A Few Reminders...
College Annual Report Now Online
QA Program – Multi-Source Feedback System Update
Infection Control Guidelines for Regulated Health Practitioners
Council Approves By-Law No. 28
Council and Committee Membership
Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (Ontario)
Election of Members to Council – Electoral Districts 1, 4, 7 and 8
Suspended Members
A Few Reminders...
Our profession is becoming increasingly complex as our role evolves in response to changes in technology, our work environments and the needs of patients. We feel pressured into doing more but are uncertain as to what we can and cannot do. The College believes it is useful to remind ourselves of some of the fundamental statutory requirements with respect to practising medical radiation technology in Ontario.
An MRT is a qualified health care professional who uses radiation or electromagnetism to produce diagnostic images and tests or who uses radiation to treat patients for certain medical conditions on the order of a physician.
The Healing Arts Radiation Protection Act (HARP)
HARP regulates who can order and apply x-rays, and provides that no person shall operate an x-ray machine for the irradiation of a human being unless the person meets the qualifications prescribed by HARP’s regulations. MRTs and certain other health care professionals are deemed to meet such qualifications. HARP also provides that no person shall operate an x-ray machine for the irradiation of a human being unless the irradiation has been prescribed by a physician or certain other named health care professionals.
MRT Scope of Practice
According to the Medical Radiation Technology Act (MRT Act), “The practice of medical radiation technology is the use of ionizing radiation and other forms of energy prescribed under subsection 12(2) to produce diagnostic images and tests, the evaluation of the technical sufficiency of the images and tests, and the therapeutic application of ionizing radiation.”
Ontario Regulation 226/03 made under the MRT Act prescribes electromagnetism as a form of energy for the purpose of the scope of practice of medical radiation technology.
The scope of practice identifies what can be expected of MRTs in practice.
It corresponds to what members of the profession learn in their educational programs and sets out the areas of expected competency. It establishes the foundation for practice and a frame of reference for such things as,
- entry to practice requirements
- the performance of authorized acts
- the standards of practice of the profession
- decision making regarding performing services or procedures beyond principal expectations of practice
Within the scope of practice, MRTs must first have an order from an authorized health care professional when applying ionizing radiation or using electromagnetism to produce diagnostic images, or performing a controlled act that the MRT is authorized to do, or is delegated to the MRT. (In the case of performing an authorized act procedure under the MRT Act, the MRT needs an order from a physician. In the case of applying ionizing radiation under the HARP Act, the MRT needs an order from a physician, dentist, designated chiropodist, chiropractor, osteopath or under certain circumstances, a nurse who holds an extended class certificate of registration.) Failure to obtain an order when performing an authorized act or applying ionizing radiation are grounds for professional misconduct under the College’s professional misconduct regulations.
(Some MRTs, for example, those who operate an x-ray machine in breast screening programs, may perform a mammogram without an order because, in accordance with regulations made under HARP, mammograms do not have to be done on the order of a physician when they are part of a breast screening program.)
What is considered professional misconduct?
In general, professional misconduct occurs through omission - the act of failing to do something required by the practice of our profession - or violation - doing something which violates the regulations governing our profession. There are two documents that are key in determining omission and violation - the Standards of Practice developed by the College and the provincial regulations which govern the profession. Both are available on the College’s web site.
Consent
Another concept that is important to our professional practice is the need to obtain consent. As an MRT, you are considered a health care practitioner for the purposes of the Health Care Consent Act (HCCA) and need to be familiar with its requirements. The HCCA applies to most treatments wherever they are provided and to most of the regulated health professions. To better understand this complex Act, go to the College’s web site and see our publication called ‘What You Must Know About... Consent’.
While this publication is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the HCCA, or is it intended to provide legal advice, it does review the HCCA and includes definitions and guidelines. While it is important to have informed consent from the patient, it is not just the consent that allows an MRT to perform a procedure within the scope of practice; there must first be an order for that procedure.
College Annual Report Now Online
Once again, the College is pleased to announce that the 2003 Annual Report is available online. The annual report is one of our most important channels for providing information to you about how the College works and the accomplishments it makes on your behalf each year.
