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RMTAOLOGO

Starting in March 2023, the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO) will be changing the ways they conduct practice assessments. The process of being selected for an assessment of your practice will no longer be random and will be based instead on risk factors.

Practice Profile

Starting in March 2023, all RMTs in Ontario will be required to complete a Practice Profile annually, which has 2 sections:

1. Self-Inventory of Risks and Supports to Competence. These responses are for personal use and responses remain confidential.
2. A Standards of Practice Quiz. Responses are scored automatically and answers and explanations for those answers will be provided immediately. Each year the quiz will focus on different Standards of Practice, and RMTs will be told which Standards of Practice the quiz will focus on in advance. The 2023 quiz will focus on the following Standards: Infection Prevention and Control, Prevention of Sexual Abuse, Safety and Risk Management, and Record Keeping.

All RMTs are encouraged to prepare in advance by reviewing the select Standards of Practice and corresponding ‘Standard Spotlights’ which are posted on the CMTO website. The Spotlights are one-page documents that highlight the expectations of each Standard.

Practice Assessment Overview

After completing the Practice Profile, a small percentage of RMTs will be selected to complete a Practice Assessment, and selected RMTs will be connected with an Assessment Advisor. Selection for a Practice Assessment is not based on a single factor but is based on the three factors below: 

1. Poor performance on the Standards of Practice Quiz
2. The RMTs behaviour over the past 3 years including professional conduct, previous evidence of not meeting Standards of Practice, late registration or lapses in registration, lapses in insurance or not completing STRiVE.
3. Features of the RMT’s practice over the past 3 years including when the RMT graduated, practice setting, weekly practice hours or registration status changes.

There are also factors that support RMT competence when determining who will be selected for a Practice Assessment after completing the Practice Profile.  These include:

• Clinical exposure and experience.
• Active participation in continuing professional development.
• Active participation in professional organizations.
• Use of feedback for professional and personal development.
• Use of assessment tools and practices.
• Use of technology to support personal and professional competence and practice effectiveness.

Practice Assessment Process

The process of Practice Assessment begins with a pre-interview assignment that focuses on the Standards of Practice and Regulations selected for the year. The Assessment Advisor reviews this assignment, and it informs the topics of the Semi-Structured Interview. The Semi-Structured Interview should take between 45 and 60 minutes, and the Assessment Advisor asks a series of questions based on the themes identified. The Assessment Advisor then prepares a report that is shared with the RMT.

Based on the outcome of the first Practice Assessment, some RMTs may be selected for a second Practice Assessment with a new Assessment Advisor. This has the same steps as the first Practice Assessment and represents another opportunity for the RMT to demonstrate their understanding of the CMTO’s Standards of Practice and Regulations.

If the second Practice Assessment is unsuccessful, the matter may be reviewed by the Quality Assurance Committee who may require remedial steps and strategies to help the RMT address gaps in knowledge.

Summary

To review, the process for the risk-based assessment is as follows:

1. Every year, RMTs will complete a Practice Profile on the CMTO website. This includes a self-inventory of risks and supports to competence. This section is confidential and for personal use only.
2. RMTs will also be required to complete a Standards of Practice quiz. An RMT who does not perform well on this quiz, or who has a history of complaints or other risks, may be asked to complete a Practice Assessment.
3. A small percentage of RMTs will be asked to complete a Practice Assessment.
4. An RMT who is not successful in the first Practice Assessment may be asked to complete a second Practice Assessment.
5. An RMT who is unsuccessful in a second Practice Assessment may be referred to the Quality Assurance Committee for future review.

Once notification has been received by email from the CMTO to indicate the reporting window has opened, the Practice Profile is submitted online by logging into the ‘Registrant Profile’ on the CMTO website. This process will require an investment of approximately one hour to complete.

The 2022 STRiVE e-Learning Module provided an overview of the Risk-Based Assessment. If you have further questions, please contact the CMTO at strive@cmto.com.

Tags: cmto, practice profile, practice assessment