OTBNZ column in OT Insight magazine Created by OTBNZ News on 21/02/2011
Please find below a recent OT Insight column by Andrew Charnock, OTBNZ Chief Executive.
The new OTBNZ computer system (SysRAy)
I want to start by saying thank you to all practitioners for their patience in getting to grips and understanding of the new system which went live on 15 December 2010.
I understand that for many practitioners there have been frustrating and time-consuming issues and problems to work through. Some of the problems and issues will take time to resolve. It is never easy to move from one computer system to another particularly as the data is complex and has been developed over time.
Three years ago the Board made a decision to move to a different provider and developer for its computer systems. Previously the Board had a contract with a sole operator who both developed and supported the system. Having a sole operator for an important system has inherent risks. The Board decided therefore to review update and develop a new system with a larger organisation. The Board now has better provision for supporting and enhancing the system.
How did we get to this point?
In September 2003 the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCAA) came into being. The principal purpose of the HPCAA is to protect the health and safety of members of the public by providing for mechanisms to ensure that health practitioners are competent and fit to practise their profession (HPCAA Section 3 (1)). Any Board competency programme needed to reflect the requirements laid down in that legislation.
Prior to developing the Continuing Competence Framework for Recertification (CCFR), the Board researched what method would best enable it to achieve the statutory requirement to ensure practitioners’ competence to practise. In December 2003 the Board received a research report which outlined the best approach for continuing competence for occupational therapists (Varney and Taylor, 2003). The report reviewed the literature and examined competency programmes both in New Zealand and internationally. From this report grew the computerised CCFR we have today.
It is also significant to point out that the CCFR is only one part of SysRAy. There are other elements which support the Board’s secretariat in its administration and processes tasks. SysRAy enables practitioners to apply and pay on-line, something no other regulatory authority provides, but which many wish to achieve. So SysRAy is unique to the Board, to New Zealand and internationally. Remember, the information contained in an individual practitioner’s CCFR can be accessed instantly. It provides a descriptive picture of their activity in maintaining professional competence. It has been viewed and discussed between the practitioner and their supervisor and attested to by a third party. It allows for auditing and for auditors to report to the Board about the “state” of competence of the practitioners on its register.
Let me provide a different vantage point to the one that is being taken by many practitioners as they “tackle” their CCFR’s and soon recertification – As a member of the public how do I know that the occupational therapist I see is competent and is someone who maintains their competence over time? That is what the CCFR is about; that is why the Board has developed and audits the CCFR; that is what I as a member of the public want to have assurance about.
Next steps
1. The Board has a service level agreement with the company developing and enhancing SysRAy. This provides for quarterly scheduled releases in January, April, July and October.
2. We have a member of staff (Isobel) providing a dedicated helpdesk function 5 days per week (9-5). Isobel can be contacted on 04 9184749 or via email - Isobel@otboard.org.nz
3. I am working closely with another member of staff who is working with our developers to make the changes and enhancements for now and the future.
4. In the near future the Board will discuss the affect the issues related to the CCFR may have on recertification and contact practitioners with advice.
We have come along way in developing SysRAy; we have a number of changes still to make. Please bear with us while we work on making things better.
Andrew Charnock
Chief Executive
Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand
