RMT Matters Winter 2015

WINTER 2015 VOL 8 ISSUE 1

M AT T E R S REGISTERED MASSAGE THER APISTS’ ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

RMTBC Professional Practice Group

PAIN

RMTBC Professional Practice Group

WOMEN’S HEALTH

RMTBC Professional Practice Group

SPORT

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE GROUPS MAKE PERFECT PPGS PPGS GIVEGIVE RMTS RMTS IN BRITISH IN BRITISH COLUMBIA COLUMBIA THETHE OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP TO DEVELOP THEIR THEIR EXPERTISE EXPERTISE | 5| 5 DOUBLE DOUBLE DUTY: DUTY: RMTRMT JAMES JAMES LEGAL LEGAL MATTERS: MATTERS: WHO WHO REALLY REALLYNEWS: NEWS: CASERE3, CASERE3, NEW NEW GOLDFARB GOLDFARB IS AISMAN A MAN ABOUT ABOUT “OWNS” “OWNS” THETHE PATIENT PATIENT HEALTH HEALTHOKANAGAN OKANAGAN COLLEGE COLLEGE AFFILIATE, AFFILIATE, TWO TWO TOWNS | 9 TOWNS | 9 CARE CARE FILE? | 14 FILE? | 14 PAIN PAIN CONGRESS CONGRESS & MORE & MORE | 16| 16

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CONTENTS | WINTER 2015 REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPISTS’ ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 4 CLASSIFIED 17

RMT Matters is published three times a year for Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs).

This publication intends to provide a voice for B.C. RMTs and to act as a source for the latest research plus a vehicle for the general population to understand and respect the valuable work of RMTs. Funding is provided by the RMTBC and advertising revenue.

Editor in Chief Noa Nichol nnichol@biv.com Managing Editor David DeWitt 604-873-4467 | dave@rmtbc.ca

5

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE GROUPS

Sales Victoria Chapman 604-741-4189 | vchapman@biv.com

PPGs benefit RMTs in B.C.

Sales and Marketing Coordinator Michelle Myers 604-608-5122 | mmyers@biv.com Design Randy Pearsall, Soraya Romao Editorial Contributors Goody Niosi, Scott Nicoll Editorial Board Bodhi Haraldsson, Brenda Locke, Joseph Lattanzio, Michael Reoch Copyright © 2015 by BIV Media Group. No part of this publication may be duplicated or reproduced in any manner without the prior written permission of the publisher. All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of information in this publication; however, the publisher accepts no responsibility for errors or omissions.

BIV Media Group 303 West 5th Avenue Vancouver, B.C. V5Y IJ6 Tel: 604-688-2398 | Fax: 604-688-1963 www.biv.com Registered Massage Therapists’ Association of BC Suite 180-1200 West 73rd Avenue Vancouver, B.C. V6P 6G5 Tel: 604-873-4467 | Fax: 604-873-6211 Toll-free: 1-888-413-4467 info@rmtbc.ca www.rmtbc.ca

14

LEGAL MATTERS

9

Scott Nicoll on who really “owns” the patient file

MAN ABOUT TWO TOWNS

RMT James Goldfarb practises in Tofino and on Bowen Island—and he couldn’t love his job more

18

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RMT MATTERS WINTER 2015 | 3

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

ARE WE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS?

A

s RMTs, are we health care professionals? It seems like a simple question with a simple answer.

Are we a regulated profession?

Check. Are we well trained and educated, with a requirement of continuing education? Check. Do we provide treatment to patients to improve their health outcomes, all in their best interests? Check.

So, are we health care professionals? Yes, we are, but the question warrants a more detailed investigation, and every RMT needs to understand exactly what being an HCP means, given our commitment to the protection of the public and our professional ethical obligations.

In addition to other acts and regulations, RMTs are governed by the CMTBC bylaws, which include Schedule C. I recommend every RMT re-read Schedule C, which sets out the Code of Ethical Conduct (CEC) that’s at the core of being an HCP. Schedule C is grouped into subheadings: General Duty to Patients, Sexual Conduct Prohibited, General Duty to the Public and General Duty to the Professions (plus four more that I will talk about in the future). First, consider the order in which these subheadings appear. Your duty to your patient comes first, followed by your duty to the public and the professions. These are not mutually exclusive – you must adhere to all these areas of ethical conduct. But your first focus is on your duty to your patient. Such is the obligation of an HCP. Every RMT shall (you have no option or discretion here; the word “shall” is an order) act in the best interests of the patient. You can only provide treatment if you reasonably believe it will help your patient, and then you can only provide massage therapy treatments that fall within the scope of practice. Nor can you take advantage of a patient’s vulnerabilities, whatever form they take. It’s about trust. Your patients in your1 treatment disclose matters adappear revised:Layout 12/01/2015 room, 11:24 AM Page 1personal

information and allow you to touch their bodies. It’s a sacred trust, and RMTs must be sure they act and talk at all times in a professional manner that encourages and supports this.

