‘The Long and Winding Road ’
The NSCRT’s Continuing Quest for
Licensure
As
we prepare for the move towards introduction of The
Respiratory Therapists Act in the legislature the
executive would like to provide the membership with a
brief timeline of events along the long and winding road
to self – regulation/licensure.
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
1996:
Discussions at the May 25, 1996
meeting around health care reform and restructuring in
preparation for meetings with the Minister of Health (MOH).
A public relation package (the role of Respiratory
Therapy) is forwarded to the MOH and the Regional Health
Boards.
1997:
At
November’s AGM, Government Lobbying is on the agenda for
discussion; the RTSNS officially begins the quest
for government lobbying and eventual licensure.
1998: On
November 28th, the RTSNS executive
sponsors a workshop, ‘Effective Government Lobbying’
which is facilitated by Wayne Marsh, a consultant.
Interestingly, this workshop is advertised and open to
all allied health professional associations and
therefore becomes a multi-disciplinary workshop. We
receive joint funding from The Nova Scotia Association
of Medical Radiation Technologists (NSAMRT) and the
Physiotherapy Association. An initial meeting is held
with representatives from the Department of Health and
the Department of Education and Culture.
1999:
On
February 24th, members of the executive:
Patty Winfield, Phil Richardson and Barb MacDonald meet
with representatives from the Department of Health (DOH);
Robert Fitzner who is a Policy Analyst with the
Strategic Planning and Policy Development Branch and
Sarah Gorelik who is a Legal Policy Analyst. The purpose
of this meeting is to learn more about the process for
licensure, and to provide an avenue for the DOH to learn
more about the Respiratory Therapy profession.
On June 24th members of the RTSNS
executive meet with Robert Fitzner and Rick Cameron at
the DOH. The executive ( Phil was instrumental in taking
the lead on this !) put together an RTSNS portfolio with
the Standards of Practice and Terms of Reference to
submit to the DOH.
At the May 1 AGM, the RTSNS invite Pat Hogan, the
CSRT president to discuss labour mobility, CRTO and
licensure. The mandate given at this meeting is for the
RTSNS executive to proceed with self-regulation for the
RRTs in Nova Scotia.
The RTSNS executive follows all of the preliminary
requirements for licensure by providing the DOH with the
document ‘Mandatory Assessment of Risk to Cause Harm’
and to begin to make extensive changes to the
by-laws to help prepare the RTSNS membership for the
requirements set out by the regulatory bodies.
2000:
The
by-law changes are approved at the May 6, 2000
General Meeting held in Sydney and reflect the need for
continuing education and professional development. A
lunch and Learn, facilitated by Phil Richardson, updates
those present with the Agreement on Internal Trade and
Licensure.
Members of the RTSNS executive
meet with a NSGEU representative who was involved with
the Medical Laboratory Technologist bid for
self-regulation. A letter is drafted and forwarded to
the MOH and opposing critics to inform and update the
government on the labour mobility issues in an effort to
persuade government that self-regulation must move
forward.
2001 – 2002:
The
membership mandates gradual dues increases in
preparation for self-regulation. Correspondence in the
form of phone calls, letters and e-mails are forwarded
to the MOH and the DOH in response to government
elections, etc. as portfolios change. We have a mutual
recognition agreement with all of the provincial
associations and regulatory bodies in Canada ( except
Ontario/Quebec).
2002 –
2004: The momentum of movement towards self-
regulation is dwindling because the provincial
government seems to have its own agenda. Letters to the
MOH, the Policy Analyst for the DOH go unanswered.
However, the RTSNS executive is ready because of the
By-Law changes, adoption of a new Standards of Practice
and a vision for the future!
2005:
On
February 21 – 23th, 2005 an RTSNS
executive member (Barb MacDonald) attends a workshop put
on by Infonex on ‘Professional Regulation and
Discipline.’ Initial communication with Marjorie
Hickey Q C and Patricia Elliot (lawyers) at the workshop
leads to a meeting with the lawyers and the RTSNS
executive on March 29th, 2005 to
devise a plan for furthering our quest towards self –
regulation. Previous to this the RTSNS president (Rhonda
Burke) contacts Robert Fitzner to establish exactly
where we stand with the government as a profession
seeking self – regulation. The RTSNS executive retains
the services of Patricia Elliot to assist us in moving
forward. Letters to the MOH and updates to the Risk of
Harm document are reviewed, changed and forwarded to the
lawyer prior to being sent to the MOH. A response is
received from the MOH; a meeting with the MOH is planned
for October 19th.
October 18th:
meeting with Patricia Elliot, Phil Richardson and the
RTSNS executive in preparation for the meeting with the
MOH on October 19th.
Meeting with the DOH: October 19th: Carol Donaldson, Phil
Richardson, Barb MacDonald and Patricia Elliot meet with
Dennis Holland Senior Director, Legislative Policy and
Robert Fitzner, Policy Analyst with the DOH to discuss
RTSNS progress, review our timeline to date and
determine a plan for moving towards a projected goal of
the Spring sitting of the legislature. The primary
outcome from the meeting is that we are well on our way;
it is imperative that we solicit and gain written
support from all the health professions that may be in
conflict with our Scope of Practice, etc. The College of
Physicians and Surgeons, College of Nurses, College of
Physiotherapists and College of Paramedics are four
professional bodies that will be targeted.
The executive (Carol Donaldson, Jennifer MacKinnon, Patricia
Moriarty, Rhonda Burke, Wendy Conrad, Vanessa Friesen
and Barb MacDonald) meet on a weekly basis to move ahead
with finalization of A Scope of Practice and development
of a Draft Act in consultation with legal council.
2006: February 8th: a meeting with the RTSNS executive and The
Pathfinder Group, to discuss ways in which this full
service Association Management Company may be able to
assist the RTSNS with ongoing priorities such as
licensure, website development, public relations, etc.
