Bulletins/Notices

WAVELENGTHS 2019

Technologists Transforming the Future of Medical Imaging

Dates:

April 26, 2019 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Pre-Symposium Research Workshop: The ABC’s of Academic Practice: Putting research into practice

April 27, 2019 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Symposium: Technologist Led Research and Practice Innovation Presentations

Location:

The Michener Institute of Education at UHN
222 St. Patrick Street
Toronto, Ontario M5T 1V4

Registration Now Open!

WAVELENGTHS2019 is comprised of a pre-symposium research workshop and a full-day symposium for imaging technologists to build their skills and showcase works-in-progress, innovations in practice and completed research.

2019 is our inaugural year for offering this research workshop and full-day symposium that recognizes the growing interest in cultivating quality improvement and research competencies among imaging technologists. Imaging technologists from all modalities are invited to participate as speakers and participants in what will be a dynamic opportunity for sharing knowledge and building professional networks.

Our keynote speakers include Ms. Catherine Wang, Vice President of Clinical Operations and Diagnostic Partnerships at University Health Network, Sinai Health Systems and Women’s College Hospital and Dr. Narinder Paul, Chair/Chief, Department of Medical Imaging in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University and its teaching hospitals, London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London.

The symposium will also provide opportunities for students, researchers, patients, educators and health professionals, health service leaders, from all disciplines to:

  • Share knowledge, ideas and best practices for imaging and service delivery
  • Present current research interests, questions and findings
  • Learn more about imaging scholarship and research happening locally, nationally and internationally

 

Call for Abstracts

WAVELENGTHS 2019: Technologists Transforming the Future of Medical Imaging

We invite submissions from imaging technologists engaged in quality improvement, scholarship and research.

Welcoming Student Presentations and Attendees!

Submissions due: January 4, 2018
Notification of Acceptance:  January 22, 2019
Themes: Best practices, education, quality improvement and primary/clinical research
Formats:  Podium, Poster and Panel Presentations

For more information please visit: https://michener.ca/wavelengths/

 

or contact Marc Potvin at (416) 596-3101 ext 3228 or MPotvin@michener.ca

 

WAVELENGTHS2019 – Technologists Transforming the Future of Medical Imaging
The Research Institute of Health Care Education 
222 St. Patrick Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1V4
https://michener.ca/wavelengths/

 

 

New Nuc Med Standard

Please be advised that the Independent Health Facilities (IHF) Clinical Practice Parameters and Facility Standards for Nuclear Medicine (which include PET/CT procedures) have been updated, and are now available on the CPSO website at the following link: https://www.cpso.on.ca/Policies-Publications/CPGs-Other-Guidelines/Independent-Health-Facilities/Nuclear-Medicine.   This November 2018 document replaces the 2011 parameters.

 

If you have any questions, please contact the CPSO Independent Health Facilities staff by email at:  ihf@cpso.on.ca.

 

Sonohysterography and Echovist Usage 

Some IHFs received a short email from the IHF Program branch on September 7, 2018, relating to sonohysterography and Echovist usage [see text of email below].

The IDCA received a number of enquiries regarding the Ministry request, with some operators asking the IDCA to facilitate communication among IHF providers.  Some believe that there may be billing implications and changes to fee codes within the OHIP Schedule of Benefits.

The IDCA is asking IHFs operators to let us know if you have received the Ministry email and whether you wish to communicate with others who may also have received the request.  We do not know, at this time, what steps the Ministry may be contemplating in connection with fee code changes, but want to give you the opportunity of speaking to others, to develop and coordinate an IHF sector response.

Please feel free to call or email me at your earliest opportunity.

 

Stephanie Bolton,

Executive Director, IDCA

sbolton@idca.ca

(m) 416-737-6935

CPSO has additional changes to IHF Standards
 

The Independent Health Facilities (IHF) Clinical Practice Parameters and Facility Standards for Diagnostic Imaging have been updated, and are now available on the CPSO website at the following link: https://www.cpso.on.ca/Policies-Publications/CPGs-Other-Guidelines/Independent-Health-Facilities/Diagnostic-Imaging.   This July 2018 document replaces the 2012 parameters. 

Please be advised that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) has recently made further changes to the Independent Health Facilities (IHF) Diagnostic Imaging parameters.  This is in follow-up to the July 2018 notice announcing the updated parameters that was circulated to all stakeholders last month.