The annual report is available in HTML or PDF format at www.cmrto.org. Any member who prefers to have his or her own printed copy, will receive one by mail on request. Just give us a call at either (416) 975-4353 or 1 800-563-5847.
QA Program – Multi-Source Feedback System Update
In the Spring 2004 Insights, the College described a major project it has undertaken to develop a feedback system, as part of the QA program. This article will update you on our progress.
The College is required by legislation to provide a means to assess how people in the profession actually perform in practice. As health care providers, we are accountable to the public for our performance in our professional practice.
The College engaged Dr. Claudio Violato to assist with the development of a feedback system appropriate to medical radiation technology. His plan is to develop - using a four part methodology which was outlined in the previous article - a “multi-source” assessment process. A multi-source feedback assessment instrument provides a more global picture of performance in the practice setting, and is based on the idea that colleagues may be in the best position to provide practical reaction and advice.
"What is a multi-source feedback system?
Multi-source - or 360-degree - feedback systems are not new to businesses.
They provide a means to make feedback available for both developmental and appraisal purposes, and to facilitate change for both the person assessed and the organization. In the business setting, supervisors, subordinates, peers, clients and the assessed person each complete a questionnaire focused on characteristics important to the job. The assessed person receives anonymous feedback about his or her performance.
The multi-source feedback assessment is a formative evaluation, providing continuous reaction to an MRT’s performance. It compares the MRT’s clinical performance to that of other MRTs.
Where are we in the QA project?
In May 2004, two focus groups comprised of members of each specialty of the College, the QA Committee and patients were conducted by Dr. Violato. A table of specifications was prepared by the focus groups based on the six Essential Competencies of the College’s Standards of Practice. These specifications will ensure that the feedback system includes all essential practice variables.
Later in May, a working group of some members from the focus groups and the QA Committee met with Dr. Violato. This working group developed draft feedback tools which are now ready to be tested. The group also developed a five-point rating scale as the means of measurement for the tools. This scale varies from one to five with one meaning ‘among the worst’, and five being ‘among the best’ and includes one category for ‘unable to assess’.
Where are we going next?
The draft multi-source feedback tools will be reviewed by an evaluation team comprised of MRTs from all four specialties of the College, as well as representatives from stakeholders.
In the spring of 2005, the College will conduct a pilot study of the tools to ensure their reliability, validity and usability. The College will be calling on 400 MRTs to volunteer to test the tools in this pilot study. Those who participate in the pilot on a voluntary basis will have the opportunity to have their participation in the pilot study count as a practice assessment if they are randomly selected once the formal practice assessment process is implemented. This condition will be in effect up to January 1, 2012.
The results of the pilot study will be collected by the College and then forwarded to Dr. Violato. Dr. Violato will analyse the data and assess the draft approach for reliability, validity and usability. He will also provide feedback to pilot study participants, and develop a report for the CMRTO. It is anticipated that the College will receive Dr. Violato’s report by summer 2005.
If you want to volunteer to be a participant in the pilot study - or provide any other advice on this initiative - please contact the College by September 15, 2004, either by telephone at 1 (800) 563-5847 or by e-mail at info@cmrto.org. And be sure to check future issues of Insights for more QA program updates.
Infection Control Guidelines for Regulated Health Practitioners
Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has renewed its focus on infection control in the health care delivery system in the past few months. But finding ways to ensure patient safety is the responsibility of all health care providers.
To assist in the control of infection, some health regulatory colleges participated in developing recommendations regarding standards and infection control guidelines. The recommendations from these colleges are available directly from the website of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. There is a link to the ministry's website located on the CMRTO's website, www.cmrto.org, under Professional Practice at the bottom of the page.
Once you get to the ministry’s site, you look under the section called Standards and Directives. The reports are called Infection Control and Surveillance Standards for Febrile Respiratory Illness in Non-Outbreak Conditions in Acute Care Hospitals, Preventing Respiratory Illnesses Protecting Residents and Staff in Non-Acute Care Institutions - Infection Control and Surveillance Standards for Febrile Respiratory Illness (FRI) in Non-Outbreak Conditions, and Preventing Respiratory Illnesses In Community Settings - Infection Control and Surveillance for Febrile Respiratory Illness (FRI) in Community Settings in Non-Outbreak Conditions. MRTs should regularly check the College’s website for any new infection control information posted by the ministry.
