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SUMMARY REPORT
ON FINDINGS FROM
AN ONLINE
SURVEY FOR
THE CANADIAN
PHYSIOTHERAPY
ASSOCIATION
regarding
STRATEGIC
PLANNING ISSUES
MARCH 2017
Online Survey conducted by
The Knowles Consulting Corporation
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RESPONDENT PROFILES
A total of 1,020 CPA members
responded to the survey over the
period from February 7th to March
3rd, 2017: 966 or 95% in English, and
54 or 5% in French.
92% of respondents are
physiotherapists in practice,
although some serve other roles in
the profession.
57% and 39% are in private and
public practice, respectively, with
another 18% in a multi-disciplinary
practice.
42% of respondents are from
Ontario, and 19% and 17% are
from British Columbia and Alberta,
respectively, with 22% from other
locations in Canada and beyond.
54% have been in practice for 16
or more years. 14% have been in
practice for less than 5 years. 28%
have practiced from 5 to 15 years.
4% are retired or students. French-
language respondents have
somewhat fewer years in practice.
49% and 28% are from large and
small urban areas respectively,
while the remaining 23% are from
rural and suburban areas. Proportionately, fewer French-
than English-language
respondents work in rural/remote
settings.
The chart below show the range of
Divisions represented by
respondents. French-language
respondents are less likely to be a
Division member.
INTRODUCTION
In 2015, the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) began
preparing for the development of a next-generation Strategic Plan,
to take effect in 2018 when the current plan expires. The new
Strategic Plan will identify key goals and major priorities for the
Association over the coming years, and will serve as a guide for
allocating our resources and prioritizing new initiatives.
We have employed a variety of consultation methods to ensure we
get the right feedback from the right people to build a plan that will
drive us forward to the 100-year marker of our profession, and
beyond, including:
▪ A robust survey of physiotherapy professionals in Canada
▪ Engagement with other health care professionals and key
stakeholders
▪ A national roundtable consultations with physiotherapy leaders.
To help with member understanding of these issues, we also
provided a Physiotherapy Landscape resource, where information
on CPA’s status and future is available for your consideration. The
landscape paper provided background on some of the key issues
facing the profession and the health care system, and was broken
down into three themes:
▪ Physiotherapy practice
▪ Health care policy
▪ The physiotherapy labour market
In concert with the Landscape paper, a confidential member survey
was designed and managed by our external consultants, The
Knowles Consulting Corporation. This report summarizes the input
from all respondents and will be used at the Roundtables and in the
Strategic Planning Workshop to focus further input and discussion.
The survey and this report address the following topics:
▪ The CPA Vision
▪ Priority Themes analyzed through the survey findings.
Comments included in this report on the CPA vision and priority
themes are a selected sample drawn by our consultants from open-
ended contributions by respondents.
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CPA’s VISION AND PREFERRED VISION THEMES
Every organization needs a compelling reason to exist. Usually this
is expressed in terms of “Vision” (where we want to be in the future)
and “Mission” (who we serve and why). For this strategic planning
process, we are looking at our Vision statement.
A Vision statement is "An image of our desired future" and a vivid
description of what things will be like once we have attained the
mission. Visions are described in the present tense, even though
they are defining a future. They are not slogans.
The following is the current vision statement for CPA:
Canadians are moving, moving more and moving better with the help of physiotherapy.
85% of respondents are at least somewhat satisfied with the current vision, but only 10% are
completely satisfied. There is considerable consistency in responses about CPA’s vision by Branch,
Division and Language, other than French-language respondents showing the greatest satisfaction
with the current vision statement.
74% of respondents included this theme as one of their three choices for changing the vision | 38 total comments
Beyond movement – prevention, pain reduction
EXAMPLES OF COMMENTS
▪ I hope a movement statement would remain as
well as other elements.
▪ Remain movement focused
▪ I would not focus on the word pain but rather
comfort.
▪ Facilitating optimal movement
▪ Focusing on practice domains, such as
"movement", will always result in certain physios
feeling left out. Focusing on broader themes such
as value and access will have greater potential to
resonate across the profession.
▪ At 70 I feel we need to be involved in prevention.
▪ We must be thoughtful about how we present pain
and pain reduction if we go down that path as
there are times where this happens and other times
where we help people live with their pain. Some
forms of pain and suffering are beyond our reach
and have benefits for people that our job is to walk
with them in the midst of their condition. Too much
to put into a vision statement. So maybe we
concentrate our vision not on the pain piece but
on the restoration of function, love of life, healing in
many forms and on many levels, integration of
abilities and learning new skills with the help of a
physiotherapist as what we bring to the table.
▪ For the movement one, I don’t like "beyond"
movement, but I like the inclusion of prevention
and pain reduction (maybe "using movement and
more to prevent, relieve, strengthen and enhance"
or something like that).
▪ Moving more and moving better is what we help
people do as therapists. But our vision as a
professional body needs to include scope of what
the organization is going to do for the profession.
