Transforming and Supporting Patient Care - Health Professions ...

150Chapter 6 – Scope of Practice of Medical Radiation Technologyrationale for either interpretation. HPRAC finds it is reasonable that theCollege seeks authorization for the controlled act of performingvenipuncture in order to administer a substance by injection.It is inherent in the practice of medical radiation technology that contrastmedia, radiopharmaceuticals or drugs be injected into patients as part ofdiagnostic imaging or therapeutic procedures. Requiring a medical directiveor physician order for a function inherent to a health profession’s practice isneither efficient nor necessary. Moreover, having to practice under a medicaldirective rather than one’s own professional authority because ofdiscrepancies in the interpretation of the same controlled act is a barrier thatneeds to be addressed more broadly. This request provides clarity to otherprofessions with whom MRTs work, and avoids interprofessional conflict.This scope review is being undertaken in the context of a broader initiativethat seeks to identify mechanisms to facilitate interprofessionalcollaboration among Colleges. It is therefore strongly suggested thatColleges collaborate to streamline the interpretation and application of thecontrolled acts model across professions in order to contribute to greaterclarity and understanding of roles in the practice setting.There was no disagreement from stakeholders that MRTs have theknowledge, skill and judgment to administer substances by injection.Educators confirmed that performing injections, establishing saline locksand starting peripheral lines for the purpose of administeringradiopharmaceuticals or contrast media is integrated into both thecurriculum and the certification exam. A review of Canadian jurisdictionsalso found that the act of piercing the skin to establish a mechanism for theinjection of substances is common to MRT practice.General Recommendations1. That MRTs be authorized to perform a procedure on tissue below thedermis.That the purposes for which this act would be performed bespecified in the regulations.That the purposes be:• taking blood samples from veins,• administering substances by injection, and• tattooing.That the regulations made under the Medical Radiation TechnologyAct, 1991 require the College to develop the standards, limitationsand conditions for the performance of this controlled act through aprocess of interprofessional collaboration with other Colleges,individuals and entities.HPRAC Critical Links January 2009