The CPTA's College Conversations

Speakers: Leanne Loranger and Sean FitzGerald Virtual care continues to evolve, but one thing remains the same: physiotherapists are expected to provide safe, effective, high-quality care regardless of how services are delivered. In this episode, Leanne and Sean revisit the regulatory expectations for virtual care and discuss how physiotherapists can apply professional judgment when deciding whether virtual care is the right option for a client. They discuss key topics including assessing whether virtual care is clinically appropriate, obtaining informed consent, conducting appropriate assessments, and understanding when an in-person visit may still be necessary. The conversation also explores privacy obligations, including safeguards for protecting health information, Privacy Impact Assessments, and Information Management Agreements. The episode highlights the importance of proactive risk management, patient safety incident planning, documentation requirements, fee transparency, and recording considerations. Finally, Leanne and Sean review cross-border practice considerations and the necessity that physiotherapists understand the regulatory requirements that apply in the jurisdiction where the client is located in addition to the requirements in the jurisdiction where they are located. Key take away: Virtual care can be a safe and appropriate way to deliver physiotherapy services, but physiotherapists must ensure they fulfill the requirements of the standards of practice as they would when providing in-person services. Resources: ·       HIA Privacy Resources ·       Patient Safety and Risk Management Guideline

Speakers: Leanne Loranger and Sean FitzGerald  The designation of physiotherapists as custodians under the Health Information Act is a significant development for registrants of the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta. This bonus episode repurposes the information shared at a recent "ask us anything" webinar, including information about: ·       Roles under the HIA and the concept of the circle of care. ·       Discussion of safeguards, and the duty to identify risks to the privacy and security of health information, before moving on to a discussion of electronic medical records and considerations for EMR use. (~09:30) ·       Common questions related to PIA requirements and implications for physiotherapists. (~17:30) ·       Discussion of HIA considerations if using email to transmit health information. (~22:30) ·       Implications of the transition to being designated a custodian under the HIA for school-based physiotherapists. (~25:30) ·       Discussion of implications of the HIA for solo practitioners. (~36:15) ·       The deadline for compliance with the requirements. (~36:45) ·       The resources available on the CPTA website to enable this transition. (~37:30)   Listen on as Sean and Leanne address the questions submitted by the audience during the live webinar, including questions regarding ·       Different practice scenarios and the roles physiotherapists may have within their practice settings. (~38:00) ·       A physiotherapist's roles and responsibilities if they designate another healthcare professional as their affiliate. (~42:00) ·       Navigating information management in school settings. (43:30) ·       Further discussion of PIA requirements. (~45:30) ·       Can a corporation be a custodian? (~54:00) ·       Can a PT hire help to write their PIA? (~58:00) ·       Further discussion of school-related physiotherapist considerations. (58:30) ·       Discussion of disclosure of health information between custodians. (1:02:00)   We close the episode by answering the overarching question: Why did we move to physiotherapists being custodians under the HIA? (1:04:00)   Resources: ·       HIA Privacy Resources

Speakers: Sean FitzGerald and Leanne Loranger    The transition to being designated custodians under Alberta's Health Information Act is a significant change for physiotherapists. In this episode, Leanne Loranger and Sean FitzGerald discuss why it is essential for physiotherapists to understand their role in every practice setting where they collect, use, disclose, store, or dispose of health information. Listeners will learn about the roles of custodian, affiliate, and privacy officer, and how those roles shape responsibilities under the Act. The episode also explores common scenarios that can create uncertainty, including work with non-custodians, multi-disciplinary clinics, short-term locum contracts, and sports team or gym-based practice settings. The key message: physiotherapists should review their contracts, job descriptions, and workplace arrangements to confirm whether they are the custodian or designated as an affiliate to another custodian. If there is no clear documentation establishing an affiliate relationship with an eligible custodian under the Act, physiotherapists must default to understanding that they are the custodian of the health information and must take the steps required to comply with the HIA.   Resources: ·      HIA Privacy Resources

Speakers: Sean FitzGerald and Leanne Loranger    In this episode, Leanne and Sean revisit the rules for use of title and why those rules are important for physiotherapists, patients, and the public. The conversation explains who may use protected titles such as Physiotherapist, Physical Therapist, Physiotherapist Intern, and PT, and highlights why a physiotherapist's registration status matters—whether a registrant is entering practice, on leave, or retiring. They also discuss how physiotherapists should list academic credentials and additional training in a way that is accurate, transparent, and meaningful to patients. The episode reviews common questions about terms such as Clinical Specialist, acupuncturist, osteopath, doctor, clinical Pilates, and advanced practice, highlighting the importance of avoiding language that misleads or implies a credential or specialization the physiotherapist does not hold. Listeners are reminded to use their protected title, place it before other credentials, and explain their additional training clearly and transparently. Most of all physiotherapists are encouraged to be proud of the professional title they worked hard to earn. Resources ·       Titles, Credentials and Specialty Designations ·       Getting Titles Right Infographic

Speakers: Sean FitzGerald and Leanne Loranger  In this episode, Leanne and Sean discuss key changes connected to physiotherapists being designated as custodians under Alberta's Health Information Act, which took effect on June 22, 2026. The conversation focuses on three important concepts physiotherapists need to understand as they transition to HIA compliance: verbal consent for disclosure of health information, the requirement to develop privacy management programs, and the need to designate successor custodians of health information. The episode explains when client consent is required for disclosure of health information, what content must be included in consent, and the documentation and identity verification requirements that apply when verbal consent is accepted. Leanne and Sean also explore privacy management programs, emphasizing that policies and procedures must be supported by training, monitoring, and updates as privacy risks and practice arrangements change. Listeners will hear practical discussion about the implications of being a custodian of health information under the Act and learn about the concept of 'sharing custodians' and requirements related to shared custody of health information. The episode closes with a discussion of successor custodian requirements, including proactive planning for retirement, relocation, illness, or incapacity. Call to action: Physiotherapists need to know their role, understand their responsibilities, and act now to support long-term legislative compliance and protection of health information.   Resources ·       Privacy Resources ·       Privacy Guide for Alberta Physiotherapists ·       HIA Policies and Procedures for Alberta Physiotherapist Custodians ·       Health Information Act and Health Information Regulation ·       Government of Alberta HIA Fact Sheets