Practice Advisory FAQ
Should calls/emails always have well-formed questions when using the practice advisory service?
We receive a variety of professional practice inquiries. Sometimes registrants are not sure if their questions are important or relevant and some simply call to discuss issues that have come up in dietetic practice. Be assured that regardless of your inquiry, we will address your concerns in a respectful and supportive manner.
Are there are restrictions in the number of times someone can contact the practice advisory service?
There are many people who regularly contact the practice advisory service. We value our “frequent flyers” and would never restrict the number of times anyone may contact the College. We enjoy developing a rapport with RDs and others and appreciate hearing about how issues have been resolved. We encourage anyone to contact the College whenever questions or concerns arise.
Does the practice advisory service provide legal advice?
The College’s practice advisors are not lawyers and are not in a position to provide legal advice. To address specific legal matters, RDs and others are advised to consult with the legal counsel in their workplace or to obtain their own legal counsel, as applicable. The College will provide registrants with resources surrounding legal issues and, at times, we will consult with a lawyer to inform our responses to registrants, but we do not provide legal advice. Also, be aware that the practice advice given to one registrant applies to that specific inquiry and may not be applicable in other circumstances.
Does the practice advisory police registrants?
Our purpose is not to police registrants. We all benefit from the one-on-one conversations that take place between the practice advisors and our registrants. Registrants can be confident that the practice advisory service is designed to educate and guide registrants in the application of the ethics, laws and professional practice standards for safe, client-centred nutrition care. For the College, these conversations result in a better understanding of trends in dietetics and the challenges that dietitians face in their workplace every day. This knowledge enables us to focus our resources on developing standards, policies and educational materials that are most relevant for the provision of safe dietetic practice.
Some RDs believe that by contacting the PAS they will be automatically ‘flagged’ for peer and practice and competency assessments. This is not true. Our College believes that the best way to protect the public is to support RDs in their day-to-day practice. We encourage and welcome RDs to access the PAS for support and help. RDs can trust that we do not ‘flag’ users, nor do we refer users of PAS to the Quality Assurance (QA) Program for practice assessment. Participation in a peer and practice assessment is determined by the QA Program through a computerized random selection process.
How long does it take for practice advisory service inquiries to be answered?
A practice advisor will review the inquiry and a response will generally be provided by email or phone within one to two business days. Response times may vary depending on call volumes and the nature of the inquiry. If appropriate, questions may be directed to another College department. A number of excellent practice resources are available on the College website, and the search feature makes finding information fast and simple.