Board Education
On October 23, the Board attended an education day. The day included an orientation on regulatory governance, and presentations regarding the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence in Occupational Therapy Practice.
Farewell and Welcome to Public Directors
New public Director Adrian Malcolm was welcomed to the Board. Public Director Sabrina Shaw was bid farewell and recognized for her contributions to the College and the various committees she served on, including Patient Relations, Governance, and Quality Assurance.
Annual Report 2023-2024
The College’s 2024 Annual Report was accepted by the Board and will be made available online in French and English. The report highlights the work of the College to protect the public and summarizes outcomes of the final year of its 2020-2024 strategic plan.
The report will be available online in the coming days. Read our reports to learn more about our work to advance College priorities.
College Involvement in new Discipline Tribunal Process
The Board approved changes to the bylaws to allow for the Discipline Committee and Fitness to Practise Committee to add an experienced adjudicator to chair specific discipline cases. The change is made to enhance the efficiency and quality of discipline proceedings and their outcomes. The addition of an experienced adjudicator was first developed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons when they established the Ontario Physicians & Surgeons Discipline Tribunal (OPSDT) that led to the development of the Health Professionals Discipline Pilot Tribunal (HPDPT), which some other Colleges have since adopted.
Appointing an adjudicator to the College’s Discipline Committee and Fitness to Practice Committee will allow the College to gain a better sense of this new tribunal model as it moves towards participating more fully in the HPDPT.
Assessing Practice Risk
A fundamental responsibility of professional regulators is to identify and mitigate potential risks of harm to the clients who seek/use the services of their regulators. The Board received the recommendation to add practice risks to the Risk Register. The management of practice risks has been, and continues to be, a key activity at the College. The addition of practice risks to the Risk Register allows for additional transparency and awareness of the College focus on public protection.
Additional Demographic Data Collection
The Board approved the College’s plan to introduce additional self-identification data for registrants of the College. The College plans to use the data set established by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Providing additional self-identification data will be voluntary.
One of the goals of collecting additional demographic data is to provide insight into the degree to which the diversity of the Ontario public is reflected in College registration. In addition, the data will be used to identify, monitor and inform actions by the College to close the gaps in health inequalities facing equity-deserving groups. Ensuring a racially diverse and representative health workforce is a recognized strategy to help address inequities in health systems impacting both patients and providers.
Learn more about the College commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Practice Resource Document
Recognizing that AI and technology is a rapidly growing field that can carry potential risks and benefits when used in occupational therapy practice, there is a need for the College to provide guidance to occupational therapists.
The Board approved the publication of Artificial Intelligence in Occupational Therapy Practice resource document, which is now available on the College website under Standards and Practice Resources. The resource will help occupational therapists understand the potential risks and benefits of using AI in practice and their professional responsibility to uphold the Standards of Practice and follow related legislation.
View College Standards and Practice Resources
Response to Coroner’s Report
In response to written request from the Chief Coroner’s Office of Ontario to respond to a recommendation from the Geriatric and Long-Term Care Review Committee’s (GLTCRC) report, the College produced an education resource about the potential dangers of transfer poles for individuals at risk for falls, with or without dementia.
The Board approved release of the 2024 College Response to the Coroner’s Report: Death from Transfer Pole. The resource is now available on the College website under Standards and Practice Resources.