DIRECTIONS CANADA

NRRTS CANADA – A RECAP OF 2023

Written by: KATHY FISHER B.SC. (OT), LINDA NORTON, B.SC.OT, MSC.CH, PHD, OT REG (ONT), AND WEESIE WALKER, ATP/SMS

In the last issue we want to share why, as the Canadian Advisory Committee, we dedicate time to NRRTS. This issue we are focusing on our accomplishments this year. As a committee we have focused on three objectives:

1. Provide a Canadian context to issues related to the provision of Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) to the NRRTS leadership.

2. Ensure the participation of Canadians in DIRECTIONS, clinical webinars and NRRTS leadership (participation on the board and various committees.)

3. Promote the value and importance of NRRTS Registration in Canada.

PROVIDING A CANADIAN CONTEXT

In Canada, the health care budget is managed at the Provincial level. This contributes to very different funding and service delivery models for CRT delivery across the country. As a committee we have been able to provide input specific to each province for issues such as blind bidding, funding agency contacts and strategic initiatives.

ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION OF CANADIANS

To encourage participation of Canadians in the NRRTS education program, NRRTS ensures that Canadian speakers are featured as subject matter experts. Some Canadian speakers also collaborate with US counterparts to promote sharing of resources and representation of issues from both sides of the border.

Webinar content for the year is developed by a group comprised of NRRTS staff, board members and advisors equally represented by both Canadians and U.S. educators. This ensures we can identify topics applicable to Canadian CRT suppliers and highlight issues not solely focused on a U.S. funding model. In 2023, there were nine Canadian presenters and topics ranged from clinical approaches to equipment prescription to justification for funding.

NRRTS monitors all feedback from the course participants to guide the selection of content for the upcoming year.

Each DIRECTIONS publication has a regular column written by Canadians (DIRECTIONS Canada) to highlight issues on the agenda of the Canadian Advisory Committee and others brought up by Canadian Registrants. In addition to DIRECTIONS Canada, over eight Canadians were involved in developing CEU articles, case studies, clinical editorials and feature articles.

Canadians are represented not only on the NRRTS Board of Directors but also now on the NRRTS staff. Kathy Fisher joined NRRTS in September 2022 as the education manager and the first Canadian staff member. With a background in occupational therapy, Fisher has worked as a CRT rep and clinical educator for 34 years. Her involvement in both the provider and manufacturer sectors of the industry combined with speaking at numerous conferences across North America and in Europe have given her exposure to the needs of the industry globally.

Jason Kelln, the first NRRTS Registrant in Canada, has been elected as the president elect. Jason has been a champion for the Registry in Canada and is now the first Canadian president elect for NRRTS. He will begin his term as board president in August 2024.

THE VALUE OF NRRTS IS NOW RECOGNIZED BEYOND THE BORDERS OF NORTH AMERICA WITH AUSTRALIA HAVING JOINED NRRTS!

PROMOTING THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF NRRTS

NRRTS was represented at a variety of conferences attended by Canadians including the International Seating Symposium, the Canadian Seating and Mobility Conference and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists Conference and was highlighted at each of the 14 Rehab Expos hosted by Motion over the past year.

At the International Seating Symposium, Weesie Walker, Gerry Dickerson and Linda Norton facilitated a workshop entitled, “The Client’s Pelvic Obliquity Shifted as They Crossed the US/Canada Border.” The focus of this session was exploring all the areas Canadian and American CRT providers have in common. Just as it is ridiculous to think that a client’s pelvic obliquity would shift as they cross the border, it is also ridiculous to think that Canadian CRT providers have nothing in common with American CRT providers. In fact, we can, and have learned from each other.

On display at the Canadian Seating and Mobility Conference was an impressive list of the number of Canadian NRRTS Registrants. At the time of writing, there are 249 Canadian RRTS® representing 26% of the total number of registrants. At CSMC, NRRTS talked with therapists and funding staff who stopped by the booth to learn more about our organization. We received support for the mission of raising the bar for CRT Suppliers.

EXPANDING THE BORDERS OF NRRTS

The value of NRRTS is now recognized beyond the borders of North America with Australia having joined NRRTS! There are currently 15 Australian Registrants with several more applications in progress. Given this year’s expansion of Registrants and focus on industry wide issues, NRRTS announced at the Open Meeting on Nov. 1, 2023, that it will be officially changing its name to iNRRTS (international Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers).

CONTACT THE AUTHORS

Kathy may be reached at KFISHER@NRRTS.ORG

Linda may be reached at LINDA.NORTON@MOTIONCARES.CA

Weesie may be reached at WWALKER@NRRTS.ORG

Kathy Fisher has a background in occupational therapy and has worked as an assistive technology provider and clinical educator over the past 32 years. Fisher has been involved in the provision of high-tech rehabilitation equipment with clients in a variety of diagnostic categories including pediatrics and bariatrics. Fisher is the education manager for NRRTS and resides in Ontario, Canada.

Linda Norton, B.Sc.OT, MSc.CH, PhD, OT Reg(ONT), is an occupational therapist who is passionate about the provision of appropriate seating and mobility equipment and the prevention of chronic wounds. Her diverse experience in various settings including hospital, community and industry and in various roles including clinician, educator, manager and researcher, gives Norton a unique perspective. Wound prevention and management are also Norton's passions. She has completed the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course (IIWCC), a master’s in Community Health focusing on pressure injury prevention, and a PhD in Occupational Science focusing on chronic wounds.

Weesie Walker, ATP/SMS is the executive director of NRRTS. She has more than 25 years of experience as a Complex Rehab Technology Supplier. She has served on the NRRTS Board of Directors, the GAMES Board of Directors and the Professional Standards Board of RESNA. Throughout her career, she has worked to advocate for professional suppliers and the consumers they serve. She has presented at the Canadian Seating Symposium, RESNA Conference, AOTA Conference, Medtrade, ISS and the NSM Symposium. Walker is a NRRTS Fellow.