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Peer and Practice Assessment Policy Changes Approved

Posted: November 25, 2021

Publié le 25 November 2021

The College's two-step Peer and Practice Assessment (PPA) is designed to support continued competence assessment of members.

As regulated health professionals, it is a legislative obligation that dietitians participate in a self, peer and practice assessment. It ensures that selected members meet the standards established in the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice (ICDEP). It also helps Registered Dietitians (RDs) improve their competence if an improvement is required.
 
The College has focused on strategies for mitigating the risk of harm in dietetic practice for several years now. The College defines the risk of harm as the potential for an event, action or inaction to cause harm to clients. High-risk practice areas identified in the College's risk research are related to specific practice areas and practice settings.
 
Classifying members into high-risk groups stratification will continue to support competence assessment of members by applying the minimal amount of regulatory force required to achieve the desired outcome. A stratified random sampling method of sampling involves dividing members into smaller groups or strata. These groups or strata are organized based on the shared characteristics or attributes of the members in the group.

 

RANDOM SELECTION IN SPRING

Each year 10 percent of Registered Dietitians are randomly selected as the selected members' cohort for a PPA. Additionally, RDs who have not complied with other quality assurance obligations, such as completing their Self-Directed Learning Tool or the Jurisprudence Knowledge and Assessment Tool, may also be required to participate in a practice assessment.

On November 25, 2021, the Quality Assurance Committee approved the following amendments to Policy 4-25: Peer & Practice Assessment - Procedure to align with right-touch regulation:

 

CRITERIA FOR MOVING TO STEP 2

The following stratified random selection from the 10% selected member’s cohort to engage members in a more in-depth assessment based on risk criteria.
  • To continue focusing on strategies for mitigating the risk of harm in dietetic practice, a stratified random sample (6%) from the selected members' cohort (10%) moves directly to Step 2 — the Behaviour-Based Interview and chart review/stimulated recall. Stratified random sampling divides a membership population into subgroups. The criteria for the composition of the groups or strata shall include the following identified risk-based factors:
  • Practice Setting – Solo Practice (A community-based professional practice/business composed of a single practitioner who delivers health services).
  • Area of Practice:
    • Clinical Practice
    • Community
    • Food and Nutrition Management

Public Interest Considerations

The role of the College is to protect the public by regulating the dietetic profession in Ontario in a way that promotes safe, ethical, and competent dietetic practice. The Quality Assurance Program assures the public of dietitians' commitment to continuing competence by continually improving their practice. These proposed changes will support the College to keep pace with emerging best practices in how the College effectively administers the assessment components of its QA program. Changes align with right-touch regulation and are important considerations given the recent focus on reporting the College Performance Measurement Framework Measures required by the Ministry.

QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE PPA TOOL

Contact: quality.assurance@collegeofdietitians.org