|
What's Happening at the RMTAO
Your Membership and Insurance Expires on Wednesday
If you haven't renewed already, your membership and insurance  expires in on Wednesday. Log in and renew today!
If you renew your insurance through the Trisura Portal, you get a $5 discount on insurance as well as access to a free unlimited legal consultation.
The RMTAO is the only organization that advocates on behalf of the massage therapy profession, and we couldn't do it without your support! In addition to representation and support, there are a lot of practical benefits to being an RMTAO member, including record keeping resources, guidelines and toolkits, and materials you can share with your patients to market your practice.
Message from the Executive Director
I would like to take the opportunity in the Friday File to provide more  details on my priorities for the RMTAO for the coming year.
One of my priorities this year as Executive Director, as well as one of the priorities of the RMTAO as a whole, is supporting the creation of future research that illustrates the many benefits of massage therapy in health care.
There are many organizations that can help us in our plans to develop further massage therapy research by providing funds or expertise, including the CMTO, heads of massage therapy programs, and insurance companies among others. I have spoken with them, as well as spoken with the Dean of a leading health care research institute in Ontario to discuss the best ways they can help us in supporting further massage therapy research in Ontario.
One of the first things we are doing in developing our plan for the creation of further massage therapy research is commissioning a scoping study of all research related to the ‘effectiveness of massage’, and using that to inform any further research efforts as well as sharing it widely once completed. The process of developing this scoping study is underway. We are also bringing together RMTAO members who have experience in conducting research, and they will be an important part of this process.
By supporting the development of this research we will be able to more effectively advocate to the government and further spread the word about the benefits of massage therapy, which are part of our other priorities for the upcoming membership year.
Speech from the Throne - Summary
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority Liberal government launched a new parliamentary session on Wednesday with a Speech from the Throne written by his government and read by the Governor General of Canada.
This speech outlined what the government hopes to accomplish in the next two years which included themes of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and saving lives, helping Canadians through the pandemic, building a better, more resiliant Canada and standing up for Canadians.
There are several elements in this speech that might directly impact RMTs including:
- The CERB will be phased out and replaced by the Canada Recovery Benefit for those that wouldn't qualify for traditional Employment Insurance (EI).
- The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy will be extended to summer 2021.
- The Canada Emergency Business Account will be extended.
- There will be an investment into a Canada-wide early learning and childcare system.
- Increased investment in health care including the expansion of virutal health care and addressing the opioid epidemic and mental health resources.
View the Speech from the Throne...
Interprofessional Collaboration Toolkit
As you continue to get used to practicing in the era of COVID-19, and your patients continue to get used to this new reality, it's more important than ever to be able to effectively collaborate with other health professionals in your patient's circle of care to ensure that your patients are getting the care they need.
 The RMTAO Interprofessional Collaboration Toolkit provides tips on building successful interprofessional teams, outlines the principles that should guide interprofessional collaboration, and provides some valuable communications tools that you can use when collaborating with other health care professionals.
It also provides templates of letters that you can send to other health care professionals to get the conversations going.
Download the Interprofessional Collaboration Toolkit
Program Spotlight: GoodLife
 The COVID-19 pandemic caused many people to pause their regular workout routine as gyms were closed to protect public health. For those who had GoodLife memberships through the RMTAO at the time, your membership will be extended the length of the shutdown. We recommend that you contact the gym you attended before for your new expiry date.
If you’ve never been a GoodLife member before, you can join online through GoodLife to access a corporate discount. You can access that rate for yourself as well as up to three others in your household.
There is a one-time, $25 enrolment fee to the RMTAO to access this discount. Once you pay the enrolment fee you will be send a link to GoodLife’s system within two business days.
If you choose to pay for a full year of GoodLife membership, your membership lasts for exactly a year from the date you pay for the membership in GoodLife’s system. You can also choose the bi-weekly payment option which can be paused and resumed at any time.
Read more about the GoodLife Fitness program...
Member Question of the Week
|
I heard RMTAO members get discounts through TELUS, but I called my local TELUS store and they didn't know what I was talking about. How can I access these discounts ?
