Regulation - LGIC

Proposed regulatory amendments for the regulation of diagnostic medical sonographers under the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario

Regulation Number(s):
866/93
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Medical Radiation Technology Act, 1991
Summary of Decision:
Made: November 23, 2017
Approved: December 13, 2017
Filed: December 20, 2017
Published on e-Laws: December 20, 2017
Printed in The Ontario Gazette: January 6, 2018
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
No new administrative cost for business.
Further Information:
Proposal Number:
17-HLTC035
Posting Date:
August 29, 2017
Summary of Proposal:
College Introduction

In Ontario, the regulation of health professions is based on a self-governance model. There are 26 health regulatory colleges governing 28 health professions under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) and their respective health profession Acts. Health regulatory colleges operate at arm's length from the provincial government and independently administer their own internal processes.

Under the RHPA and the Medical Radiation Technology Act, 1991 (MRTA), the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario (CMRTO) is responsible for governing the profession of medical radiation technology in Ontario. Under these Acts, subject to the prior review by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the CMRTO has the authority to make regulations on a variety of subject matters, including respecting applications for and prescribing classes, standards and qualifications for certificates of registration.

Summary of Proposals

Diagnostic medical sonography is currently the only major diagnostic imaging modality in which the technologists performing the procedure are not currently regulated in Ontario. Regulation would facilitate safe, high quality diagnostic medical sonography services by establishing practice standards, providing a complaints and discipline process, and creating a public register of diagnostic medical sonographers qualified to practice. Regulation is supported by the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council's (HPRAC) report Diagnostic Sonography: Recommendations for Regulation under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and the 2016 report To Zero: Independent Report of the Minister's Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Patients and the Regulated Health Professions Act in the interest of public safety.

To regulate diagnostic medical sonographers, amendments are being proposed to the CMRTO's Registration Regulation, as well as, to the Prescribed Forms of Energy Regulation made under the MRTA and the Controlled Acts Regulation made under the RHPA. Together, the proposed regulatory amendments would, if passed, facilitate safe, high quality diagnostic medical sonography services by:
• Establishing minimum entry to practice and quality assurance requirements, ensuring diagnostic medical sonographers are trained to use new technologies safely and effectively.
• Providing a single, province-wide complaints and discipline mechanism administered by the CMRTO, in accordance with the RHPA, regardless of where the service was provided, should a patient feel the need to make a complaint.
• Providing employers, practitioners, and the public with relevant information about the practitioners' qualifications and their past conduct on the CMRTO's public register.
Contact Address:
Regulatory Policy Unit
Health Workforce Planning and Regulatory Affairs Division
12th Floor
56 Wellesley Street West
Toronto ON M5S 2S3

Effective Date:
January 1, 2018
Decision:
Approved