The Ontario government has implemented two emergency orders to ensure that residents of long-term care and retirement homes are protected during the COVID-19 outbreak.
These temporary orders impose immediate obligations on physiotherapists who work in either long-term care or retirement homes.
These orders restrict long-term care or retirement home employees from working in more than one location, as of April 22, 2020 at 12:01 a.m.
The orders also require physiotherapists who work in multiple facilities to report this to their employer and to make these reports immediately.
In Long-Term Care:
Any physiotherapist who works as an employee of a long-term care provider and is employed in another health care facility, including a clinic, hospital, or retirement home must inform each of their employers that they are subject to this order by Friday, April 17, 2020 at 5 p.m.
In Retirement Homes:
Any physiotherapist who works as an employee of a retirement home and is employed in another health care facility, including a clinic, hospital, or another retirement home must inform each of their employers that they are subject to this order by Monday April 20, 2020 at 9 a.m.
Review the emergency orders from the Ministry:
Emergency Order – Retirement Homes
Emergency Order - Amendment - Work Deployment LTC Homes (April 14 2020)
Additional information on the steps that Ontario is taking to manage COVID-19 in the long-term care setting can be found here: COVID-19 Action Plan: Long-Term Care Homes.
If you have questions, please contact our Practice Advisors at 1-800-583-5885 ext. 241or advice@collegept.org.