230 likes | 249 Views
Learn about the journey from an association to a college, including updates on Act changes, professional development program, and the future of NSAMRT. Explore the significance of a Professional College and its functions.
E N D
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 discuss the future of the NSAMRT and CAMRT. • To provide an explanation for a dues increase.
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 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 • Recognition of our profession • Protection of our profession • NSAMRT Act is outdated • MRI is not included in the existing Act • 25 Bed Rule
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 preserve the integrity of the profession. • To maintain public confidence in the ability of the profession to regulate itself.
Highlights of the New Act • Governance: • Act approved by Government • Regulations approved by Cabinet - easier to amend • By-laws approved by Members (previously approved by Cabinet) 2. Name Change - College of Medical Radiation Technologists of NS. 3. Purpose - Former purpose focused on the members, College will focus on public interest. 4. Scopes of Practice - specific for each discipline - Old Act did not include MRI. 5. Composition of the Board - must have 2 - 3 public representatives.
Highlights - continued • 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. • Grandparenting - permits current Association members to become College • members. • 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 20credits 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 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 nextyear. • 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 3 Key Considerations: 1. College Operational Fees 2. Legal Reserve Fund 3. Association Activities The annual College dues will be in the range of $400.00 - $450.00.
Tentative Timelines January 2010 - Special meeting of NSAMRT members Spring 2010 - Act/Regulations introduced in legislature - 3 readings - stakeholder input - legislative approval Summer 2010 - Application process January 2011 - College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Nova Scotia enacted January 2011 - New dues structure starts January 2012 - First audit of CPD Program (5%)