Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The College of Occupational Therapists of Manitoba is closely monitoring developments in the novel (new) coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. COTM is actively engaged with provincial health officials on this issue, and working closely with other Manitoba health regulatory colleges - as well as the Association of Canadian OT Regulatory Organizations - to keep occupational therapists informed of any regulatory matters that may arise.

Keeping Informed About COVID-19

For the Public

• Health Links – Info-Santé – A provincial telephone health information line available to all Manitobans that is staffed by bilingual registered nurses 24/7, 365 days of the year.
• Manitoba Public Health – Coronavirus information for the public, COVID-19 Screening Tool
• Public Health Agency of Canada – Coronavirus information, FAQs and resources
• World Health Organization – COVID-19 Advice for the public

For Health Professionals

College Operations

As of Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the office was closed to visitors. All staff began working from home as of Friday, March 20, 2020.

We remain open for business by phone, email and mail. Please keep the following in mind when contacting COTM:

• Our staff will be available by phone at 204-957-1214 however it is preferable that you connect with us via email.
• Our staff directory including direct phone numbers and email .
• If you have physical documents you need to submit to COTM, please send them by mail. 
• All COTM committees will meet virtually – please get in touch with your staff contact for more information.

Questions? Contact Sharon Eadie, COTM Executive Director at Sharon.eadie@cotm.ca

Contingency Planning Updates

• Renewal will continue as usual. Please contact registration@cotm.ca if you have questions about this decision.  However, you are urged to use COTM resources and guides to assist with your renewal rather than contact staff during this time.

COTM Practice Guidance

• The Manitoba Alliance of Health Regulatory Colleges (MAHRC) has developed a resource that can assist OTs with telepractice. Click on the document below:

• COTM has worked with a number of other health regulators in Manitoba to develop this telepractice guidance document which we anticipate will answer some of your questions. Keep in mind that it is in place of a document tailored to occupational therapy practice and therefore you are urged to use your creativity and clinical judgement in applying the practice expectations.  For example, we know that OTs often utilize and require others in the client’s home / environment  to participate in the telepractice session so the privacy sections may seem overly restrictive.  We also urge you to explore how you can support clients who do not have devices that allow for more elaborate technology such as laptops with WIFI and cameras.  We do not want to create a situation of reduced access to health services for those without technology. Many of you likely already employ this approach but for those who are embarking on telepractice as a new part of your practice, we do not want to inadvertently limit your sound clinical approaches.

• As noted in earlier messages, COTM supports the reassignment/redeployment of occupational therapists. You must monitor that you are being asked by those tasked with this type of planning and that you do not take on tasks or procedures that exceed your level of competency. COTM acknowledges that assisting in emergency health planning and redeployment is part of one’s professional obligations. This is addressed in the COTM Code of Ethics – and reads as: Provide services, when appropriate safety precautions exist, during a natural or humanmade disaster, including a communicable disease outbreak, consistent with the profession’s commitment to client well-being.
   
• If you are asked to do something that is not a normal part of OT practice and is a reserved act as outlined in Part 2, S.4 of The Regulated Professions Act, [ C.C.S. C.C.S.M. c. R117 (gov.mb.ca)M. c. R117 (gov.mb.ca) ] then there are specific rules you must follow to be able to take on these tasks. You are urged to contact Sharon Eadie, COTM Executive Director to discuss these rules that relate to delegation of reserved acts.

• The Manitoba Ombudsman has posted guidance regarding response to health information access requests under The Personal Health Information Act (PHIA).  Visit https://www.ombudsman.mb.ca/info/phia.html

Other Relevant Resources

CAOT's COVID-19 updates and resources for occupational therapists