images/isrrt/Newsletter Nov 2009.pdf

news news fromThe AmericasCanadaGovernance:As of January 2010, the CanadianAssociation of Medical RadiationTechnologists (CAMRT) Executivewill be:President: Shirley BagueVice presidents: to be shared betweenMichel Doucette and Deborah MurleyTreasurer: Kelly NystromCAMRT CEO: Chuck ShieldsIn keeping with the CAMRT Strategic Directions whichare listed as follows here are the updates that have occurredsince my last News from Canada.Strategic Direction #1CAMRT will ensure the highest possible standards in thenational certification process and practice requirements foreach discipline.The CAMRT Director of Education, Ms Elaine Denver,works diligently on certification, ongoing continuedprofessional development for CAMRT members, andInternational Educated Medical Radiation Technologist(IEMRT’s) issues related to our certification process.Certification:Registrations for the September 15 certification examinationshow an increase of 11% over last fall’s registrationsProfessional Development:• In terms of course development for all disciplines, twonew full length courses are now available, Dosimetry 3and Fundamentals of Quality Management. The course,Health Care Ethics: An Introduction has been revised.• Cardiac CT, a new Quick Self Study (QSS) course, hasalso been developed. Other QSS courses have beenrevised: Contrast Media, Computed Radiography (CR):an overview, and Cultural Competence in Health CareProvision. Mammography 1 & 2 are in the process ofbeing revised.• Working continues on several projects, two of which arethe project to develop preceptor guidelines and the otherone to develop national guidelines for maintenance ofcompetence programs.• A report on the CAMRT CT-Operation Gap AnalysisWorkgroup was released in mid-summer. This group wastasked with identifying the gaps in knowledge, skills andjudgment that exist for therapists and radiological andnuclear medicine technologists when they operate CTunits either within the context of their existing practiceand/or when they cross into another discipline’s scopeof practice. The findings in the report will inform thedevelopment of processes for technologists/therapists toachieve competency in the areas currently identified asgaps. These processes will require a variety of learningapproaches because many technologists/therapists havealready achieved various levels of competency.For International Educated Medical RadiationTechnologists (IEMRTs):A number of components of the CAMRT project addressingissues and challenges facing internationally educatedmedical radiation technologists (IEMRTs) were completedthis summer. Within this project, research to identify areasof the examination that pose the greatest challenges toIEMRTs was completed. This provided the basis for thedevelopment and publication on-line of exam preparationguides and practice exams for all four disciplines. Nationalguidelines for the establishment of support/bridgingprograms were also developed. These will be posted onthe CAMRT website and made available to all interestedstakeholders as a valuable tool in the development andmaintenance of bridging programs. CAMRT staff arehopeful of receiving additional funding to further theCAMRT’s work regarding IEMRTs. One project woulddevelop three distance education courses to address thecompetency areas where IEMRTs have the greatest difficultyin the CAMRT certification exam. A second project woulddevelop a national standard to assess whether IEMRTshave the required preparation to be permitted to write thecertification exam.Strategic Direction #2CAMRT will provide the highest possible value and serviceto its members.At our June 2009 meeting, the CAMRT Board ofDirectors received a report from Mr. John French, chair ofthe editorial board of the Journal of Medical Imaging andRadiation Sciences. He advised that• the editorial board restructuring was now underway• that a reciprocal agreement with the Society andCollege of Radiographers to exchange access to eachother’s journals was now in place• an agreement on collaboration with the AustralianInstitute of Radiology regarding each organization’sjournals was at the discussion stage• The Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciencesis now available on line.Strategic Direction #3CAMRT will promote the profession and encourageprofessionalism in the practice of medical radiationtechnology.Professional Practice:The CAMRT Director of Professional Practice, MarkGiven, continues to make great strides in this area forCAMRT members. His position of professional practiceVolume 45 – No. 2 35