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Understanding HCA Regulation
In Alberta, Health Care Aides (HCAs) are frontline healthcare workers. HCAs play a major role in providing Albertans with quality, person-centred care. HCAs work collaboratively as part of a healthcare team, under the supervision of a regulated healthcare professional. HCAs provide personal care and other essential health services in hospitals, continuing care facilities, group homes, and other healthcare settings. In Alberta, most health professionals are regulated by regulatory bodies called “colleges” under a law known as the Health Professions Act (HPA). Regulated health professions include many different professions, from physicians and dentists to medical laboratory technologists and respiratory therapists. Currently, there are approximately 30 different regulated health professions in Alberta. Most regulatory colleges regulate a single profession, but some colleges regulate multiple professions. In 2020, the HPA was amended to allow for regulation of HCAs as their own health profession; however, these amendments have not yet been implemented. When these amendments are implemented, HCAs will become one of those approximately 30 health professions regulated under the HPA. The College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta will be the regulatory college for these two
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distinct professions: Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aides in Alberta. Every profession regulated under the HPA has its own standards of practice and code of ethics. Although HCAs will be regulated by the CLPNA, HCAs and LPNs will be distinct professions, each with its own standards of practice and code of ethics. Alberta will be the first province in Canada to regulate HCAs as health professionals.
HCA Forums As part of the CLPNA’s work to engage various stakeholders, including LPNs, HCAs, employers, educators, unions, and government, the CLPNA hosted virtual forums to start a conversation on HCA regulation in Alberta. The forums were held online to allow