Newsletter | September 2024

Working on your Annual Learning Plan? 

Annual Learning Plan and Annual eLearning Module due October 31

Did you know 56% of registrants have started their Annual Learning Plan? Log in to the Portal to access.

Reminder: The Annual Learning Plan is to be completed in two steps:

1. Complete the self-assessment and goal sections and take time to work towards your two goals. Once you have completed the goals...
2. Return to the activity to describe the impact on your practice and submit the entire plan.

You can access both the Annual Learning Plan and Annual eLearning Module in the COTO Portal. Complete both requirements by the October 31st due date.

Contact us at qaprogram@coto.org if you have any questions or concerns.

COVID-19 and Seasonal

Respiratory Illnesses

Ontario Health Updates on Quality Standards - Dementia

Stay up to date with the revised standards and resources 

Keep Your Email Current

Make sure you are receiving College communications

Practice Guidance Updates

5 updated practice documents

Updated guidance documents are now available! The College has updated the following documents to ensure that they align with the new Competencies for Occupational Therapists in Canada, the updated Standards of Practice, and reflect current practice:

• Working with Third Party Payers
• Surveillance and Occupational Therapy Practice (previously part of Working with Third Party Payers guidance, now separate)
• Private Practice
• Discretionary Reporting of Fitness to Drive
• Remote (Virtual) Services

Future newsletters will highlight each of these documents and their application to practice with case studies and Q&As. Questions? Contact the Practice Resource Service.

Surveillance and Occupational Therapy Practice Q&As

Increasingly, third parties are asking occupational therapists to review surveillance material and render a professional opinion as part of their assessment, independent medical examination or paper review.

Our latest Q&A answers questions such as:

• Are occupational therapists obligated to review surveillance material?
• Does viewing surveillance material require prior consent from the client?
• What happens if an occupational therapist is asked to review surveillance material in court or mediation proceedings?
• Should the surveillance material be reviewed before or during the assessment with the client?
• Is it reasonable to review surveillance material without client involvement?

Discretionary Reporting Q&As

The College has updated its guidance document on Discretionary Reporting of Fitness to Drive and the discretionary reporting question and answer document.

Topics covered include:

• Interprofessional reporting
• Consent
• Temporary conditions
• Liability and professional obligations
• Reporting someone other than the occupational therapist's Client
• Resources

Connect with Us

Share your thoughts

September User Experience Survey

We are working to improve the user experience on the College website (coto.org).

Please take a few minutes to answer the 7 questions in our survey: surveymonkey.com/r/96ZTQ33

You can also send additional feedback to communications@coto.org.

July Poll Results

In July we asked you: If you are an employer, what would you like to receive information about?

We received 71 votes and here's how you voted:

• 32.4% said "Hiring new grads" (23)
• 15.5% said "Hiring individuals re-entering occupational therapy practice" (11)
• 19.7% said "Using College Standards to support practice" (14)
• 32.4% said "All of the above" (23)

Thank you for participating in our poll!



Your feedback will help inform the development of our employer resources.