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Constituent Society Corner |
CIPHI Update: Professionalism, Standards, Strategy…
by Cameron Weighill1
It has been another busy year for the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI), at both the local and national levels, as we continue to plan for the future of our profession.
Mandatory Professionalism
At the national level, the Ontario Branch Executive (OBE) has been collaborating with our colleagues at the National Executives Council (NEC) on the framework for the implementation of mandatory professionalism. As part of this process, CIPHI has successfully trademarked the CPHI(C) credential. This is a critical step forward for CIPHI's transformation into a self-regulated professional body. The NEC is currently finalizing a communication strategy to inform the profession of the changes that will occur as CIPHI moves toward the professionalism mandate. The communication strategy is scheduled for release in the new year.
Ontario Branch Strategic Plan
At the provincial level, CIPHI (Ontario Branch) Inc. has implemented a new Strategic Plan. The Plan's strategic priorities include: focusing on volunteer recruitment, supporting research that concentrates on the business of environmental health inspection, supporting NEC initiatives, and increasing the Branch's ability to effectively advocate on behalf of Public Health Inspectors.
Public Health Standards Review
The CIPHI (Ontario Branch) Inc. was invited to sit on the Reference Panel and provide feedback on the draft version of the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS). The OBE reviewed the draft OPHS and offered feedback through an e-Survey on the standards relevant to the roles and responsibilities of PHI's The OBE support the new structure and organization of the draft OPHS. The draft OPHS were organized with well defined foundational evidence based standards. CIPHI members and the OBE were also invited to be part of the Protocol Development Teams for, but not limited to:
- Rabies
- Institutional Outbreak Prevention and Control
- Personal Service Setting
- Recreational Water
- Drinking Water
- Health Hazard Prevention and Management, and
- Food Safety.
The institute and its members enthusiastically accepted this invitation and provided valuable input during this process.
Ontario Branch Conferences
This year's CIPHI educational (3 days) and communicable disease (CD) (2 days) conferences were an outstanding succes,s with approximately 150 and 180 delegates respectively. The theme of the educational conference, held in Sudbury, was human health and climate change. As a result of the topical nature of the theme and presence of high profile keynote speakers, such Justin Trudeau and David Phillips, the conference received strong local media coverage. This year's CD conference, held in Toronto, was entitled Operation: Communicable Diseases Investigation. Its relevant educational sessions were extremely well attended. The popularity of the CD conference has continued to grow, with this year's attendance being one of highest on record.
1Cameron Weighill is CIPHI’s new Constituent Society representative to the OPHA.
There are currently ten Constituent Societies of OPHA. Their representatives sit on the OPHA Board of Directors, and are elected by their respective societies.
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