Needs to be more compelling and memorable
than current vision listed above.
5%
8%
15%
19%
22%
23%
38%
70%
74%
If we were to change the vision statement, which themes should be considered for inclusion?
Beyond movement--prevention, pain reduction
Numbers indicate the percentage of respondents who that theme as one of 3 possible choices
Cohesive, nationwide, all components unified
Hands-on
Indispensable
Helping people to be active throughout their lives
Bringing value and health care system benefits
Quality of treatment
Working for (or with) the client
Access for all
10%
31%
44%
8%
7%
Does this vision statement still meet our needs?
Completely
Somewhat
Not at All
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70% of respondents included this theme as one of their three choices for changing the vision | 30 total comments
Helping people to be active throughout their lives
▪ Helping people to be active throughout their lives
▪ Maintain your body. Maintain your lifestyle.
Physiotherapy can help.
▪ PHYSIOTHERAPY: Live. Move. Thrive. Helping all
Canadians reach optimal health.
▪ I like the active one, but it doesn't say enough
▪ Optimizing health and independence
▪ Physiotherapists don't save lives, we give them back.
38% of respondents included this theme as one of their three choices for changing the vision | 16 total comments
Bringing value and health care system benefits
▪ Multi-disciplinary approach
▪ I think a concept about physiotherapy being one of the
best ways to extend the value of the health care system
▪ For the value one: I like it but obviously not that
wording.
27% of respondents included this theme as one of their three choices for changing the vision | 17 total comments
Access for all and Indispensable
▪ Inclusive and respectful of all people
▪ Improving access to quality care in under-resourced
areas
▪ Inclusive of disability
▪ From kids to seniors
▪ Other perspective – “Access for All should be
removed...this is not accurate.”
▪ Full public access and funding is necessary for
complete reliance on physio for movement and
rehabilitation. We are indispensable
▪ Some comments on wanting to eliminate the phrase
“hands-on” as not being inclusive
23% of respondents included this theme as one of their three choices for changing the vision | 29 total comments
Quality of treatment
▪ Showing the way forward
▪ Need to qualify mentoring & passing on skills as there is
or was no "Job Designation" for this within my work life
▪ Quality of assessment and diagnosis
▪ Integrated care / continuity of care
▪ Helping patient achieve the best outcomes for
themselves
▪ Maximize potential
22% of respondents included this theme as one of their three choices for changing the vision | 36 total comments
Working for (or with) clients
▪ Empowering and educating clients to look after
their health
▪ Connecting clients with available services and
resources to meet their health needs.
▪ Client centred/patient centred/person centred
▪ Physiotherapists are partners with clients, giving
them the knowledge and skills to improve their
health and wellness
▪ Don’t like “for” – working WITH
▪ Don't like the word client. Makes me think of banks,
not health care.
▪ I think that the vision should be relevant to patients
as well as funders and policy makers. The vision
needs to solve a problem that exists for all of those
groups.
▪ Definitely not hands-on - education is a big part of
our treatment.
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15% of respondents included this theme as one of their three choices for changing the vision | 3 total comments Hands-on approach (3)
▪ A hands on approach to pain reduction, and
prevention to encourage active lives.
▪ ‘Hands on' is far too limiting and does not express what
lots of PTs do. It negates the message that we provide
cost effective preventative services. I have strongly
disliked previous marketing campaigns about hands-
on, caring (although we care, it sounds too feminine,
soft and not outcomes based. We may care but does
it help and do we add value).
▪ We need to show how appropriate hands on (quality
RX) is effective as opposed to consultation!
5% of respondents included this theme as one of their three choices for changing the vision | 7 total comments
Cohesive; nationwide, all components unified (note: comments were more focused on serving interests of members and promotion/education of stakeholders)
▪ It should be the vision statement of CPA, not of
physiotherapy (the two are not the same) .... as an
organization, what is your vision ... what are you
trying to do?
▪ A strong and unionized physiotherapist.
▪ Financial well being in the market and after
retirement. (Remember dear colleagues, the CPA
serves the higher interests of its members before all)
▪ Support for the profession, to raise its importance in
the Health Care World
▪ Uphold the integrity of the profession and live up to
the respect and trust of our patients
▪ Promotion . . Includes government, employers,
etc.
NOTE ON DETAILED RESULTS
From a statistical perspective, respondents—regardless of their segment profile (e.g. Branch, Division or Language)—
demonstrate relative overall consistency in responses on almost all topics and themes in this survey. As an example, the
following charts illustrate that respondents fall within a relatively consistent range of agreement among most Branches and
Divisions regarding suitability of CPA’s current vision.
As responses in some profile categories may be small (e.g. in PEI and NWT/Nunavut Branches), differing views in individual
respondent segments cannot be assumed to be significant. For this reason, this report only highlights clear variations in views
through additional commentary, rather than including detailed data charts as shown below. However, additional detail by
respondent profile can be made available upon request where sufficient responses are available in that sub-segment.
