The Health Professions Act requires the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta provide financial support for treatment and/or counselling for patients who have experienced sexual abuse or sexual misconduct by a physiotherapist while a patient.
Financial support is through the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta's Patient Relations Program ("the program").
Overview of Financial Support
- The Program funds can only be used for treatment or counselling services, not travel, childcare, or other expenses.
- The Program funds can only be used to reimburse treatment and counselling services provided to the patient.
- The Program funds can only be used for treatment and counselling services provided by:
- A regulated health professional in good standing with their regulatory college who does not have a conflict of interest (i.e., not a family member) or
- An unregulated counselling professional who is a member of the Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta who does not have a conflict of interest.
- A patient may access Program funds for up to five years or until the maximum amount of funding has been provided, whichever occurs first.
- Funds cease if the complaint is dismissed or there are no findings.
- The maximum amount of funding available to a patient is $24,600.
Eligibility
- A complaint is made respecting a physiotherapist that meets the definition of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct.
- The individual is a patient as defined by the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta’s Standard of Practice.
To access funding
The process to request access to the Program funds is provided by the College of Physiotherapists of Alberta after eligibility is determined.
Other treatment and counselling services
Community resources may also be available. Contact the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services for services in your area.