You’d think this next part goes without saying, but it’s part of our CEC because, albeit rarely, it does happen. RMTs cannot engage in sexual conduct with a patient or former patient (within one year of termination of therapy). Also, you can’t ask questions about a patient’s sexual history unless it’s directly related to his/her assessment or treatment.

There have been instances where an off-handed comment about a patient’s personal life becomes a complaint against the practitioner. Words are easily misunderstood; intent is even harder to define. It’s far easier to avoid this situation in the first place by maintaining a professional tone throughout your relationship with a patient.

After your duty to the patient is your duty to the public.

These duties run concurrently – you must do both. RMTs shall comply with all federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulations pertaining to the business and practise of massage therapy and act in an honest, professional and courteous manner toward all persons. Following this is your duty to the professions, again, to be conducted concurrently to your other duties. Our CEC requires all RMTs to uphold and advance the honour, dignity and credibility of the profession, including respecting the honour, dignity and credibility of other professionals and promoting harmonious working relationships with them.

The CEC places a heavy obligation on each of us – but that’s what it means to be an HCP. Far more than simply meeting an educational threshold, hanging out a shingle or even just trying to do what you think might be right – it’s an exacting list of expectations imposed on each of us.

So the next time someone asks you if you are a health care professional, say “yes” – but, before you do, take a moment to remind yourself exactly what that means. RMT – Joseph Lattanzio, president, RMTBC

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COVER STORY

PRACTICE GROUPS MAKE PERFECT PPGs give RMTs in B.C. the opportunity to develop their expertise in particular areas of clinical practice

L

BY GOODY NIOSI

ike members of many other professional groups, which include areas of specialty within their ranks, many RMTs find themselves gravitating toward one particular area of practice or another. Some may choose to focus their work on patients with chronic pain, while others hone in on clients who have sports injuries.

Others, still, are compelled to work with women, or within First Nations communities.

It’s natural, and it’s been this way for years.

In 2006, the concept of Professional Practice Groups (PPGs) was first proposed by a number of RMTs, who wanted to provide themselves and others the opportunity to continue their education in the fields that most interested them, not to mention conduct research, write papers and hold information sessions about those interests. Since then, four PPGs have been successfully formed – Sport, Women’s Health, Pain and First Nations – each headed by a volunteer chair who reports to a chair of the council, a role currently filled by RMT Harriet Hall.

“As a profession develops and becomes more mature, then it looks to promoting itself in different ways, so we looked at developing areas of clinical practice,” Hall explained, stressing that each PPG is self-contained and, although she is the chair of the council, she does not direct them.

Today, each group’s core function is to act as an incubator for ideas in a certain area of practice. A second important PPG objective is to develop clinical guidelines that are based on evidence-informed best practices, while a third purpose is to develop and promote high-quality continuing education courses (CECs) that enhance clinical reasoning skills.

In Hall’s words, “Having a bag of tricks is one thing, but being able to reason and assess and diagnose and become the experts is a real goal.”

Indeed, the PPGs allow individual members to demonstrate their mastery in an area of specialty and, at the same time, help advance the profession as a whole. As such, each member of a PPG is required

to complete a number of steps meant to assist his or her professional growth in the area of the specialty and help them achieve mastery. These include things like completing College of Massage Therapy-approved CECs, researching and writing case reports and journal articles, performing and documenting their related clinical experience, preparing and presenting information sessions to other professional groups and passing a written and oral practical exam.

Hall emphasizes the fact that the four RMT PPGs are still in their early days.

“It took the American Physiotherapy Association specialty program 25 years to develop their first one,” she noted, adding, “It’s been back and forth and up and down but it’s a very good idea and I believe we’re on the right track.”

According to Hall, the PPGs have been seeing more and more involvement. As that occurs, people with more skill and desire are stepping forward.

Professional Practice Groups, or PPGs, allow RMTs to demonstrate their mastery in an area of specialty and, simultaneously, help advance the profession as a whole

Continued on page 7

RMT MATTERS WINTER 2015 | 5

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COVER | PRACTICE GROUPS

Continued from page 5

RMT Anita Wilson, chair of the Sport PPG, says she settled on sports as her area of focus after working as part of the host medical team for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver

“Three of our groups have excellent chairs, while the Women’s Health Group is currently undergoing a positive evolution with new people coming on board,” she said. “With so many distinct benefits, it’s no wonder people are stepping forward.”