Most common response level Most common response level
Most common response level
Those
most
strongly in
Agreement
Those
less in
Agreement
The most common response
(shown by the line above) falls within
the ‘Somewhat Agree’ range
(Note in the charts above that levels of disagreement may appear higher in some Divisions than for Branches because some respondents
belong to, and have responses counted under more than one Division).
Boxed areas indicate scores in the ‘Completely to Somewhat Agree’ range
5 | P a g e
SURVEY THEMES
SIMILAR TYPES OF QUESTIONS
▪ Adapting to Changes in
Physiotherapy Practice
▪ Timely Access to Care
▪ Quality of Practice
▪ Growth and Success of
Your Practice
▪ Embracing Innovation
______________________
OTHER TYPES OF QUESTIONS
▪ Building Collaboration
and Cohesiveness
among Components
▪ Delivering Value from
the Association to the
Members
OVERVIEW OF SURVEY THEMES
Seven themes (shown opposite) were explored in the online survey from the
point of view of their relevance to members and the importance of having
CPA play a role in addressing each theme. Through initial consultation,
these themes were identified as potential priorities for the Association—in
other words, areas of possible future CPA focus for it to achieve its vision.
Respondents were asked to reflect on these themes and add their views on
other areas that they feel should be considered.
Descriptions of the themes and examples of respondents’ comments are
shown separately for each theme on pages 8 to14 of this report.
Relevance and Importance of the First Five Themes
A comparative analysis of the relevance and importance of the first 5 themes
to PTs and their practice is shown in the charts below, and it indicates that:
▪ Timely Access to Care is a priority issue with very high relevance (89%)
to PTs and even higher importance for CPA to address (92%).
▪ Quality of Practice and Changes in PT Practice also rank very high at
84% and 82% respectively in relevance; and 89% and 88% in
importance for CPA to address.
72%
62%
56%
35%
35%
17%
22%
26%
30%
19%
8%
13%
14%
26%
25%
1%
1%
2%
5%
7%
2%
2%
2%
3%
14%
Timely Access to Care
Quality of Practice
Changes in Physiotherapy Practice
Embracing innovation
Growth and success of your practice
How relevant to you and your practice is . . . ?
Quite Relevant Somewhat Relevant Not Relevant and n/a
77%
67%
65%
40%
29%
15%
22%
23%
30%
28%
7%
9%
9%
25%
28%
1%
1%
1%
4%
7%
0%
1%
1%
2%
7%
Timely Access to Care
Quality of Practice
Changes in Physiotherapy Practice
Embracing innovation
Growth and success of your practice
How important to you and your practice is . . . ?
Very Important Somewhat Important Not Important and n/a
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Note that in reporting on
variations in responses by Branch,
Branches with fewer than 5
respondents have not been
included. These are PEI and NWT
& Nunavut.
Relevance and Importance of Component Relationships
With respect to the remaining 2 themes (see charts opposite), respondents
indicated that they were, on average, somewhat knowledgeable about the
Components and their various missions, with 74% expressing some
knowledge. Knowledge about the Components is lower among French-
language respondents and among members in the Private Practice Division.
At the same time, 92% of respondents felt that it was at least somewhat
important that the Components have productive relationships and operate
collaboratively. The gap between being knowledgeable about Components
and the importance of having productive relationships is noteworthy.
Priority Themes—For Focus in CPA’s Strategic Plan
Respondents were asked at the end of the survey to indicate their three top
priority themes in terms of their importance for the CPA Strategic Plan.
Based on the responses shown below, Quality of Practice is a first priority for
inclusion in the CPA Strategic Plan, followed by CPA helping members adapt
to Changes in Physiotherapy Practice. French-language respondents place
even higher priority on CPA help in adapting to Changes in PT Practice than
do English-language respondents. New-Brunswick members however place
least priority on CPA help in adapting to Changes in PT Practice.
Delivering Value from the Association to the Member, a member-focused
priority, and promoting Timely Access to Care, a client-focused priority with
ancillary benefits to members, come next for inclusion in the CPA Strategic
Plan, receiving a similar percentage of votes.
A role for CPA in helping PTs Embrace Innovation (and new technology) is
included by a little over one-third of respondents as a priority in CPA’s
Strategic Plan.
Building Collaboration and Cohesiveness among Components and assisting
PTs with Growth and Success of Your Practice are respectively mentioned by
only one in five respondents as a priority for CPA.
Views on the last two themes show some differences by Branch, Division and
Language. In the earlier question about importance to PTs and their
practices of CPA support for
Growth and Success of PT
Practices, respondents in the
Private Practice Division are
the most interested in having
this theme addressed, while
French-language responses in
Quebec and Yukon
responses score lower.
English-speaking respondents
in Quebec, and in
Newfoundland and Labrador,
give greater priority to
Building Collaboration among
Components as a theme in
the Strategic Plan.
