Transforming and Supporting Patient Care - Health Professions ...

34Chapter 2 – Excellence in Health Profession Regulation: Raising the Bar in OntarioThese public expectations must be met. It is also crucial to address issuesthat inhibit the health colleges from carrying out their functions aseffectively as possible, so patients will be served as well as possible.Among these issues are:• Why does change in the regulatory system frequently lag behindchanges at the practice level?• What can be done to address the barriers reinforced by statutes,regulations and rules that now impede collaboration at the patientcare level?• How can the regulatory system better adapt to changing scopes ofpractice and professional competencies?• What can be learned from other jurisdictions that have implementedmechanisms to facilitate interprofessional collaboration and in theprocess strengthen regulatory rigour and promote excellence?Some of these challenges can be resolved by improving clarity about theroles and responsibilities of regulatory bodies in general and in promotingand supporting interprofessional collaboration more specifically. Otherchallenges will require more complex solutions focused on strengtheningthe current model of self-regulation by enhancing the accountability of thehealth colleges and adopting a more collaborative approach to selfregulation.HPRAC’s view is that Ontario must be proactive in addressing thesechallenges and removing current legislative and regulatory barriers thatinhibit interprofessional collaboration. Others have reached similarconclusions. 43 In other words, the regulatory culture itself needs to betransformed to catch up with and support changes that are occurring in theevolution of health care practice and to meet public expectations foraccountability. 44Now is the time to implement needed reforms. HPRAC sees the new objectsfor health colleges under the HSIA as providing a unique opportunity toadvance interprofessional collaboration among health colleges and therebyaddress some of the current barriers to interprofessional collaboration atthe clinical level. A fundamental shift in thinking is needed. This shiftrequires the role, structure and focus of the Colleges to change from that ofdiscrete organizations operating as silos, to a true system of regulators thatare better aligned and work together to develop common structures,processes and standards. HPRAC foresees the development of a sharedstrategy among regulators that would drive them to:43See Conference Board of Canada (2007). Achieving Public Protection Through Collaborative Self-Regulation: i. “Regulators can act now, wait for the demographically driven sustainabilitychallenge to hit the health care system, or deal with the potential crisis of regulation, which couldarise from a lack of focus in the areas of recertification, regulatory accreditation or standards.”44Lahey, W. and Currie, R.: 198.HPRAC Critical Links January 2009