Listerv

The Canadian Register of Health Service Psychologists (CRHSP) provides an online discussion forum (listserv) as a service and benefit to CRHSP Registrants and Associates. CRHSP offers the listserv to (a) facilitate communications among CRHSP Registrants on topics of interest to health service psychologists, (b) to provide information from CRHSP, (c) and to otherwise promote the general aims of CRHSP and foster collegial exchange of ideas. The resources (hardware, software, and technical assistance) are provided by CRHSP as a service to users. The listserv is offered to all CRHSP Registrants as a benefit, provided users adhere to rules for participation as described below. Consistent with CPA ethical principles, list users are aware of and respect cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language, and socioeconomic status and consider these factors when using the CRHSP listserv.

Listserv rules

The following rules from CRHSP are binding on all Registrants participating in the listserv:

Malicious use: The listserv may not be used to intentionally interfere with or disrupt other forum users, network services, or network equipment. This includes distribution of unsolicited advertisement or chain letters, propagation of computer viruses, and use of the listserv to make unauthorized entry to any other machine.

Commercial Use: The listserv may not be used for commercial purposes. “Commercial” means communications with the primary purpose of advancing the business or financial interests of any person or entity. Examples of prohibited communications include advertisements for products or services or direct solicitations of listserv users to purchase products or services. Announcements that provide useful professional information to listserv users but that may also have some incidental commercial benefit to the sender (e.g., notification of specific psychological services rendered, an author notifying listserv users of publication of a book, or individuals or groups notifying listserv users of conferences, seminars or other programs) typically would not be considered “commercial use.”

Solicitation of referrals: In general, users seeking referral sources will be directed to CRHSP’s FindaPsychologist.ca website, where complete information about a Registrant’s practice, areas of expertise, third party payers, and other essential practice information may be found. The listserv may, however, be used by individual users seeking services of other Registrants for the purposes of referral, consultation, and other professional exchanges, provided that information contained on the FindaPsychologist.ca website is not substantially duplicated. Users posting referral requests should post only the minimum data necessary to effectuate a referral. Users should take care not to inadvertently violate patient confidentiality by posting information that might through inference identify individual patients. Referral requests containing potentially identifying personal information or protected patient healthcare information under federal, provincial and territorial laws, namely PIPEDA, HIPA (SK), PHIA (MB, NL, NS), PHIPA (ON, NB) and PIPA (AB, BC), AIPPA (NU), HIA (PEI, NT), HIPMA (YT), will be rejected by the listserv moderators.

Confidentiality: Messages posted to a listserv, even an invite-only listserv, are not considered to be confidential. Users posting to the listserv should not disclose personal or business information they wish to be kept confidential. Listserv users must safeguard the privacy of other users and not disclose or cause to be disclosed information that other listserv users would reasonably consider to be confidential.

Partisan politics: It is a violation of the CRHSP’s tax-exempt status to use the listserv for any communication that could be construed in any way as support for or opposition to any individual candidate for a federal, provincial or local public office.

For security reasons, the listserv may not be used for posting videos.

CRHSP Guidelines

Users have the privilege of access to the listserv and are expected to use the list in a professional and respectful manner. Listserv users agree to the following guidelines:

Language that any reasonable person would view as abusive, disrespectful, hateful, purposely rude, profane, threatening, defamatory, or offensive is strictly prohibited. “Flaming” – the use of personal insults, ad hominem attacks, or negative imputations about character or motives directed at an individual or group is expressly prohibited.

Users must adhere to “reasonable use” standards. Monopolization of the listserv by a small number of users, or overly frequent posts from individuals, discourages others from participating and reduces the effectiveness of the list. Messages that are not of general interest to the listserv or are better addressed to individual recipients should not be posted to the entire list.

Forwarding or republishing posts from non-listserv users must be done with care, and in general is discouraged. If appropriate in the context of an email authored by a listserv user, and if appropriate attribution is provided, emails may contain substantive content from an external posting. “Proxy posting” – simply forwarding content from non-listserv users is not permitted. If external messages deemed to be of general interest to users of the list are forwarded or republished, permission from the originator of the post must be obtained.

Due to security concerns, attachments to listserv posts are not allowed.

Requests for research participation and for distribution of research announcements are allowed on this list, provided the research has received approval from Health Canada’s Research Ethics Board. All requests for research participation should clearly indicate the name of the sponsoring institution and, if the research is conducted by a student, the name of the faculty sponsor.

Requests for professional consultation are welcome.

Announcements of jobs, conferences, books and other professional resources are always welcome.

Oversight and Sanctions

CRHSP oversees the operations of this listserv and will review any infraction of published rules and policies.

Sanctions:

A. Illegal use: Use of the listserv for illegal purposes warrants immediate, permanent termination of privileges. Illegal use includes defamation, violation of intellectual property laws, violation of antitrust or unfair competition laws, and violation of criminal laws.

B. Other prohibited uses: Removal from the listserv will be considered only after less punitive sanctions have been employed. These include:

Warnings: Users who post content deemed offensive, inflammatory, or otherwise disruptive to the list community as described above may be provided a single warning prior to removal from the list or be removed from the list without a warning depending on the nature of the problematic posting. Upon evidence of violation, the CRHSP’s Board Chair or administrative staff will communicate with the user, warning them that a post or posts are out of compliance with the CRHSP listserv rules or Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct for Psychologists, and advising them of the potential for the suspension of listserv privileges. In most instances, if CRHSP’s Board Chair or administrative staff has warned a user two or more times of inappropriate listserv behavior, permanent removal from the listserv is warranted.

Reinstatement: A dismissed Registrant seeking reinstatement to the listserv must proactively contact CRHSP’s Board Chair or administrative staff. Upon affirmation of intent to adhere to CRHSP listserv rules, the member may be reinstated at the sole discretion of CRHSP’s Board Chair or administrative staff.

Appeals: Users may appeal the Board Chair or administrative staff decision to the CRHSP Board of Directors, which will by majority vote decide if sanctions are warranted. The decision of the Board is final and not subject to appeal.