13%
18%
43%
14% 13%
Quite Knowledgeable Somewhat Knowledgeable Not Knowledgeable
How knowledgeable are you about the Components and their various missions?
35%
30%27%
5%3%
VeryImportant
SomewhatImportant
NotImportant
How important is it to you that the Components have productive relationships
and operate collaboratively?
21%
21%
35%
43%
44%
66%
69%
Please choose the top three priority themes from those that have been presented in terms of importance for the CPA Strategic Plan.
Indicate the top three priority themes.
Percentages indicate the proportion of respondents who chose that service as one of 3 possible choices
Delivering Value from the Association to the Member
Timely Access to Care
Embracing Innovation
Quality of Practice
Changes in Physiotherapy Practice
Building Collaboration and Cohesiveness among Components
Growth and Success of Your Practice
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Most Important CPA Services
Along with responses on the top three priority themes for a CPA Strategic
Plan, respondents were asked to indicate the importance to them of a
number of potential CPA services.
As the chart below shows, 60% of respondents ranked Protecting the
Physiotherapy Brand as important to them, followed closely by Sharing
Research on Evidence and Providing Access to Insurance and other ways of
helping financially. Access to insurance is more important to respondents in
Saskatchewan, the Yukon and French-language respondents in Ontario.
Building the Skills and Knowledge of Practitioners is important to about half of
respondents, followed by Building Understanding and Support for
Physiotherapy through social and other media.
Only about a third of respondents indicated that Advocating on Key Issues
was important to them as a CPA service. French-language respondents
favour Advocacy on Key Issues more than English-language respondents.
34%
44%
47%
56%
58%
60%
Associations are constantly challenged to demonstrate value to their members and to non-members (so that they will join and retain membership).
CPA can provide value in a number of ways.Which of the following CPA services are the most important to you?
Protecting the Physiotherapy “brand” against encroachment by other providers
Sharing research on evidence regarding effectiveness and quality of practice
Providing access to insurance and other ways of helping financially
Building skills and knowledge of practitioners
Building understanding and support for physiotherapy by social media, advertising
Advocating on key issues e.g., opioids, funding, underserviced groups
Percentages indicate the proportion of respondents who chose that service as one of 3 possible choices
8 | P a g e
SURVEY THEME: CHANGES IN PHYSIOTHERAPY PRACTICE
Changes in Physiotherapy Practice
(from description in the survey) There are changes happening in how
physiotherapy is practiced. These include
where we practice (sole practice, private
multi-physio clinic, multi-disciplinary clinic,
public setting), how we practice (use of
assistants, use of technology) and what we
are permitted to do (diagnostic testing,
blood work, wound management).
The CPA could focus on advocacy
(influencing legislation regarding expanding
scope of practice) and/or education
(helping physiotherapists develop skills and
knowledge).
SURVEY FINDINGS
84% of respondents indicate that changes
in the PT practice environment are of high relevance to them.
88% indicate that it is important or very important that
CPA provide support in adapting to changes.
EXAMPLES OF COMMENTS on ROLE FOR CPA
(comment in bold is supported by additional similar comments)
Enable expanding the scope of practice. Promote public education on the expanding role of PT e.g. mental health, ER role. Play effective roles – clinician,
leader, collaborator, innovator, injury prevention. Encompass broader roles – prevention, treatment, sustainable independence. Push PT towards being
the leading profession pertaining to recognition of the importance of movement. Include osteopathic practice for better health outcomes. There is
expansion in the use of other professions in professional sports and we are missing the boat. Promote diversity of our specialities. Pediatric focus is
important for the future. Don’t forget Animal rehab. More awareness of our specialty programs. Focus more on in prevention. Promote diversity of our
specialities.
Protect and communicate the PT brand. Protect scope of practice, practice innovation, and practice skill. Demonstrate importance of our role before
others take it over. Distinguish PT from other health care practices. We’re in a market where others want more of the client. We need to stay in the
limelight. We need to set ourselves apart. We are lagging behind. Raise the profile and understanding/advocate for the value of PT with the public and
stakeholders (MDs, surgeons, rheumatologists, plastic surgeons, government bodies, insurers) in both therapy and prevention/wellness. You are our voice,
our role in preventative health, marketing our profession. To be known as #1 for returning people to function. This is what we need-strong national and
local lobbying on the value of PT. What makes us different from similar professions? The masses including doctors need to be better educated on what a
PT can provide. Promotion of the profession. I feel we have been on the defence …..with other professions, government, and insurance companies.
Advocate on the value to the system of prevention. More advocating for PT as a profession (like the chiropractors). Strong advocacy needed.
Communicate relevance to patients, outcomes and building a positive image for PTs. Public awareness of the role of PT in various domains.
