“Foot Health Care in Ontario” by the College of Chiropodists of Ontario
In
Ontario, the only regulated foot care professionals are Chiropodists and
Podiatrists. Both are regulated by the College of Chiropodists of Ontario
pursuant to Ontario statutes, namely the Regulated
Health Professions Act, 1991 and the Chiropody
Act, 1991. Chiropodists and Podiatrists are regulated by the College within
the same legal framework as the 21 other regulated health care professions.
There are 476 Chiropodists currently registered by the College to practise in
Ontario and 72 Podiatrists. The names of all Chiropodists and Podiatrists who
are registered to practise in Ontario and the locations of their practices are
listed on the College Web site at www.cocoo.on.ca.
Where
Chiropodists and Podiatrists Practise
Ontario’s
Chiropodists and Podiatrists can be found in most of the places where health
care is delivered. As primary care practitioners, no referral is required to be
treated by a Chiropodist or Podiatrist. There are several hundred Chiropody or
Podiatry clinics located in communities throughout Ontario. Many hospitals and
Community Health Centres operate Chiropody clinics where hospital patients and
members of the community can have their foot problems assessed and treated.
Long-term care and retirement homes often arrange for regular visits to their
residents by Chiropodists or Podiatrists. Family Health Teams and other
multidisciplinary health care groups often include a Chiropodist or Podiatrist,
or have made arrangements to refer to one.
Foot
Orthotics
Foot
orthotics, when prescribed and dispensed by qualified practitioners, are
clinically proven to help address some of the problems patients experience with
their feet. There is a rapidly expanding “industry” in foot orthotics.
The
insurance industry is increasingly concerned about fraudulent prescribing and
dispensing of foot orthotics. One of the College’s preoccupations is the number
of foot orthotics that are prescribed or dispensed by unqualified or
unregulated practitioners that have little or no clinical benefit and may in
fact make things worse for patients.
Of
all the regulated health care practitioners in Ontario, the scope of practice
statement for Chiropodists and Podiatrists in the Chiropody Act, 1991 is the only one that specifically refers
to orthotics.
As
part of its public interest mandate, the College of Chiropodists continually
cautions the public to ensure that they obtain their foot orthotics from a
regulated practitioner who has requisite experience and training.
Good
health for your feet is important to overall health. Don’t forget to properly
care for them.
For more information about Chiropody
/ Podiatry in this province, visit the College of Chiropodists of Ontario’s Web
at www.cocoo.on.ca. *”Bones & Joints” material ©Copyright, 2010 Media
Planet and The College of Chiropodists of Ontario.
Please visit Kawartha Total Foot Care Centre's website at www.totalfootcare.ca for more information about your good foot health.
Please visit Kawartha Total Foot Care Centre's website at www.totalfootcare.ca for more information about your good foot health.