Among these benefits: collaboration with other RMTs with likeminded interests, plus the chance to gain extra training and become “an outstanding person in your field.”

“I think there are a lot of opportunities for being a leader, as well,” said Hall, adding that the real key to these PPGs is that “they’re very much oriented to professional development, particularly in the areas of honing reasoning skills. Instead of working with just a couple of tools, PPGs aim to give participants an entire tool kit.”

One of the champions of the PPGs is RMT Anita Wilson, who, besides operating her own practice, Coast Therapy, in Port Coquitlam, is the chair of the Sport PPG. “I settled on sports as my area of focus

after I had an opportunity to work as part of the host medical team for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, where we got to work side-by-side with every type of health practitioner, with no boundaries and no territories,” she said.

“Everybody was there to work together for the athletes. We joked, saying it was like the ‘Disneyland’ of health care – everyone was happy and everything was free. I was inspired by the health-care professions I met that had true sports designations; it showed me the high level of care that was possible.”

With a drive to attain that same level of mastery over her area of practice, Wilson joined the Sportmed BC board with an aim to focus on what’s needed for the PPG she chairs.

“I want to make those connections and really understand the care that is needed at that level for athletes,” she said, adding that unlike some other groups within the health-care community, RMTs really don’t have a true specialization at this point – and it will likely be some time before they do.

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RMT MATTERS WINTER 2015 | 7

COVER | PRACTICE GROUPS

Council chair Harriet Hall counts collaboration with other RMTs with likeminded interests and the chance to gain extra training and become “an outstanding person in your field” among the many benefits of PPGs

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“We really wanted to learn from that sports community and other health professionals and really get some good input from them,” Wilson said. “We want to see how they do it and what they expect from us. It’s taken longer than we planned, but we feel really excited about where it’s going.”

She describes the Sport PPG, currently, as “an exciting group for people to join who are truly interested in the field. The PPG is creating a higher expectation of levels of care and setting expectations for training. Some of that training is the basics other healthcare professionals have, like sports taping, concussion management and sports first aid. That training will allow RMTs to be with athletes right on the field.”

Damian John, chair of the First Nations PPG, is a fellow RMT following a big passion: to help heal the damage done by residential schools to First Nations people.

John explains that an effect of the schools was the association of touch with something bad, painful and even evil. He is hopeful that RMT can re-introduce the concept and importance of touch that is beneficial to the health of both body and spirit.

Formed just this past spring, the First Nations PPG is a fledgling group whose roots sprang from a meeting between John and two other aboriginal RMTs. The goal: to educate First Nations, particularly those living in remote communities, on RMT, in part by bringing the practice to them.

John admits that it’s a huge territory, describing his objectives as “a meal that can only be eaten one bite at a time.”

“We want to get a few feet on the ground and see how we can

aid that particular community in the ways they could see our touch therapy complementing their own health and wellness programs,” he said. “Another aim is to build capacity in the communities – to inspire other First Nations people to think about RMT as a career.”

Foremost in John’s mind, however, is to help heal the damage done years ago that has managed to penetrate a new generation.

“There’s multi-gener ational damage ,” he conf irmed. “The most important aspect of this is to help re-create a culture of touch in these places that have had it so radically and systematically damaged. It wasn’t just one person – it was everybody in these communities. They were taken away at five, six or seven years old and punitively touched during their childhood and adolescence. They still made a life for themselves, but each has their own stories on how this affected their parents, grandparents and the interaction with them.”

John says that his PPG will tread softly, going into communities by invitation rather than solicitation.

It’s a big project, he admits, but a much-needed one. And the PPG is the right instrument to begin to tackle those goals.

Wilson agrees , adding that , though there may not be much buzz about PPGs at this point, that’s largely due to the fact that the groups have been working in the background, making sure that they are getting it right.

“Now it’s time for the buzz to begin,” she said. “The groundwork has been done and members who want to stretch themselves, do more and follow their passion have that opportunity with the PPGs.” RMT

Members who want to stretch themselves, do more and follow their passion have that opportunity with the PPGs – Anita Wilson, Sport PPG chair

www.nmoc.ca 8 | RMT MATTERS WINTER 2015

RMT Q&A

DOUBLE DUTY RMT James Goldfarb is a man about two towns

P

BY NOA NICHOL

ractising in Tofino and on Bowen Island, James Goldfarb of Body Vitality Massage Therapy couldn’t love his job more. Here, he talks about doing “double duty” in two B.C. communities, and gives insight into why RMT is truly the best – and most rewarding – job in the world.

