|
What's Happening at the RMTAO
HST Exemption Petition
The Canadian Massage Therapist Association (CMTA) has developed a petition to the federal Minister of Finance to ask that HST/GST be removed from massage therapy services across Canada.
The petition advocates that the removal of HST/GST on massage therapy services would improve the accessibility and affordability of massage therapy services for Canadians, as well as remove the impression of inequality between massage therapists and other health professionals.
As a member of the CMTA, the RMTAO encourages all of our members to sign the petition and share it with their patients.
We also encourage you to share this petition with your patients and ask them to sign it as well. The CMTA in partnership with the RMTAO and other member associations has created a poster you can use in your practice to promote this.
.png)
Download the GST/HST exemption poster
The petition deadline is March 31, 2024.
Happy Holidays from the RMTAO
The RMTAO would like to extend our best wishes for a happy holiday season and all the best in the new year!
.png)
The RMTAO office is currently closed. We will reopen on January 4, 2024. There will be no access to email or voicemail during this time.
We look forward to connecting with you throughout 2024.
Sign Up for the Annual General Meeting
You can attend The General Meeting of the Registered Massage Therapists' Association of Ontario on Sunday, January 28, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. either in person at the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel, located at 901 Dixon Road in Toronto, Ontario or via live stream.
This allows both for the opportunity to connect with your RMT peers from across Ontario in person, and if you can't make it in person, you have the opportunity to experience the meeting virtually from the comfort of your home, and to connect with your peers virtually.
Immediately following the AGM, join Maureen Boon, Registrar and CEO, as she describes CMTO’s collaborative work to prevent sexual abuse, build engagement and partnerships, achieve regulatory excellence and foster equity, diversity, and inclusion.
We ask that you register in advance to attend the AGM in person or to view the AGM live stream. The meeting is free of charge. REGISTER NOW
Can't attend the AGM?
If you are unable to attend the Annual General Meeting in person, please complete the fillable PDF Proxy Form and return it to the RMTAO by mail, fax or by email prior to 4:00 p.m. January 12, 2024.
In order for the AGM to proceed, 1% of the members must be present in person or by Proxy which means a large number of Proxies will be required.
If you are attending the AGM via live stream, you will be unable to vote, so we encourage you to submit a Proxy Form.
Program Spotlight - Noterro
%20(002).png)
Are you looking for a new practice management software for the new year? The RMTAO has partnered with Noterro, which offers RMTAO members a discounted option on practice management software,
Noterro is offering RMTAO members 25% off their base price of $25 per month. This is available to both new and existing customers.
Noterro offers options to chart, book, invoice, and everything else you need to run your practice.
To access this discount on Noterro, you will need to provide them with proof of your RMTAO membership.
For more information on how to provide proof of membership and how to access the membership discount, visit the Noterro page on the RMTAO website (you will need to log in for access).
Gift Certificates
Many people are making their plans for the holiday season, including offering gift certificates in their practice for this time of year. It's important to understand the rules for using and redeeming gift certificates, so that they can be a part of your practice!
In addition to suggested fees for service, our Schedule of Services and Fee Guideline, which is an exclusive member resource available in the resource library, covers information about gift certificates such as regulations surrounding expiry dates, requirements for receipts, and financial and other considerations before offering gift certificates in your practice.
Information about gift certificates is also available in the new CMTO Standard - Fees and Billing.
Adventures from Karen's Clinic
Member Question of the Week
|
I don't see myself on RMTFind.com. How can I add a listing?
All RMTAO members are eligible for a free listing on RMTFind.com where members of the public can search for an RMT near them.
When you log in to the RMTAO website, you can click on My RMTFind.com listings on the left side of your screen. This is where you will view your current listings. If you click on "edit" next to your current listing, you will be able to change any of the information.
If you have not added a listing, there will still be a blank complimentary listing there, which you can edit and fill out all the information. Be sure to click "continue", and then "save my referral listing" to ensure your changes are saved. Once your referral listing has been saved, it will appear on RMTFind.com.
Please do not delete your current RMTFind listing (even blank complimentary ones), as you will not be able to add it back yourself. If you accidentally delete your RMTFind listing, you can contact the RMTAO to have it reinstated.
If you want additional listings for separate practice locations, click on 'purchase' next to where it says additional listing, and you can purchase additional listings for $12 per listing per year.
Do you have a question? Email info@rmtao.com.
|
Business Tip of the Week
|
Write an Effective Self-Assessment
Writing a self-assessment can feel like a box-checking exercise, but it sets the tone for your manager’s evaluation of your work. Follow these five steps to nail this critical part of your performance review.
- Focus on the entire year. Don’t just default to your most recent accomplishments. If you didn’t keep notes, take a peek at your calendar to remind yourself of the projects you worked on and significant conversations you were a part of.
- Consider broader company and functional goals. Identify the work you did that directly contributed to the big picture. Your goal is to tie your day-to-day work to your organization’s success.
- Look for alignment with company values. How you approached your job is just as important as what you accomplished. Identify the behaviors and attitudes you brought to work that upheld your organization’s values and culture.
- Seek feedback from colleagues. Reach out to your coworkers to understand their perception of you and your work. Ask: What do I do well? What have I improved on this year? And what do you hope I improve on in the year to come?
- Draft a concise list of accomplishments. Pick no more than five of the most impactful achievements to highlight. Each one should have fulfilled an organizational goal, advanced the company’s values and culture, and been informed by feedback from colleagues.
