Practice Reviews

The Practice Review module of the Quality Assurance and Professional Practice (QAPP) Program is a measure of practice competence within the clinical setting.

Practice Reviews are based on CSHBC standards of practice and related decision support tools. Only aspects of the CSHBC Standards of Practice that are prescriptive (i.e., ‘must dos’) rather than permissive (‘may dos’) are included in the process. See Registrant Resources for more information on all applicable standards of practice and related documents.

All onsite Practice Reviews are strictly confidential and between the College and the registrant. Employers may not participate, observe, or receive outcome results from onsite practice reviews. Registrants are required to meet any planned remediation activities within the timeline established with the Practice Review Assessor and/or a profession-specific Practice Review Panel.

All regulated health professionals in BC have a duty to comply with their respective quality assurance program under a college’s bylaws and provisions of the Health Professions Act. If a CSHBC registrant refuses to comply with a QAPP Practice Review as provided for in the Bylaws, the QAPP Committee must refer the matter to the College’s Inquiry Committee for investigation.

Practice Review process

Each of the three professions regulated by CSHBC are at different places in the evolution of the Practice Review module.

Hearing Instrument Dispensing

Registered Hearing Instrument Practitioners (RHIPs) registered in or before 2017, and in clinical practice, were reviewed using a two-part process. This involved the use of a validated screening tool. Registrants who did not pass the screening were seen for an onsite practice review. All remediation plans for this group have been completed.

The following video was created in 2019, shortly after practice reviews of all RHIPs registered in or before 2018 were completed. Some aspects of the Practice Review module discussed in the video, including details of each phase of reviews, may not reflect future practice review processes for registrants. The video, however, still provides an informative overview of practice reviews. Watch the video:

All new RHIPs are required to undergo an onsite Practice Review within two years of receiving Full registration. RHIPs who registered in 2018 and are in clinical practice have been reviewed and remediations have been completed. Practice Reviews of RHIPs who registered in 2019 and 2020 are now underway.

Speech-Language Pathology

The Practice Review process for Registered Speech-Language Pathologists (RSLPs) are now underway, beginning with a pilot project of 40 randomly selected RSLPs who will be screened and receive an onsite Practice Review. This will enable CSHBC to validate the screening tool.

Audiology

The Practice Review process for Registered Audiologists (RAUDs) is under development. Further information will be made available.

Recommendations for remediation

If a Practice Review results in recommendations for remediation, the process depends on the significance of those recommendations. If the registrant can remediate the recommendations on their own, the plan and timeline is developed between the assessor and the registrant. If the recommendations are numerous or substantive, the assessor’s report will be referred to a profession-specific panel for their recommended plan and timeline. Registrants must sign an agreement to the plan and report back if there are any issues in meeting the established timeline.

Additional Practice Reviews

Random Practice Reviews may be conducted at any time and will consist of a preliminary screening. If a registrant does not pass the profession-specific screening, an onsite Practice Review will be conducted.

Referrals for an onsite Practice Review may also be made to the QAPP Committee, for example:

  • Registration Committee referrals for registrants who cannot meet other QAPP Program requirements that are conditions of registration renewal, for example continuing competency credits (CCCs) or practice hours; or
  • Inquiry Committee referrals as a result of a complaint investigation.

College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of British Columbia

Address:
900 – 200 Granville St
Vancouver, BC, V6C 1S4

Phone: 604.742.6380
Toll-free: 1.888.742.6380
Email: [email protected]