CPTBC Quality Assurance Program
Purpose, Objective and Standard
Purpose
The purpose of the CPTBC Quality Assurance Program is to monitor and support continuing competence of physical therapists in British Columbia.
Objective
CPTBC will develop, implement and maintain a recognized Quality Assurance Program that supports the safe, ethical and effective practice of physical therapists in British Columbia.
Standard
In the development and implementation of the CPTBC Quality Assurance Program, the document that will be used as a guideline to describe the standard for safe, ethical and effective physical therapy practice in British Columbia is The Essential Competency Profile for Physiotherapists in Canada1 and any subsequent revisions or updates of this document.
Assumptions, Guiding Principles and Design Features
The Assumptions that were considered in the development of the CPTBC Quality Assurance Program, and which need to be kept in mind during the implementation and maintenance of the program, include:
- There is a public expectation that the CPTBC has an effective Quality Assurance Program.
- Quality assurance extends across the following key areas, for which the CPTBC is responsible, from point of entry into the profession to practice: support of the maintenance of standards, remediation and intervening when practice does not meet expected standards.
- Within the spirit of self-regulation, the CPTBC requires continuing competency activities to support physical therapists in their development of safe, effective and ethical practice. The Quality Assurance Program reviews a sample of the registrant’s physical therapy practice and identifies any areas requiring further review or improvement.
- The Quality Assurance Program has appropriate by-law authority while recognizing the need for flexibility and consideration in program development.
- The CPTBC shares accountability and responsibility for quality assurance with their registrants.
- Registrants understand and value self-regulation.
- Registrants are aware that the Quality Assurance Program is required (and mandated by the HPA).
- Registrants are engaged in the Quality Assurance Program and have the opportunity to participate in its implementation and evaluation.
- CPTBC allocates sufficient resources for Program development and sustainability.
- The CPTBC establishes partnerships with a variety of organizations and individuals including other health professional regulatory colleges, employers, professional / membership-driven associations, educational institutions, and other stakeholders with experience in this area for the purpose of learning from the experience and knowledge of others; building credibility and sustainability through collaborating with others; and establishing relationships to meet educational / professional development needs of physical therapists.
- The information gathered during the quality assurance activities is confidential within the College and its use is prevented in civil proceedings.
- The CPTBC evaluates the Quality Assurance Program on a continual basis to ensure validity, reliability, acceptability and cost effectiveness.
The Guiding Principles that need to be used in the development, implementation and maintenance for the CPTBC Quality Assurance Program are:
- Consistent with CPTBC mandate to serve and protect the public,
- Strategic Design which promotes practice standards and quality client results,
- Meaningfulness and relevance to physical therapists' professional practice,
- Consistency with evidence base,
- Solid Base of professional standards, and
- Consistency with legal mandate.
The Design Features in the development, implementation and maintenance of the CPTBC Quality Assurance Program mandate that the Program:
- Be transparent,
- Be fairly applied and enforced,
- Respect due process,
- Involve multiple tools to meet range of purposes,
- Be administratively feasible,
- Be economically sustainable,
- Involve a tiered or layered structure, and
- Offer choices to registrants.
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1Physiotherapy Edcuation Accreditation Canada (formerly known as Accreditation Council for Canadian Physiotherapy Academic Programs), Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators, Canadian Physiotherapy Association & Canadian Universities Physical Therapy Academic Council. (2004). Essential Competency Profile for Physiotherapist in Canada. Toronto: Author.
