Preparing for the Future:
Current trends, occupational therapy and
the role of the
Canadian Association of Occupational
Therapists
Claudia von Zweck, PhD, OT (c)
May 14, 2007
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Objectives:
• Identify current trends
• Review implications for occupational therapy
• Promote practice strategies
• Discuss role of the Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists (CAOT)
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
CAOT is the national voluntary
professional association for
occupational therapists in Canada
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Role of a professional association
• Information and resources
• Membership services
• Advocacy and representation
• Professional standards
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Environmental Scan:
• Reviews factors
influencing practice
• Used for monitoring
and planning
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Factors:
• P olitical
• E conomic
• S ocial
• T echnological
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Political Priorities:
Shaped by public opinion
Health
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Environment
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Political Priorities:
1. Wait time strategies:
- Cancer
- Heart
- Joint replacements
- Diagnostic imaging
- Sight restoration
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Impact:
Accountability measures difficult to implement
Greater recognition of rehabilitation e.g. joint
replacement specialty teams
Concern for health problems outside of
priorities
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Political Priorities:
2. Collaborative patient-centred care
- Promotes active participation of all disciplines
- Enhances patient and family-centred goals
- Provides communication mechanisms
- Optimizes collaborative decision-making
- Fosters respect for all professions
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Impact:
Emphasis on interprofessional education
Promotion of team-based approach (e.g.
primary health care)
Potential for increased role of occupational
therapy
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
CAOT Interdisciplinary National Projects
Enhancing Interdisciplinary Collaboration in
Primary Health Care
Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Initiative
Occupational Therapy Primary Health Care
Planning Tool
Accreditation of Collaborative Practice
Education
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Political Priorities:
3. Health Human Resource Planning:
- Shortages reported by many disciplines
- Little long term planning
- Educating, deploying takes years
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Occupational Therapy:
- Distribution of workforce varies among
provinces
- Lags behind other countries e.g. Denmark,
Sweden, UK
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Occupational Therapists per 100,000 in 2004 (CIHI, 2006)
34
Canada
21.5
Saskatchewan
25.3
Prince Edward Island
28.3
Newfoundland
Nova Scotia
30.2
Ontario
31.1
New Brunswick
31.8
British Columbia
32.1
37
Alberta
37.6
Manitoba
41.1
Quebec
0
10
20
30
40
Canadian Association of
Association canadienne
Occupational Therapists
des ergothérapeutes
Occupational Therapists per 100,000
50
Provincial Disability Rate (Statistics Canada, 2002)
vs Occupational Therapists per 100,000
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
41.1
37.6
31.8
30.2
32.1
25.3
34
37
31.1
28.3
Occupational therapists per
100,000 population (2004)
21.5
13.5
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
da
8.4
Ca
na
12.5
QC
ON
BC
14
12.4
12.3
NL
14.3
PE
I
MB
NB
SK
NS
17.1 14.5
14.2
AB
14.4
Disability Rate (2001)
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
CAOT Initiatives
- National Occupational Therapy Human
Resources Plan
- National Occupational Therapist Database
Project
- Government advocacy
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Political Priorities:
4. Foreign Credential Recognition
Immigration needed for:
- Social and cultural diversity
- Stimulating economic growth
- Compensate for aging and retiring
workforce
100% of labour force growth from immigration
by 2012 (Citizenship and Immigration, 2003)
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Occupational Therapy:
Workforce Integration Project
- Identified issues influencing the ability of
international graduates to work in Canada
- Provided recommendations
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Reasons for Marginalization:
Long wait list to come to Canada
Difficulty accessing information
Failure to meet academic credentialing requirements
Failure to complete academic upgrading
Failure to meet language requirements
Problems with passing certification examination
Difficulty understanding Canadian practice
Problems with linking with employers, occupational therapists,
and professional resources
Inability to find employment
Discriminatory practices
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Recommendations:
1. Coordinate and centralize registration requirements and
process for working as an occupational therapist
2. Improve national certification examination access, preparation
resources and assistance
3. Provide clear and accessible information to help international
graduates to work in Canada
4. Increase access to academic upgrading and language training
to help international graduates meet registration requirements
5. Help international graduates become linked with employers,
occupational therapists and professional resources
6. Advocate for the need for internationally educated
occupational therapists in Canada
7. Promote a diverse workforce for quality occupational therapy
services
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Follow-up Projects:
- Pan-Canadian Orientation Program to the
Health Care System
- Plain language translation and shortening of
national certification exam
- Access and Registration Framework Project
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Political Priorities:
5. Armed Services
- Increased commitment to role in armed
conflict
- Increased military spending
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Impact:
- Origin of profession in working with WWI
veterans
- Little current involvement of occupational
therapy in military health service
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Factors:
• P olitical
• E conomic
• S ocial
• T echnological
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Economic Factors:
- Globalizing economy
- Slowing productivity growth
- Demand for accountability
- Increasing competition
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Impact:
Development of international standards e.g.
