The New Jersey Health Care Transparency Act will require advertisements for licensed health care practitioners to include the specific license they hold. In-person care will require communication of the specific license and degree through a name tag or visible identification.
Another bill changes training requirements for psychologists, allowing unpaid "experience" completed prior to earning a doctoral degree to meet the two years of professional "employment" required of licensure applicants.
A legislative committee in British Columbia is proposing changes to "streamline and modernize the province’s health professions regulatory system, to increase transparency and to put a 'relentless focus on patient safety.'” One aspect of the changes would allow consumers more information online about complaints, actions and sanctions against health professionals. Another aspect of the plan calls for the 20 health regulatory colleges to be consolidated into 5 - podiatrists would join physicians and surgeons, midwives would join nursing professionals, and the four oral health colleges would become one. Other changes would be an umbrella entity to oversee the colleges and equal numbers of professional and public members on boards. Comments are sought on the proposed changes through January 10, 2020.
The Pennsylvania Department of State has launched a new web page for professional license applicants, giving information and guides about the process as well as expected time frames for license processing. The guides provide step-by-step instructions and tips to help applicants reduce mistakes and avoid delays.
The summer edition of Healthcare Professionals Crossing Borders Update is available with articles highlighting the UK and Ireland's Memorandum of Understanding related to reciprocal recognition of professional qualifications; a report on task shifting in healthcare systems, including whether some tasks currently being performed by health workers could be undertaken by machines; a European Commission High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence and a set of seven key requirements for AI systems to be deemed trustworthy; a joint statement by the UK's nine healthcare regulators about the benefits of becoming a reflective practitioner; the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency's new video series to support the public and practitioners through the complaints process; and a new report on international mobility of health workers.
Actin on their 2015-19 Strategic Plan, which includes enhancing communication with the public, the Law Society of Ontario has launched a province-wide awareness campaign. The campaign, "Our Society Is Your Society," includes digital, radio, transit and billboard advertising aimed at enhancing public understanding of what the Law Society does and how the public can access the appropriate legal services through the Law Society. The Law Society's website has also been redeveloped to be more accessible and user-friendly.
Diana Miles was appointed the first female CEO of the Law Society of Ontario in March. After consultations last year revealed that most Ontarians were not familiar with the role of the regulator, the organization has committed to a new communications plan and focus on consulting and feedback, as well as offering training to the profession to make sure lawyers are equipped to respond to a more savvy clientele with individualized needs. Miles stressed the importance of striking the right balance of making decisions that serve the public need and also allow lawyers to practically and realistically meet the requirements.
The College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba has recently held the first meeting of their new community reference group, with a goal to enhance meaningful linkage with the public by providing focus group feedback on issues or projects underway at CRNMB.
In March, CLEAR will host a webinar on the topic of community reference groups, featuring representatives from the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency who have worked on community reference group programs.
Regulations proposed by the Canadian government would require healthcare providers to file reports of requests for medical assistance in death, withdrawal of requests, findings of patient ineligibility, and deaths from causes other than medical assistance in dying. The goal of the new rules is to "foster public trust and provide transparency and accountability" regarding how MAD legislation is working. Health Canada would publicly release a yearly report with this data.
The Law Society of Upper Canada's Convocation has voted by strong majority to change its name to the Law Society of Ontario. Eighty-three percent of licensee respondents and 41% of public respondents chose the new name out of four options provided. After independent research revealed that most members of the public were not familiar with who the Law Society is and what they do, the Law Society is taking steps for a full public awareness campaign. The Strategic Communications Steering Group has issued a report. The name change will be effective January 1, 2018 to be phased in over 12 months. A request will be submitted to the Ontario government to amend the Law Society Act accordingly.
A recent public survey undertaken by the Law Society of Upper Canada revealed that most respondents do not know who the Law Society is or that they are the regulator for the legal profession. The term "Upper Canada" is no longer geographically applicable, and for some respondents, suggests the the Law Society is "out of touch," "colonial," "not inclusive," and "pretentious." The Law Society of Upper Canada is considering a name change to Law Society of Ontario.
