Transforming and Supporting Patient Care - Health Professions ...

149Chapter 6 – Scope of Practice of Medical Radiation Technologyequipment by highly knowledgeable health professionals, under thedirection of physicians, has generated much interest in the health carecommunity.Individuals and organizations that participated in the review of theproposals by the College and Association, whether through meetings orwritten submissions, were largely supportive. They also verified that thenational competency profiles define the knowledge, skill and judgmentrequired for entry to practise and support the requested scope changes. 59The Minister’s question sought input on the health professions regulatorymechanisms that protect the public interest. HPRAC also took intoconsideration the numerous layers of legislative and regulatoryrequirements and facility-based protocols that also influence the practice ofMRTs in the public interest.HPRAC’s ApproachBased on its research and consultations, HPRAC developed recommendationson the scope of practice of MRTs. Recommendations on access to controlledacts are followed by recommendations on the scope of practice statement forMRTs and then on the administration of drugs by MRTs, flowing fromHPRAC’s review of non-physician prescribing and use of drugs.Access to Controlled ActsPerforming a procedure on tissue below the dermisMRTs currently are authorised to take blood samples from veins andperform tattooing. MRTs take blood samples from patients as part of theirpractice, for example, to assess effective renal plasma flow. They alsoroutinely perform radiation therapy marking – that is, tattooing – of patientsundergoing treatment so radiation can be directed precisely. 60MRTs also perform intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular injectionsas part of the process of administering a substance by injection, acontrolled act that is already authorized to the profession. The College hasinterpreted the controlled act of administering a substance by injection asincluding the act of piercing the skin and/or vein. In the practice setting,however, MRTs routinely perform injections under delegation because otherhealth professions have defined the single MRT authorized act ofadministering a substance by injection as encompassing two separatecontrolled acts: both as a procedure on tissue below the dermis and as theadministration of a substance by injection. A review of the manner in whichthe controlled act of performing a procedure on tissue below the dermis isauthorized to other health professions did not produce any legal or clinical59Submission to HPRAC: Review of Interprofessional Collaboration Under the Regulated HealthProfessions Act – Respecting the Scope of Practice of Medical Radiation Technologists;submission by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists, August 15, 2008.60Submission to HPRAC: Review of Interprofessional Collaboration Under the Regulated HealthProfessions Act; joint submission by College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario andOntario Association of Medical Radiation Technologists; June 30, 2008, p. 34-35.HPRAC Critical Links January 2009