As spring approaches, we remain hopeful for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and grateful for the continued efforts and dedication of all occupational therapists.

The College continues to monitor the situation and provide updates via the website and social media channels. Changes to guidance and directives from the Chief Medical Officer of Health and updated information and resources are linked in the College's dedicated COVID-19 section of the website. The latest updates are noted at the top of the page.

Please continue to check the College and government websites for the latest updates. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Questions may be directed to practice@coto.org.

The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario released a report from the Geriatric and Long-Term Care Review Committee about deaths from power recliner lift chairs of people with cognitive impairment. Power recliner lift chairs (also known as power-lift chairs or lift chairs) can be used as an assistive device to help clients with mobility issues sit down and stand up.

The College Response to the Coroner’s Report: Deaths from Power Recliner Lift Chairs is a resource to alert occupational therapists to the potential dangers of power recliner lift chairs for clients with cognitive impairment. It aims to support an occupational therapist's clinical decision-making in practice, and to prevent future deaths and injuries related to these chairs.

You receive a referral to complete a home safety assessment.

Your client, Mrs. C is 70 years old, has arthritis in both of her knees, and was diagnosed with middle-stage Alzheimer’s about one month ago.

During the home assessment, you notice a power recliner lift chair. You want to ensure you address any potential safety concerns with her use of the power recline-lift chair...

You receive a referral to complete a home safety assessment for a client that had a recent cardiac event. Your client, Mr. Haddad and his wife have asked you for recommendations about assistive devices that can make it easier for Mr. Haddad to get up from sitting into a standing position.

You think a power recliner lift chair would be useful and wonder whether a power recliner lift chair would be safe for your client...

In case you missed it: the College recently released our resource: Culture, Equity, and Justice in Occupational Therapy Practice.

We know that occupational therapists in Ontario serve diverse populations. This resource was created to educate and empower occupational therapists to develop the knowledge and tools to move toward culturally safer work.

We want your feedback! Once you have reviewed the material, please complete our survey and share your thoughts and suggestions.

Reminder to health information custodians: the deadline to submit your 2021 health privacy breaches report is Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Learn more about this reporting requirement on the IPC website.

By law, health information custodians that have experienced at least one health privacy breach during the 2021 reporting year—from January to December—are required to report breaches through the IPC’s online submission website.

Not sure if you are a health information custodian? Check this useful resource from the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario's (IPC) office: Frequently Asked Questions - PHIPA

For more information please email statistics.ipc@ipc.on.ca or call 1.416.326.3333.

Reminder: Eligible occupational therapists in District 1 (Toronto, the counties of Haliburton, Northumberland, Peterborough, Simcoe and Kawartha Lakes, and the regions of Durham, Peel and York) are invited to cast their votes in the election of 3 occupational therapists to the College's Board of Directors.

All occupational therapists eligible to vote in District 1 were sent an email that includes a customized, secure link to complete the electronic voting process.

If you are eligible to vote and have not received your electronic ballot, please contact elections@coto.org.

Question: I am an occupational therapist. What should I expect when I have been terminated by my employer?

The College Board held a virtual meeting on January 27, 2022. View the key decisions in the highlights from the meeting.

Want to learn more about decisions that affect the profession and the public we serve? The next meeting will be held on March 24, 2022. Meetings are open to the public. Meeting dates and materials are posted online.

Thank you for participating in our poll! You can learn about your professional liability insurance obligations on our website.

We appreciate your feedback and welcome comments at any time.

Do you know someone who would like to be added to our mailing list?

They can sign up here. Have additional comments or suggestions for the College email news? Send your thoughts to communicatons@coto.org.