At this time, the Ministry of Health is directing the
use of personal protective equipment. Please refer to the Ministry directive
here. If you are working in a practice setting without personal protective equipment, please review the Ministry resources available on our website at
public/information-on-covid-19 including the College
Standards of Infection Prevention and Control.
As health care professionals, you may be feeling anxious about novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Across Ontario and all of Canada, public health organizations, government health officials and employers are putting plans in place to ensure that people receive the right advice, care and support and that you have the best information, environment and equipment to do your job.
Health care professionals play a vital role in helping to treat and contain COVID-19 and should the virus spread further, health care professionals like occupational therapists may face an increased burden in helping Ontarians through an outbreak.
As the regulator of occupational therapists (OTs) in Ontario, we encourage occupational therapists working in partnership with other health professionals, to use their professional judgement to assess risk and deliver safe care informed by government directives and College practice standards.
In a rapidly changing situation, occupational therapists may be asked to do work outside established procedures and their job descriptions. As a pandemic is an unusual circumstance, it is important to be open to providing needed care. Any requests should be accompanied by appropriate training to ensure safe practice.
Occupational therapists should consider their personal competencies relevant to the provision of care. Individual circumstances will vary depending on practice setting and nature of professional practice. If you have concerns, we encourage you to speak to your employer.
The College recognizes this is a stressful time. We appreciate your commitment to patient care.
Occupational therapists are reminded to follow infection prevention best practices (see the College
Standards for Infection Prevention and Control). Please contact our
Practice Resource Service for any questions by phone at 1.800.890.6570 ext 240, or by email to
[email protected].