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Balance

The Official Publication of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia
Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

To keep Registrants informed about important dates on the education front, Board-related events, and other news and developments of interest, the College will be making Upcoming Events a regular feature of Balance.
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Update from the Board

Update from the Board

Highlights from the March 2, 2019 Board Meeting
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Please click here for more information.

College is listening to you everyday

College is listening to you everyday

Effective communication is an essential tool in achieving strong, lasting, mutually respectful and engaged working relationships at all levels in any organization.
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Recent News

Recent News

Reports on the past College Events
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Registration Renewal 

The annual registration renewal process was completed on March 31, 2019. Many thanks to our hard-working staff and a big thank you to Registrants who renewed online early. We regret that a few Registrants were late in renewing and as a result we were obliged to cancel their registrations. While these few Registrants awaited reinstatement, patients requiring services were of course kept waiting. It would be ideal if we could avoid inconveniencing patients next year and the College will be sure to provide ample notice(s) of the registration renewal deadline.

Registration Suspensions 

There were as well several Registrants whose registrations were suspended due to expired Criminal Record Check (CRC) clearance. The expiration of CRC clearance in these few cases required the Inquiry Committee to investigate, as prescribed by the Health Professions Act. The requirement that Registrants keep CRC clearances current is to protect the public, your patients. Further information about the CRC requirement, and the means of checking out your status, can be found here . Check out the “Criminal Record Check – A Registration Requirement” article in this newsletter too.

Student Information Sessions 

It’s always gratifying to meet with a wide range of people who are interested in learning about our profession and the educational requirements to enter it. Information sessions were held in Victoria and Vancouver in early March. We trust that the students and members of the public who attended found the information presented not only helpful but inspiring. We are currently reviewing the outcomes of these sessions and, as always, we welcome feedback. If you are reading this, and either attended one of these sessions or just want to know what’s involved in becoming a registered TCM professional, you’ll find additional information here.

Pan Canadian Examination Pilot Tests 

We have completed running pilot-tests for the newly-revised Pan-Canadian Examination for TCM Practitioners, Acupuncturists and Herbalists. This was a parallel exercise run by four provinces: Alberta, Ontario, Newfoundland and BC. We gathered extensive feedback and comments from participants and would like to express our sincere thanks to all those involved.

Pilot Testing for Practice Support Program (PSP) 

As you have heard by now, the Practice Support Program (PSP), when fully-developed, will support Registrants in ongoing career development by promoting professional behaviour, self-evaluation, peer mentorship and continued learning. Pilot testing is well underway and due to be completed in the latter part of April. We will be sharing the information gathered with Registrants and will be using it to further refine various aspects of the program.

Quality Assurance - Clinical Record Keeping Practice Standard Updated

Quality Assurance – Clinical Record Keeping Practice Standard Updated

Practice Standards are established in order to assist registrants by setting out the minimum level of traditional Chinese medicine care and for the registrants to better understanding their professional obligations, support their professional development, and define and resolve professional practice issues.
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This practice standard on Clinical Record Keeping has been enforced since September 12, 2015.  The Quality Assurance Committee reviewed this Practice Standard and made amendments that the Board has recently adopted at their Board meeting on March 2, 2019.

In the updated version of this Practice Standard, a new Sample Form G – TCM Herbal Inventory Record is created to help registrants better track natural health products (including single herbs and herbal formula).  Keeping record of inventory of herbs helps to control purchases, supply and dispensing of herbs.  Due to the potential risks to the public caused by contamination, expiry and toxicity of herbs, careful records of inventory must be kept.

Please get familiar with this updated Clinical Record Keeping Practice Standard (Amended Version: March 2, 2019), as well as all other Practice Standards, by downloading it from the Quality Practice.

Criminal Record Check – A Registration Requirement

Criminal Record Check – A Registration Requirement

The Criminal Records Review Act requires that all registrants of regulated professions to undergo a Criminal Record Check (CRC) conducted by the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP) offered by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. It is a registration requirement to have a valid CRC. All current registrants must request a CRC at least once in every five years.
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Do you know your CRC expiry date? Check now at the Member Portal. It is important that your CRC result remains valid throughout your registration with CTCMA.

To request a CRC, each registrant should apply online individually. The procedure can be found here. Please allow a few weeks for CRRP to process a CRC. Additional time will be required if applicants’ fingerprints are required by CRRP.

The College assists you in completing this provincial government requirement by emailing a reminder when your criminal record check (CRC) is almost due.

Full information about Criminal Record Check can be found on the College Website.