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What's Happening at the RMTAO
Advocacy Update
 I have mentioned in past Friday File Advocacy Updates that I am involved (on behalf of the RMTAO) with other Associations to collectively advocate on issues important to our members and RMTs in general. This is especially important when advocating with the insurance industry.
These collaborations have led to the creation of an Inter-professional Extended Health Coverage Advisory Advocacy Collaboration. This consists of the Associations that utilized extended health plans in order to provide healthcare services to their clients. We have now met three times over the last six months with the goal of deciding where we should focus our advocacy with insurance companies. In our last meeting, the we decided to primarily focus on the following three issues:
Inadequacy of fees including:
- Fee schedules
- Extended health care funding for some health professionals does not reflect fee guides (and has not changed in years)
- Fee codes may not reflect nature of assessment, treatment and care (i.e., not all care is compatible withdiscrete/piecework funding codes)
- Very large inter- and intra-variation in EHC coverage among health professionals (with some having little to none) that frustrates patients (and often lead to poor patient satisfaction ratings)
- Lack of insurer understanding re practice costs for some professions
Scopes of practice (and corresponding scope creep)
- Provincially legislated scopes of practice are limited by decisions made by third parties (e.g., funding and coverage related)
- Insurers use internal policies to decide what is in scope, constitutes a form of “shadow regulation”
- In some cases, insurers simply do not recognize recent (but well established) scope expansions
Audits, delisting and shadow regulation
- Inappropriate efforts by insurers to find fraud (e.g., using misleading communications on forms and/or invalid data)
- No transparency regarding delisting and relisting of providers and clinics (with no deference to regulatory colleges)
- Insurer policy changes that are out of step with the broader health policy landscape.
The next steps are to do some due diligence about work being done on the national level before developing strategies on how to best address these concerns. I am very involved in this group and have volunteered my time and commitment to help the working groups as they evolve. We will next meet after the summer when most people are back from vacations etc.
Member Spotlight
The RMTAO is pleased to introduce our July member spotlight - Kristofer Lam!
 Kristofer is a lifelong athlete that has competed at the highest level in Ontario in athletic endeavours. These experiences have provided him with an excellent understanding of body mechanics and a firm belief in the importance of addressing the body as a whole, rather than as separate parts. He has worked with athletes of all ages and ranging from house leagues to professional. Kristofer has also worked with motor vehicle accident patients, pre- and post op injuries, those with acute or chronic back pain, and those experiencing the common pains of everyday life. Kristofer recently began working with the RMTAO Board of Directors as a member at large, eventually contributing to a variety of projects.
Why did you choose to become a Registered Massage Therapist?
Kristofer: I grew up playing sports competitively and was often sore and achy after practices but had no concept that services like massage therapy could be helpful. As the youngest of 4 children I was often asked to rub a sore neck, foot, or back for a family member. After highschool I took a year off and unfortunately fractured my wrist at my personal training job, and my sister, who was working from home as an insurance adjuster at the time, suggested looking into becoming a RMT. The rest is history!
What do you like best about your job?
Kristofer: I enjoy seeing people becoming more confident in their ability to take care of themselves. Nothing is more satisfying to me than a patient who is improving and implementing the strategies we've worked on together so they do not have to always be reliant on me to feel better.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Kristofer: I continue to actively play several sports and take part in various fitness competitions. I was bodybuilding for quite some time, transitioned into powerlifting for a few years, and am now training to return to the original sport of my heart, track and field! I'll be competing in the 100m and 200m July 31-August 1!
What advice would you give new Registered Massage Therapists?
Kristofer: Trust yourself. Take your time in the industry. There are a lot of opportunities and avenues to pursue this profession so don't get stuck somewhere you are not happy. Also I strongly believe in finding good mentors! Receiving treatments from and networking with fellow RMT's is invaluable!
Why did you choose to join the RMTAO?
Kristofer: To be honest it was so emphasized in school I didn't even know it was a choice not to be a member! When I eventually learned (not that much later) that I had the option of being a member or not, I thought it was important that as RMTs we have an adcovating body that was well supported, and decided to continue my membership.
CBN Coordinators Wanted
Community-Based Networks (CBNs) provide RMTs with networking, social, and educational activities, and are open to all RMTs and massage therapy students, not just RMTAO members.
The RMTAO provides CBNs with various useful resources and support, including promotion for meetings on our website and in the Friday File, assistance in holding virtual meetings and a regular CBN Coordinator Newsletter.
Many CBNs are currently holding meetings virtually. There are upcoming meetings scheduled for both the Durham Region CBN and the London CBN
You can view any upcoming CBN meetings on our list of upcoming events.
You can review the current active CBNs. If you don’t see a group near you consider starting your own!
Email angela@rmtao.com for more information or to volunteer for a region near you. Currently CBN meetings are held virtually.
The following regions are currently looking for a CBN coordinator:
- Cornwall
- Etobicoke
- Kitchener-Waterloo
- Muskoka/Parry Sound area
- Ottawa
- Peterborough
- Toronto - East
- Toronto North/Central
- Windsor
- York Region
Guideline to Leaving a Practice
When starting a new position, no one wants to consider the possibility of leaving. However, when RMTs don't spell out what should happen when they leave a practice in their initial contract, this can lead to conflicts when an RMT does want to leave a practice.
The guide below helps you understand non-solitication and non-compete clauses, provides an overview of your responsibilities and obligations to your patients when leaving a practice and gives you some things to consider when starting a new opportunity.