Adapted from "How to Write an Effective Self-Assessment," by Marlo Lyons.
|
Research Article of the Week
Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Risk Factors, and Treatment Efficacy in a Large Sample of Oboists
Objectives: During their lifetimes, a majority of musicians experience playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMD). PRMD prevalence is tied to instrument choice, yet most studies examine heterogeneous groups of musicians, leaving some high-risk groups such as oboists understudied. This paper aims to (1) ascertain the prevalence and nature of PRMDs in oboists, (2) determine relevant risk factors, and (3) evaluate the efficacy of treatment methods in preventing and remedying injuries in oboe players.
Methods: A 10-question online questionnaire on PRMDs and their treatments was completed by 223 oboists. PRMDs were compared across gender, weekly playing hours, career level, age, and years of playing experience.
Results: Of all respondents, 74.9% (167/223) reported having had at least one PRMD in their lifetime. A majority of these injuries (61.9% of all respondents) were of moderate to extreme severity (5 or higher on a scale of 1 to 10). Females (mean = 5.88) reported significantly more severe injuries than males. No significant effects of career level (i.e., professional vs. student vs. amateur), age, or years of playing experience were observed. We found significant non-linear relationships between weekly playing hours and PRMD prevalence and severity. Injuries were most commonly on the right side of the body, with the right thumb, wrist, hand, and forearm being most affected in frequency and severity. Of those injuries for which recovery information was provided, only 26.1% of injuries were "completely recovered." The perceived effectiveness of a few treatments (physical therapy, rest, stretching, occupational therapy, massage) tended to be ranked more highly than others.
Conclusion: The oboists in this study experienced high rates of PRMD, particularly in the right upper extremities. Females and those playing 7-9 and 16-18 h per week reported a significantly higher severity of injuries than other groups.
Macdonald HM, Lavigne SK, Reineberg AE, Thaut MH. Playing-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Risk Factors, and Treatment Efficacy in a Large Sample of Oboists. Front Psychol. 2022 Jan 14;12:772357. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.772357. PMID: 35095657; PMCID: PMC8795619.
Read the full article...
The Learning Curve - The RMTAO Education Series
|
The Learning Curve - The RMTAO Education Series
The Learning Curve provides education to massage therapists in a variety of hands-on workshops and lecture-based seminars across Ontario focused on three main areas - Competency, Business, and Modality. The Continuing Education Program is designed to help massage therapists increase their knowledge base to continuously improve for both their own personal success and that of the client.
Click here for more information about the courses that are offered by the RMTAO.
Scar Tissue – Not Breakable but Changeable
January 17, 2024 - Online Webinar
Top Employment Law Issues for RMTs
January 18, 2024 - Online Webinar
Winding down: How to scale down, sell, or shut down your practice
January 23, 2024 - Online Webinar
Rib Mobilizations
February 11, 2024 - Peterborough Physiotherapy and Sports Injuries Clinic, Peterborough
TMJ and TMD 101
March 3, 2024 - Medix College, Toronto
Upper Cervical Mobilizations
March 10, 2024 - Medix College, Toronto
Massage Therapy and Pathology: Cardiovascular System Conditions
March 20, 2024 - Online Webinar
Mid/Lower Cervical Mobilizations
March 24, 2024 - Medix College, Toronto
|
Upcoming Community-Based Networks and Related Activities
The RMTAO has created a feature on RMTAO.com for Community-Based Networks. Members and non-members can access information about the latest upcoming network activities on our list of upcoming events! Don't see a Community-Based Network near you? You can contact Angela Paton at angela@rmtao.com to learn more about starting one.
London Community-Based Network
Date: January 7, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Virtual
Topic: RMT Sunday morning chat hosted by the London Area CBN/Community Based Network; all Ontario RMTs welcome. Students and new grads too! Zoom details:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89329595143
You are welcome to lurk; no one is put on the spot, video optional.
Monthly chat for RMTs, grads and students, don't have to be an RMTAO member! Feel free to add topics or ask questions ahead of time (email or via the Facebook event page). Those who are outside of the London area are welcome.
RSVP: Dani Faucher at danifaucher.rmt@gmail.com
Cambridge Community-Based Network
Date: January 10, 2024
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Waters Massage Therapy, 242 Water Street North
Topic: What questions do you have for the RMTAO/CMTO at the upcoming AGM?
RSVP: Please contact Darren Nixon to RSVP dlnrmt@rogers.com
Guelph Community-Based Network
Date: January 15, 2024
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Guelph Symposium Restaurant & Lounge, 304 Stone Rd W Guelph, ON N1G 3C4
Topic: TBD
RSVP: Please contact Renata DeForest to RSVP renatadrmt@gmail.com
Future meeting date: Feb 26, 2024
Windsor Community-Based Network
Date: February 11, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Topic: Review of STRiVE
RSVP: Brittany Wistuba britt_wistuba@hotmail.com
CBN guest speaker evening - Pricing in your Market
Date: March 18, 2024
Time: 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Topic: Free discussion with Emilie McKay on 'Pricing in your market'. This discussion is offered in partnership with our Community-Based Networks across Ontario, and all RMTs and students are welcome to attend!
RSVP: Please click on this link to register
|
Canada's new dental plan is now being hailed as a step in the right direction that could help to keep more Canadians healthier as they age and out of crowded hospitals — although experts are watching closely to see if it lives up to those early hopes.
Read more...
Access the Fall 2023 issue of Massage Therapy Today by clicking on the image below. (log in required):
Click here to access Massage Therapy Today
|
