From Association to College Advancing our Profession

Objectives  To provide a summary of how the College concept was initiated.  To explain the role of a College.  To provide an update on the major changes to our Act.  To outline the details of the professional development program.  To provide an explanation for a dues increase.  To discuss the future of the NSAMRT and CAMRT.

Where Did It All Start? The following motion was passed at the Annual General Meeting of the Nova Scotia Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (NSAMRT) in May 2007: “To form a new Act and Bylaws Committee with the mandate to open and rewrite the NSAMRT Act & Bylaws. This committee should stay in place until the mandate is completed”.

AGM 2008 Another motion was passed in regards to the formation of a College. It reads: “The NSAMRT membership direct The Act Steering Committee to pursue the formation of a professional College”.

What is a Professional College?  The regulatory body responsible for protecting the public by ensuring that members practice safely, competently and ethically.  Professions such as medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, engineering, and law are also self-regulating with their engineering, and law are also self-regulating with their respective regulatory bodies. respective regulatory bodies.

Functions of a College  Sets standards for the educational preparation and qualifications required to enter a profession.  Establishes and maintains the standards of practice.  Issues licenses to qualified applicants.  Investigates all complaints related to practice and takes appropriate disciplinary action when there is evidence of misconduct, incompetence, incapacity or conduct unbecoming the profession.

Professional Colleges Within NS  Physiotherapists  Nurses  Medical Laboratory Technologists  Paramedics  Respiratory Therapists

Why Do We Need a College?  Recognition of our profession  NSAMRT Act is outdated  25 Bed Rule  MRI is not included in the existing Act  Protection of our profession

What is the 25 Bed Rule? “Persons employed in a hospital with less than 25 beds, or in a hospital where, in the opinion of the Nova Scotia Health Services and Insurance Commission, the nature and amount of medical radiation technology performed is such as not to warrant having a medical radiation technologist on staff”.

Aims of our College To serve and protect the public interest. To serve and protect the public interest. To preserve the integrity of the profession. To maintain public confidence in the ability of the profession to regulate itself.

Highlights of the New Act 2. Name Change - College of Medical Radiation Technologists of NS. 3. Purpose - Former purpose focused on the members, College will focus on public interest. 1.Governance: Act approved by Government Regulations approved by Cabinet - easier to amend By-laws approved by Members (previously approved by Cabinet) 4. Scopes of Practice - specific for each discipline - Old Act did not include MRI. 5. Composition of the Board - must have public representatives.

Highlights - continued 6.Registration - must recognize international applicants, Agreement on Internal Trade, Fair Registration Practices Act. 7. Complaints and Discipline Process - public representation on both committees. 8. Protection of Titles - only those that hold a license can use the title. 9.Grandparenting - permits current Association members to become College members. 10. Illegal Practice - utilizes the Summary Proceedings Act - detailed system of fines, daily fine for each day a non-member violates the Act.

Professional Development Program Mandatory program which consists of 4 sections:  Work-Based Learning  Professional Activities  Self-Directed Learning  Non-Clinical Activities Members must obtain 20 credits annually from any 3 of the 4 sections noted above.

Work-Based Learning  Rounds/Reporting - 1 hour = 1 credit  Lunch and Learn Sessions - 1 hour = 1 credit  In-service Training - 1 hour = 1 credit  Preceptorship - 35 hours = 2 credits (maximum 5 credits)  Hospital Committee = 2 credits (must be related to profession)  Workplace Safety Refresher Program = 1 credit

Professional Activities  Involvement in professional body: Board Member = 5 credits Committee Chair = 3 credits Committee Member = 2 credits  Lecturer/Conference speaker = 5 credits  Organizing a lecture/workshop/lunch and learn = 2 credits  Organizing a journal club = 2 credits  Organizing a department open house = 2 credits  Promoting the profession to other groups - 1 hour = 1 credit  Attend a college meeting = 2 credits

Self-Directed Learning  Further education = 10 credits (needs further discussion) (i.e. CAMRT course, university course, etc)  Attending conferences/seminars - 1 hour = 1 credit  Writing articles or papers for publication = 10 credits  Distance learning - 1 hour = 1 credit  Journal article - 1 article = 1 credit  Journal club attendance = 1 credit

Non-Clinical Activities  Attend lecture - 1 hour = 1 credit  Journal Article - 1 hour = 1 credit Includes such lectures/articles on Health Promotion, Patient Rights, Risk Management & Promoting Team Work.

Additional Information  A member must work a minimum of in order to be granted a license to practice in their specified discipline.  A member must work a minimum of 1000 hours in 5 years in order to be granted a license to practice in their specified discipline.  Temporary license for new grads.  Credits not used in one year can be carried over to the next year.  Grace period for Professional Development program - 1 year.  Request from NSSDMS.

NSAMRT/CAMRT  Will the role of the NSAMRT still exist?  What will happen with our relationship with the CAMRT?  Alberta and Saskatchewan operate a joint Association and College.  All provinces use the CAMRT Certification exam as the gold standard as the entry-to-practice exam.

CAMRT Benefits of belonging to CAMRT include:  Professional Liability Insurance  Professional Development Courses  Professional Journal  National Newsletter  Annual Conference  Excellent Networking Opportunities

Membership Dues 1. College Operational Fees 2. Legal Reserve Fund 3. Association Activities 3 Key Considerations: The annual College dues will be in the range of $ $

Tentative Timelines Spring Act/Regulations introduced in legislature - 3 readings - stakeholder input - legislative approval Summer Application process January College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Nova Scotia enacted January New dues structure starts January Special meeting of NSAMRT members January First audit of CPD Program (5%)

Questions??