The Regulated Health Professions Act

The Regulated Health Professions Act

The Regulated Health Professions Act (“the RHPA”) changes the way health professions in Manitoba are regulated. It will replace more than 20 statutes and bring all regulated health professions under one umbrella act.  The RHPA sets out consistent rules and processes for governance, registration, complaints and discipline, and regulation and by-law making authority. Each profession-specific statute will be repealed when the profession is transitioned to the RHPA. Professional self-governance will continue under the RHPA and each profession will have a college, regulations, a code of ethics and standards to govern its members.

The RHPA sets out a new way of regulating who does what in the provision of health services based on the concept of controlling specific health care services or procedures. These health care services or procedures, known as “reserved acts”, are performed in the course of providing health care by competent health care professionals. The health professional must have the appropriate knowledge, competence and skills necessary to perform the act safely. There are 21 categories of reserved acts, including such activities as ordering screening and diagnostic tests, making a diagnosis and prescribing/dispensing/administering drugs, among others.

Profession-specific regulations under the RHPA will set out what specific reserved acts a profession can perform and any limits or conditions on the performance of these acts. Under the RHPA, reserved acts are not exclusive to any one health profession, and are intended to encourage the practice of inter-professional care.

Minister Receives Report on Health Professions Advisory Council Review of the Performance of "High Neck Manipulation" by Regulated Health Professionals

The Health Professions Advisory Council has completed its review of the performance of “high neck manipulation” by regulated health professionals and submitted its report to the Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living. 

The Council found that:

On the whole, the material provided to the Council does not generate sufficiently definitive or conclusive evidence which would lead to a prohibition of the performance by regulated health professionals of “high neck manipulation” as part of the larger Reserved Act.  The evidence does indicate, however, that the performance of “high neck manipulation” or cervical spine manipulation does present a risk of harm to patients. This risk of harm must be understood by both the patient and the practitioner.

Both the jurisprudence review and the research literature review point to the need for the following actions to mitigate the risk of harm associated with the performance of cervical spine manipulation:

  • Action One: Ensure that the patient provides written informed consent prior to initiating treatment which includes a discussion about the risk associated with cervical spine manipulation.
  • Action Two: Provide patients with information to assist in the early recognition of a serious adverse event.

The Minister has accepted the Council’s findings.

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New Registered Nurses Regulations

Profession-specific regulations for registered nurses will bring the profession under the RHPA, effective May 31, 2018. The Registered Nurses Act will be repealed. The new regulations will define the scope of practice of the profession, including the reserved acts that nurses may perform. The legislation will create a new designation of registered nursing – the “authorized prescriber” [RN(AP)]. These nurses will be allowed to independently perform the reserved acts of ordering diagnostic tests and prescribing medications for patient populations that require registered nursing care in the areas of diabetes health; travel health; reproductive health; and sexually transmitted infections and blood borne pathogens.

The reserved acts authorized for the profession generally reflect the activities currently being carried out by registered nurses independently or as delegated by a physician or other regulated health professional or pursuant to a protocol established by their employer in their practice setting.

In 2015, public consultations were undertaken on the regulations as required under the RHPA. As a result of the feedback received in the consultations, a panel made up of respected leaders of the medical and nursing professions was established to provide advice to assist in the finalization of the reserved acts for registered nurses. The panel reviewed issues raised through the consultation process and consulted with key stakeholders, including regional health authorities, the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, physician and nurse stakeholders and labour organizations. The panel’s report to the Minister confirmed the reserved acts were appropriate for the registered nursing profession and those of its recommendations that relate to the regulations are reflected in the regulations. View the report here. PDF (Please note that Appendix A of the report has been removed to comply with The Freedom of Information and Personal Privacy Act regarding the privacy of individual persons who appeared at meetings with the Panel.)

The effective date of the regulations is May 31, 2018 to enable the CRNM, employers, registered nurses and other relevant stakeholders to prepare for their implementation.

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News Release:

Province Receives Stakeholder Consultation Report on Paramedic Self-Regulation

Stakeholder consultations on the self-regulation of the paramedic profession are complete and the province has received the report from the consultant, Reg Toews.

To view the report, please click here. PDF