RMT: How, and why, did you get into the field of RMT? JG: I’ve had many jobs and travelled a lot. I’ve worked in kitchens, crewed on blue-water sailboat voyages, worked as a commercial fisherman and, just before becoming an RMT in 2006, I was a grip in the film industry.

In my 30s I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, right around the time I’d heard that life expectancy after retirement for a grip is one year. I’m not sure if this statistic is true, however, it is a tough life and many of the people I knew in the industry had experienced serious illness.

I knew I had to make a change, and initially considered nursing because of the importance of that role. (One of the things that cancer has taught me is that patient care is vital to patient comfort. That seems obvious, but the effect of good or bad nursing is intensely impactful to the experience of being ill.) But my sister rightly pointed out that being a nurse wouldn’t offer me enough autonomy and suggested becoming an RMT – she was a body worker at the time and is now an RMT, as well. We actually used to sit in a circle when my mom, a single parent, got home from work and massage each other. So, in a way, we grew up with massage.

If I had been aware of the amount of information that had to be learned, I would never have done it. Luckily, I was in the program before I realized how bad it was going to get! Though the education was brutal, I love my work and cannot imagine a better job.

RMT: You’re a graduate of the West Coast College of Massage Therapy’s 3000-hour program; tell us what that experience was like.

JG: It may seem like a lot of time, but I personally think it was a mistake to drop to 2,100 hours to accommodate the agreement on internal trade. Just before that happened, RMTs were pushing for soft-tissue diagnosis; now that seems unlikely. In terms of my experience, like every student, I resisted the amount of physiology that we were made to learn. However, now that I am in practice,

RMT James Goldfarb of Body Vitality Massage Therapy practises in Tofino and on Bowen Island | BLACK DOG CREATIVE

RMT MATTERS WINTER 2015 | 9

Q&A | JAMES GOLDFARB

I see the value of having a sense of the effect of disease process on the body and which systems might be effected and how. I believe that, though many patients will fit the norm, some patients require a greater degree of clinical reasoning to help, even if all that means is knowing who to refer them to. Also, though I personally am not familiar with the present course outline, my understanding is that much of the 900 hours cut have been practical content.

Between the two places, I find my body, mind and soul are well nourished

RMT: You currently practise in two locations!

Tell us about that.

JG: My Bowen Island practice is a small, self-run clinic in Artisan Square, beside the local doctor. I have a large treatment room with a small waiting room and bathroom.

Lots of plants and art on the walls – I even have a model skeleton to show patients the areas we are discussing, but I’ve avoided the whole “trigger-point-chart” feel. I also have my dog in the space; he has a crate in the waiting room, in case patients are uncomfortable with him being loose (that has yet to happen).

My second practice, in Tofino, used to be out of my home, but it was more profitable to rent out rooms in my house and run my practice as mobile. Though I can’t book patients as closely together as when I’m in a static location, the benefit of being mobile is money saved and

10 | RMT MATTERS WINTER 2015

that I actually get to see where people live – and being in Tofino means that these locations range from beautiful to spectacular.

Both practices are in boutique communities that seem

Q&A | JAMES GOLDFARB

to attract the sort of people that become RMTs (or do bodywork). Also, the size of these towns means that practices will remain less profitable than practices in areas of large populations. I make less money than I did working in Delta, but I enjoy my life more – I believe that is called being a “lifestyle entrepreneur” these days!

RMT: What is practising in a smaller community (or two) like?

JG: Working within small communities is nice because you know your patients in a number of roles and therefore are more able to asses them – however, it is interesting to have to have consent to talk to someone publicly.

Tofino is wild and free, with great fishing and the opportunity to surf and kayak, and is well populated with adventurous souls. Bowen is the most community-orientated place I have ever lived, with amazing diversity. I never cease to learn more about how our world and society functions because I get to meet and talk to some of the people who help shape our culture.

Between the two places, I find my body, mind and soul are well nourished.

Continued on page 13

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RMT MATTERS WINTER 2015 | 11

Registered Massage Therapists’ Association of British Columbia

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Q&A | JAMES GOLDFARB Continued from page 11

RMT: What types of services do you offer?

JG: I do 60-, 90- and sometimes 120-minute treatments, primarily with a fascial view toward correcting dysfunction, still using a variety of tools learned from WCCMT as well as continuing education credits (CECs). Though my understanding is that RMTs cannot claim specialization, I will admit to having a fascial focus, as that is where the majority of my CECs have been.

I have truly drunk the Kool-Aid as far as fascia goes. I believe the Buckminster Fuller model of tensegrity over the idea of the skeleton being the sole method of support; bone remodelling alone seems to preclude this. I was lucky enough to have Natale Rao and Heather Inglis as my Term 2 manual skills clinic instructors and have taken CECs with each of them since.

