Transforming and Supporting Patient Care - Health Professions ...

152Chapter 6 – Scope of Practice of Medical Radiation Technology2. That MRTs be authorized to insert an instrument, hand or finger into anartificial opening into the body for the purpose of tracheal suctioning ofpatients with tracheostomies.That the regulations under the Medical Radiation Technology Act,1991 require the College to develop the standards, limitations andconditions for the performance of this controlled act through aprocess of interprofessional collaboration with other Colleges,individuals and entities.Beyond the Labia MajoraDue to the evolution of imaging technology and procedures, MRTs routinelyperform imaging and therapeutic procedures that involve putting aninstrument, hand or finger beyond the anal verge but do not involve theadministration of contrast media. For this reason, the College andAssociation request that authority to put an instrument, hand or fingerbeyond the anal verge not be restricted solely for the purpose ofadministering a substance into the rectum.MRTs routinely insert vaginal markers to demonstrate the position of thecervix and vagina for patients undergoing radiation therapy for cervical orendometrial cancer. As discussed above, radiation treatment planning is akey function of MRTs. This role demonstrates the evolution in medicalradiation technology because it uses diagnostic imaging equipment tofacilitate therapeutic interventions, blurring the line between diagnosis andtherapy. The College and Association provided evidence of at least oneprogram’s curriculum relating to the insertion of vaginal markers. 61In addition, MRTs have taken on additional roles due to technologicaladvances in radiation therapy, the strain on radiation oncologists caused byhealth human resources shortages and increasing demands on the latter’stime. For example, in the treatment of patients with cervical or endometrialcancer, MRTs perform brachytherapy, which involves inserting radiationdirectly into the body to attack the tumour.The rationale for the request, therefore, is two-fold: not only to address thefact that MRTs have been delegated the authority to insert instruments,hand or fingers beyond the labia majora for radiation treatment planningfor some time; but also to respond to the increasing need for them to do soin order to implement new and emerging techniques in radiation therapy.The College and Association argue that the process of requiring delegationand medical directives is cumbersome and time consuming. These barrierscould be alleviated by providing direct authority to MRTs for this aspect oftheir routine practice.HPRAC strongly emphasizes that as the profession continues to evolvethrough new applications of controlled acts, the College must ensure thatstandards, limitations and conditions for the performance of those acts are61Submission 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, Appendix 2, Section II, Tabs1&2.HPRAC Critical Links January 2009