SELECTED COMMENTS ON CHANGES IN PHYSIOTHERAPY PRACTICE
Have many competitors. Expansion of big corporations aggressively taking over smaller clinics. Large corporations aligning with insurers giving rise to a
possible conflict of interest. Shift to more “money centered” practice at the expense of quality care. We are getting a reputation for being a “revolving
door” and are being overtaken by chiropractors. Expansion of private practice and OHIP clinics. We are reactive and losing ground to more assertive
professions. There are risks in working with other professions - they imitate us and take over our scope.
NOTE: Many of the comments made by survey respondents cut across more than one survey theme. For example, comments
about “expanding the scope of practice” can be considered to be an issue about a change to physiotherapy practice issue, or
a quality of practice issue or an advocacy issue. The placement of the comments is perhaps less important that the fact that, to
be mentioned as a comment in this summary report, a point had to have been made by several respondents.
56% 26% 14%2% 2%
Relevance Importance
How relevant to you and your practice are CHANGES IN THE PT
PRACTICE ENVIRONMENT?
How important is it for the CPA to continue its efforts in this area?
65% Very Important
Very
Somewhat
Not
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SURVEY THEME: TIMELY ACCESS TO CARE
Timely Access to Care
(from description in the survey) Physiotherapy can be shown to reduce
overall health care costs through prevention
and early intervention. But there has been a
reduction in support for physiotherapy by
governments and insurers at a time when
the need is increasing in under-served
sectors (seniors, rural remote, low socio-
economic status). The Association has a role
in advocacy and lobbying and providing
evidence (demonstrating the cost
effectiveness of PT to gov’t and insurance
sectors and to the public).
SURVEY FINDINGS
72% of respondents indicate that timely
access to care is of high relevance to PTs
and their practice.
77% indicate that it is important or very
important that CPA provide support in improving timely access to care.
EXAMPLES OF COMMENTS on ROLE FOR CPA
(comment in bold is supported by additional similar comments)
Address under-serviced populations (rural, remote, First Nations, seniors, immigrants, homecare, persons with disabilities). Equal access for all
populations. Advocate for Medicare coverage- difficult but not impossible. Particularly rural, remote, First Nations. Could CPA obtain funding for these
populations from Health Canada? More initiatives for First Nations people to study PT. Would be helpful to communicate in other languages since new
Canadians not aware of PT. Raise public awareness of direct access. First Nations awareness and education. Address under-serviced populations (rural,
remote, First Nations, LBGTQ, seniors, immigrants, homecare, persons with disabilities). Equal access for all populations, inclusivity. Influence the supply
of PTs in underserved areas. Address the call to action of the TRC.
Influence supply of PTs. Advocate for increasing the workforce. CDN universities need to graduate more PTs; implications of not doing this is serious
including encroachment of other professions. Recruiting for remote and rural areas. Maintaining staff levels in the public system. Encourage rostering
systems to rotate new PTs through clinical areas. This could be a negative thing—keep an eye on possible over-supply. Need more public practice PTs to
see the value of our profession. More focus on public practice needed. Keep a balance between sectors. Consider supports for rural PTs. Advocate for
student training in rural areas. Helping them get clinical practice.
Align PTs with evolving population health needs. Initiatives to bring PT to rural/remote locations. Healthcare is changing, need to adapt practice,
embrace innovation and work closely with other partners. How will healthcare changes affect small, in-home PTs. Patient access to in-patient rehab
services. Chronic condition management in the private sector and adapting to the aging landscape. Advocate as an evidence based, highly beneficial
therapy that should be included on the prescription pad, advocate as a leader of the exercise movement community, resisting pressures on moving
patients out of hospital, advocate for ambulatory community PT. Promote the role for conditions we see the most of - LBP, shoulder, and knee pain.
Promote more specific messages – back problems, incontinence, motor accidents, etc.
Improve timeliness of care through more advanced practice roles. Why is right to prescribe diagnostic tests coming so slowly? Ability to order imaging
for ortho problems. Please lobby for ordering imaging for ortho. Use PTs to reduce wait times for ortho. Colleges should be more active in topics like timely
access. Advocate for greater use of PTAs. PTs should be able to legally diagnose clinically, order diagnostic tests. Let’s take a stand. Negotiate with
insurers so that MD referrals not required. Growth of the profession into advanced practice roles. Many PTs do not play the full role they could and it is a
shame to see the skills go to waste. Increase our presence in emergency departments and triage systems. PT as part of primary care.
Advocate for greater extended health benefits. Companies should provide good benefits. Ensure insurers do not limit access to preferred providers.
72% 17% 8% 1% 2%
Relevance Importance
How relevant to you and your practice is TIMELY ACCESS TO CARE?
How important is it for the CPA to continue its efforts in this area?
77% Very Important
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SURVEY THEME: QUALITY OF PRACTICE
Quality of Practice
(from description in the survey) Some practitioners are concerned that
factors such as the consolidation of clinics,
economic pressures and other changes can
have a negative impact on quality. The
CPA and its practice-focused divisions can
play a role in helping physiotherapists adopt
evidence-informed practice in order to
enhance the quality of treatment and
demonstrate cost-effectiveness.
