As I understand it, "advanced practice chiropodists" are the DPMs currently registered as chiropodists. The Ministry "gets it" that the desirable end goal for a practitioner in Ontario is the DPM or DPM equivalent. DPM-Chiropodists, nor anyone else in the province, cannot be called a podiatrist, unless legislative changes are enacted - namely removing the Cap by replacing the Chiropody Act with a new Podiatry Act. Ultimately, this is what we seek, but right now they aren't willing to make that significant legislative leap. They prefer this step-wise approach, which they are more comfortable with because they proceeded in this fashion with other professions (nursing, physiotherapy). In her first letter, Deputy Minister Cole refers to "broader legislative changes" as the ultimate goal. This is of course what the DChs want too, because only this way will they ever potentially have access to the title Podiatrist. Keeping the MOH engaged with the College and the profession is absolutely key to moving forward. There are (chiropodist) forces within the College Council that argue that the College should abandon this opportunity of a pathway by the MOH arguing that "it is too expensive" , etc. (which it is not) when in actual fact, they want it dropped because 1.there is no assurance the DChs will get the Podiatrist title without some form of educational upgrade - unpalatable to many of them. 2. "Just let natural attrition get rid of the Podiatrists then we can petition government to try and get it then" - College legal counsel has literally stated this openly, 3. (Strong but hidden - "slow-walking", "stalling", "misinforming" - how does what you read in the MOH letters differ from the very sombre perspective promoted by College April communique on this stuff? ) Resistance by Council administration because it will require much greater scrutiny of the day to day functioning of the College offices with a high probability the current staff "can't handle it". Allying/colluding with Council minions, who have their own separate agenda (see above), to try to tank the effort.
We can't let that happen. Must continue to support OPMA efforts in working together with OSC to push the College to continue to meet with MOH to move this forward. The OPMAs meetings with MOH on this have been very encouraging. They do want to fix this mess in Ontario.
