RMTs can refer to Frequently Asked Questions about the Practice Environment for more information about the Practice Environment Standard of Practice.
Practice standards define the minimum level of expected performance for registered massage therapists, and therefore define what constitutes safe, ethical, and competent delivery of care by RMTs.
RMTs are responsible for exercising their professional judgment to apply the standards to the situations that they face in practice.
The “practice environment” refers to the physical environment where the registered massage therapist (RMT) delivers treatment and provides care to patients, as well as to the objects and equipment within that environment. Depending on the size and layout of the practice environment, it may include spaces such as waiting rooms, entry areas, exercise areas, staff rooms, washrooms and treatment rooms. For an RMT with a mobile practice that results in the RMT delivering massage therapy in locations such as a patient’s home or a hospital, the practice environment may be limited to the RMT’s immediate workspace.
RMTs are health professionals and provide treatment in professional practice environments that allow them to satisfy all professional and practice standards.
RMTs promote and maintain a safe treatment space within the practice environment for patients, colleagues, themselves, and others.
Some RMTs provide treatment in practice environments that they themselves do not fully control (e.g. extended care facility, clinic or spa owned by others). It is each RMT’s responsibility, however, to ensure the RMT’s provision of care meets the minimum requirements for the practice environment described below.
If the electronic recording device is being used to create a video, photographic or audio recording of the patient for the purpose(s) of intake, assessment, treatment, or education, the RMT must obtain the patient’s consent as required under PIPA.
Playing music on an electronic recording device is a permitted purpose within the meaning of this section, but only where it does not require the RMT to manipulate or handle the electronic recording device while the patient is present (except at the patient’s request due to patient preference of music).
For the purpose of this Practice Standard, an “electronic recording device” is a device which may have features including photographic, video or audio recording capacity, and includes but is not limited to:
It does not include any device which does not have photographic, video or audio recording capacity.
For the purpose of this Practice Standard, “adequate lighting” is lighting which supports both the patient and the RMT individually and contributes to safety in the practice environment, as follows:
For the patient:
For the RMT:
For safety:
For the purposes of section 1(c) of this standard, the requirements currently set by CMTBC based on requirements/recommendations of current public health and infection prevention and control agencies are the Communicable Disease Prevention Requirements.
In complying with section 3 of this standard, regarding documentation and inspection of equipment, an RMT should consider the use of a checklist of routine maintenance and inspection steps, which is updated at least every two months, but more often where appropriate.
RMTs who have questions about the Practice Environment Standard of Practice can contact [email protected].
RMTs who have questions about the Practice Environment Standard of Practice can contact [email protected].
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