RMTAO members do get a discounts through TELUS. This includes 30% off the monthly bill for select 2-year phone plans, eligible devices starting from $0, bonus data when you share your data with a tablet from as low as $10/month and an up to $450 device subsidy on select smartphones.
Telus stores will not be familiar with the corporate discount program we offer. You can sign up through a link on the TELUS program page on the RMTAO website. If you have any questions or concerns you can call 1-844-888-4440 or email epp@telus.com
Read more about the TELUS discount program
Do you have a question? Email info@rmtao.com
|
Business Tip of the Week
|
Regain a Sense of Control (When Everything Feels Out of Control)
Between the health risks of the coronavirus, the economic stress of the recession, social distancing, and mandatory work-from-home arrangements, so much of our lives feel out of our control right now. Research shows that anything you can do to restore your sense of autonomy — even in small ways — will help you be more resilient. Here are a few tips. First, if you’re working remotely, set up a comfortable and personal workspace. You might define a clear boundary between “work” and “home” by telling yourself: When I’m in this room or wearing these headphones I’m “at work.” Also, identify and embrace the perks of working at home. For example, if you no longer have a long commute, you can choose how you’ll spend that time — whether it’s getting an extra hour of sleep, being with your family or friends, or even delving into a new hobby. (Just try to resist the temptation to spend that time working.) You can also reclaim control over your body and mind by prioritizing self-care. Investing time and attention in your own well-being is crucial during stressful times. While the pandemic’s closures and restrictions may dictate many aspects of your life right now, how you customize your environment, spend your time and treat yourself is up to you.
Adapted from “Restore Your Sense of Control — Despite the Pandemic,” by Eric M. Anicich et al.
|
Research Article of the Week
Self-Compassion Explains Less Burnout Among Healthcare Professionals
Objectives: Healthcare professionals are prone to experience burnout-a psychological syndrome resulting from chronic stressors at work. Some individual differences, like self-compassion-the non-judgmental observation of one's own pain and failure, while understanding that these are part of being human-can protect against burnout.
Methods: We administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Stressful Life Events Scale to a sample of healthcare professionals (medical residents, nurses, and physicians) in Lebanon (N = 93).
Results: The sample demonstrated a high degree of Emotional Exhaustion (M = 27, SD = 11.79), average levels of Depersonalization (M = 9.46, SD = 6.35), and Personal Accomplishment (M = 34.95, SD = 6.58), and moderate levels of Self-compassion (M = 3.25). All burnout components were significantly and inversely associated with self-compassion, with the strongest association found between Emotional Exhaustion and Self-compassion (r = -.37, p < .001). Self-compassion significantly explained burnout, above and beyond sociodemographic and occupational variables (Emotional Exhaustion: ΔR 2 = .11, F (1.85) = 12.71, p < .01; Depersonalization: ΔR 2 = .07, F (1.85) = 6.73, p = .01; Low Personal Accomplishment: ΔR 2 = .11, F (1.85) = 11.29, p < .01).
Conclusion: Burnout is prevalent in the sample, yet self-compassion may be a possible protective factor.
Hashem, Z., & Zeinoun, P. (2020). Self-Compassion Explains Less Burnout Among Healthcare Professionals. Mindfulness, 1–10. Advance online publication.
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.
|
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 Christian Hall at christian@rmtao.com to learn more about starting one!
North Bay Community-Based Network
Date: October 1, 2020
Time: 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual. This meeting is exclusively for RMTs and massage therapy students in North Bay and the surrounding area. Contact Kelsey Quinn for details on how to access the meeting.
Topic: This will be a round 2 of re-opening and is open to RMTs and RMT students in North Bay and Parry Sound district only to keep the agenda tight and focus on northern practice. This meeting will be via Zoom.
Contact: Kelsey Quinn , info@breatheinwellness.ca
Read more about the meeting
Niagara Community-Based Network
Date: October 1, 2020
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual. This meeting is exclusively for RMTs and massage therapy students in Niagara and the surrounding area. Contact Don Dillon for details on how to access the meeting.
Contact: Don Dillon , relief@dondillon.ca
Read more about the meeting |
|
