June 4, 2024 

OPA provided feedback to the Ontario Health’s draft recommendation on Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Stress Urinary Incontinence, Fecal Incontinence, and Pelvic Organ Prolapse. 

OPA supports the recommendation for publicly funding pelvic floor muscle training for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. We commend Ontario Health for recognizing the evidence for this intervention, and how public access will help ensure that Ontarians have the rehabilitative care needed to improve their function, health, and quality of life. 

In this submission, OPA highlights the following areas with further comments: 

1. The role of physiotherapists 

2. Equitable patient care: reducing stigma and increasing access 

3. Additional considerations to support cost-effectiveness 

4. Feasibility: how physiotherapists are currently prepared and equipped to act on 
   this recommendation 

5. Need for consultation 

OPA is committed to supporting any outcomes from this recommendation through consultation with experts in pelvic health, research and system planning. 

May 28, 2024 

OPA submitted comments to the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario on the open consultation on two standards: 

• New standard, Evidence-Informed Practice 

• Revision to, Titles, Credentials, and Specialty Designations 

This is the second set of consultations in the CPO’s process of adapting the revised Core Standards of Practice for Canadian Physiotherapists, developed in 2023 by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators. 

March 27, 2024 

The College of Physiotherapists of Ontario (CPO) recently closed their 60-day consultation period for their proposed Code of Ethical Conduct and Standards Review. OPA submitted a response for each consultation, and the recommendations are summarized as follows: 

In reviewing the Code of Ethical Conduct as proposed, OPA made three high level recommendations: 

1) Build on the concept of informed consent; 
2) Recognize the role of substitute decision makers in patient care; 
3) Build on our ethical responsibility and role to address instances of discrimination, racism, and prejudice in healthcare. 

OPA recommended that the College establish a Standard of Ethical Conduct to demonstrate a strong commitment to anti-racism and cultural safety, and create a strong structure that the public, physiotherapists, and policy makers can depend on to provide safe, equitable and high-quality health care services. 

In reviewing the Standards consultation, OPA has recommended minor changes, without any significant needs for amendment to the proposed standards: Assessment, Diagnosis, Treatment, Communication, and Risk Management and Safety. 

OPA provided substantial recommendations for amendment to the Duty of Care Standard, which includes clarification of definitions and language that is in alignment with provincial regulations, specifically the Ontario Code of Misconduct (O. Reg 388/08) as it pertains to the discontinuation of care in both the presence and absence of continuing need. 

November 23, 2023 

OPA submitted comments as part of CPO’s consultation process on bylaw changes related to collecting demographic information. It is essential to include a robust explanation about the purpose of collection, policies related to storage, use and dissemination, procedures for members to request corrections, and who has ownership of the data. It is not sufficient to make the information sharing optional, especially as the examples noted pertain to sensitive questions about identity. There should be consultation on the appropriateness of each question included for collection. 

April 6, 2023 

The Ontario Physiotherapy Association submitted feedback to the Ministry of Health and the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario’s consultation to their proposed amendment of the general regulation to establish an Emergency Class of registration. 

Bill 106, the Pandemic and Emergency Preparedness Act, which came into effect in April 2022, made amendments to the Regulatory Health Professions Act (RHPA) Procedural Code that, requires all Health Profession Regulatory Colleges to establish an Emergency Class of Certificate of Registration. The aim is to reinforce the province’s health workforce planning and create an alternative pathway to register individuals in an expedited manner during emergency situations, such as a pandemic. 

Our key feedback focused on ensuring that the Province and regulatory College have tools in place to address health workforce issues in an effective and expedited manner during the time of emergency, while also ensuring that any proposed regulatory amendments not add complexity that negatively impacts the safety of the public, creates confusion for employers and health system managers, or has unintended negative impacts on health human resources during an emergency situation.