This text is part of the special booklet Trades, professions and careers
In Quebec, one in four adults has already received osteopathic treatment. However, anyone can present themselves as an osteopath at present, the profession not being officially recognized or supervised. This situation is about to change soon, since the Office des professions du Québec has recently come out in favor of the creation of a separate professional order for osteopaths.
“This is a major step forward for the osteopathic community and for the protection of the public”, says Bertrand Courtecuisse, president of Ostéopathie Québec, the largest association of osteopaths in the province, which campaigns for the recognition of profession for decades.
The opinion published by the Office on June 16 recommends, among other things, the creation of a separate professional order for osteopaths. The Office reveals that “at a time when access to care remains an issue for the Quebec population, the professional supervision of osteopaths and their contribution to the supply of health services seem more relevant than ever”.
Bertrand Courtecuisse agrees: “The health system is under pressure. Because osteopaths mainly intervene on the front line, they directly relieve the population, but also the health system indirectly. Millions of treatments are performed in this way every year. »
But without real supervision of the profession, real protection is difficult to guarantee. “This is a situation that has dragged on for several years, deplores the president of the association. This involves a risk for the public, if acts are not duly practiced. And some of these acts are at risk of harm. »
Moreover, it is not only the public who can suffer the consequences of this lack of supervision of the profession. “Osteopaths are in a gray area where we can sometimes relate their practice to the illegal practice of medicine, argues Mr. Courtecuisse. It is not normal that osteopaths practice under the risk of prosecution. In the current legal void, we are doing the best we can with our association and the mechanisms we are putting in place to protect everyone, but it is still very limited. »
Remember that osteopathy is an exclusively manual approach that aims to restore the functionality of the structures and systems of the human body to promote the capacity for self-regulation. In his clinical practice, the osteopath uses precise techniques of manual adjustment in order to restore their optimal mobility to the bones, muscles, fascias, nerves and organs, can we read on the website of Ostéopathie Québec. This mobility aims to restore balance to the body and relieve the patient’s symptoms.
“An osteopath is a bit like a watchmaker of the human body, illustrates the president. He looks at all the interactions between the structures, between the joints, the muscles, the ligaments, the tendons, which can be seen as the gears, then he puts this structure in motion so that the clock starts again. »
An order that protects the public and professionals
There are still a few significant steps to take before the profession is truly recognized, including the presentation of a decree by the Council of Ministers, but Mr. Courtecuisse believes it is realistic that everything will be formalized by March 2023.
“The creation of an order will reserve the title of osteopath, define the field of practice of the profession, reserve certain activities for osteopathic professionals, ensure the start of university training that respects the highest standards of the profession, but also establish collaboration with other health professionals,” summarizes Mr. Courtecuisse.
The University of Sherbrooke has also announced its desire to create a master’s program in osteopathy. Currently, no university training exists, this sector being exploited only by private schools. A situation that has blocked the recognition of the profession for several years. “It’s a chicken and egg question,” explains Mr. Courtecuisse. The problem is that universities have difficulty setting up training for a health profession that is not yet supervised, but the fact that there is no university training devoted to a profession does not favor its recognition by the Office. Inevitably, it does not progress! »
He affirms that the changes envisaged have been favorably received by the community of osteopaths and that transitional measures will be put in place in order to avoid disruptions in service. “The Office has requested that all osteopaths currently in practice pass a competency examination in order to be able to enter the Order, explains the president. Of course, for people who have been practicing for years, taking an exam can be a bit anxiety-provoking, but we are going to put mechanisms in place at the association to prepare our members as best as possible for this exam. »
The wind that is turning in favor of the recognition of the profession does not stop at the borders of the province or the country. “In 2020, there were about 35 countries where osteopathy was recognized, and today, we are approaching fifty, notes Mr. Courtecuisse. University courses are also being developed around the world, and more and more research is being done in osteopathy. There is really a dynamic around the profession.
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the To have to, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of To have to did not take part.