Professional Practice Direction
These documents provide information to members regarding their professional practice.
The CRTO holds information on the Respiratory Therapists section of the website that provides information to members regarding professional practice. This information is part of the policy framework to ensure they are built into the policy development and review cycle and complement other CRTO documents used to evaluate if professional responsibilities have been maintained.
Below is a list of professional practice direction webpages.
Scope of Practice & Maintenance of Competency
A Member’s personal scope of practice begins with their education, but usually evolves over time as a result of their practice setting, clinical experience and demonstrated competencies. It is important to note that the scope of practice of an individual practitioner (personal scope) is generally a subset of the overall scope of practice of a profession (professional scope).
View the full Scope of Practice and Maintenance of Competency details here.
Diagnostic Ultrasound
The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) has directed the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario (CMRTO) to regulate the profession of Medical Sonography. This change has necessitated the amendment of several pieces of legislation, including the Controlled Acts Regulation (O. Reg. 107/96).
View more information on Diagnostic Ultrasound here.
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)
Bill C-14 (an Act to amend the Criminal Code relative to medical assistance in dying) received royal assent on Friday, June 17, 2016 and is now part law in Canada. Even though RTs will not be directing a plan of care in situations in which a patient/client has requested assistance to end their life, an RT may be asked to assist in carrying out a request for MAID.
View more information on Medical Assistance in Dying here.
Bill 87 – Protecting Patients Act
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is constantly evaluating the ways in which our laws (legislation) affect public health and the delivery of care. The rationales for change may come from many sources and proposed amendments to legislation go through rigorous research and consultation processes. In the case of Bill 87 – also known as the Protecting Patients Act – the Ministry amended six different pieces of legislation all intended to keep patients healthy and safe.
View more information on Bill 87 (Protecting Patients Act) here.
Assistive Devices Program (ADP) Home Oxygen Application
RRTs are permitted to independently administer oxygen under the 5th authorized act (“administrating a prescribed substance”) in the Respiratory Therapy Act and the Prescribed Substances regulation.
View more information on the ADP Home Oxygen Application here.
Collaborative Care Principles and Best Practices
In 2016 – 2017, several health regulatory colleges got together as an informal working group to jointly undertake research and discussion with the goal of identifying principles and expectations related to the delivery of collaborative care. The intended outcome was to develop a set of high level principles and best practices on collaborative care.
View more information on Collaborative Care Principles and Best Practices here.
Working with Non-Regulated Health Care Providers
Respiratory Therapists (RTs) typically work within a diverse interprofessional health care team. While many health practitioners in Ontario are regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), there are also a significant number of care providers who are “non-regulated” (referred to here as Non-Regulated Health Care Providers or NRHCP). It is essential that RTs be able to work effectively alongside both regulated and non-regulated professionals in order to provide the best possible care to their patients/clients.
View more information on Working with Non-Regulated Health Care Providers here.