By increasing access to physiotherapy care, and by optimizing and standardizing the profession’s scope of practice across all of Canada, physiotherapy can directly alleviate some of the costs burdening its healthcare system.
All jurisdictions in Canada are urgently called upon to help remove barriers that would allow physiotherapists to work to their full scope of practice, in all settings.
Doing so would help deliver timely, effective, and optimal care to all people and provide better outcomes for patients and for the Canadian healthcare system.
Permit physiotherapists to order diagnostic imaging.
(x-rays, ultrasounds, MRIs)
Allow physiotherapists to refer patients to physician specialists.
(neurologists, orthopaedic surgeons, etc.)
Standardize pelvic health diagnosis and treatment capabilities to all physiotherapists.
Explore and Learn More
Together in consultation with physiotherapy professionals and profession leaders in Canada , the CPA has led the creation of a national scope of practice definition for the profession including identification of the activities and skills practiced by physiotherapists across Canada.
This study, prepared by Deloitte Consulting on behalf of the CPA, studies the clinical evidence for the cost-effectiveness of physiotherapy treatments, and physiotherapy’s impact on the burden of illness. The analysis models the impact of physiotherapy interventions on patient outcomes and expansion of physiotherapy access on three specific diseases: osteoporosis, back pain, and coronary heart disease.
An assessment that provides a foundation for how to move forward in optimizing the primary objectives of services planning for physiotherapy and its evolving role as a profession, within a system-wide plan that is sustainable, equitable and detailed with evidence.
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© 2024 Canadian Physiotherapy Association
| Footnotes: | ||||
| 1. Per the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia, 16 February 2024: Professional regulation is undergoing significant change both in terms of the introduction of the new Health Professions and Occupations Act (“HPOA”), which is not yet in force, and the scheduled amalgamation of several of the colleges under the Health Professions Act in June 2024. https://cptbc.org/2024/02/16/faqs-on-proposed-physical-therapists-regulation-amendments/ The College of Physical Therapists of BC will amalgamate with the other six colleges to form the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC on June 28, 2024. Until then, the College of Physical Therapists of BC and the other six colleges will continue to regulate health professionals. https://cptbc.org/2024/02/29/ministry-of-health-confirms-name-of-new-multi-profession-college/ | ||||
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2. Jurisdiction does not have a defined or described scope of practice for physiotherapy. Physiotherapists working in this jurisdiction are required hold an active licence from another jurisdiction. Individual physiotherapist scope of practice may vary depending upon respective legislations. |
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| 3. Jurisdiction does not have a defined or described scope of practice for physiotherapy. Physiotherapists working in this jurisdiction are required hold an active licence from another jurisdiction. Individual physiotherapist scope of practice may vary depending upon respective legislations. | ||||
| 4. All legislation has passed, all proclaimed, all pending a change to a regulation for implementation. in interim can perform through delegation or standing order. The regulation change needed is an amendment to the Exemptions Section of Regulation 107/93 under the RHPA (MRI and Ultrasound for diagnostic purposes are referenced in the Regulation as per the Interpretation Section) via the addition of “a member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario” for purposes of MRIs and diagnostic ultrasound. | ||||
| 5. Physiotherapists employed by Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health can already request X-rays, but starting in early spring (2024), physiotherapists working in private practice will also be able to request X-rays. They must be in good standing with the Nova Scotia College of Physiotherapists to request an X-ray. | ||||
| 6. All legislation has passed, all proclaimed, all pending a change to a regulation for implementation. in interim can perform through delegation or standing order. The regulation change needed is an amendment to the Exemptions Section of Regulation 107/93 under the RHPA (MRI and Ultrasound for diagnostic purposes are referenced in the Regulation as per the Interpretation Section) via the addition of “a member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario” for purposes of MRIs and diagnostic ultrasound. | ||||
| 7. All legislation has passed, all proclaimed, all pending a change to a regulation for implementation. in interim can perform through delegation or standing order. The regulation change needed is an amendment to the Exemptions Section of Regulation 107/93 under the RHPA (MRI and Ultrasound for diagnostic purposes are referenced in the Regulation as per the Interpretation Section) via the addition of “a member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario” for purposes of MRIs and diagnostic ultrasound. | ||||
| 8. No laws require amendment. All that remains are changes to two regulations: the first under the Laboratory and Specimen Collection Centre Licensing Act amendments are required to sections 17 and 18 of Regulation 45/27 (that replaced Regulation 682) under that Act to enable “a member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario” to collect specimens for and requisition laboratory tests. Second an amendment is required to section 12 of Regulation 207/94 under the Medical Laboratory Technology Act to include “a member of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario” as a “prescribed person” in order to satisfy the requirements of subsection 5. (1) of the Act. interim can be performed through delegation or standing order | ||||
| 9. Recommendation and application only | ||||
| 10. Practice of Physiotherapy includes (j) administration of physical therapy-related medications as prescribed by a physician or a nurse licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner in the jurisdiction where the nurse practices nursing, | ||||
| 11. Practice of Physiotherapy includes (j) administration of physical therapy-related medications as prescribed by a physician or a nurse licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner in the jurisdiction where the nurse practices nursing, | ||||
| 12. Practice of Physiotherapy includes (j) administration of physical therapy-related medications as prescribed by a physician or a nurse licensed to practice as a nurse practitioner in the jurisdiction where the nurse practices nursing, |
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