Another season has passed and today marks the first day of fall, which means October and OT Month are fast approaching. As our next newsletter will be mid-October, I wanted to take a moment in this issue to acknowledge the work of all occupational therapists.

We have been pushed close to our limits this year, as we faced – and continue to face – COVID-19. The commitment and dedication of all our registrants has been tremendous. We are proud of the work that has been done to continue providing the client-centred care that is at the heart of our profession.

You are appreciated and we thank you.

Elinor Larney, MHSc, OT Reg. (Ont.)

Registrar

Most recently we have updated our Return to Work Guidance, added updated references to Ministry guidance on long-term care and retirement homes, and provided information on Return to School for therapists who practice in this area. 

We will continue to monitor the situation closely this fall as schools reopen and cases are expected to rise. Our practice team remains available to registrants, the public and others who may have questions about how COVID-19 is impacting occupational therapy services.

Update your insurance information within 30 days of any change

Thank you to all OTs who renewed their registration for the 2020-2021 registration year. We hope the renewal extension to August 31, 2020 and options of instalment payments provided some relief during these times.

As we move into fall, please note your insurance coverage may be expiring soon. To update your insurance, first renew your insurance with your provider prior to the policy expiration date. Once this is done, you have 30 days to update the insurance policy information with the College. This requirement is in place even if you are providing virtual care. Avoid technical issues by reviewing the details online.

Update: Peer and Practice Assessments

Questions? Please contact Seema Sindwani, Manager, Quality Assurance.

You asked us:

Attention OTs in Toronto, Hamilton, Niagara and surrounding areas—there’s still time to cast your ballot in the Council election! Your vote can make a difference.

If you cannot locate your ballot or have not received your electronic ballot, please check your junk mail folder or contact elections@coto.org.

For OTs who are submitting a discretionary report about fitness to drive please be advised that the Ministry of Transportation has recently revised and updated the Medical Condition Report Form. Effective immediately OTs must use the new form for discretionary reporting. OTs are encouraged to complete the form electronically.

You can access the form through the Ministry website:

Consultations for both the Code of Ethics and Revised Standards for OT Assessments closed this month, and we'd like to thank all registrants who completed the survey and provided their comments.

We are reviewing feedback and look forward to sharing information in the near future. Please check coto.org for updates.