OAO | Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners

OAO Committees

Purpose:

To review and update the Course Endorsement Application and related forms.
To assess and evaluate the Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to be applied to courses, workshops, seminars, webinars and other events.
To annually review policies and procedures and ascertain the level of compliance of active and affiliate members with respect to CPD policy.
To recommend to the Board regarding the suspension and/or termination of members for mandatory CEU non-compliance within the three-year cycle.
To review and update the Course Notice Form (website postings).
To determine and review the criteria for posting international, national and local courses and events on the OAO website.
To plan and evaluate continuing education courses, workshops (including events surrounding the AGM), seminars, webinars and other events for members and non-members.
To identify potential sponsors.

Purpose:

To identify and recommend to the Board potential membership markets, their needs and interests, and determine how to meet those needs and interests with programs, services and products.
To develop and maintain ways to recognize member contributions.
To review policies and procedures regarding admission, suspension and termination of members,
To maintain and annually update policies and procedures regarding membership requirements and qualifications.
To develop long-term and short-term strategies to retain current members.
To review new applications for membership and make recommendations to the Board regarding such applications.
To establish the continuing education units and other requirements to be met by Inactive Members and other applicants seeking to be Active Members and not actively engaged in treating clients osteopathically for a period of more than two years (twenty-four) months prior to application.
To recommend to the Board any membership fee-related policies and practices, including one-time fees for individual members in special circumstances.
To review and update membership-related documentation such as member benefit marketing information, new member packages, suspension, termination, and thank you letters.
To maintain a policy regarding membership stamps and related paraphernalia.

Purpose:

Create timelines for the integration of the new bylaw amendment.
Assist the Board with finalizing the draft ‘OAO Board-Approved Guidelines for Training in Osteopathy’ to share with the membership, obtain feedback, and finalize for implementation of the new bylaw amendment.
Create a system for individuals to apply for membership and submit proper documentation to OAO to provide proof that they meet the criteria outlined in the OAO Board-Approved Guidelines for Training in Osteopathy.
Provide direction and recommendations to the OAO Board and Membership on how the new system will be implemented. The new system must provide the Membership Committee with the necessary information to make recommendations to the Board on membership applications.
Monitor the new system once implemented and provide any necessary recommendations to the Board and Membership for further improvement or change.

Purpose:

To establish, maintain and update policies and procedures to seek out and/or receive and process complaints of a non-criminal nature concerning members.
To initiate, receive and process complaints and report findings and recommendations to the Board.
To hire investigators and other subject-matter experts for the processing of complaints.
To ensure that complainants are advised to report their criminal complaints to the police and to notify the Association of the result, at which time appropriate action will be taken.
To advise the Board regarding educational courses or materials that would be of benefit to members based on findings.
To maintain a record of all complaints and their resolutions.
To maintain an awareness of the evolving health regulatory requirements and emerging legislative issues related to education, training, professional practice, and ethical issues.
To establish, maintain and update documents as required to ensure the development and enhancement of the knowledge and skill level for the safe, effective, and ethical practice of osteopathy for active and affiliate members.
To review and update specific OAO documents such as the Standards of Practice, the Code of Ethics, an integrated Competency Profile (when completed) and any other documentation, as required.

Purpose:

To oversee the maintenance and enhancement of the Association's brand, image and trademark.
To raise the profile of the Association through general marketing activities and specifically marketing the 'Find a Practitioner' feature of the website.
To ensure that members are kept informed of Association activities through the Newsflash and other publications.
To enhance and promote the exchange of information amongst members using social media and other communication and marketing tools.
To maintain, review and update website content.
To develop, review and update public relations materials for the Association and to support members' businesses.
To develop and maintain a marketing and communications plan in concert with the Public Relations Consultant.
To ensure the marketing and communications plan aligns with the advocacy plan.
To promote the Association at events as an exhibitor.
To work with staff to promote the Association through social media platforms and blogs.

Purpose:

To participate in and support local, national and international efforts to build evidence-based research that promotes and supports osteopathy.
To advise and participate in fostering relationships between the OAO and external stakeholders, such as the government, universities, and other organizations.
To maintain an awareness of current evidence-informed and evidence-based research on various topics in osteopathy and related to osteopathy.
To evaluate existing research literature with respect to establishing standards of practice, best practices and clinical practice guidelines.
To develop documents summarizing key osteopathic research for specific audiences/purposes (such as submissions for purposes of health regulation) and OAO publications.
To identify and evaluate journals most relevant to the practice of osteopathy.
To recommend journal subscriptions for the membership to the Board.
To ensure the dissemination of research information on appropriate topics to the members.
To identify members' needs for continuing education in research.
To recommend and/or sponsor research seminars and other educational events for the Board.
To promote, encourage and facilitate research activities and the publication of evidence-based research studies on osteopathy.
To acknowledge and support excellence in research with bursaries and awards.