Transforming and Supporting Patient Care - Health Professions ...

18Chapter 1 – An Introductionwithin their scope of practice from treating or giving advice with respect tohealth where serious physical harm may result. 21 As well, HPRAC considersregulations developed under the profession-specific Act and otherlegislation that may affect the profession. Also examined are the standardsof practice, professional practice guidelines, policies and by-laws developedby the regulatory college.All of these elements combined determine the profession’s scope ofpractice. HPRAC has considered the full range of these elements inconducting its review of the scope of practice of medical radiationtechnologists and medical laboratory technologists that are presented inthis report and in recent reviews of scopes of practice of other professions.Individual vs. Professional Scope of PracticeAs well as referring to the clinical activities authorized to a profession, theterm “scope of practice” is employed by regulatory colleges to define theprocedures, actions and processes that a specific registered individual mayperform. This individual scope of practice is based on, among other things,the registrant’s education, clinical experience and demonstratedcompetency. While a professional scope of practice describes the full scopeof activity open to the profession as a whole, an individual scope of practicedescribes the scope of activity within which individual practitioners mayconduct their practice. 22 The individual scope of practice generallyrepresents a subset of the larger professional scope of practice.The Review ProcessIn developing its advice to the Minister, HPRAC strives to ensure that itsprocesses are thorough, timely and efficient and reflect principles offairness, transparency and evidence-based decision-making. HPRACundertakes research to secure evidence for its conclusions, drawing onorganizations and individuals with relevant expertise, both in Ontario andelsewhere. HPRAC tailors its consultation process to the matters underconsideration. Given the wide interest in, and the significant implications of,the scope of practice issues under discussion, HPRAC conducted anextensive program of research and consultation for these two scope ofpractice reviews, as it did for the five previous reviews.21s. 30. Effective June 4, 2009 or on an earlier day to be established by proclamation, this sectionwill be amended by striking out “physical” and substituting “bodily”. See Health SystemImprovements Act, 2007, S.O. 2007, c. 10, Sched. M, ss. 6 and 75 (1).22HPRAC. Review of a Professional Scope of Practice under the Regulated Health Professions Act.May 2007: .2-3.HPRAC Critical Links January 2009