JointPositionStatement

(There are several other good documents on this site, as well. This one 
is sort of an introduction to writing a Scope of Practice)
from:
http://www.eicp-acis.ca/en/toolkit/regulation/skills.asp

SCOPES OF PRACTICE April 2003
Canada’s physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals 
recognize that a sustainable health workforce
is a key challenge facing our health care system. In this regard, scopes 
of practice is an important issue that
needs to be addressed.

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the Canadian Nurses Association 
(CNA) and the Canadian
Pharmacists Association (CPhA) have approved the following principles 
and criteria for the determination of
scopes of practice. The primary purposes of such determinations are to 
meet the health care needs of Canadians,
and to serve the interests of patients and the public safely, 
efficiently and competently.

The CPhA, CNA and CMA believe that policy decisions taken in this area 
must put patients first. Secondly, they
should be grounded in principles that reflect our commitment to 
professionalism, lifelong learning and patient safety.
Thirdly, that there be recognition of the need for legislative and 
regulatory changes to support evolving scopes of
practice. Moreover, we believe that health professionals must be 
involved in decision-making processes in this area.

PRINCIPLES
Focus: Scopes of practice statements should promote safe, ethical, 
high-quality care that responds to the needs of
patients and the public in a timely manner, is affordable and is 
provided by competent health care providers.

Flexibility: A flexible approach is required that enables providers to 
practise to the extent of their education, training,
skills, knowledge, experience, competence and judgment while being 
responsive to the needs of patients and
the public.

Collaboration and cooperation: In order to support interdisciplinary 
approaches to patient care and good health outcomes,
physicians, nurses and pharmacists engage in collaborative and 
cooperative practice with other health care
providers who are qualified and appropriately trained and who use, 
wherever possible, an evidence-based approach.
Good communication is essential to collaboration and cooperation.
Coordination: A qualified health care provider should coordinate 
individual patient care.
Patient choice: Scopes of practice should take into account patients’ 
choice of health care provider.

CRITERIA
Accountability: Scopes of practice should reflect the degree of 
accountability, responsibility and authority that the
health care provider assumes for the outcome of his or her practice.

Education: Scopes of practice should reflect the breadth, depth and 
relevance of the training and education of the
health care provider. This includes consideration of the extent of the 
accredited or approved educational
program(s), certification of the provider and maintenance of competency

Competencies and practice standards: Scopes of practice should reflect 
the degree of knowledge, values, attitudes and
skills (i.e., clinical expertise and judgment, critical thinking, 
analysis, problem solving, decision making, leadership)
of the provider group.

Quality assurance and improvement: Scopes of practice should reflect 
measures of quality assurance and improvement
that have been implemented for the protection of patients and the public.

Risk assessment: Scopes of practice should take into consideration risk 
to patients.

Evidence-based practices: Scopes of practice should reflect the degree 
to which the provider group practices are based
on valid scientific evidence where available.

Setting and culture: Scopes of practice should be sensitive to the 
place, context and culture in which the practice
occurs.

Legal liability and insurance: Scopes of practice should reflect case 
law and the legal liability assumed by the health
care provider including mutual professional malpractice protection or 
liability insurance coverage.

Regulation: Scopes of practice should reflect the legislative and 
regulatory authority, where applicable, of the health
care provider.

Principles and criteria to ensure safe, competent and ethical patient 
care should guide the development of scopes of
practice of health care providers.

This document is based on a January 2002 policy developed by the 
Canadian Medical Association, which has
been endorsed by the Canadian Nurses Association and the Canadian 
Pharmacists Association. We welcome the
support of other health care providers for these principles and criteria 
regarding scopes of practice.
Reaffirmed by the Canadian Nurses Association's Board of Directors, June 
2003.
PS 66

             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET email list is powered by LISTSERV (R).
There is only one LISTSERV. To learn more, visit:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html