SURVEY FINDINGS
62% of respondents indicate that
evidence-informed guidance is of high
relevance to PTs and their practice in
facilitating quality of treatment and cost-
effectiveness.
67% indicate that it is important or very
important that CPA provide support in improving quality of practice.
EXAMPLES OF COMMENTS on ROLE FOR CPA
(comment in bold is supported by additional similar comments)
Focus on quality of treatment. Put patients and the public first. In Continuing Care teams, ensure that the PT is spending time on true therapeutic
interventions. Move to a critical-thinking and patient-guiding profession. Bringing real healing to people. Quality practice is essential. Quality over quantity
is one of the hallmarks of a profession. Develop Pan-Canadian ethical standards. Work with CPA and the Divisions to work with the Colleges to uphold
practice standards. Raise the bar for using advance techniques safely. Need more in-person time with patients. Limit the use of aides in practice. Clarify CPA
rules on working with PTAs. Be careful how PTAs are used - this has implications for quality treatment, patient satisfaction and support for our profession
by insurers. Embrace competency and proof of competency. You need experience to be competent, not just a weekend course. In musculoskeletal we need
more emphasis on active interventions. We have good, not great PT in Canada; let’s strive to make the best. We need to be positioned to deliver effective,
efficient, evidence-based treatments ensuring quality of care. Ensuring PTs provide quality care. Place more emphasis on professional rather than business
orientation of PT. Work with CPA and the Divisions to work with the Colleges to uphold practice standards.
Share evidence-based research. Close the gap between data/evidence/knowledge and clinical practice and the development of new practice models.
Make evidence-based literature accessible; it’s too difficult. We need to be developing and communicating new evidence in new ways. Credibility within
the healthcare establishment is essential to us and depends on more consistent practice and evidence-based patterns. Advocate for quality practice,
research and evidence to inform practice. PT is divided into specialities. We need to transfer success across these knowledges. Advance the profession
through research. Promote continuous learning. Make PTs aware of the benefits of osteopathic techniques. We need evidence to combat erosion to other
disciplines. Our success in the past 25 years is in harnessing data, and reporting findings that demonstrate value, but is has been limited.
Demonstrate cost-effectiveness of PTs as an integral part of the healthcare system. Define the unique value of PT in healthcare. We need to awaken our
profession and provide cost effective services and outcomes. We need to be thought of as a key component in healthcare. Must find the inner energy to
break out of old patterns of thinking and practice. We need to be positioned to deliver effective, efficient, evidence-based treatments ensuring quality of
care. Build understanding of the cost benefits of PT to overall healthcare costs. Do so in all provinces in a balanced way. Market the benefits to the HC
system and then ensure that providing outcomes. Advocate for use of PTs in public practice settings. Emphasize the positive impact of PT on public system
healthcare costs. Earlier intervention be PTs would lead to cost savings. PT is an important part of one’s health care team. Earlier referral would save
downstream costs. Physiotherapy saves money with children with special needs. Advocate for role in the HC system. Eliminate duplicate regulation fees
like FSC licencing. Advocate for no HST on PT services. It’s hard to balance quality practice with funding cutbacks. Assert our place in healthcare. Need to
be practical and efficient. Move from a physician-centred to team-based system. Healthcare is dominated by doctors and nurses and we are forgotten in
primary care. This is an important objective to accomplish. This is a survival issue.
62% 22% 13% 1% 2%
Relevance Importance
How relevant to you and your practice is EVIDENCE-
INFORMED GUIDANCE?
How important is it for the CPA to focus on quality of
practice?
67% Very Important
Very
Somewhat
Not
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SURVEY THEME: GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF YOUR PRACTICE
Growth and Success of Your Practice
(from description in the survey) There has been and will continue to be an
expansion of demand (with aging
population, better understanding of role of
physiotherapy). This increase in demand
can challenge a practitioner’s ability to
manage the demand without burnout.
Developing marketing and business
management skills and increasing the
number of graduates can help.
SURVEY FINDINGS
35% of respondents indicate that
managing the growth and success of their
practice is of high relevance to them.
29% indicate that it is important or very
important that CPA provide support for
growth and success of their practice.
Respondents in the Private Practice Division show the most interest
in having this theme addressed by CPA.
EXAMPLES OF COMMENTS on ROLE FOR CPA
(comment in bold is supported by additional similar comments)
Support new practice models. Need new service models to align with evolving government review of how our services fit in. Integrate PT services across
the continuum. Prevent non-PTs owning clinics. Design new models of PT services, e.g. our consultative practice. Collaborative Practice models. To
facilitate optimal patient outcomes. Working in inter-disciplinary practices. Provide business management and marketing coaching.
