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Head-to-head
In this column, the OOAQ president shares opinions inspired by the current events within Quebec’s professional system. This is an invitation to pursue an individual and collective reflection.
Taking place… within a group
French version
Marie-Pierre Caouette, M.O.A.,
présidente et directrice général
On this 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Professional Code, here is another reason to rejoice: the Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec (OOAQ) welcomed its 2,000th member last fall. While it took almost 40 years to reach the 1,000 member mark, only 12 years were required to double this number. Thanks to our sustained efforts and that of our partners, battling against a shortage among our ranks, we will most likely boast 3,000 members in 9 years time and double our current number in a little over 16 years. Unlike the health sector, which is concerned about the impacts of the upcoming retirement of several of its workers, a shortage in the fields of audiology and speech-language pathology will soon be a thing of the past.
In the meantime, our newly acquired “medium-size” status constitutes an opportunity to reflect on our organization and initiate its complete overhaul, in an effort to focus on the objectives and means that will allow us to effectively achieve our primary mission. Clearly, one way of doing this would be to share this good news with as many stakeholders as possible to break the ever-present myth about a shortage in the audiology and speech-language pathology workforce.
Asterix’s syndrome
Our story begins in the 1950s with a membership of six pioneers with diplomas in audiology/speech-language pathology for the entire Canadian territory. No wonder the word “shortage” has stayed with us up until now. For audiologists and speech-language pathologists, the last 50 years were spent inventing our professions for the benefit of the population. We were actively involved in making the problems linked to communication and hearing known and we were the avid, avant-garde promoters of teamwork and cooperation with “communication partners”, fostering our clients’ progress and integration. Yet, so much energy spent on defending an increasingly vast territory, which our troupes were not always able to cover. Wouldn’t it be best to focus on promoting our professions? The time has come to stop reacting as a small organization and to start living up to the slogan created by the Québec Interprofessional Council: A pro, is a pro in the eyes of the general population and not only for those who already appreciate us, so that decision-makers may make informed decisions in terms of communication disorders. We can only be happy that an increasing number of our partners are finally interested in language and hearing disorders. However, it is sad to see that, at a time when more than ever so many of us are at the service of the population, decision-makers, convinced about an ongoing shortage, are looking for possible solutions in which audiologists and speech-language pathologists do not have a leading role. While Québec is concerned about the demographic challenge, a rising number of graduates must now create their own employment. Is the public sector sufficiently prepar-ed to welcome and retain this new workforce? Could this be referred to as the OOAQ paradox?
Valuing new roles
Strengthened by an ever-growing number of members, we must seize this unique opportunity to develop new functions and new reflexes. While keeping people at the core of our mission, as drivers of our actions, it is time to add value to the continuum of roles that will enable the optimum outreach of our professions, as so many other groups have done before us:
A comprehensive vision, a strong identity and a confident attitude will help us better fulfill the social aspect of our common goal.
Adapting to a changing world
Although the last 15 years proved to be, for several paramedical professions, an opportunity for development, the days when a profession was defined by a long-associated pathology are long gone. Bills 90 and 21 proved modern and revolutionary for the Québec professional system. From now on, thankfully so, both problems and clienteles no longer belong to professionals. We now talk more about the sharing of reserved activities. This does not mean, however, that professionals are all interchangeable and can perform the same activities, but rather that they may offer their own competencies to the population and to their team partners. The sharing of a common interest in some problems must be for the benefit of the clientele, based on a different scope for each professional and in tune with the latter’s field of practice so that the public may have access to a wider range of services(1). Opening our boarders does not mean loosing our identity, quite the contrary.
This new paradigm helps us develop tools that will allow us to better inform the population so it may make the most appropriate choices according to its needs. It is within this framework that the OOAQ is currently modifying its organization chart and professionalizing its personnel with a view to implementing a communication plan and new Internet site, which will become a central tool. Indeed, with globalization and open boarders, thanks particularly to the Web, professionals can no longer control everything and prevent the population from having access to different sources of information. We must therefore position ourselves strategically within this new environment, in harmony with our partners, in an effort to offer citizens reliable sources of information.
Boldness and leadership
In a context where a wind of change is being felt across Québec’s professional system, the Ordre des orthophonistes et audiologistes du Québec must take on the role of a committed promoter of harmonious interprofessionnal relationships. Already, in the field, our members are teaming up with several contributors. Interdisciplinarity will in fact be honoured in our magazine, beginning with this issue. The OOAQ has also consolidated its ties with several partners these past few months, particularly with the Association des orthopédagogues du Québec and the LDAQ (Learning Disabilities Association of Quebec), with which we expect to prepare shared training and information activities. We are also proud of the achievements made in the field of auditory health where, based on a unique formula, professionals (ENT [Ear, nose, and throat] specialists, audiologists and audioprosthesists) actively cooperate with user associations to further advance shared problems that bear an impact on public health. These constitute different opportunities to promote the authentic pooling of our respective competencies for the benefit of Québecers.
Our experience over these past months has shown that the population can only benefit from professionals learning to work together. The much talked-about “sharing of competencies” starts with the sharing of information, a meeting with another professional where we learn about the latter’s competencies and, in turn, demonstrate our skills. The issue then is no longer to protect a territory, but rather to protect the public, together.
Together, that’s the solutionn
Québec’s landscape is about to change with the inversion of the demographic pyramid. Access to quality services within a reasonable time frame for all is a major challenge, which could prove unsettling. Yet, this shared project may serve as an agent of change, calming the interprofessional tensions of the last few years, as solidarity between professionals will seal the foundation of a true interdisciplinary effort.
Collective commitment thrives on action, based on a shared willingness to tackle a societal venture that requires boldness and effort every step of the way. To do so, we must learn to accept uncertainty and tolerate ambiguity, understand that a project is never fully completed and that satisfaction can be found through participation in the process itself(2). This undertaking will prove successful if we put the following familiar key elements into practice: openness to change, mutual respect, patience, motivation, look to the future, active listening, genuine meeting of the minds and, above all, belief in such a venture. Based on the mobilizing and inspiring events I have had the pleasure to participate in these last few weeks, there are many of us in the professional system who believe in such an endeavour. “Together, we do succeed!” stated the organizers of the 35th LDAQ Annual Conference. “Acting together for the well-being of the community” was the order of the day at the États généraux de l’Ordre des diététistes du Québec. Together, for an educational success and healthy future for Québec society.
Together… what if?
(1) Inspired from TRUDEAU, J-B., de GRANDMONT, S., LAFRANCE, L. et POITRAS, L. 2007. «La loi 90 : La force de l’interdisciplinarité. Des connaissances et des compétences à partager.» Dans M-J. Fleury, M. Tremblay, H. Nguyen, L. Bordeleau., Le système sociosanitaire au Québec. Gouvernance, régulation et participation, Gaëtan Morin éditeur, Chenelière Éducation, chapitre 15, p. 263-272.
(2) Inspired from «Mission impossible! Et pourtant, ensemble…», conférence d’ouverture du 35e congrès de l’AQETA, Guy Bourgeault, Ph.D. théologie et éthique, professeur, Département d’administration et fondement de l’éducation, Faculté des sciences de l’éducation, Université de Montréal.
Notes Biographiques
Proud of our roots and open to the world
Throwing out the baby with the bath water...
