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STANDARD 13.

Professional Responsibilities

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) must ensure their professional practice complies with all applicable regulatory requirements.

Performance Requirements

Responsibilities to the CRTO

RTs:

9
Maintain current regulatory CRTO registration/licensure.
9
Assume responsibility and accountability for their own actions and decisions.
9
Self-report any required information within 30 days of the effective date of the change to maintain professional registration/licensure which includes (but is not limited to) notifying the CRTO of any change(s) to their personal, employment, and/or professional registration and conduct information.
9

Self-report to the CRTO, in accordance with regulatory requirements, the following:

  1. offences,
  2. findings/proceedings of professional negligence or malpractice and information regarding professional registration and conduct.
  3. any event, circumstance, condition or matter not disclosed by the above criteria that are relevant to the Member’s competence, conduct or physical or mental capacity that may affect the Member’s ability or suitability to practice as a Respiratory Therapist.
9

Whomever function as employers must report to the CRTO, in accordance with regulatory requirements, the following:

  1. whenever, for whatever reason of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity, they terminate, suspend or impose restrictions on the employment of a Member; and
  2. where they have reason to suspect a Member is incompetent, incapacitated, has sexually abused a patient/client or committed an act of professional misconduct.
9
Ensure that they have adequate personal and professional liability insurance coverage in accordance with CRTO policy.
9

Must not contravene, or fail to maintain, a standard of practice of the profession or a published standard of the CRTO.

9
Practice within the terms, conditions, and limitations of their certificate of registration.
9

Must not contravene, by act or omission, a term, condition or limitation imposed on the member’s certificate of registration.

9
Assume responsibility for their own individual ongoing competence and participate in the CRTO’s professional development/continuing education program.
9
Are required to pay all costs as set out by the CRTO for remediation courses/programs, etc.
9

Ensure that all documents or records used in a professional capacity (e.g., patient/client records, business cards) include their name and full professional title (e.g., Registered Respiratory Therapist), or professional designation (e.g. RRT).

9
Cooperate with CRTO investigations or inquiries into the professional conduct, competence or capacity of any Member of a regulated health profession.
Responsibilities to the Profession and the Public

RTs:

9
Comply with all current provincial and federal legislation for the protection of patients/clients, healthcare team members, the general public, and the environment.
9

Report to the appropriate authority the following:

    1. sexual abuse of a patient/client, student, other healthcare team member and/or
    2. verbal, emotional, psychological, or physical abuse of a patient/client, student, other members of the healthcare team, or:
    3. taking advantage of a patient/client or student as a result of the Member’s position in the relationship.
9
Are responsible and accountable for meeting all legal and ethical requirements of the profession (e.g., obtaining valid orders).
9
Demonstrate integrity, objectivity, and compassion in their relationships with patients/clients, healthcare team members, students, and others.
9
Provide care without discrimination on any basis, with respect for the rights and dignity of all individuals.
9
Introduce themselves to patients/clients and other members of the healthcare team using their name and professional title.
9

Must provide CRTO certificate of registration number, upon request in the course of practising the profession.

9

Are responsible for educating other healthcare team members, including students regarding respiratory health and the role of RTs.

9

Report to relevant authorities of any unsafe practice, unprofessional conduct, unethical conduct, or incapacity by other healthcare team members.

9
Advocate for improvements that will enhance patient/client care including participating in quality improvement programs.
9

Must provide information about, or facilitate access to, the CRTO when requested.

9
Participate in research activities as appropriate.
9
Behave in a professional manner that presents a positive image of Respiratory Therapy to the community.
9
Render assistance to any person where an urgent need for healthcare exists.
9

Must refrain from discontinuing, without reasonable cause, professional services that are needed unless,

  1. the patient/client requests the discontinuation,
  2. alternative services are arranged, or
  3. the patient/client is given a reasonable opportunity to arrange alternative services.
9

Must refrain from discontinuing, without reasonable cause, professional services that are needed unless,

  1. there are restrictions in length of the type of service imposed by an agency,
  2. there are discharge criteria imposed by an agency, or
  3. the Member reasonably believes that he/she may be verbally, emotionally, psychologically, electronically, physically, or sexually abused by the patient/client and reasonable attempts have been made to arrange alternative services.

Patient / Client Expected Outcome

Patients/clients can expect that their care is delivered by registered RTs who are in compliance with all applicable legislative, regulatory, and employer requirements and that RTs engage in activities to improve the quality of care delivered.

RELATED RESOURCES
GLOSSARY

Appropriate refers to in accordance with ethical, legal, technical and/or clinical requirements of professional practice.

Healthcare team refers to “peers, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals (regulated and non-regulated).”[1]

Offence refers to a violation of statute or law (e.g., Criminal Code of Canada) as determined by a court. Members are required to report any charges or findings of guilt for offences that are relevant to their suitability to practice.[2]

Patient/client refer to individuals and their families requiring care or services. This may also include his/her substitute decision-maker or guardian.[3]

Professional or professional conduct is a term often used to describe the behaviours that are expected of individuals who hold a certain role in society. A “professional” is typically someone who has obtained skills that are recognized as requiring specific, intensive training and who applies those skills in a positon impacting others (e.g., engineer, lawyer, RT, PT, MD, etc.). Professionals are often held to moral, ethical, and legal standards because of this potential impact.[4]

Professional attire refers to a dress code and personal hygiene that is suitable/acceptable in the workplace and not offensive to patients/clients.

Quality improvement refers to “a systematic approach to making changes that lead to better patient outcomes (health), stronger system performance (care), and enhanced professional development. It draws on the combined and continuous efforts of all stakeholders — health care professionals, patients and their families, researchers, planners, and educators — to make better and sustained improvements.”[5]

FOOTNOTES

  1. College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Ethics.pdf
  2. Adapted from College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2016). Bylaw 24-2016 35.01.m. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Bylaws/bylaws.pdf
  3. Adapted from College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Ethics.pdf
  4. Adapted from College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2017). Conduct Counts! Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Conduct/Conduct_Counts_02-2017.pdf
  5. Health Quality Ontario. (2015). What is Quality Improvement? Available at: http://www.hqontario.ca/Quality-Improvement