Download the guide to leaving a practice
Program Spotlight - TELUS
TELUS Exclusive Partner Program is pleased to offer RMTAO members preferred rates on mobility services! With TELUS EPP you can get connected and stay connected anytime, anywhere. It’s easy and now more affordable than ever.
As a benefit of RMTAO membership, TELUS EPP is offering:
- Monthly EPP discounts off the best TELUS Plans
- 30% discount on your monthly bill on selected 2 year plans
- Exclusive EPP hardware credits to lower the cost of new smartphones and connected devices
- Family discounts – more monthly savings for each member you add to your account.
- Add up to 9 Members to your account
- Access to exclusive promotional events including pre-orders, gift-with-purchase offers and flash sales
Read more...
Member Question of the Week
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I heard there's free legal help available through the RMTAO. How can I access that?
If you purchased your professional liability insurance through the Trisura Portal, you have access to free unlimited legal consultations.
Purchasing your insurance through the Trisura Portal means that, at the time you renewed your membership you paid for your membership first, and then followed a link to the Trisura Portal to purchase your insurance through that portal in a separate transaction.
If you purchased your directly insurance through the RMTAO, although the insurance company is still Trisura, you are not eligible for this legal consultation. Access to this legal consultation was developed by the insurance company to encourage people to use the Trisura Portal.
To access the free legal consultations, log in to the Trisura Portal and download your insurance coverage certificate. Information about how to access the hotline will be on the second page of your insurance certificate, and you will need to provide your policy number, which will be on the first page of your certificate.
The lawyers that you have access to through this hotline are experienced in contract and business issues, and a variety of health law issues including responding to a complaint to your regulatory college.
Do you have a question? Email info@rmtao.com
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Business Tip of the Week
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Protect Your Eyes from the Damage of Too Much Screen Time
If your screen time has increased in the past year (and whose hasn’t?), you're probably getting more exposure to blue light — a leading cause of vision-related issues. That nagging pain behind your eyes after staring at your devices all day could be eye fatigue or eye strain. The good news? It's preventable! Try these tips.
- Maintain a one-arm distance from your laptop while working.
- Tilt your screen slightly downwards to reduce glare. You can also use a blue-light-blocking screen cover for your laptop or wear blue-light glasses.
- If you use your devices at night (hello, doomscrolling), be sure to turn on the warm light scale so the blue light doesn’t impact your sleep-wake cycle.
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule. When you’re working on a laptop, take a break every 20 minutes. Look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds to give your eyes a chance to relax.
- Ensure that you get regular eye check-ups. If your doctor recommends it, you can also use an eye lubricant or artificial tear drops to prevent your eyes from drying out.
- Finally, keep track of what you eat. Consume green, leafy vegetables and foods that are high in Omega-3 oils.
Adapted from “Is Too Much Screen Time Giving You Eye Fatigue?,” by Dr. Kara Hartl
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Research Article of the Week
Prevalence and Predictors of Chronic Postsurgical Pain in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Emerging research suggests that pain may persist longer-term for many children after major surgery, with significant effects on their health outcomes. This systematic review identified the prevalence of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) in children after surgery, and determined presurgical biomedical and psychosocial risk factors associated with CPSP prevalence or severity. Prospective studies assessing CPSP 3 to 12 months after surgery in children 6 to 18 years of age published in English in MedLine, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews since 1996 were eligible for inclusion. Of 16,084 abstracts yielded by the search, 123 full articles were assessed for eligibility, and 12 studies were included in the review. Overall quality of included studies assessed using the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool was low. On the basis of 4 studies with a total of 628 participants across all surgery types, median prevalence of CPSP across studies was 20% (25th percentile = 14.5%, 75th percentile = 38%) at 12 months after surgery. Presurgical pain intensity, child anxiety, child pain coping efficacy, and parental pain catastrophizing were the only presurgical factors identified as predictive of CPSP. Biological and medical factors assessed were not associated with CPSP in any study. Well designed studies examining prevalence and predictors of CPSP are critically needed in children.
Perspective: In this systematic review, the median prevalence of CPSP in children was 20% across studies. Presurgical pain intensity, and child and parent psychosocial factors predicted CPSP. Additional resources and interventions are needed for youth who report persistent pain after surgery.
Rabbitts, J. A., Fisher, E., Rosenbloom, B. N., & Palermo, T. M. (2017). Prevalence and Predictors of Chronic Postsurgical Pain in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The journal of pain, 18(6), 605–614.
Read the full article...
The Learning Curve - The RMTAO Education Series
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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.
Sexual Harassment in the Treatment Room
September 8, 2021 - Online Webinar
Make Research Relevant to Me
September 15, 2021 - Online Webinar
Headaches and Migraines can be a pain in the neck!
September 29, 2021 - Online Webinar
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Upcoming Community Networks and Related Activities
The RMTAO has created a feature on RMTAO.com for Community 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.
Durham Region CBN Meeting
Date: , August 9, 2021
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Topic: “get to-know the group”, new Standards of Practice, how to find new RMTs to hire.
RSVP: Catherine Roe, cate.roe1@gmail.com for meeting information
London CBN Meeting
Date: September 5, 2021
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Topic: Monthly chat for RMTs, grads and students, you don't have to be a RMTAO member. Feel free to add topics or ask questions in the comments ahead of time. You don't have to be from the London area. You are welcome to lurk, no-one is put on the spot, video optional.
We'll catch up on RMTAO and CMTO news, upcoming & past courses, brains-trust for anyone who needs support/ideas/guidance, plus anything anyone wants to raise.
Meeting info: Google Meet https://meet.google.com/puy-rzrd-nsm
RSVP: Dani Faucher, danifaucher.rmt@gmail.com
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