CMTBC has revised the Interim Guidelines for Return to Practice, which provide RMTs with detailed guidance for practice in the context of COVID-19.

On May 15, 2020, CMTBC published the original version of Interim Guidelines for RMTs’ Return to Practice based on direction provided by BC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), and WorkSafeBC. The guidelines were developed in consultation with Iridia Medical Inc. and a panel of RMTs.

CMTBC committed to revising the guidelines periodically as the COVID-19 pandemic in BC changes and guidance from public health authorities evolves. The latest revisions, released November 2, 2020, were updated in consultation with Iridia Medical Inc. and are consistent with current recommendations from BC’s Provincial Health Officer and BCCDC. A few highlights include:

• Public health authorities have communicated the expectation that masks be worn in shared indoor spaces, e.g. clinic reception
• Difference between “required” and “recommended” is removed; each guideline represents best practice and RMTs are expected to implement the guidelines, to minimize risk of COVID-19 transmission
• Reminder that all RMTs must have a safety plan written, posted, and available on request
• Link to WorkSafeBC regarding concerns about air circulation, heating/cooling/HVAC

To assist RMTs in becoming familiar with the revised guidelines and how they have changed, CMTBC has posted the following:

• Revised Interim Guidelines for RMTs’ Return to Practice.
• A comparison document that identifies changes between the previous and new version of the interim guidelines (PDF).
• The previous version of the interim guidelines, for record-keeping purposes (PDF).

Please note that links are not active in the PDFs containing the redline version and the previous version of the guidelines.

Revised FAQs about the guidelines

Since May 15, 2020, CMTBC has also published and revised FAQs about the Interim Guidelines for RMTs’ Return to Practice. The FAQs respond to RMTs’ questions about interpretation and application of the interim guidelines. Coinciding with the November 2, 2020 revision of the interim guidelines, CMTBC has revised the FAQs. See the revised FAQs about the Interim Guidelines for RMTs’ Return to Practice.