March 1st: a
second meeting is held with The Pathfinder Group.
After researching several website development
companies, The RTSNS executive retains the services of
The Pathfinder Group.
April
– May:
weekly
executive meetings and additional meetings with our
lawyer, Marjorie Hickey, are held in preparation for the
RTSNS Annual General Meeting on May 6th.
Marjorie Hickey is the keynote speaker to the
membership. As well, the new RTSNS website is launched
during the meeting and a ‘Communications Committee’ is
struck; the mandate from the membership is for the
committee to arrange teleconferences/communication
venues with both RTSNS and non – RTSNS members across
the province about sel-regulation.
May 30th:
Carol
Donaldson, Patricia Moriarty, Marjorie Hickey and Barb
MacDonald meet with senior policy analysts,
Dennis Holland and Robert Fitzner to discuss our
progress to date, present the Scope of Practice and
discuss progress with development of the Draft Act and
proposal for introduction of the Act at the Fall sitting
of the legislature. The policy analysts are very pleased
with our progress to date, the letters of support
received from other stakeholders and support the
initiative for the RTSNS to move ahead with our proposal
for the Fall sitting despite the call for a provincial
election.
June -
July:
weekly
RTSNS meetings continue; several meetings dedicated to
finalization of the Draft Act are held with Marjorie
Hickey. As well the Communications Committee arranges
for an initial teleconference with the managers across
the province.
August:
Carol,
Barb and Patricia hold a teleconference with Marjorie
Hickey; The Respiratory Therapists Act is
finalized along with letters to the Government leaders,
Union Leaders and Professional Bodies. August 3rd:
a teleconference is arranged with the managers in
the province.
September:
On August 17th and September 7th
members of both the Executive and Communications
committee hold teleconferences with managers and RTs
across the province in an effort to bring members up to
date and to address questions and concerns regarding the
proposed Respiratory Therapists Act.
A
special meeting and vote for acceptance of The
Respiratory Therapists Act is held on Monday
September 25th from 6:00 to 8:30 in Rm 6016
Halifax Infirmary with Marjorie Hickey in attendance.
The membership votes for unanimous approval of the Draft
Respiratory Therapists Act!! This is a milestone in
the history of the RTSNS and for all Respiratory
Therapists in Nova Scotia.
By approving this motion the membership “grants the
authority to the Executive of the RTSNS to execute the
required actions to establish Respiratory Therapy as a
self-regulating health profession in the province of
Nova Scotia.” The executive will proceed with plans for
completion of the Regulations and ByLaws.
A follow-up meeting is held with the Executive and Marjorie
Hickey to confirm plans for communication with
Government representatives and stakeholders.
October:
Meetings with both the Liberal (October 24th)
and NDP Caucus (October) are arranged prior to the fall
sitting of the legislature on October 30th,
2006. The Communications Committee is mandated to
address potential communication strategies with MLAs and
RTs across the province.
November/December:
Numerous executive meetings, meetings and/or
teleconferences with Marjorie Hickey and communication
with the DOH Senior Policy Analysts are held to review,
revise and finalize the Act for presentation at the
Spring sitting of the Legislature. A meeting with
several members of the Executive and our lawyer is held
on November 8th to complete the first draft of the
Regulations. A deadline of December 1st is imposed for
completion of the 1st draft.
2007: January – April:
Numerous executive meetings, meetings/teleconferences
with Marjorie Hickey, communication and formal
correspondence between legal counsel and all of the
Government, union and College/Association stakeholders
etc. are held in preparation for presentation of the
Act at the Spring sitting of the Legislature.
March
20th 2007:
The
Respiratory Therapists Act is introduced by the
Honourable Chris d’Entremont for the 1st reading in the
Legislature and is received as Bill 141
March
26th 2007: Bill 141
received 2nd reading in the legislature
March
28th 2007: Bill 141
was
approved at Law Amendments
April
12th 2007: Bill 141
received 3rd reading in the Legislature
and is passed!!
May:
The
RTSNS Educational Forum and General Meeting is held on
May 4th and 5th; Marjorie Hickey
speaks to the membership on Licensure and Respiratory
Therapy in Nova Scotia.
June –
August:
Several executive members meet regularly to review and
revise the Bylaws in preparation for transition
of the RTSNS into the Nova Scotia College of Respiratory
Therapists (NSCRT).
September – December:
The
RTSNS Executive finalizes the Regulations; the
proclamation and approval for the regulations for the
Respiratory Therapists Act are approved by Cabinet
on December 19th 2007 and the Orders in
Council is signed by the Lieutenant-Governor on December
21, 2007, to be effective January 1, 2008
2008: January – March:Transition
into The Nova Scotia College of Respiratory Therapists
(NSCRT) is the immediate task for the interim Registrar:
Phil Richardson and members of the Board:President: Barb
MacDonald, Past-President: Carol Donaldson, Treasurer:
Patricia Munro, Director-at-large: Wendy Conrad,
Director-at-large: Rhonda Dallaire. Communication with
all RRTs practicing in Nova Scotia is accomplished by
two mailouts through the RTSNS and the CSRT, a
teleconference with managers on Feb. 20th, a special
meeting (also available by teleconference for all RRTs)
on March 1st, the NSCRT website @
www.NSCRT.com and through the registrar @
registrar@nscrt.com
April
– May:To
date there are 240 active-practising therapists on the
roster
Please
Note: This is in no way an inclusive description of
all of the hard work and effort by the RTSNS executive
that continues on behind the scenes. Rather, it is an
attempt to raise membership awareness of our quest for
self-regulation, to invite feedback and promote more
membership participation.
Respectfully submitted:
Barb
MacDonald
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