I have attended two International Fascia Research Congress events.

The view I take is that dysfunction forces change, usually adhesion, in the fascial compartments and system to maintain activities of daily living. From my perspective, all massage work carries a large fascial component. I have also been running some guided meditation; this is

new to me over the last few months, and still in beta testing stage.

RMT: So, can RMT help with stress?

JG: It is necessary to our educations that we divide the body into parts to study it. However, to truly treat the body we then have to put those parts back together again. The same is true with body and mind. Stress has a direct effect on the body in so many ways: serotonin, dopamine, digestion, muscle through emotional armouring. The life that most people in this culture lead is completely alien to the organism that we inherently are; helping patients with breath work and visualization can be as important to their rem-ex as proper stretch.

That being said, the word “stress” is as specific as “low back pain,” and care must be taken to treat a patient within one’s scope of practice. It’s dangerous for both the patient and the therapist to assume we have the tools to help without first investigating if it is our help that they need.

but I believe that I do the most good for my culture by doing this work. Fairly early on in my practice I had a new patient come in and say, “I know my body is falling apart; I just want to know how long I’ve got.” It’s been years since that first visit, and the patient has done a lot of work on self-care. Now, they are back to being able to enjoy sport and the use of their body.

I recognize that it is not “my doing,” but I am very glad to have been part of that healing process. Being part of breaking a pain-and-tension cycle is amazing and uplifting. Trying to find out cause and resolution is the ultimate brainteaser, with real social value as the prize. Failure to do so teaches humility and shows the value of other practitioners, as well as lifelong learning.

What more could one ask for? RMT Learn more about James at bodyvitality.ca.

Between the two places, I find my body, mind and soul are well nourished

RMT: What do you love most about your job?

JG: The thing I like most about being an RMT is being of service. I have done a number of jobs,

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RMT MATTERS WINTER 2015 | 13

LEGAL MATTERS

WHO “OWNS” THE PATIENT FILE?

A

BY SCOTT NICOLL

Scott Nicoll is a partner at Hamilton Duncan Armstrong + Stewart

com mon inq uir y from R MTs w ho are contemplating a move between clinics or retirement from the profession is, “Who owns my patient files?” The short answer: you’re asking the wrong question. It should be, “Who’s responsible for maintaining the patient file in the event that I leave my current place of practice?”

The responsibility for the safe and secure storage of the patient health care record, a.k.a., the patient file, starts with the CMTBC bylaws. As a CMTBC registrant, I know you sleep with a copy of the recently revised bylaws under your pillow. If for some reason you haven’t read them yet, I strongly recommend cosying up by the fire this winter with your favourite relaxing beverage and giving them a thorough look through. After all, you should know the rules that govern your professional life.

To answer our question specifically, however, we must start with section 75 of the bylaws, which states that every registrant must comply with the Code of Ethical

Conduct set out in Schedule “C,” the Standards of Practice in “D” and the rules and requirements for health care records in “E.” Now, let’s turn to the specific schedules s.75 refers to.

Schedule “C” provides that, as a registrant, you must act in the best interests of the patient. That part’s easy.

Schedule “E” is where things get interesting.

Among other things, “E” states that as a registrant you must provide for the safe and secure storage of all patient files from your practice (more on this last phrase later), and must maintain “possession and control” over the patient’s file until the file can be transferred or controlled in accordance with s.5 of “E,” which now requires you to retain your patient’s file in your “treatment facility or place of business” for at least 16 years from the date of last treatment (for minors, 16 years from the date the minor turns 19). After that time you may destroy the file. Before that time you may transfer the file to another registrant, with the patient’s consent. Although s.5(d) apparently lets you transfer the file even if you’re unable to obtain the patient’s consent, I suggest you get the CMTBC’s specific confirmation of

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LEGAL | PATIENT FILES

that interpretation in writing before you do so.

S.10 of “E” specifically addresses the ownership and control of health care records in “a shared facility,” i.e., any treatment facility, place of business or other premises in which a registrant associates, co-locates or otherwise occupies and shares the premises with one or more other registrants or licensed practitioners for the purpose of providing professional services.

S.10(2) states that a registrant providing professional services in or through a shared facility must establish written agreements with each of the other registrants or licensed practitioners practising in or through the facility confirming that the registrant has custody and control over the health care records of his or her patients, as well as advise each patient, on initial treatment, of the custody and control of that patient’s health care record and maintain custody and control over the files of his or her patients at all times.

So, now you know the answer to our question, right?

