Professional Development Committee

As you all know, earlier this year the Corporation completed its project on athletic therapists authorizing return to play following a concussion. After several years of work, we took a moment to reflect upon this process, and we came to two main conclusions. First, we must stay ahead of developments in the profession by anticipating changes and needs in our field. Second, having gained experience through this first request, we must continue in the same vein so as not to lose this new expertise. This is how the Professional Development Committee was born.

This committee is composed initially of members of the Corporation and representatives of the athletic therapy programs. One thing that stood out of our review was that training and education are two very important elements in the process of applying for new professional activities. It’s a bit of a ‘chicken or the egg’ dilemma, but the current system seems to favour training prior to the application, hence the importance of involving the programs first and foremost.

Also, one of the committee’s mandates is to ensure that the practice of athletic therapists remains a unique profile in the professional landscape of Québec. One of the key elements of the application process for new professional activities analyzes this principle. The professional system wants to ensure that the various professions remain relevant to society’s needs while following their distinct pathway. We do not want to resemble another profession in a related field, but rather to differentiate ourselves. One of the distinctive features of athletic therapy is that we are primarily front-line practitioners. It would therefore be interesting to develop the profession in order to consolidate this position and contribute to the well-being of society through this expertise.

As part of the committee’s work, we invite you to take a few minutes to complete this questionnaire, which will help members reflect on the next steps to be taken.

Charting and AI
Can We Use It?

Following a question from a member, we decided to publish a short article on the concepts of record keeping and the use of AI to accomplish this task. First, it is important to note that the Corporation adopted regulations on charting in May 2024, based on Quebec’s standards of practice. The use of information technology was analyzed at that time.

2. Le présent règlement permet l’utilisation de l’informatique ou de toute autre technologie de l’information pour la constitution, la tenue, la détention et la conservation des dossiers d’un membre pourvu que la confidentialité et l’intégrité des renseignements qui y sont contenus de même que l’exercice des droits d’accès et de rectification soient assurés et respectent les normes légales en vigueur.

It is therefore entirely possible to use AI for charting purposes, provided that it is used for the transcription aspect of the task and not for diagnostic purposes. However, even though the regulation allows the use of AI, certain considerations must be taken into account.

1. Consent
Since AI applications for charting use voice recordings of both the professional and the patient, it is imperative to obtain patient consent before proceeding. At the beginning of an appointment, the athletic therapist must mention the use of an AI app so that the patient can give their free and clear consent. In the event of a refusal, the AI app must not be used, and the therapist must respect the decision.

2. Reviewing
Although AI tools are becoming increasingly powerful, athletic therapists who use them must review the notes produced by the software. It is important to remember that, in the event of a dispute, the patient’s file becomes an essential element and will be virtually undeniable. However, if one or more errors are found, the therapist will lose all credibility and professional integrity. It is therefore essential to review notes taken by AI with as much care as notes written by hand.

3. Personal Data Protection
As programs store data (such as audio recordings or transcripts), it is necessary to verify that they comply with current standards, particularly in terms of the implications of Law 25. Do your research before investing in a licence to ensure that the tool you want is appropriate.

For more information, we invite you to visit this page on the Collège des médecins’ website, which provides further details on the concepts outlined above.