Committees
The following statutory and non-statutory committees are supported by College staff and have authority for specific matters as outlined in the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA).
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is composed of the President and Vice-President, one public appointee and two physiotherapist members of Council. The Committee provides support to the Registrar and College Committees, acts as a clearing house for policy issues, and refers matters to College Committees as appropriate.
Specifically, the Executive Committee:
- Approves the appointment of investigators to investigate possible incompetence or professional misconduct where it has reasonable and probable grounds;
- Makes statutory decisions regarding the reports of investigations for professional misconduct and referrals from the Complaints Committee and Registrar related to incapacity; and
- Deals with matters requiring immediate attention between Council meetings.
Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC)
The Complaints Committee is composed of two physiotherapist members of Council, two public appointees and one non-Council physiotherapist. The Committee reviews complaints filed with the College Registrar regarding the conduct or actions of a physiotherapist.
After the Complaints Committee has investigated a complaint, it may:
- Close the complaint;
- Pursue an informal agreement with the physiotherapist in order to improve his or her practice;
- Caution a physiotherapist in writing and/or in person;
- Refer the matter to the Discipline Committee;
- Refer the matter to the Quality Management Committee if it relates to behaviour or remarks of a sexual nature or if concerns are identified relating to clinical knowledge and skills; or
- Refer the matter to the Executive Committee.
Discipline and Fitness to Practise Committees
Both the Fitness to Practise and Discipline Committees are composed of all Council members, with the exception of the President.
The Fitness to Practise Committee also includes a non-Council physiotherapist. This Committee holds hearings to determine the capacity or fitness of a physiotherapist to practice the profession. If a registrant is considered unfit, the Committee can suspend or revoke registration, or impose limitations on practice.
A quasi-judicial committee, the Discipline Committee assesses allegations of professional misconduct and incompetence. In addition to Council, the Committee includes three non-Council members. Committee members are selected to sit on panels that serve as adjudicators on cases referred from other sources. Possible penalties imposed by the Discipline Committee include revoking or suspending registration, fines, or imposing terms and conditions on practice.
Quality Management Committee
The Quality Management Committee is composed of two physiotherapist members of Council, two public appointees, and two non-Council physiotherapists. Its purpose is to implement and monitor a quality management program with consideration of financial feasibility and cost effectiveness. The Committee appoints Quality Management assessors who conduct practice assessments of registrants. The Quality Management Committee may refer registrants to the Executive Committee, if necessary. The Committee also reviews reports of inappropriate remarks of a sexual nature and takes appropriate action.
Registration
The Registration Committee, composed of two public appointees, two physiotherapist members of Council and a non-Council physiotherapist, reviews applications from individuals wishing to practise as physiotherapists in Ontario. The Registration Committee also considers applications to remove or modify any terms, conditions or limitations placed on registrants' certificates of registration.
Patient Relations Committee
The Patient Relations Committee is composed of two physiotherapist members of Council, one elected and one an academic appointee, one physiotherapist who is not a member of Council, and one public appointee. In addition to developing measures to prevent the sexual abuse of patients, the Committee considers ways to enhance and promote professional standards in the relationship between physiotherapists and their patients.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is a non-statutory committee that is appointed annually and is composed of three Council members, with at least one of whom is an elected member and one of whom is a publicly appointed member. Its purpose is act as the Council’s representative to the external auditors and to probe the annual financial status of the College independently of management. The Committee reviews the performance of the external auditors and makes recommendations to Council as necessary.
