bylaws and Governance
PTCMAAS bylaws describe how the society is organized, who can be a member, what standards apply, and how governance works. The bylaws include membership categories, education standards, elections and meetings, finances, and a non discrimination policy.
Below you will find some highlights from the bylaws as well as a PDF copy of the Bylaws.
Membership categories
All of our members are given the title Registerd Acupuncturist with a number in our registry.
Our organization has a professional voting membership as well as Provisionary and non-Voting membership categories.
Professional voting membership all carry basic Acupuncture training level. All voting members have met the basic acupuncture training requirements and have further training in TCM.
Note:
The letters found in the membership numbers are used signify further study in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
1
Acupuncturist (Ac)
2
Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbalist ( Ac, TCM.H)
3
Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (Ac, TCM.P)
4
Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Ac, M.TCM)
The bylaws also describe non-practicing professional membership and associate or non-voting membership categories.
Eligibility and ongoing requirements
PTCMAAS Continuing Education Policy
The PTCMAAS continuing education policy is to maintain and improve the Traditional Chinese Medicine and/or Acupuncture (TCM/A) competence of our members. This enables us to provide better service to our patients, and shows the public, government, insurance companies, and allied health professions that our members are professional and always improving.
Practising members (P)
Practicing members must complete a minimum of 20 Continuing Education Units (CEUs = hours) each year, from June 1 to May 31.
-At least 12 hours must be in Traditional Chinese Medicine and/or Acupuncture (TCM/A):
-A minimum of 3 hours must be in-person seminars or activities.
-The other hours may include
-self-study (reading books, journals or studies), pre-recorded seminars, conferences, workshops, webinars;
-association activities (such as PTCMAAS meetings or committee work), communication or discussion with colleagues;
-other educational activities in PTCMAAS-accredited modalities (acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, TCM remedial massage (Tuina), other TCM/oriental medicine disciplines).
Up to 8 hours may be approved in non-TCM/A health-related activities: self-study, seminars or other educational activities in health-care related fields, including First Aid and CPR, other natural or traditional therapy, any other health profession-associated disciplines.
Public safety and competence expectations
Members must hold and up to date First Aid and CPR C certification
Members must hold a minimum professional liability insurance
Members must have completed the safety course
Members must report continuing education regular year cycle
Members must be in compliance with Saskatchewan Health Authority
Privacy & Business Operations
Health Information Privacy
PTCMAAS Inc. members must follow the Saskatchewan government’s Health Information Privacy Act (HIPA) and the Canadian government’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
Patient Records
PTCMAAS Inc. members must keep patient treatment records for 6 years after last treatment date.
Inactive patient records must go through a confidential shredding or disposal.
Business Operations
PTCMAAS Inc. members must follow Saskatchewan Business License, PST and GST requirements as deemed necessary by law.
Informed Consent A written Informed consent is required.
Complaints and discipline
The complaint guidelines describe how the Board reviews complaints and what outcomes may follow. The process aims to address complaints within 60 days where reasonable and provides an opportunity for each party to be heard. Outcomes may include no action where a complaint is found without merit, or disciplinary action using a three level system that can range from a written warning, to suspension, to expulsion depending on severity and context.
Scope of Practice
In our definition of scope of practice an Acupuncturist may practice Acupuncture.
“Acupuncture” includes the manual insertion and stimulation of acupuncture needles into the body. Acupuncture may include but is not limited to manual insertion of needles, laser acupuncture, electro stimulation, acupressure, moxibustion, tuina, taiqi, qigong, and cupping.
In Saskatchewan Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine is not Regulated. PTCMAAS has no authority on who may or may not practice Acupuncture.
Practitioners in Saskatchewan do not require membership in PTCMAAS in order to practice. An applicant who is rejected might still practice legally in Saskatchewan, although it might be harder for them to buy professional liability insurance, or to get approval for their patients to claim reimbursement for services. It is not our responsibility to decide who can and who cannot practice in Saskatchewan.
Currently we are working on requesting inclusion in the Saskatchewan Regulated Health Professions Act.