for professional mobility, quality of service
Expected use of evidence in practice
Need to demonstrate value in economic terms
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
CAOT Initiatives
- Enabling Occupation II
- Revised Profile of Occupational Therapy
Practice in Canada
- Economic review of occupational therapy
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Factors:
• P olitical
• E conomic
• S ocial
• T echnological
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Social Factors:
- Dependence on immigration
- Increasing diversity
- Aging population:
- longer lifespan
- more age-related problems
- more demanding for quality of life
- less care-givers
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Falls:
1 in 3 Canadian over 65 fall each year
Most frequent cause of injury in older adults
- 90% of hip fractures
- 40% of LTC admissions
20% falls reduction equals:
- 7,500 fewer hospitalizations
- 1800 fewer disabled older adults
- $138 million savings
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
CAOT Projects:
Tools for Living Well
Post-fall Review
Stable Able and Strong
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Public Health Issues and Older Drivers:
Promoting mobility and
participation of older
adults
Safety of:
- drivers
- general public
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Older Drivers:
Driving incidents
leading cause of accidental
deaths (65-74 years)
Fatality rate >85 years
9 times 25-65 year olds
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Impact:
Build capacity in occupational therapy for:
- Screening
- Driver assessment and remediation
- Complex driving interventions
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
CAOT initiatives:
Expert panel recommendations to ON chief
coroner
Review of Canadian legislation and
jurisprudence
National Blueprint for Injury Prevention in
Older Drivers
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Other impact of aging population:
- Universal design housing
- Low vision interventions
- Retirement planning
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Factors:
• P olitical
• E conomic
• S ocial
• T echnological
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Technological Factors:
Continued rapid change
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Impact:
Improved service access
(e.g. telehealth)
Increased information access
(e.g. electronic health record)
More effective interventions
(e.g. assistive technology)
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Impact:
Increased role of occupational therapy:
- Implementation
(e.g. low vision aids)
- Research and design
Ethical and privacy issues
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Practice Strategies:
1. Remain aware of the context of your
practice:
- Become informed
- Understand impact of
PEST factors
- Optimize opportunities
(e.g. become involved)
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Practice Strategies:
2. Promote quality standards:
- Understand expectations
of practice
- Recognize and address ethical
issues
- Use continuous improvement
approach
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Regulatory Requirements
Occupational therapists are regulated health
professionals in all ten provinces.
Candidates must meet regulatory requirements
to practice and/or use the title "occupational
therapist".
Contact information for regulatory
organizations is listed on www.caot.ca.
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
National Certification Examination
Developed and administered by CAOT
Required for entry to practice in most provinces
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Professional Liability Insurance
Protects you as a professional
Regulatory requirement in several provinces
Provides payment for damages arising out of
the rendering or failure to render professional
services
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Practice Strategies:
3. Engage in life-long learning:
- Understand and address
own learning needs
- Contribute to learning
of others
(e.g. mentoring)
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Professional Development
Webinar presentations
On-line courses
Workshops
Self study series
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
CAOT Annual
Conference
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Practice Strategies:
4. Create and use research evidence in
practice:
- Define practice based
on evidence
- Promote knowledge translation
(e.g. journal clubs)
- Evaluate cost-effectiveness
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Practice Strategies:
5. Promote teamwork skills:
- Contribute as valued
team member
- Demonstrate collaborative
approach based on respect
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Practice Strategies:
6. Embrace diversity:
- Address ethno-cultural
issues
- Promote a diverse
workforce
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Practice Strategies:
7. Increase awareness of value of occupational
therapy:
- Promote the link between
occupation and health
- Ensure understanding
of your role in promoting
healthy occupation
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes
Questions?
cvonzweck@caot.ca
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
Association canadienne
des ergothérapeutes