Obviously, a patient file is a health care record from your practice, or related to your patient, isn’t it? Are you sure?

Actually, that will depend on the agreement you have with whom you practise. Chances are, your agreement contemplates how patients will be dealt with in the event that you leave the clinic. But does it clearly define

which patients comprise your practice? If you are the clinic owner, are you comfortable with the agreement now that you could be responsible for the safe and secure storage of patient files for more than 16 years?

Does it contemplate the new portions of Schedule “E” that deal with how files can be transferred and the need for patient consent? Does it recognize when a file can be transferred without the patient’s consent? If it doesn’t do these things, it needs to, or you could find yourself in a dispute over who “owns” specific patient files when the time comes to part company.

So take out that agreement, dust it off and look it again to make sure it does everything you need it to do. It’s much easier to resolve uncertainties before you actually need to rely on the provisions.

For a draft agreement you can use as a starting point, and to save you time and money when you eventually get in touch with your lawyer to finalize it, contact the RMTBC – or contact your lawyer directly. Either way, do it now. If you wait until you need to rely on your agreement, you may find out the hard way that it isn’t sufficient. RMT

The responsibility for the safe and secure storage of the patient health care record, a.k.a., the patient file, starts with the CMTBC bylaws

Scott Nicoll is a partner at Hamilton Duncan Armstrong + Stewart Law Corp. and acts as legal counsel for the RMTBC. Visit www.hdas.com.

Thoracic Spine and Rib Cage Balancing Course Dates and Location Vernon, April 11th, 12th Victoria, May 30th, 31st Vancouver, Oct 24th, 25th Learn effective treatment techniques for: postural strain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hyperkyphosis, scoliosis, winging scapula, rib injuries, dural strain, MVA seat belt injuries, disc injuries, vertebral rotations/subluxations, and more.

Join Mike Dixon for comprehensive look into these areas.

100% money back guarantee if not completely satisfied Early registration discount $59.00 (one month before)

Here is what people are saying about Mike’s courses!!!

“Effective, EZ to learn and comprehend.” Phil Lavoie, June 2014 “Mike did a great job!” Kerry Rigaux, June 2014

Register online at www.arthrokinetic.com or call: 604-802-9322 Call for current CECs information for this full 14 hour, 2 day course. Late cancellation subject to administration fee of $100.00.

No refunds less than 24 hours prior to the course.

RMT MATTERS WINTER 2015 | 15

RMTBC NEWS Okanagan College becomes RMTBC affiliate school The Okanagan Valley College of Massage Therapy (OVCMT) recently became part of the RMTBC’s network of affiliate schools, resulting in exciting benefits for students: ■ students of OVCTM classes that the RMTBC visits will receive clinic T-shirts, among, possibly, other types of swag; ■ t he RMTBC research librarian will provide a tutorial during one school visit on how to navigate the journals and databases that the RMTBC provides access to; ■ free access to online scientific journals and databases, plus a research librarian to help with inquiries; ■ enrollment in the RMTBC case study competition, one per graduating class (with cash prizes for winners); ■ if invited, attendance by the RMTBC of the student graduation ceremony in order to present case study winners; ■ enrollment in the yearly scholarship prize.

CaseRe3 CaseRe3, a.k.a., the Case Report Research Repository, is a digital open-access repository of case reports in integrative health care and a resource for practitioners, educators and researchers in the integrative health-care disciplines. Practitioners can locate case reports on particular health conditions and find descriptions and results of treatment approaches across disciplines, while educators can find a rich source of teaching cases for problem-based learning and access a community of learning resources for teaching students about developing case reports. Researchers, meantime, can group case reports to develop virtual case series, estimate sample sizes or find qualitative data on patient experience.

CaseRe3 is a joint project created by a public-private partnership between the RMTBC and the Crocker Institute. We believe that case reports are a valuable form of foundational descriptive and observational research, and are especially important as a way to document “whole discipline” practice in integrative health care. Visit www.casere3.org.

KINESIO TAPING seminars Edmonton, AB - Feb 21/22, 2015 Vancouver, BC - Mar 28/29, 2015

Kinesiotape.ca Visit us at www.Kinesiotape.ca 16 | RMT MATTERS WINTER 2015

MLD and Combined Decongestive Therapy Train in Victoria 2015

Basic (Full body MLD) April 20 - 24 or Oct. 13 – 17 Therapy I (Orthopedic applications) April 27 – May 1 or Oct. 19 – 23 Therapy II&III (Edema management) May 4 – 15 or Oct. 26 – Nov. 6

RMTBC NEWS Low back, pelvic girdle pain congress The 9th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Girdle Pain will be held October 31 to November 3, 2016, in Singapore. The theme for the course is “Progress in Evidence-Based Diagnosis and Treatment.”

