Transitional Councilof the College of Homeopathsof Ontario

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Basil Ziv, RegistrarMay 2011

Road to the Regulation for Homeopaths in Ontario

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Preview – Inclusion of Homeopathy in RHPA

2005 – Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Committee (HPRAC) conducts research to advise Minister of Health as to whether homeopathy should be regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991.

2006 – HPRAC submitted New Directions Report to Ministry suggesting homeopathy should be regulated with naturopathy.

2007 – Homeopathy receives Homeopathy Act, 2007. 2009 – transitional Council College of Homeopaths established. 2009 – Registrar and Council members appointed. 2009 to now:

TC-CHO working to put infrastructure in place including governance structure

Drafting regulations, standards, and programs for consultation.

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Guiding Legislation

Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991

Homeopathy Act, 2007

Homeopathic Scope of Practice:

“The Practice of homeopathy is the assessment of body system disorders and treatment using homeopathic techniques to promote maintains or restores health.”

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Transitional Council Governance Structure (Proposed Revision)

Council

Registration Committee Executive Committee

Professional Practice Working Group

Communications Working Group

Governance Working Group

Steering Working Group

Competencies Working Group

Assessment Working Group

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Transitional Council Internal Reporting Structure

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Mission Statement

The Mission of the transitional Council of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario (TC-CHO) is to protect the public interest through self-regulation of the practice of homeopathic medicine by setting high standards for competency and ethical practice. This is achieved through consultation with stakeholders in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, and the Homeopathy Act, 2007.

Approved in principle January 22, 2010

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Vision Statement

The public interest will be protected through self-regulation of the homeopathic profession in Ontario and all qualified homeopaths will be required to register thus ensuring high standards in ethics, quality assurance and practice standards. In order to achieve these goals the transitional Council of the College of Homeopaths of Ontario will encourage excellence in homeopathic education and science based research.

Homeopathy will build on its initial success and be viewed by stakeholders as a valued healthcare profession with its own unique identity. The regulatory process serves as a catalyst to unify the profession and encourage members to work together. Regulation also provides a framework to expand the availability of competent practitioners in the profession thereby increasing accessibility by the public and contributing to the overall health of society.

Approved in principle January 22, 2010

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Purpose of Health Profession Regulation

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Purpose of Health Professional Regulation

The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, and health profession Acts (i.e. the Homeopath Act) provide a common framework for Ontario’s regulated health professions, incorporating a number of underlying principles, including: • As a primary principle, advancing the public interest

• Protect the public from harm and unqualified, incompetent or unfit providers

• Promote high quality health care services and accountability of health care professionals

• Access to Health Care Professionals of Choice

• Inclusion of all styles of practice provided public is protected

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Key Functions of Health Regulatory Colleges

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Key Functions of Health Regulatory Colleges

Assess and Register Members• Health colleges set the registration requirements for entry to the

professions.• Registration requirements are the primary method of assuring the

public that a registered practitioner is competent to practice the profession.

• Determine the most appropriate manner in which to assess the skills and training of homeopaths to ensure protection of the public.

• Develop and implement a registration process to quickly and efficiently register members.

• Communicate the registration process to members and provide fair, transparent and objective access to information.

• Make the register of members available to the public.

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Key Functions of Health Regulatory Colleges

Quality Assurance• Health colleges must have a program to assure the quality of practice of the

profession and to promote the continuing competence of members.

Professional Misconduct• Professional misconduct is the act of failing to do something, or doing

something that is a breach of accepted ethical or professional behaviour.

Complaint and Discipline Processes• Colleges must investigate any written complaint made about a member’s

practice. • If a complaint is determined to be substantiated the member may be

referred to discipline where significant penalties may be imposed.• The Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 outlines the complaints and

disciplines process ensuring consistency with all colleges.

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Key Functions of Health Regulatory Colleges

Entry to Practice • Colleges develop entry to practice requirements

• Research & Surveys• Enables understanding of demographics of the profession through data

collection of education, training, practice characterists

• Competency Development• Develop and validate core competencies• Consultation on entry to practice competencies

• Standards of Practice • Purpose to establish safe, effective and ethical health care practice• Members legally obliged to adhere to standards of practice• Develop, maintain standards and programs to promote public protection

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Key Functions of Health Regulatory Colleges

Entry to Practice • Grandparenting

• It is the role of the transitional Council to evaluate if a grandparenting process is appropriate, and, if so, develop the necessary criteria to administer it.

• Prior learning assessment• Communications

• Promote and enhance communications with all stakeholders• Develop and implement communication strategies to educate and inform

• Practitioners• Educational institutions• Associations• Public• Other health care groups/professionals• Media • Government

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Key Functions of Health Regulatory Colleges

Entry to Practice • Develop Patient Relations Program

• Deals with matters of sexual assault against patients

• Interprofessional Collaboration• Promote interprofesional collaboration

• Develop and Submit Regulations to MOHLTC• Fulfill college’s statutory mandate through development of

regulations and consultation with stakeholders

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Key Function of TC-CHO

Meet Ministry Deadlines and Obligations• Establishing accountability agreements with the Ministry. • Ensure agreements are in place and fulfilled on time and on budget. • Develop infrastructure for College including establishment of core

business structures and operating processes.• Develop policies and bylaws for initial start up of the College related

to items such as fees, data collection, composition of statutory committees, etc.

• Develop professional ethics, policies and guidelines for future members of the College. Develop processes to register members.

• Develop processes to handle complaints and discipline future members.

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Progress Report of TC-CHO

PROJECT AREA In Planning

In Progress

Complete

Consultation Competency Development Develop Prior Learning Assessment Program & Tools Development Registration Regulation Development Professional Misconduct Regulation Development Quality Assurance Regulation Development General Regulation – includes professional conflict of interest and basic record keeping

Draft Regulations to Ministry Practice Policy and Guideline Development Basic Quality Assurance Program Standards Development including Code of Ethics

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Progress Report of TC-CHO

PROJECT AREA In Planning In Progress Complete

Develop and Secure Infrastructure Develop Governance Structure and Bylaws Develop Patient Relations Program Set up Complaints and Discipline Process Develop Registration Database and Process Submit Regulations to MOHLTC

MOU / Loan Agreement Annual Budget Submission Priority & Business Plan Proclamation

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Summary: What Next?

• Council based committees – Registration, Professional Practice, Steering, and Executive – are hard at work.

• Research and data gathering.• Partnership with University of Toronto on survey to profession. • Establishing parameters for competencies development process,

setting entry to practice requirements, and assessment tools.• Registration regulations to Council and Ministry for initial review.• Informal and formal consultations to begin Summer and Fall 2011.• Call for volunteers Summer 2011.• Ongoing open communication with profession, public and stakeholders.

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Looking to the Future: Why Register with the College?

• Public recognition of competency, training and education from • Patients• Insurers• Other health care professionals• Government

• Increased level of professionalism enjoyed by other health professions.

• Increased level of consistency of the patient experience. • Greater assurance of public protection.

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How to Stay Informed

• Visit transitional Council, College of Homeopaths of Ontario website www.collegeofhomeopaths.on.ca

• Sign up for Information Alert Service at info@collegeofhomeopaths.on.ca

• Participate in profession information gathering and stakeholder consultation when announced

• Understand the legislation, visit Ontario legislation/ regulations www.e-laws.gov.on.ca

• Email us your questions and concerns

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More Information…

Basil Ziv, BCom, RSHom (NA), CCH, Registrar transitional Council of the

College of Homeopaths of Ontario

phone: 416-862-4783

email: info@collegeofhomeopaths.on.ca

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Questions