CAR Position:

1
CAR Position

• Because of the shortage of MRTs, in Canada,
  projected to worsen in the future,
• And while supporting a higher level of education
  for those who so choose,
• The CAR is opposed to the concept of a degree
  program level of competence as a minimum
  requirement for certification, for employment in
  Canada.

2
MRT Responsibilities

• Patient safety and comfort
• Exam preparation and performance
• Image quality/technical evaluation
• Quality assurance

3
Examinations/Procedures

• CAR has published standards of performance for
  radiologists
• Technologists assist in a greater number as they
  become less invasive
• Smaller centres are doing some specialized
  ones, because it is part of the radiologists
  training(ex biopsy,drainage )

4
MRT and Nursing

• Patients are hooked up to more technology in
  hospital than ever before (lines/devices)
• High level of acuity in hospital and unsupervised
  work (when to call for help?)
• More quality control (exinfection)is required
  than before

5
Other MRT Responsibilities

• Inventory/ordering of supplies in a small
  department (exrural).. Entry level ?
• Monitoring patients when nurse not present (ex
  post exam, waiting for porter/ambulance) . Entry
  level ?

6
MRTs Competency Requirements

• Technological change
• PACs ,teleradiology
• CR, DR
• CT and MRI
• etc

• Office/Outpatient work vs Hospital (complexity,
  local needs/practices)
• School or on-the-job training who can best
  deliver?

7
Recruitment/Retention of MRT Affected by

• Education Requirements
• Remuneration
• Working conditions/hours (exprivate clinics)
• Family
• Cost of living
• Local amenities (urban/rural)

8
MRT Recruitement

• Does a degree make MRT less attractive as a
  career? (because of the time/expense)
• What kind of mindset/interest is needed, to
  become a good MRT today/tomorrow
• Is the aim to form an individual for a career or
  train him/her to do specific tasks?

9
MRT Training

• Does the entry-to practice mean capable of
  office/outpatient radiology exams?
• Do educators/employers prefer on-the-job
  training, for anything complicated?
• Do the payers recognize greater expertise?
• What advantage does a MRT degree confer in the
  Canadian job market?

10
A radiologists personal perspective

• The team approach to care requires better
  educated professionals (for efficiency)
• Health care management, on a day to day basis, is
  the business of all health care providers (to
  make the best use of )

11
A radiologistspersonal perspective

• Patients expectations and knowledge, (through the
  internet,) demand more expertise from all health
  care professionals.
• A well educated professional can deal better with
  the increasing daily stresses of the health care
  workplace.