October 2005

1
October 2005

• Where we are today

2
Health Professions Act

• New Regulations in last stages of consultation
• Request made to avoid split from College and
  Association
• Many groups scheduled to go under September 2005,
  we are just one and none are through yet.

3
Readiness

• Work has begun on the Standards of Practice. Not
  ready yet for the next consultation with you but
  expect it early next year.
• Mandatory Committees are being set up. Look in
  the newsletter to apply for any of these
• Practice Audits are being developed and will be
  back to you for consultation early next year.
• Code of Ethics are on the agenda for next year.

4
What the Council has been doing

• The first order of business this year has been
  training.
• The Council must be clear on their roles.
• The Council must be aware of liability and
  responsibilities to govern effectively.
• Developed Manual for Council Members
• Governance training
• Strategic Planning
• Recruiting Volunteers

5
What the Council has been doing

• The second order of business has been reviewing
• All office positions have been redefined and
  process streamlined to increase productivity.
• Finance and Audit Committee established to review
  finances establish a budget and make
  recommendations for reducing costs.
• Council position concept has been redefined to
  produce more work for each position.

6
What the Council has been doing

• The third order of business has been tightening
• The Registrar has been very busy talking to
  members and explaining the rules.
• Several cases are poised for disciplines.
• Investigators have been employed to check out
  situations which are reported to be unacceptable.

7
What the Registrar wants you to know

• Mandatory Registration
• If you are trained and educated as an Optician
  and are performing the duties of an Optician
  (dispensing), you must be registered as an
  Optician.
• A person may not use the title
• optician,
• ophthalmic dispenser,
• optical dispenser,
• contact lens fitter,
• contact lens practitioner
• contact lens dispenser
• or the abbreviations after their names of RO and
  RCLP
• unless registered.

8
Dispensing

• Restricted Activity
• Dispensing is a restricted activity which means
  you must be an Optician or an Optometrist to
  dispense.
• Delegation
• Opticians may not delegate the responsibility of
  dispensing.
• Supervision
• Opticians may only allow the act of dispensing to
  be done by an unlicensed person when it is a
  student and then only while supervised.
• Opticians may only supervise direct and on site.

9
Dispensaries

• All locations that dispense eyeglasses or contact
  lenses must have the appropriate licensed staff
  on site while dispensing is taking place.
• The hours of operation for a particular location
  will be compared with the number of staff
  licensed to perform the applicable tasks.

10
Prescribing

• Opticians may not prescribe at this time.
• Refracting is not a restricted activity
• Anyone may refract but an Optician may not use
  the results of a refraction unless signed by an
  Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist

11
Valid Prescription

• Opticians must have a prescription from an
  Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist in order to
  dispense.
• Opticians may duplicate existing eyewear but
  should assure themselves that the appliance will
  function properly.

12
Restrictions on Prescriptions

• Valid for 6 months
• Valid for 6 months with reason
• Not for Contact Lenses
• Not for Contact Lenses with reason

13
Privacy

• It is your responsibility to be sure that privacy
  is respected in your practice.
• Secure files
• Private history taking
• Restricted access to appropriate professional

14
Release of information to the patient

• Health information belongs to the patient.
• If you have taken money for it you must release.
• You may not charge for this release except
  duplication costs.
• Maximum amount of 25.00 but this does not apply
  to opticians.
• A patient may ask that their file be explained or
  corrected.

15
Other Release of Information

• Release of information to another eye care
  practitioner for the continuing care of the
  patient does not require written consent.
• A form has been developed to satisfy those who do
  not agree with this assessment.
• Release with or without written consent, to the
  patient or another practitioner, must be
  documented.

16
Registration

• Registration must be completed by December 1,
  2005.
• This registration takes effect January 1, 2006.
• Requirements
• Fees
• Application Form for Renewal
• Continuing Education Credits
• Step Three Self Assessment
• Errors and Omissions Insurance proof or
  application.
• If non practicing signed undertaking

17
Non-Practicing

• Must keep continuing education up to date
• Must sign an undertaking saying they will not
  practice in Alberta while non-practicing status

18
Fees
19
Application Form of Renewal

• Information will be added to make us compliant
  with HPA

20
Continuing Education Credits

• Amount of credits
• Responsibility lies not with presenter
• Date change next cycle to December 1st to match
  registration requirements.

21
Step Three Self Assessment

• Self Assessment means
• Signature allowed to get used to it
• Purpose of filling in learning plan
• Competency profile binders completed for practice
  Audit.

22
Errors and Omissions Insurance
23
Things to Note

• Date matters. One day late is still late.
• Postmarks dont matter it is when we receive it.
• If you have called and made special arrangements
  with the Registrar or the Office get it in
  writing. Someone at the office told me will not
  be enough.
• Cash will no longer be accepted at the office.
  You must pay with a credit card (Visa or
  MasterCard), a cheque or a money order.