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New Standards of Practice
Privacy Legislation Comes into Force
Workshops on Essential Competencies and Code of Ethics
Notice of election of members to Council Electoral Districts 1, 4, 7 and 8
Important Notice for all MR technologists in Canada
Homewood Addiction Hotline
Suspended Members
New Standards of Practice
For the past two years, the College has been revising the Standards of Practice to reflect changes in our profession since the College was created ten years ago, and to ensure that our professional Standards of Practice continue to be an effective benchmark for determining clinical competence.
Effective January 1, 2004, MRTs in the specialties of radiography, nuclear medicine, radiation therapy and magnetic resonance have new Standards of Practice. Information about these standards and their component parts will be mailed to all MRTs before the end of the year.
These Standards of Practice are composed of the Essential Competencies and the Comprehensive Guidelines for acting in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act Scope of Practice/Controlled Acts Model, as amended by the Addendum to the Comprehensive Guidelines. They replace the "Standards of Practice for Medical Radiation Technologists" for radiography, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy published by the CMRTO in 1994.
The new Standards of Practice will:
- Assist MRTs in understanding the College's expectations with respect to the professional practice of medical radiation technology
- Help managers make appropriate decisions regarding management of the practice of MRTs and in developing suitable policies and procedures
- Assist educators in developing curriculum and in providing appropriate instruction
- Help the public in assessing quality of care
The Standards of Practice will serve the College in all areas where criteria for professional performance are needed in making decisions. They will be used by the Complaints Committee, the Discipline Committee and the Fitness to Practise Committee in making their determinations regarding professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity. They will also be used for other College processes such as establishing entry-level requirements for registration and for evaluation of Quality Assurance records in the Quality Assurance Program.
The development of new Standards of Practice also means that the College has had to revise the workbook used for the QA Program. Again, effective January 1, 2004, a new Quality Assurance Continuous Learning Workbook for Medical Radiation Technology replaces the documents titled "Continuous Learning Workbook - Radiography", "Continuous Learning Workbook - Nuclear Medicine", and "Continuous Learning Workbook - Radiation Therapy" published by the CMRTO in 1997.
Although there is a new Quality Assurance Continuous Learning Workbook for Medical Radiation Technology, the Quality Assurance Program - and its requirements - have not changed.
Privacy Legislation Comes into Force
On January 1, 2004, a federal piece of legislation called the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act - known generally as PIPEDA - comes fully into force. Since Ontario doesn't yet have its own privacy legislation, this federal legislation will apply to organizations that collect, use or disclose personal information in the course of commercial activities within Ontario.
Personal information is defined as any information about an identifiable individual. It includes information about an individual's health, personal characteristics, activities or personal viewpoints. It does not include the name, title, business address or business telephone number of an employee of an organization.
"Commercial activity" is defined under PIPEDA as any particular transaction, act or conduct or any regular course of conduct that is of a commercial character, including the selling, bartering or leasing of donor, membership or other fundraising lists. Generally, PIPEDA is intended to apply to the entire private sector but may extend beyond the private sector where an organization collects, uses or discloses personal information in the course of a commercial activity.
Unfortunately, the definition of "commercial activities" as they apply to the health care sector is not entirely clear. Based on the comments of various commentators, it appears that the activities of public hospitals involving the delivery of health care would not likely fall within the definition of "commercial activities". Again, based on the comments of various commentators, it appears that the activities of private clinics, such as independent health facilities, could be considered to be carrying on a commercial activity.
MRTs who are employed by a public hospital or independent health facility should consult with senior management of the organization on PIPEDA's application to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by the organization and the steps necessary to ensure compliance with the legislation. MRTs who own an independent health facility should obtain legal advice on PIPEDA's application to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by the facility and the steps necessary to ensure compliance with the legislation.
For more information about PIPEDA, members may wish to consult the website of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at www.privcom.gc.ca. This website has a Guide for Businesses and Organizations to Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act which is intended to assist organizations to understand and meet their obligations under PIPEDA. The guide can be accessed at www.privcom.gc.ca/information/guide_e.asp.
Workshops on Essential Competencies and Code of Ethics
Drafts of the Essential Competencies and the Code of Ethics were circulated with the Summer 2003 edition of Insights so that all College members could have an opportunity to review the drafts before they were considered for final approval by Council at its October 24, 2003 meeting. College Registrar, Sharon Saberton, conducted workshops around the province during September and October 2003 to answer questions and solicit comments on these draft documents. Workshops were held in Sudbury, Thunder Bay, London, Toronto and Ottawa.
