Regulated Health Professionals and the Patient’s Pathway
Ontarians had the benefit of receiving quality health services from many regulated health professions. Many of these professions offered overlapping services, which allowed Ontarians to choose which providers to include in their circle of care. However, with more choices came increased risks.
To protect healthcare consumers in Ontario, the government regulated these professions in the public interest through independent health regulatory authorities. Each regulatory body was mandated to consider shared standards and follow a framework of delegations, health orders, and referrals to ensure that care was delivered in a safe, ethical, and competent manner.
This session of the Regulatory Education Program (REP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, explored the government’s approach to a patient’s journey through various regulated health professions. The session addressed how patients were protected when their chosen practitioner reached the limits of their professional authority. It also examined the government’s expectations regarding collaboration and cooperation among health professionals, as outlined in the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, to ensure that the needs of patients were met effectively and responsibly.
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PRESENTERS
Allison Henry
Health Workforce Regulatory Oversight Branch, Ministry of Health
Allison Henry is the Director of the Health Workforce Regulatory Oversight Branch for the Ontario Ministry of Health and has worked in the Ontario Public Service for over twenty years.
Allison’s Branch in the ministry is responsible for overseeing the development of policies and regulations related to the regulated health professions governed by the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and has worked extensively on federal/provincial/ territorial issues such as labour mobility, entry to practice credentials and the oversight of personal support workers. Her team was also responsible for the development of the College Performance Measurement Framework the first of its kind in Canada.
Prior to her role as Director of her current Branch, Allison spent some time as the Director in the Ministry’s Nursing Policy and Innovation Branch. In that role, her team developed and implemented policies, strategies, initiatives and programs that support nursing education, recruitment and retention for Ontario’s nursing workforce.
Allison holds both a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) degree and Masters of Arts degree in Sociology from Western University and has completed the Advanced Health Leadership Program at the Rotman School of Business.
When not at work, Allison can often be found riding her Peleton and walking her Labrador Retriever. She resides in Ajax Ontario with her husband and two children.
Andrew Parr
CEO, College of Naturopaths of Ontario
Andrew Parr is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the College of Naturopaths of Ontario, the regulatory authority governing naturopathic doctors in Ontario. He was first appointed to the College during its formative stages in August 2010 and, upon proclamation of the Naturopathy Act, 2007 in July 2015 was formally re-appointed by the new Council.
Prior to joining the College, Andrew had been working in the not-for-profit sector for 20 years including eight of which he served as the Executive Director and CEO of the association for registered massage therapists in Ontario. Andrew has also served as the Executive Director of the Canadian Society of Association Executives-Trillium Chapter for ten years through a successful association management firm he had established.
Andrew has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in politics from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario and has attained his Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the Canadian Society of Association Executives.
Outside of work, Andrew enjoys spending time at the lake with his husband of 30 years and his delightful pups, Chandler and Gunther.