Bylaw Amendment Highlights

Bylaw Amendment Highlights

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May 8, 2023

Dear Colleagues,

The Saskatchewan College of Midwives is pleased to announce that on April 28, 2023, The Midwifery Regulatory Bylaws, 2023 were published in The Saskatchewan Gazette thus coming into effect on this date.

In addition to general housekeeping revisions, the notable amendments are as follows:

MEMBERSHIP AND LICENSURE
Categories of Membership
Bylaw 6

The categories of “honourary membership” and “non-practising membership” have been removed.

General requirements for membership and licensure
Bylaw 7

Proof of current “obstetrical emergency skills” has been added as a requirement for all practising members (Full Practising,
Restricted and Student) for initial licensure and annual renewal of licensure.

Educational program and examinations
Bylaw 8(1)(a)(b)

In recognizing midwifery education programs from Canadian universities that lead to a minimum baccalaureate level degree in midwifery, the words “or an equivalent program” were removed. Applicants are assessed on an individual basis rather than determination of program equivalence. Approval of assessment processes that evaluate and bridge individual applicants’ ability to perform the entry-level competencies of midwifery was added to clearly identify a process by which applicants can have their abilities assessed as a route to registration.

Renewal of full practising licence
Bylaw 14(1)(a)(c)

Requirements for renewal of a full practising licence have been amended.

Applicants for renewal must now have clinical experience consisting of attendance at a minimum of 25 births as a midwife, at least five of which took place in a hospital and at least five of which took place outside of a hospital during the preceding three years. The amendment removes the requirement of attendance at births as a “primary” midwife to allow out of hospital (OOH) birth as “second” midwife to count as OOH births for renewal requirements.

Requirement of infant examinations decreased to 25 as a sufficient and acceptable threshold in terms of numbers to maintain competence.

Continuing competence requirements
Bylaw 17(1)(b)

The required number of hours of professional development or continuing education activities have been pro-rated for licence renewal where a member has been in Saskatchewan for less than three years.

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Code of Ethics
Bylaw 19

Every member shall conduct themselves in an honourable and ethical manner, upholding the values of truth, honesty and trustworthiness, and shall observe the standards of conduct set out in the Code of Ethics for Midwives, December 2021. The Code of Ethics was removed from the Regulatory Bylaws and developed as a stand-alone document.

Midwifery Standards of Practice
Bylaw 20

Every member shall comply with the standards of practice set out in the current version of Midwifery Standards of Practice approved by the council. The Midwifery Standards of Practice was developed as a stand-alone document.

Controlled drugs and substances
Bylaw 21

A member must complete a training course approved by the council in order to prescribe, administer and/or possess controlled drugs or substances for the purposes of practising midwifery and as authorized by the New Classes of Practitioners Regulations, being SOR 2012-230, enacted pursuant to the authority of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada).

The College will provide further information to registered midwives with respect to how this requirement will be met and monitored.

ADVERTISING BY MEMBERS
Limitations
Bylaw 17

This bylaw was updated to include social media and other limitations current with the times.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Deschene, Executive Director/Registrar
Saskatchewan College of Midwives

For further information please contact Cheryl Deschene, Executive Director/Registrar at the Saskatchewan College of Midwives.

Phone: (306) 781-1356
Email: registrar@saskmidwives.ca