All resources for RMTAO members are available in the Resource Library.  There are a variety of practical resources available that you can use right away in your practice including:

• Sample forms and templates
• Guidelines
• Infographics
• Fact sheets

If you are a member, you can log in to access these resources. If you are interested in joining as a member, you can join online.

Here are descriptions of some of most popular guidelines and toolkits.

HST Guideline

This guideline provides information on the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), including how to register, advice on not to "eat the tax", how HST applies to multiple practice environments and when you can expect HST to be removed from RMT services. This also includes information on the benefits of voluntary HST registration, specifics on when you have to register for HST, and how we recommend your fees are posted.

HST and Split Percentages

This guideline outlines how HST applies to split percentage arrangements, which depends on who collects the fee and whether the RMT and/or the clinic owner are HST registered. It covers the four possible scenarios that can occur when applying HST to split transaction arrangements. These are when both the clinic owner and the RMT are both HST-registered, when the clinic owner is HST-registered but the RMT is not, when the RMT is HST-registered but the clinic owner is not, and when neither the contractor nor the clinic owner are HST-registered.

Contract Guide

This guide provides information about why contracts are important for massage therapy practice, and definitions of important terms so that RMTs can better understand any contract they encounter. This guide also includes differentiation between employee and independent contractor, clauses RMTs might encounter and when they should be negotiated or amended, and how contract terms might relate to fulfilling their professional obligations.

Interprofessional Collaboration Toolkit

Our Interprofessional Collaboration Toolkit offers you tips for collaborating successfully with other health professionals and tools to make that collaboration easier. This includes tips for building successful interprofessional teams, the principles guiding interdisciplinary communication, and practical communication tools you can use right away in your practice to collaborate with other professionals.

New Grad Toolkit

Our New Graduate Toolkit was designed to provide tips and tricks to help new graduates start their practices successfully. This includes resources to help understand the practice environments available and find the best practice environment for you. It also includes tips and tools to build a successful practice while you’re meeting your professional obligations, and ways you can expand your knowledge. This resource also includes marketing tips and tools to help you grow your practice as soon as it starts.

Guideline to Business Planning

The RMTAO has created a guideline to help RMTs know what to include in a business plan, important factors to consider, and how you might like to update your business plan. A thorough business plan is especially important when launching a practice to define what kind of practice you want, but is also important throughout your career to ensure you’re meeting your goals. This guideline outlines the sections that comprise a business plan and advice to create those sections, such as an overview of your business, an analysis of the market, your marketing plans and your intentions for day-to-day operations.

Marketing Toolkit

This toolkit was designed to offer RMTAO members some guidance about the most effective ways to market their practices. This toolkit reviews best practices for potential communications channels, content creation dos and don’ts, regulations RMTs need to follow, a collection of materials already available from the RMTAO, and sample content members can use to promote the massage therapy profession and attract and retain new patients.

Social Media Toolkit

Our social media toolkit offers general dos and don’ts RMTs can use when posting on social media. It also outlines terminology members will encounter on social media, how to monitor your progress and how to develop a strategy.

Tips for Attracting and Retaining Patients

It’s important to build and maintain a solid patient base in order to have a successful practice. This guide begins with tips for attracting new patients to your practice which can include focusing on the type of content you create, getting your name out there any way possible and remaining consistent. We also provide tips to retain the patients you already have, including focusing on relationships and patient satisfaction, keeping in touch, and patient education.

Tips for Communicating Effectively with Patients

Effective communication with patients is important at all points in your interaction with them. By communicating effectively, your patients can better understand your assessment and treatment planning, provide more informed consent and feel more comfortable with the care you’re providing. This resource provides helpful advice on making your communication more successful. This includes using active listening skills, treating your patients as individuals, avoiding catastrophizing, being aware of the factors that influence your communication, and more.

Beginners Guide to Massage Therapy Research

Our Beginner's Guide to Massage Therapy Research will help you identify appropriate research, evaluate the quality of research, read and understand research, and begin to apply research to your practice. It includes different methods for determining whether specific research will be valuable to your practice, the importance of an evidence-based practice, and some information to help you understand how research questions are formulated.

Guideline to Leaving a Practice

This guideline covers everything you need to know when leaving a practice to ensure you fulfill your obligations. This includes things to consider if you encounter a non-compete or non-solicitation clauses. It also includes your responsibility to continue to have access to patient records, and your responsibility to let your patients know you are leaving, how they can continue care if necessary, and how they can access their health records.

Visit the RMTAO Resource Library to access these Guidelines and Toolkits.