The CPSO has made a decision to move away from speaking to credentialing requirements in its IHF documents that relate to regulated health professionals (RHPs) overseen by other regulatory health colleges.   Historically,  we have included credentialing requirements for (non-physician) RHPs for a variety of reasons in our documents.  However, we are now at a point in time where we will no longer be taking on this role but instead we will defer to the other regulatory heath colleges. For example, in the DI parameters, any credentialing requirements related to Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs) and Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (DMSs) will be the purview of the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario (CMRTO).  There is also greater responsibility on IHF licensees and Quality Advisors to be accountable for ensuring that RHP staff have the appropriate qualifications for the specific services and procedures they perform.

 

In light of the above decision, we have made some revisions to the DI parameters (the amended DI parameters are now posted to the CPSO website).  The changes are as follows:

  • Chapter 1 – Staffing a Facility –
    • 1.1. Overview – The third bullet in this section is new.  The licensee in collaboration with the QA must ensure that facility staff (i.e. regulated health professionals (RHPs)) have the appropriate education and experience including any certifications, examinations, courses and/or other training to perform their specific services and procedures.  [Please refer to the section for detailed wording.]
    • 1.8 MRTs – The following BMD and mammography requirements have been removed:
      • MRTs performing BMD must obtain either the Accredited Densitometry Technologist (ADT) designation through the Ontario Association of Radiologists (OAR) or the Certified Bone Densitometry Technologist (CBDT) designation from the International Society of Clinical Densitometry (ISCD).
      • MRTs performing mammography must successfully complete specific courses, which fulfill the requirements of CAR-MAP (Canadian Association of Radiologists – Mammography Accreditation Program).
  • Chapter 3 – Policies & Procedures – 3.3.2 Facility Staff –
    • Bullets #3 and 4 have been revised to make it clear that facilities must have policies and procedures in place to ensure a) review of all RHPs’ education and experience in order to ensure that they have the necessary knowledge, skills and judgement to perform their specific services or procedures, b) supervision of those staff who may be in the process of pursuing specialized training.  [Please refer to the section for detailed wording.]
    • Last bullet in this section has been slightly modified to clarify that facilities must have policies and procedures in place to ensure that there is an annual review of continuing professional development (CPD) of all regulated health professionals to ensure each RHP’s CPD meets their regulatory body’s CPD requirements.  Documentation that confirms the aforementioned must be kept up-to-date and on site.

 

**Note:  Given the above content changes, the page numbering of the DI parameters has also changed.  Therefore, any printed copies of the document should be replaced in their entirety with the latest version of the DI parameters available online.  The document is best printed in a double-sided format.**

If you have any questions, please contact IHF staff by email at:  ihf@cpso.on.ca

Labour Consultations
The Ministry of Labour is inviting employer and labour representatives to ensure that both perspectives are heard in developing the plans for the upcoming year. Participants will be provided with the opportunity to provide input on how Ontario’s occupational health and safety enforcement strategy can work to optimize workplace health, safety and fairness. These discussions will give you the opportunity to help shape the future direction of the Ministry’s compliance and education campaigns.
Register for Jan 18, 2017, session.
Reminder re IFHP Policy on No Coordination of Benefits
Review the latest notice reminding independent health facilities that a person may not access IFHP coverage if claiming (even in part) under a public or private health insurance plan/program. Furthermore, the IFHP does not coordinate benefits, hence, no co-payments are possible.
See the full notice in English and French.  There is contact information should you have questions.
HQO Recommendations for Non-hospital Clinics
In May 2016, Dr. Eric Hoskins,  Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, issued a statement  endorsing Health Quality Ontario’s report entitled “Building an Integrated System for Quality Oversight in Ontario’s Non-Hospital Medical Clinics”.   

2016 Health Quality Ontario Report -eng

2016 HQO report in french

Deadline to submit OTHP claims

On April 1, 2016, the federal government will be restoring the Interim Federal Health Program. Claims for payment for health services provided on or before March 31, 2016, under the Ontario Temporary Health Program must be submitted before November 30, 2016.
For more information, read the notice from Medavie Bluecross.

 

 

In 1999, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care referred the issue of the regulation of diagnostic sonographers to the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC). In 2000, HPRAC recommended that diagnostic sonographers be regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) within the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario (CMRTO). Regulation did not occur at that time, however. In 2007, HPRAC was asked to reference its 2000 report and make recommendations on the currency of the advice provided.  In 2013, the Minister noted that there may be additional considerations related to the regulation of the profession and further directed HPRAC to conduct a broad public consultation with key groups and stakeholders within the diagnostic sonographer community.

Reminder from the CPSO

Bulletin 2108 – Requisition Forms for Independent Health Facilities

Digital Readiness Grant 2015- 16 Funding Letter

Bulletin 4657