May 2018 - Issue 1

with Council updates and election results

In reflecting on the #metoo discourse, it occurred to me that the zero-tolerance approach to sexual abuse of clients promoted by the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, pre-dates the movement by decades.

Each year the College contacts a subset of members to provide proof of liability insurance. This subset includes members who were selected at random and members who were identified because of their responses on the annual renewal form. All the information submitted by these members must be in compliance with the College’s Professional Liability Insurance Coverage Requirements for Members. Find out what the College looks for to ensure a member is in compliance.

The dilemma in this scenario is that the dietitian is caught between the wishes of the substitute decision-maker who is requesting a regular diet, and conflicting direction by her employer. What should the dietitian do? 

RDs are always responsible for recognizing and anticipating situations, such as boundary crossings or conflicts of interests, where their professional judgement can be compromised and clients harmed. What is a boundary crossing? What is a conflict of interest? How would you recognize them? What about gift giving? Is this a conflict of interest or a boundary crossing? This article offers some clarification.

Dietitians are required to be transparent and honest about fees for their services. Before receiving nutrition care from a dietitian, clients must have a clear understanding of the fees and costs involved in their dietetic treatment. Read the scenarios in this article to find out about discounted services.

Billing practices reflect a dietitian's professionalism. Invoices, receipts and accounts must all accurately record the dietetic services provided. It is a dietitian's professional responsibility to clearly communicate fee structures to clients and to ensure that they understand billing information and payment options before a treatment is implemented.

Since 2015, the College of Dietitians of Ontario has been part of a partnership with 11 other health regulatory colleges on the Clinic Regulation Working Group to explore risks associated with a gap the Working Group identified in clinic oversight in Ontario. The Working Group conducted research into the issue, held consultations  and developed several potential approaches that might help to address concerns.

In the fall of 2017, the College delivered its annual workshop titled: Boundary Crossings: Preserving Professional Therapeutic Relationships in 37 locations throughout Ontario (five sites linked via Ontario Telemedicine Network video conferencing). A total of 686 dietitians attended the workshop (16% of the College membership) and 60 dietetic interns.

Are you looking to sharpen your knowledge about the record keeping obligations you need to know for dietetic practice? Then attend the College's 2018 Fall Workshop! It's all about record keeping.

Council regulates the dietetic profession in Ontario in keeping with the statutory duty and objects given in the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, and to govern the College of Dietitians of Ontario.

Thank you to the following dietitians for their leadership and the thoughtful insights they have brought to college and committee work during their tenure as Councillors and appointed committee members. We have appreciated their commitment, hard work and professional contribution to the profession’s self-regulation.

This page contains the names of new members and  the names of members who retired, resigned, or who were suspended between November 22, 2017 and May 25, 2018. For more details and to view the most current information on a member's registration status, consult the Register of Dietitians.