The Minister's Question

The Minister has asked HPRAC to "recommend mechanisms to facilitate and support interprofessional collaboration between health Colleges beginning with the development of standards of practice and professional practice guidelines where regulated health professions share the same or similar controlled acts, acknowledging that individual health Colleges independently govern their professions and establish the competencies for their profession".

The Minister has also asked that HPRAC "take into account, when controlled acts are shared, of public expectations for high quality services no matter which health profession is responsible for delivering care or treatment".

HPRAC's Approach

When a referral is received from the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, HPRAC determines relevant public interest concerns and questions. HPRAC attempts to understand all perspectives on an issue including those of key health care practitioners, other affected health care professionals, facilities and institutions, clients and patients, advocates and regulators. 

Each issue proceeds through a multi-stage process where information and responses are requested from and shared with all concerned stakeholders.

HPRAC developed a Discussion Guide posing relevant questions concerning interprofessional collaboration.  Documents are posted on the HPRAC website and being shared with organizations and individuals with an interest in the matter for their comment and additional information. HPRAC has independently conducted literature and jurisdictional reviews, and is also conducting jurisprudence reviews and engaging in extensive key informant interviews. Its analysis of the issues will lead to a determination of additional information required, and the appropriate process to be used, which may include additional research, public meetings, surveys or other solicitations. Watch this site for further information. HPRAC has also invited submissions from several professions regarding proposed changes to their scopes of practice to enhance opportunities for interprofessional collaboration, and to ensure that professionals are able to practice to their maximum scope.

HPRAC's Interim Report Submitted to the Minister

HPRAC submitted An Interim Report to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care on Mechanisms to Facilitate and Support Interprofessional Collaboration among Health Colleges and Regulated Health Professionals on March 31, 2008.

Phase 2 of the project begins April 1, 2008, and the final report will be submitted to the Minister by January 31, 2009.

Watch this site for further information.