Guides and Guidelines

Physiotherapists are required by the Standards of Practice for Physiotherapists in Alberta and by Canadian law to obtain informed consent prior to conducting an assessment or providing treatment. The purpose of this Guide is to clarify the expectations for Alberta physiotherapists and to address frequently asked questions related to consent. Physiotherapists are advised to review the Consent Standard of Practice in conjunction with this document.

In order to promote patient self-determination and as part of informed consent, a physiotherapist must adequately disclose not only the benefits but also the risks of treatment to patients. This guideline outlines the principles of disclosing the risks of treatment.

Effective infection prevention and control is essential for the delivery of quality, safe physiotherapy services. Physiotherapists must be knowledgeable about the principles underlying infection control and implement appropriate measures in their practice. This resource provides practical information to assist physiotherapists in their efforts.

The Leaving a Practice Guideline was developed to help physiotherapists work through the process of parting ways in a manner that is professional, collegial and puts the patient’s rights and interests first.

Over the course of a career, physiotherapists will inevitably encounter challenging situations. This is part of providing care to a diverse public and interacting with individuals whose different lived experiences and values can increase the likelihood of misunderstandings or conflicts. This guide is intended to provide assistance to physiotherapists and serve as a road map through these challenging situations.

This document clarifies the role and boundaries of the scope of practice of physiotherapists in the provision of medication management-related services including medication assistance, medication reconciliation, and medication advising.

Patients encounter risk of harm each time they seek health-care services. Some risks are directly related to assessment procedures and interventions, while others relate to environmental factors.

The purpose of this guide is to provide direction to physiotherapists regarding how the Standards of Practice apply to pelvic health physiotherapy services. It will also detail regulatory expectations regarding post-graduate education.

Privacy legislation is complex and keeping current with legislative changes and provincial and federal rulings can be challenging. This guide is designed to provide physiotherapists with both general and practical information on privacy legislation, policies and procedures.

The Government of Alberta brought forward amendments to the Health Professions Act in 2018 to address public concerns regarding sexual misconduct and sexual abuse of patients by health professionals. The legislation provides clear definitions of behaviours that constitute sexual misconduct or sexual abuse.

The remote delivery of physiotherapy interventions mediated by communication technologies is an area of practice that is rapidly expanding. When providers engage in the provision of telerehabilitation services, they are expected to be aware of and comply with all regulatory expectations and legislation that applies to their practice and to deliver physiotherapy services that meet the same expectations for quality, competent care as services delivered in person. This resource was created to enable physiotherapists engaging in technology-mediated practice, whether within a single provincial jurisdiction or across jurisdictional borders, to do so safely and effectively.

Effective therapeutic relationships lead to increased patient satisfaction, better patient adherence to treatment plans, and improved patient outcomes. A physiotherapist’s awareness of how to establish and maintain healthy therapeutic relationships is essential to clinical practice.