The 8th such congress, held in November of 2013 in Dubai, attracted more than 1,100 participants from all over the world and from many disciplines including orthopaedics, rehabilitation and physical therapy.

RMTBC supports and endorses this congress and our members will receive a reduction on the congress registration fee. Visit w w w.worldcongresslbp.com for more information.

Sports medicine, rehab videos available online Did you know that the RMTBC’s online library boasts hundreds of videos on the t opic s of s por t s medicine and rehabilitation therapy? As an RMTBC member, all you need to do is log in at www.rmtbc.ca, click the “Research” tab and scroll down to select a video collection title. Happy watching!

New book looks at history of massage therapy in North America Curties-Overzet Publications is pleased to announce the publication in 2015 of The Emergence of the Massage Therapy Profession in North America: A History in Archetypes.

Written by longtime massage therapy textbook author Patricia J. Benjamin, PhD, LMT, the book explores how the profession has been shaped in North America by its European heritage as well as unique circumstances in the new world. The reader is guided through this history via archetypal descriptions of various hands-on healers and practitioners as well as biographical information about the many individuals who contributed to the emergence of massage therapy as a profession. Attention is given to the development of the organization and regulation of massage therapy, and to its relationship to conventional medicine.

Written in clear and lively prose and accompanied by numerous photographs and illustrations, it will be a useful and readable reference for practitioners and students alike. If you would like to be on the mailing list to be notified when the book is ready for sale, or would like more information, please contact Robert Rodbourne at 416.923.6792 or info@curties-overzet.com.

CLASSIFIED | WINTER 2015

ADVERTISMENT ONLY. NO ENDORSEMENT BY THE RMTBC INTENDED OR IMPLIED.

Mastering Cranial through Mentorship

ANN SLEEPER: Muscle Energy Technique for the Ribs May 23-24, 2015, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. & May 25, 2015, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Cypress Room, Holiday Inn 711 W. Broadway, Vancouver Cost: Early, $430; Reg., $480, Non: $550 Credits: 18 PE/A2 Registration: 604-873-4467 or

mikayla@rmtbc.ca

Continuing EduCation on LinE 2 hours per course for 2 CEU’s Courses are $50 (incl g.S.t).

Easy and efficient way to accrue your CEU’s. ~ no traveling, no time away from work ~ www.cepd.ca • email info@cepd.ca for details

Let me lead you to success using craniopathy. Starting February 2015. 20 days, 120 hours Simply TMJ - Vancouver October 3 & 4th, 14 CEC, $420

Please visit website for dates and details DynamicTherapies.com Lead instructor: Robert Hackwood, RMT 604-418-8071 RMT MATTERS WINTER 2015 | 17

CLASSIFIED | WINTER 2015

Systemic Deep Tissue Therapy® Workshops (also known as SDTT)

(Systemic Deep Tissue Therapy® should not be confused with high pressure treatments)

riginated and developed by Armand Ayaltin DNM, RHT, RMT, O and taught by him since the late 1980’s. It consists of its own scientifically-based philosophy, therapist-friendly assessment and

treatment. To reduce burn-out, body and hand postures are ergonomically designed. Therapy takes its cue directly from the assessment. This innovative procedure is designed to minimize the mental and physical stress of the Tx room.

In these Workshops we will teach: • Philosophy and background • How to treat the underlying cause of pain, often realizing quick and lasting results • How to Structurally Realign the body by collapsing the compensatorymatrix, using specific SDTT techniques at the physical and energetic levels which are: • recognizing the compensatory-matrix • engaging the SNS • manipulating the Fascial-muscle-joint systems • therapeutic intent • treating the relevant meridians • stimulating the patient’s quantum field of healing If as a Therapist, gaining self-confidence, self-sufficiency and effectiveness with reduced chances of self-injury is important, taking these workshops and adopting the Systemic Deep Tissue Therapy® is for you.

Testimonials: “Thank you so much for this amazing workshop. It will change my life!”

W.M. RMT. “This course surpassed my expectations...” B.C. RMT. “Thank goodness there is a way to read the body and respond to its core needs.” J.W. RMT. “Great coverage of biomechanics and application. I like these instructors, cool guys” J.L. RMT. “With 16 years of massage therapy experience I was still expecting to learn something new–those expectations were exceedingly met. The assessment approach alone was enough of a refreshing perspective–with the addition of completely new hands on techniques, this course was thoroughly worth my time and would recommend it to any seasoned therapist. Excellent course, nothing but praise for these innovative and effective techniques that match a thoroughly progressive treatment philosophy, this is truly Massage THERAPY!” Brad Dow RMT. Please NOTE: The Introductory part teaches the concept, assessment basics of the therapy. The Intermediate level is an integral part of the whole; it completes the course with therapeutic procedures and treatments. It is not an optional course.

