starting on July 1, 2020. To put this in perspective, if you achieve 24 CC credits by the end of 2020, you are 50 per cent complete. That only leaves you six months to complete the remaining 50 per cent of requirements. If you have not yet started working towards meeting the CC credit requirement, we encourage you to start today so you can easily meet the June 30, 2021 deadline. Visit our website for full renewal requirements.
Find the date of your upcoming practice review in your members' centre The ACAC has developed more tutorials for navigating your member profile that includes how to update your contact information, view membership dues and more.
Compliance corner: when can you use the term "specialist"? Did you know that Standard of Practice (SOP) 1.3 provides direction on the use of the term Specialist? The SOP indicates that:
"The term specialist shall only be used when the chiropractor holds an ACAC recognized Canadian chiropractic specialty designation."
A Chiropractor on the General or Courtesy Register may use the title of "specialist" as well as the appropriate abbreviations and initials, providing he or she has successfully completed and is certified by one or more of the following specialty programs approved by Council:
A chiropractor on the General or Courtesy Register may continue to use the title of "specialist" as well as appropriate abbreviations and initials, providing he or she continues to meet the requirements for maintenance of the specialty certification.
Take a moment to review the applicable SOP and determine if your advertising is compliant. If you are using the word "specialty," "specialist" or "specialization" in contravention of the SOP, you must correct that usage immediately. Ensuring compliance helps us all demonstrate effective self-regulation and ensures that the term earned by many of our colleagues is being used appropriately.
4 things you should record when accessing Netcare Accessing Netcare allows you to enter and review personal health information while treating a patient. The patient information can be built on, providing a significant benefit to patients and their health-care providers. However, it comes with the added responsibility of needing to be maintained in the same way that patient notes are expected to be upkept.
When accessing Netcare, you are advised to record the following information in the patient record:
Appropriate record-keeping is a minimal requirement to access Netcare. If you have not yet gained access to Netcare, we strongly encourage you to apply for Netcare as soon as possible.
Highlights: 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. Email for CC submissions If you have earned a certificate of completion from an eligible CC seminar or from mandatory training such as Standard First Aid with CPR-C/AED or trauma-informed 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. |