MINUTES OF JUNE 29, 2019 REGIONAL REP
MEETING
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE MEETING MINUTES June 29, 2019
Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario
MINUTES
June 29, 2019| 8:00 – 9:30| Teleconference
Chair Amanda Rainville
Minutes recorded by Claudia
Mariano
Attendees: Stroyan Monkhouse, Suzanne Menard, Barb
Bickle, Diane Gwartz, Sara Peterson
Regrets: Patricia George-Cosh, Adesola Anjola, Kerry-
Ann Ross, Katherine Johnson, Rajesh Talpade, Willi
Kirenko, Nancy Bradley, Afshan Jeoffrey, Jessica
Eckstein
AGENDA TOPICS
Topic #1: Welcome and Action Items | Presenter Amanda
Communications and confidentiality reminders
Review of last month’s minutes
Topic #2: Communications & Updates | Presenter Amanda
Communications from NPAO head office will contain all province wide announcements to
NPs. LHIN rep communications contain local issues, announcements, and opportunities.
ď‚· Nancy Bradley is stepping down as regional rep for LHIN 2 effective immediately.
We would like to thank Nancy for volunteering for her region for the past few years.
ď‚· At the recent NPAO Board retreat there was discussion around revising the role of
the Regional Representatives to decrease focus on LHINs and regions, and facilitate
NP role integration. Amanda will provide more information on this over the summer.
ď‚· Recent communication to members that the Minister of Health has directed CNO to
enable NPs to order CT. MRI, and POCT by Winter 2020. NPAO has been strongly
advocating for the removal of practice barriers since the new government came into
power one year ago, and we are very pleased to hear this news. NPAO will develop
educational sessions for NPs for the fall to improve confidence and competence in
the ordering of CTs and MRIs.
ď‚· The Minister of Health has agreed in principle to subsidize PLP for NPs again. She
has directed us to work with her staff on the details and we are currently waiting for
confirmation of a meeting date. We are hopeful we will once again receive PLP
comparable to that provided to physicians and midwives, but it may not happen for
our new membership year beginning Nov 1, it may start in 2020.
ď‚· We are also looking at asking the Ministry to allow NPs in independent practice who
provide MAiD assessments and provisions to bill OHIP, as the current situation of
NPs providing this service for free is untenable.
Topic #3: Regional Reports – From Members/LHINs| Presenter All
Discussion – Issues & Opportunities as presented by members:
 Diane Gwartz – participating on Cancer Care Ontario’s OBSP expert panel to
examine new guidelines on breast cancer screening.
 Barb Bickle – issues with recent ONA unionization as a result of 2 hospital mergers,
her employer has filled a unionized NP position with a physician. Barb will follow up
with Carol Anderson at ONA to request assistance with union representation.
 Stroyan Monkhouse – monthly meetings with the Kingston Limestone NP group
continue, very successful annual Metamorphosis conference for NPs in collaboration
with Queen’s University. Stroyan is looking for suggestions on how to spend the
revenue from the conference to benefit local NPs. Possible free or subsidized
events.
 Sara Peterson – presented to the Laurentian University IP students
 Suzanne Menard – will be meeting with the English and French IP students at U of
Ottawa; monthly dinners; moderating two Facebook groups for NPs
NEXT MEETING DATE / TIME / LOCATION: Monday July 29, 2019 at 8:00 pm by
teleconference