Winter/Spring 2015: Introductory: 14-15th February, 2015 Cost: $399 Intermediate: 7-8th March, 2015, Cost: $399 Fall 2015: Introductory: 12-13th September, 2015 Cost: $399 Intermediate: 10-11th October, 2015, Cost: $399 For more info and to register, phone: 604.984.2611 • web: systemicdeeptissuetherapycenter.com

M AT T E R S REGISTERED MASSAGE THER APISTS’ ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLU M BIA

If you have a product, service or course to advertise call Victoria Chapman at:

1-604-741-4189 | vchapman@biv.com 18 | RMT MATTERS WINTER 2015

ADVERTISMENT ONLY. NO ENDORSEMENT BY THE MTABC INTENDED OR IMPLIED.

ONE DAY WONDERS with

Heather Gittens RMT.

Update your skill level and/or review material in a new and integrative format.

Visceral Manipulation & CST focused One Day Courses for the busy RMT. March 1 - Female Pelvis, Female Issues April 12th - Digestion June 7th - The Spinal Column Sept. 13th - Liver & Biliary System Nov 15th - Sphenoid Gateway $175 including tax, $150 if registering for 2 or more courses, 7 credits

Contact 778-574-1174 or info@bodhitreewellness.ca

The complete schedule of Ann Sleeper classes can only be found at www.annsleeper. com. Muscle Energy, Introduction to Osteopathic Technique, and Treating Legs and Arms courses are offered in Vancouver and Victoria.

These classes or review sessions can also be organized privately for 2-5 people at her home in central Vancouver.

E-mail Ann at sleeplow@telus.net or call or text 604-671-9172.

Human Kinetics makes it easy for Canadian Massage Therapists to earn CEUs online!

$70.95 • CMTBC - 6 PD/4A

$104.95 • CMTBC - 6 PD/4A

$80.95 • CMTBC - 6 PD/4A

Visit the Canadian Massage Therapy online store for a list of available courses and the organizations that offer continuing education credit through successful completion. www.HumanKinetics.com/CMT or call 1-800-465-7301 for more information.

HUMAN KINETICS

The Information Leader in Physical Activity & Health

Applied SomAticS clinicAl SomAtic educAtion Level I Applied Somatics for Stooping Bodies April 24-26 - Duncan Call toll-free: 1-866-748-6600 Level I Applied Somatics for Titling Bodies June 26-28 Call OVCMT: 1-800-701-8863 Level III-CASE-Certified Applied Somatics Educator July TBA - Duncan Call toll-free: 1-866-748-6600 Level I Applied Somatics for Arching Bodies October 23-25 Call OVCMT: 1-800-701-8863 All courses $485 early registration, $585 less than 1 month. $100 non-refundable deposit.

To register, please contact the 800 phone # that is listed with the desired course. Prerequisites not necessary for Level I courses.

An

efficient solution for your patients

Manual Practice Osteopathic studies “Osteopathy is a natural medicine which restores function to the organism by treating the causes of pain and imbalance…”

Philippe Druelle, D.O.

éopathiques

Osteopathy provides the necessary therapeutic reasoning skills and manual treatment CEO Collège d’Étudesresults. approaches to achieve optimal Ostéopathiques

Osteopathy views the body as a whole. Osteopathic manual CEO treatment focuses on detecting areas of restrictions at any Collège d’Études Ostéopathiques des Ostéopathiques tissue level. Osteopathy functions by assisting the body’s Montréal – natural healing ability, allowing restricted areas to regain as much of their former mobility as the body will comfortably allow.

The College offers complete training including myofascial, visceral, cranial techniques, specific osteoarticular adjustments and clinical methodology. Courses are geared towards guided palpation and practice in order for practionners to be able to integrate their new knowledge to the treatment of patients.

The educational program is designed with busy health-care practitioners in mind.

The 6 yearly seminars are held over weekends to minimize time lost from current employment, with a low instructor/student ratio.

itional The reference in Trad Practice Osteopathy Manual teaching since 1981

College of Osteopathic Studies

Canadian College of Osteopathy — CCO Collège d’Études Ostéopathiques — CEO

6 Canadian campuses: Montréal | Halifax | Vancouver | Québec | Toronto | Winnipeg

For information / registration 1-800-263-2816 | info@ceo.qc.com | www.ceo.qc.com

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