Policies and Guidelines

 

The Association develops and enforces its Standards of Practice, Policies and Guidelines on members.ONNL guidelines and policies assist osteopathic manual practitioners to practice in a professional and ethical manner.

 

Scope of Practice and Authorized Acts

 

Scope of Practice

Osteopathic manual practitioners in Newfoundland and Labrador (Canada) are primary healthcare professionals who facilitate healing through manual osteopathic assessment and treatment of the whole person, with a focus on neuromusculoskeletal and joint disorders. Osteopathic manualpractitioners use various, recognised osteopathic manual techniques (such as osteoarticular, muscle energy,cranial, visceral, strain/counterstrain, positional facilitated release, soft tissue therapy, etc) to work with thebody's ability to heal itself, thereby promoting health and wellbeing.

 

Authorized Acts

-There are a number of acts that are considered authorized acts and outside the scope of practice of ONNLmembers. Osteopathic manual practitioners are prohibited by law to provide any of these acts inNewfoundland and Labrador, unless they are a dual registrant with a license in another health professionthat permits them to provide the acts listed below:

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-Communicating a medical diagnosis identifying, as the cause of a person's symptoms (ONNLmembers may provide a osteopathic diagnosis, but not a medical diagnosis).

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-Moving the joints beyond a person's usual physiological range of motion using a high velocity, lowamplitude thrust (called manipulation, HVLA or grade V (five) mobilization).

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-Putting a finger beyond the anal verge for the purpose of manipulating or mobilizing the coccyx.

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-Injection of any kind and breaking the skin, & surgery of any type.Prescribing any type of medication.Taking x-rays and offering radiological services.Casting and or bracing bone fractures.Setting dislocated joints.