Unfortunately, only a few people attended the Sudbury, Thunder Bay and London workshops, although attendees did provide useful feedback. Thirty-four people representing a good cross section of specialties and stakeholders attended the Toronto workshop, and twelve members met with Ms. Saberton in Ottawa.
Although it is regrettable that more College members did not attend the sessions, those who were present provided noteworthy input. In fact, two important recommendations were made (one in nuclear medicine and one in magnetic resonance) and were subsequently addressed in the versions sent to Council at its October 24, 2003 meeting.
Notice of election of members to Council Electoral Districts 1, 4, 7 and 8
District #1 (Northern District, Radiography) is composed of the geographic area within the territorial boundaries of the Districts of Kenora, Rainy River, Thunder Bay, Algoma, Cochrane, Timiskaming, Manitoulin and Sudbury and the City of Greater Sudbury.
District #4 (Western District, Radiography) is composed of the geographic area within the territorial boundaries of the Regional Municipalities of Halton, Niagara, Waterloo, the Counties of Brant, Dufferin, Wellington, Essex, Bruce, Grey, Huron, Perth, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex, Haldimand and Norfolk, the Restructured County of Oxford, the City of Hamilton and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
District #7 (Faculty Members) includes all of the Province of Ontario.
District #8 (Magnetic Resonance) includes all of the Province of Ontario.
To be eligible to vote in the May 7, 2004 election in District 8, you must be registered as a member of the CMRTO in the specialty of magnetic resonance (MR) no later than March 28, 2004.
| Date: |
Friday, May 7, 2004 |
| Place: |
College of Medical Radiation
Technologists of Ontario
170 Bloor Street West, Suite #1001
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1T9
|
| Time: |
Ballots must be received at the College no later than 5:30 p.m. on May 7, 2004 |
Important Notice for all MR technologists in Canada
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care asked the College to regulate MR technologists in Ontario. The necessary regulations under the Medical Radiation Technology Act came into force on May 29, 2003.
Under the new regulations, MR technologists must now be registered with the College in the specialty of magnetic resonance (MR) in order to represent that they are qualified to practise this specialty in Ontario. After June 18, 2004, a person must be a member of the College (or of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario) in order to be legally authorized to apply electromagnetism for magnetic resonance imaging in Ontario.
The College is now accepting applications and is able to issue certificates of registration in the specialty of magnetic resonance to applicants who meet all the registration requirements as set out in the regulations. Excerpts from the registration regulation related to magnetic resonance, and an application form, are available on our website at www.cmrto.org.
On or before June 18, 2004, MR technologists may apply for registration with the College using one of two methods - either through a grandparenting provision or by successfully completing an approved educational program and an approved examination. After June 18, 2004, the grandparenting provision will no longer be available as a method of registration. The purpose of the grandparenting provision is to enable MR technologists who received on-the-job training in magnetic resonance to become registered and authorized to work in the specialty in Ontario.
Please note that in order to qualify for registration under the grandparenting provision (section 4.1(2) of the registration regulation), the College must receive your application and application fee no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 18, 2004.If you have any questions regarding the registration process, please contact the CMRTO registration department at 416.975.4353 or 1.800.563.5847.
Homewood Addiction Hotline
Over the past seven years the College has offered members the services of the Homewood Addiction Division Helpline. Because the personal counselling involved is confidential, the College does not know how many members have taken advantage of this program in the past. The cost to the College of providing this service was $1,000 a year.
However, effective immediately, the Helpline is no longer available. In August 2003, the College was notified that Homewood was discontinuing its 1-800 Helpline. After researching a number of possible alternatives, nothing comparable could be found. It is hoped that members who feel the need for counselling will use their employer-funded counselling services.
Suspended Members
The following are the people whose certificates of registration have been suspended effective October 31, 2003, for failure to pay their fees in accordance with section 24 of the Health Professions Procedural Code. A person whose certificate of registration has been suspended is not a member of the College unless and until the suspension is removed.
| 11702 |
McGurk, Margaret Judith |
| 11519 |
Wood, Pauline |
| 09161 |
Nanar, Sukhprit |
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