Advocate for fair working conditions and rate increases with providers and the hospital system, and fair compensation generally. CPA must protect PTs
from being contract employees without fair working conditions. Include those who work in public practice is important in the strategic themes since those
PTs are facing enormous challenges e.g. 7-day scheduling, constrained resources etc. Helping PTs with burnout in the public system. Push for rate
increases with providers and PTs in hospital system. No increase from insurers and government providers in 13 years where I practice. CPA needs to help
us more to increase pay in the hospital system. Advocate for paid pediatric, osteopathic therapy, emergency room assessment roles. Who is speaking for
the hospital-based therapists who have lost so much (workloads, “real” patients). Protect PTs from being contract employees without fair working
conditions. Avoid burnout.
Help new grads. Help new grads develop collaborative problem-solving skills and collegiality, patient sharing and professionalism. Colleges make it difficult
for us to market our services - can CPA address this by pointing out how the specialized divisions enhance the quality of care? Work on engaging students.
CPA should work with Colleges to facilitate owning a practice. We are only profession that does not have the market as part of our education. Like the
webinars on pillars of business.
Address issues with clinics. Protect hands-on PT from corporate clinics with PTAs, urge clinics to provide mentoring. Manage problem of poor quality
private practice. Help small private clinics thrive. Pressures on quality of practice from employers. I am concerned about the poor quality I see in some
clinics. Prevention of non-PTs owning clinics. There are risks in working with other professions-they imitate us and take over our scope. Misalignment of the
private clinic business model and quality treatment.
35% 19% 25% 7% 14%
Relevance Importance
How relevant to you and your practice is IMPROVING HOW YOU MANAGE THE
GROWTH & SUCCESS OF YOUR PRACTICE?
Very Somewhat Not
29%
Very Important
How important is it for the CPA to provide support in this area?
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SURVEY THEME: EMBRACING INNOVATION
Embracing Innovation
(from description in the survey) There have been many new tools,
techniques and approaches introduced
such as telehealth, electronic outcomes
measurement, practice management tools,
use of the Internet for patient driven self-
diagnosis and treatment, etc. Not all
physiotherapists are embracing these
changes.
SURVEY FINDINGS
35% of respondents indicate that
embracing innovation is of high relevance to
them and their practice.
40% indicate that it is important or very
important that CPA provide support to PTs in
embracing innovation by increasing
the ability of physiotherapists to use tools
and technology.
EXAMPLES OF COMMENTS on ROLE FOR CPA
(comment in bold is supported by additional similar comments)
Support role of innovation. Embrace innovation, using research to enhance the quality of life and optimizing function. Make innovation in practice
interesting and exciting. Focus on supporting PTs and innovation. Innovation for own sake is not helpful. Raise the bar for using advance techniques safely.
Position as partners and leaders with others. We need to be leaders. Keep us on the leading edge.
Support adoption of new technologies. E-health. Electronic outcomes measurement. Practice management software. Get rid of old approaches like
electrotherapy. Embrace innovative tools. Support technology for rural therapists. Help PTs by identifying charting/billing software. Will we be replaced
by robots? Adopt a social media approach to using the strategic plan.
Promote Masters and Doctorate programs. We should promote a Doctor of PT. Develop a DPT program like the US. A PT to be recognized as a “Doctor”.
Return to 3 or 4 programs. Should have a residency program. Doing the Master and Doctorate programs does not mean a more qualified graduate since
they are being done in less time. A PT to be recognized as a “Doctor”. Return to 3 or 4 programs. Should have a residency program. Doing the Master and
Doctorate programs does not mean a more qualified graduate since they are being done in less time.
35% 30% 26% 5%
3%
Relevance Importance
How relevant to you and your practice is EMBRACING INNOVATION?
How important is it for the CPA to increase the ability of PTs to
use tools & technology?
40% Very Important
Very Somewhat Not
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SURVEY THEME: BUILDING COLLABORATION AND
COHESIVENESS AMONG COMPONENTS
Building Collaboration and Cohesiveness among Components
(from description in the survey) The network of physiotherapy organizations is made up of the
national CPA, the branches (geographically based) and the
divisions (practice focused). Jointly they are known as the
Components. In some areas, they work closely together and in
others they are quite independent.
SURVEY FINDINGS
74% of respondents indicate that they are at least somewhat
knowledgeable about Components and their various missions.
92% indicate that it is at least somewhat important that
Components have productive relationships and operate
collaboratively.
EXAMPLES OF COMMENTS on ROLE FOR CPA
(comment in bold is supported by additional similar comments)
Reinforce collaboration and cohesiveness among Components. Work on the
relationships, trust, mutual respect, listening. Define roles of provinces and National
CPA. Work on how to increase cohesiveness and collaboration in the profession:
bottom-to-top approach, not top-to-bottom. If we don’t collaborate across the
nation, across Components, we are on the way to demise. Revise MOUs. Improve
decision-making style. Having a cohesion plan among Components is essential.
Listen to branches and divisions equally. How can internal impediments be avoided?
