Pandemic Planning
Many of you may be concerned with the recent media reports regarding Influenza A (H1N1) - Swine Flu. Please be assured that the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario is monitoring the situation closely and has a robust pandemic plan in place should the situation escalate (click here for the College’s position statement on pandemic influenza).
The College would also like to reinforce that the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) remains the best source of information regarding the situation in Ontario. The MOHLTC offers a variety of information and updates and we urge you to visit their website.
Your local public health unit will be another source of valuable information specific to your community. The list of public health units by region is available on the MOHLTC website or by clicking here.
In an effort to assist registrants to be informed, to institute appropriate measures and to stay informed, the College has a number of resources that are available on the website in the Registrant’s Guide:
Registrants Pandemic Planning Kit – this kit answers general questions related to pandemic planning, outlines key considerations when developing a pandemic plan for yourself and your practice, and includes links to a variety of resources.
Standard for Professional Practice: Infection Control – this document outlines the performance expectations for registrants related to infection control practices and includes an annotated list of infection control resources.
Guide to the Standard for Professional Practice: Infection Control - this guide highlights some key elements of the Standard in the form of a checklist that can be used to facilitate the application of the standard into practice.
The College is committed to assisting registrants to care for their patients and themselves. It is important to ensure that your knowledge of infection prevention and control is current and that you, your colleagues and staff take appropriate precautions as recommended by public health authorities to minimize the risk to patients and yourself.
As events evolve, we will continue to provide updates as needed.
