The College of Physiotherapists of Alberta has developed new Standards of Practice on Documentation and Privacy in preparation for the designation of physiotherapists as custodians under the Health Information Act (HIA).
Important: These standards are in draft form only and are not currently in force.
They have been submitted to the Minister for review and comment in accordance with section 133 of the Health Professions Act and must be formally adopted by Council before they come into effect.
Why are these standards being developed?
These standards have been developed to support physiotherapists in meeting their obligations under the Health Information Act. The College worked closely with Alberta Health’s Health Information Act Policy and Data Governance Unit within the Data Access and Information Privacy Branch to ensure the standards align with legislative requirements and reflect expectations under the HIA.
What does this mean for regulated members?
- These draft standards are being shared for information and awareness only.
- Current standards of practice remain in effect until standards are formally adopted by Council.
- Effective June 22, 2026, regulated members will be required to comply with the Health Information Act. Many of the expectations outlined in these draft standards reflect obligations already established in the legislation.
- Regulated members are encouraged to review the draft standards to understand the expectations set out and how they align with the Health Information Act, in preparation for future adoption.
- The draft standards reflect a transition to a single, consistent legislative framework under the HIA, supporting clearer and more aligned expectations for documentation and privacy practices.
Next steps
Following the Minister’s review and consideration of feedback, the proposed standards will be considered by Council for decision. When adopted, the College will communicate timelines and expectations to support implementation.
Note: Consistent with best practices, this document is clearly identified as a draft and is not currently in force to avoid confusion for regulated members and the public.