Bolster and support the role of Divisions. Many of us identify more with a Component related to our field of practice. Divisions do more to advance
practice than the CPA as a whole. Divisions should focus on skills development. Collaboration between all divisions and the pain management Division.
Engage students. The value added from the divisions is virtually nil. Refresh their websites for providing information.
Enhance governance model and alliances. Include patients as Board members or in advisory capacity. Work with Colleges and the Alliance of PT
Regulators. Strategic alliance with other PT organizations. Merge with OT. Would prefer to be only a CPA member, my provincial association does not
support the work I do.
Work on communication and engagement. Avoid blast emails. Listen and respond to Component input. Is there a way of providing “sound bites” or
summary information to those who want to practice forever? We want to feel we are heard. We need a strong national voice, not breaking up into
provincial groups. CPA needs to listen to what member PTs say, not just those in Toronto. CPA feels distant. PT is complex, don’t oversimplify the priorities.
CPA seems to distance itself from members. Member engagement. We have PTs across the country that are not involved and we need to engage a larger
proportion of the members. Could greater use of focus groups (by teleconference) be used in the strategic planning process? How can concerns of
Components regarding a strategic priority be communicated. The Strategic Plan should consider how to contribute to the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission.
35%
30%27%
5%3%
VeryImportant
SomewhatImportant
NotImportant
How important is it to you that the Components have productive relationships
and operate collaboratively?
13%
18%
43%
14% 13%
Quite Knowledgeable Somewhat Knowledgeable Not Knowledgeable
How knowledgeable are you about the Components and their various missions?
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SURVEY THEME: DELIVERING VALUE
FROM THE ASSOCIATION TO ITS MEMBERS
Delivering Value from the
Association to its Members (from description in the survey)
Associations are constantly
challenged to demonstrate value to
their members and to nonmembers
(so that they will join and retain
membership). CPA can provide
value in a number of ways.
SURVEY FINDINGS
Respondents were asked to choose
up to three services that were
important to them. Priority choices
are shown in the chart opposite.
Examples of comments relating to the above choices of priority services for CPA are included below but may also be
found under each relevant theme covered earlier in this report.
EXAMPLES OF COMMENTS on ROLE FOR CPA
(comment in bold is supported by additional similar comments)
Advocate for PTs. Representing us is the association’s primary purpose. Help branches with their advocating. Advocacy toolkits, media guidelines etc.
Advocate for changes in PT education. Thank you for the work you do in promoting our profession. CPA should work way harder to motivate its members
to feel represented by CPA. Keep up the good work. PTs need a strong national presence. Colleges make it difficult for us to market our services - can CPA
address this by pointing out how the specialized divisions enhance the quality of care?
Enhance member services. Need CPA to provide extended health insurance, pension plan. Deliver value to all PTs not just members. Cut our endless
meetings and develop the things members want. Quebec association needs to offer bilingual services. Open up the resources of all Components to all
members. Make members aware of value and services. Must deliver value to members or we will lose them. Need CPA to provide extended health
insurance, pension plan. Deliver value to all PTs not just members. I appreciate the insurance. Make sure products like insurance are the best. Other than
insurance I don’t feel CPA does much for my profession…..maybe you are out of touch.
Increase self-growth educational opportunities in a time- and cost-effective format. Make (online) courses more available and affordable. Make courses
more affordable. Funding to take courses and enhance knowledge. Access to peer-reviewed journals. Continue the printed journals. Make provincial and
national conferences more affordable. Physiopedia is valued. I appreciate the CPA commercial, CPA courses, women’s health and ortho divisions.
Networking between PTs in acute care who are facing a crossroads with cutbacks and focus communications/promotion. Cancelling Congress was a
mistake, but it must be improved to be more practice-focused, give people tools and info. Continuing education should be supported.
Attract and retain members. Expand membership to have a stronger voice, make national CPA mandatory, to enhance lobbying power. More members
mean more clout. Lower membership fees through streamlined admin practices. More affordable membership fees. Reduce fees. Need to focus on
retention. Spend our fees wisely. Try to make inroads in public practice. Reduce fees for PTAs.
Keep up the good work. CPA is a huge benefit. Proud to be a member. You guys do a great job. Enjoyed reading the landscape paper. I get value for my
membership fees. Thanks for this opportunity.
34%
44%
47%
56%
58%
60%
Associations are constantly challenged to demonstrate value to their members and to non-members (so that they will join and retain membership).
CPA can provide value in a number of ways.Which of the following CPA services are the most important to you?
Protecting the Physiotherapy “brand” against encroachment by other providers
Sharing research on evidence regarding effectiveness and quality of practice
Providing access to insurance and other ways of helping financially
Building skills and knowledge of practitioners
Building understanding and support for physiotherapy by social media, advertising
Advocating on key issues e.g., opioids, funding, underserviced groups
Percentages indicate the proportion of respondents who chose that service as one of 3 possible choices