Transforming and Supporting Patient Care - Health Professions ...

366Chapter 15 – Profession of PhysiotherapyTHE PRESCRIBING AND USE OF DRUGS IN THEPROFESSION OF PHYSIOTHERAPYThe College of Physiotherapists of Ontario (CPO) and the OntarioPhysiotherapy Association (OPA) made a joint submission to HPRACrequesting that physiotherapists be granted the authority to administer, byinhalation, oxygen or drugs that have been prescribed by a healthprofessional with prescribing authority.Review of Physiotherapy Scope of PracticeHPRAC recently reviewed the scope of practice for the profession ofphysiotherapy. In that review, the CPO and the OPA partnered with theacademic community to submit a joint response to HPRAC’s scope ofpractice questionnaire.The profession requested a number of changes including amendments to itsscope of practice statement and authorized acts in the Physiotherapy Act,1991. One of the requests was specific to the controlled act ofadministration of a substance by inhalation, and proposed thatphysiotherapists should be authorized to administer oxygen or othersubstances when the order or prescription has been made by a person whois authorized to do so. 1 HPRAC’s recommendations included:That physiotherapists be authorized to administer oxygen or an inhaleddrug or substance that has been ordered by a person authorized to do so. 2HPRAC also recommended that the scope of practice statement forphysiotherapy be amended to read:The practice of physiotherapy is the assessment of neuromuscular,musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory systems, the diagnosis ofdiseases or disorders that are associated with physical dysfunction,injury or pain to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment function, torelieve pain or to promote mobility.HPRAC was also asked by the Minister to consider the prescribing and use ofdrugs by non-physicians, and determined that scope of practice reviews werean essential first step in making recommendations on whether a professionshould be authorized to prescribe, dispense, compound or sell drugs, andunder what conditions. The administration of drugs is an essential componentof the Minister’s question about the “use” of drugs. HPRAC thereforeconsidered the question of drug regulations under the Physiotherapy Act, 1991as a matter to be considered as the second phase of its examination, followingthe review of the scope of practice of the profession. 31College of Physiotherapists of Ontario and Ontario Physiotherapy Association. Joint submissionto HPRAC on Interprofessional Collaboration: 4.2HPRAC. Interim Report to the Minister. September 2008: 175.3Ibid./HPRAC Critical Links January 2009