September 2009

 

The health care industry in Ontario has seen a lot of growth and change over the past 15 years that has shape and formed the practice of Respiratory Therapy as you see it today. From the introduction of the RHPA and the CRTO, to the creation of LHINs, and the emergence of Interprofessional Collaborative Care and innovative programs such as the Critical Care Response Teams and the Anaesthesia Care Teams. Not to mention an unprecedented restructuring of hospitals and the health care system in the mid 90’s and SARS in the 2003 both which have had lasting influences on the way health care is delivered in Ontario today.

All these changes to the health care system have created a lot of demand and growth for the RTSO as the voice advocate for the profession of Respiratory Therapy in the province of Ontario. The RTSO currently sits on 10 different professional, regulatory and governmental working groups and committees. All this is carried out by a volunteer board of directors made up of passionate RRTs like yourself that have committed their personal time and energy to our profession to ensure we have a voice and a seat at the table of the policy makers and regulators that shape our health care system and the way we practice. The RTSO executive performs this advocacy work on top of their full time jobs and family commitments for benefit of all the RRTs in province not just for the members of the RTSO.
 
With growth and opportunity comes the need for expansion and redevelopment. In business, increase in growth and demand are indicators of success and credibility. This stands true for the RTSO as well, but unlike the for-profit business sector that can raise capital to fuel their growth; our limited ability to generate revenue combined with a lack of front office support has created major barriers to the growth and success of the RTSO.
 
The demand and call for advocacy and action through its various committees and working groups has grown past the abilities of a volunteer board and is threatening to exceed the resources of the RTSO. The threat to the RTSO resources include volunteer fatigue, increasing costs of day to day operations, and the uncertainty of our associations viability if new revenue is not generated to support our front office and committee work.
 
The biggest and most significant threat to all the RRTs in Ontario is not having a professional voice advocate to protect our interest as it relates to our practice with in the provincial and local health networks.
 
Generations of RRTs in Ontario have benefited from the past success of the RTSO that boasted 3 day education forums, free liability insurance, bursary funds and grant monies, RTSO membership numbers close to 80% of the practicing professional body in the province, (well over 1400 members at one point). There was no shortage of human resources participating in and volunteering with the RTSO. There was representation from all aspects of Respiratory Therapy: including home care to hospital care, educators to vendors.
 
With the introduction of the RHPA and the Respiratory Therapy Act in 1994 many RTSO members let their RTSO membership lapse due to the economic strain of incorporating new college fees into their practice. As a result the RTSO was forced to scale back some of its functions and operations to support core working groups and committees that focused on political advocacy, government/MOH initiatives and collaborative work with the CRTO and other special interest groups. Through the heroic efforts of past RTSO boards we have been steadily rebuilding and reestablishing our membership base and hope to restore it to its formal glory.
Even though the number of RRTs practicing in the province is at an all time high with approx. 2700 strong, today the RTSO registry sits at around 550 to 600 members. We have a tremendous opportunity to expand, unite and reassert our professional voice and strength. 
 
There is a sense of urgency!
  • More then ever the RTSO must reinvent itself to secure our professional viability.
  • We must rise to the growing demand for representation and professional advocacy in today’s Ontario Health Care System.
  • We must ensure we have a united, respected and credible voice advocate for present and future generations of RRTs. 
  • We must ensure our voice is not silenced by apathy.
  • We must impress upon the conscience of the many that benefit from the work and resources of the few that volunteer or hold membership with the RTSO.
The current board has taken on an aggressive redevelopment plan to rebuild the RTSO so the interests of the profession of Respiratory Therapy are protected and sustained.
  1. We have hired a business manager Stephen Laramee to support our front office and strategic direction.
  2. Rebranding of the RTSO to reflect our new strategic direction and goals.
  3. We have undertaken a new website strategy through TCN to; modernize and streamline our front office processes, enhance our communications, improve on-line education opportunities, resource professional practice information, RT networking (services, hospitals and schools), list our professional advocacy work, provide instant alerts and updates relevant to your practice, and develop our vendor network and marketing tools.
  4. Create a new RT leadership network and a respiratory care vendor network with a goal to represent and unit all RRTs in all practice areas.
  5. Ramp up the RTSO forum to a 2 day program for 2010
  6. Investigate opportunities and collaborations with other associations and professional societies with similar goals and objectives.
  7. Create a membership recruitment and retention strategy that includes partnerships with companies that add incentives and value to RTSO membership.
I would like to end message this by saying this is our practice, our profession, our passion, ensure we have a seat at the table and our voice is heard, support the profession of Respiratory Therapy in Ontario and join the RTSO.
 
Sincerely,
Rob Bryan RRT and RTSO President