Background
Standards of practice are one component of a continuum of documents including codes of ethics, position statements, practice guidelines, essential competencies, and entry-to-practice milestones which direct the practice of professionals to provide quality care. In the physiotherapy profession, each regulatory organization in Canada has its own set of standards and code of ethics, even though physiotherapy practice is more similar than dissimilar across the country.1 In 2016, a set of Core Standards of Practice were developed to reflect current and future practice trends and to be generally applicable to all physiotherapists in Canada.
Standards of practice are living documents. They change as practice evolves. Physiotherapy regulators are committed to reviewing the Standards on a regular schedule. In 2022, Canadian physiotherapy regulators engaged in a review and revision of the Core Standards using a risk-based and data-driven approach. These standards have since been renamed the Model Standards of Practice for Canadian Physiotherapists.
The Model Standards of Practice serve as a resource for the development of Standards of Practice that reflect the context, jurisdictional needs, and legislation relevant to physiotherapy regulatory organizations across Canada.
The 2022 Model Standards serve as the foundation for the Standards of Practice for Alberta Physiotherapists 2025, with adjustments made to the Standards to address specific requirements of the Government of Alberta and other jurisdictional needs.
Purpose of Standards of Practice
Standards of Practice serve several purposes, including:
- Defining the minimum performance expectations that regulated members of the profession must meet. Standards inform physiotherapists of the expectations, obligations, and requirements of their professional role.
- Fulfilling the requirements for self-regulation and providing a frame of reference for regulatory organizations against which actual performance can be compared for quality practice.
- Providing a reference to the public related to expectations for quality care delivered by professionals.
Assumptions
The Standards of Practice are based on assumptions which frame the context for the Standards. The assumptions underpinning the Standards are listed with reference to the professional physiotherapist, the regulatory organization, and the Standards themselves as follows:
Physiotherapists:
- Are typically autonomous self-regulated health care professionals bound by a code of ethics.
- Act in the best interests of clients and are committed to providing quality client-centred services.
- Are expected to be knowledgeable of and comply with all standards at all times.
The regulatory organization:
- Develops/adopts Standards as a basis for monitoring registrants’ performance.
- Is committed to serving and protecting the interests of the public.
The Standards
- Outline minimum, mandatory performance requirements.
- Are interpreted within the context of the regional jurisdiction.
- Are one component of a continuum of professional documents outlining professionals’ practice.
- Are to be applied as a comprehensive unit that physiotherapists must comply with to direct their practice at all times.
How the Standards of Practice are organized
The Standards of Practice are organized alphabetically for ease of access. Each standard includes the following:
- A standard statement that outlines the expected performance of the regulated member.
- An expected outcome that describes what clients can expect from services when the Standard is met by the physiotherapist.
- Performance expectations that outline the actions that must be demonstrated by the physiotherapist to indicate how the Standard is met in practice. The expectations are not all inclusive nor are they listed in order of importance.
- Related Standards that provide complementary and/or additional information related to the specific Standard.
- Legislation in place in Alberta related to each Standard should also be considered. In Alberta this includes, but is not limited to, the Health Professions Act, the Physical Therapists Profession Regulation, the Health Professions Restricted Activity Regulation, the Personal Information Protection Act, the Health Information Act, the Diagnostic and Treatment Protocol Regulations, and the Workers’ Compensation Act.
