Under regulations approved April 9, 2009 by Health Ministry George Abbott, naturopathic physicians in British Columbia become the first in Canada to be granted prescribing authority.”

Here are links to the Minister’s Announcement and the BCNA Press Release .   Below my signature is the government’s press release.

Sitting on the British Columbia Naturopathic Association board of directors for the past year I have witnessed first hand the dedication and energy that has gone into this initiative which has taken over 70 years to get to this point. I want to thank those of you who have been supporting this initiative through letters to Health  Services Minister George Abbott, and your members of parliament.   I’m proud to be part of this profession and province in this new day of health care.

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I look forward to following up with you so we can find solutions to your health concerns!

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In natural wellness,

~
Dr. Tonia Mitchell
Naturopathic Physician, Naturally Well Health Centre
4480 Main Street, Vancouver
www.naturallywellhealth.com
604-879-WELL

~

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

2009HSERV0045-000871

April 9, 2009

Ministry of Health Services

ROLE EXPANDS FOR MIDWIVES, NATUROPATHIC DOCTORS, NURSES

VICTORIA - B.C. is supporting health professionals and creating more

choice for patients by enhancing the scope of practice for midwives,

naturopathic physicians and registered nurses, Health Services Minister

George Abbott announced today. 

"Expanding the role of midwives, registered nurses and naturopathic

physicians allows B.C.'s health system to offer more options for

patients," said Abbott. "British Columbians made it clear during the

Conversation on Health that they want increased choice and better 

access to health services and today we are meeting our 2008 throne 

speech commitment to expand the scope of practice for these 

professions."

Under the new regulations, midwives will be authorized to deliver a

broader range of services to new and expectant mothers. These services

include initiating induction and augmentation of labour, use of

acupuncture for pain relief in labour and assisting medical doctors 

with C-sections. These specialized practices will be performed by 

midwives who have obtained additional education and certification. 

"Enhancing the scope of practice for midwives recognizes the full range

of training and expertise of this profession and supports our goal of

ensuring safe and timely care for our clients," said Terry Lyn Evans,

president of the College of Midwives of B.C. "The new regulations are

great news for the midwifery profession and for the new and expectant

moms who choose to use the services of a midwife." 

There are close to 140 midwives practicing in British Columbia and

midwifery has been a regulated health profession in B.C. since 1998.

The enhanced scope of practice for naturopathic physicians means

practitioners with additional training will be able to prescribe

medication as appropriate to their primary care practices.

To protect patient safety, the regulations require naturopathic

physicians to have successfully completed a certification course before

administering, prescribing or dispensing prescription medication.

Additionally, the College of Naturopathic Physicians of B.C. will

receive access to B.C.'s PharmaNet database system so that it can

monitor its members' prescribing patterns. The College will also

establish standards, limits and conditions for prescribing based on the

recommendations of an inter-professional committee that includes 

medical doctors, pharmacists and a Ministry of Health Services 

representative.

"The scope of practice legislation for naturopathic physicians has been

unchanged in B.C. for more than 50 years," said Dr. Lorne Swetlikoff,

naturopathic physician and board chair of the College of Naturopathic

Physicians of British Columbia. "This move recognizes the current

education and skills of naturopathic physicians and allows us to fully

support the needs of our patients."

There are over 300 registered naturopathic physicians in B.C. and

naturopathic medicine has been a regulated health profession in B.C.

since 1936. 

With the enhanced scope of practice for the nursing profession,

registered nurses will now be authorized to independently provide a

broader range of health services including suturing, tuberculosis

screening and managing labour in hospital when the primary care 

provider is absent. Registered nurses working triage will now also be 

able to immediately order diagnostic ultrasounds and X-rays. 

Additionally, registered nurses will be able to dispense or administer 

prescription medications in urgent situations including severe allergic 

reaction, drug overdose, post-partum bleeding and for communicable 

disease prevention and management. 

"An enhanced scope of practice for registered nurses recognizes the key

role that they play in B.C.'s health-care system," said Val Cartmel,

president of the College of Registered Nurses of B.C. "These changes

will increase efficiency and choice for patients while registered 

nurses and nurse practitioners will continue to work closely with other

health-care professions to provide safe, quality care to patients."

There are more than 34,500 registered nurses in the province and

registered nurses have been regulated in B.C. since 1918.

Over the past year, B.C. has made a number of regulatory changes to

increase the accountability and transparency of B.C.'s health system 

and support health professionals. In order to streamline the regulatory

process, the Province repealed a number of individual pieces of health

legislation and 20 health professions, regulated by 19 professional

colleges, have now transitioned under the Health Professions Act.

Additionally, the Health Professions Review Board, which has the power

to review the timeliness and outcome of health regulatory college

decisions, began receiving applications for review in March 2009.

For more information on the regulation on health professions on B.C.,

please visit www.health.gov.bc.ca/leg/.

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Media contact:

Ministry of Health Services

Public Affairs Bureau

250 952-1887 (media line)