At our discipline meeting yesterday, we reviewed some of the sections from the Annual Report that are relevant to the IWK (of course I encouraged folks to read the entire report, but pointed out sections that affect practice here or might in the future). We added on the most recent communication from NSRP about Telepractice, which caused some confusion. We did review the document with the FAQs, but a few things still came up that I would like to clarify please:1. Our understanding is that if a client is located outside of Nova Scotia, we would still have to contact the licensing board of the province where the client is located and follow their procedures. So, what does the change mean then? What is different from the previous procedure?The change that has been made is that psychologists registered outside of NS, but elsewhere in Canada, do not have to obtain registration with NSRP in order to practice via telepsychology with a client located in NS. While NSRP was able to make this change for clients within NS, it does not have control over how other jurisdictions operationalize their legislation. Psychologists are still be expected to contact the licensing board where the client is located and to follow their procedures.
Does it mean that some provinces might have no additional requirements – and therefore NSRP is saying that they would continue to govern the practice of the psychologist and telehealth could proceed?No, as mentioned, psychologists would need to check with the other jurisdiction to determine requirements. Regarding your question about the comment on governing practice, should a psychologist registered with NSRP receive a complaint against them, NSRP would still retain authority to investigate the complaint as that psychologist is registered with NSRP. More information on potential complaints is noted in page 2 of the FAQ,
https://www.ns-rp.ca/downloads/Cross-jurisdictional_telepsychology_services.pdf
But telehealth practice could not proceed if the province requires licensure in that province?You would be expected to follow the requirements in that province if the client is located there. Many have adjusted their requirements to allow the psychologist to keep seeing existing clients who might be located in that regulator’s jurisdiction during COVID-19.
2. What about clients who spend summer months – temporary residence – outside of the province? Is the process different if they are in New Brunswick or PEI (so within Atlantic) or elsewhere in Canada?Yes, the MOU in the Atlantic Provinces will continue to allow psychologists registered with NSRP to simply provide notification to the regulator in the other jurisdiction in Atlantic Canada and provide services, rather than requiring them to be formally registered.
For more information please see the NSRP page on telepsychology:
https://www.ns-rp.ca/information-for-registrants/telepsychology/