Council Approves By-Law No. 28
On July 16, 2004, the College Council approved By-Law No. 28.
By-Law No. 28 sets out information which is required to be included in the register in addition to the information required by the Health Professions Procedural Code. The By-Law also designates certain information contained in the register as public.
Section 7 of By-Law No. 28 identifies the information that is available to the public from the register. However, the following information with respect to each member is NOT available to the public.
- the member’s home address and home telephone number
- the member’s birth date
- the name of the educational institution(s) where the member successfully completed a medical radiation technology program in the specialty(ies) in which the member is authorized to practise and the year in which the member successfully completed such program(s)
- the date on which the member successfully completed the examination set or approved by the Council
- the member’s preference to communicate with the College in English or French
- whether the member has indicated that he or she is bilingual.
Please note that a member’s business address and business telephone number is information that is available to the public. Therefore, if you provide your home address or home telephone number as your business address or business telephone number, this information will be available to the public.
Please be reminded that if there are any changes in your information as listed below you are required to notify the Registrar, in writing, of the change within seven days of the date of the change.
- Your home address and home telephone number
- Your business address(es) (including the name of your employer) and business telephone number(s) for:
- your primary place of practice; and
- all other places of practice
- the type of facility in which you practise
- the address at which you prefer to receive communications from the College
- if you are eligible to vote in more than one electoral district, your selection of the electoral district in which you intend to vote.
A copy of By-Law No. 28 is available on the College’s web site (www.cmrto.org).
Council and Committee Membership
The College is pleased to welcome to Council three new public members, S.R. Brown, Patrice Burke and Elnora Magboo, as well as two new elected members, Caron Murray and Janet Scherer. The College is also pleased to announce that Sheila Robson and Susanne Reesor have been re-elected as President and Vice President, respectively, of Council.
The complete list of the 2004-2005 Council and committee members is available on the College's web site (www.cmrto.org). The College Council includes eight elected and seven public appointed members. In addition to an Executive Committee, there are six statutory committees, which meet on a regular basis (Complaints Committee, Discipline Committee, Fitness to Practise Committee, Patient Relations Committee, Quality Assurance Committee, and Registration Committee). The e-mail addresses for elected Council members are available on the College's web site.
Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (Ontario)
On May 20, 2004, the Ontario Health Information Protection Act, 2004 received royal assent. The Act consists of two parts: the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (the “PHIPA”) and the Quality of Care Information Protection Act, 2004. The PHIPA provides rules governing the colletion, use and disclosure of personal health information in Ontario by health information custodians and other persons.
Most of the provisions of the PHIPA and regulations made under the PHIPA will come into force on November 1, 2004.
It is important that all health care professionals and facilities that provide health care services become well-informed about the legislation and take steps to ensure compliance with the PHIPA starting November 1, 2004.
To assist you in understanding and responding to this new legislation, in the fall of 2004, the College will provide an overview of the PHIPA and its impact on the collection, use and disclosure of personal health information in Ontario.
Election of Members to Council – Electoral Districts 1, 4, 7 and 8
Elections were held on May 7, 2004 in Electoral District 1 (Northern District, Radiography), Electoral District 4 (Western District, Radiography), Electoral District 7 (Faculty Members, includes all of the Province of Ontario) and Electoral District 8 (Magnetic Resonance, includes all of the Province of Ontario).
Diana Main, M.R.T.(R.) was re-elected by acclamation in District 1.
Jackie Dix, M.R.T.(R.) was re-elected by acclamation in District 4.
Janet Scherer, M.R.T.(R.) was elected in District 7.
Caron Murray, M.R.T.(M.R.), M.R.T.(R.) was elected in District 8.
The May 7, 2004 election was the first election for Electoral District 8, Magnetic Resonance.
Suspended Members
The following are the people whose certificates of registration have been suspended effective June 30, 2004, 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.
| 11156 |
Runnalls, Aaron R. |
| 11889 |
Reynolds, Pamela |
| 06779 |
Olczak, John G. |
| 10661 |
Girard, K. Gregory S. |
| 09101 |
Conde, Raul J. |
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