As a Medical Radiation Technologist (MRT) working in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, I align my personal values and ethics with the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) and the College of Medical Radiation and Imaging Technologists of Ontario (CMRITO). The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) is the governing body which ensures that Medical Radiation Technologists have the required competencies to enter practice. (CAMRT, n.d.). As part of its mission, CAMRT supports its members and advances the profession through leadership in advocacy, education, and research enabling MRTs to provide the highest quality of care. (CAMRT, n.d.). Provincially, the College of Medical Radiation and Imaging Technologists of Ontario (CMRITO) is the regulatory body for medical radiation and imaging technologists in Ontario. The purpose of the CMRITO is to serve and protect the public interest by establishing standards of practice for the profession and setting entry to practice requirements. (CMRITO, n.d.). Based on the standards of practice outlined by the College, a Technologist is upheld to regulations in which to practice based on what is included in the scope of practice for Technologists.
Upon arriving for a procedure in the diagnostic imaging department, a patient's safety is always my priority. The practices performed to ensure their safety ranges from performing a falls risk assessment to evaluate their ability to walk to the imaging suite, to confirming their name, date of birth, and procedure they've arrived for that day, to adhering to the ALARA principle. The ALARA principle is the guiding principle of radiation safety by ensuring that radiation provided to a patient is "as low as reasonably achievable". (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). One unique role Technologists play in the healthcare system is maintaining the ALARA principle by ensuring the radiation dose a patient is obtaining is "as low as reasonably achievable". With this in mind, although a procedure may be medically necessary, the role of a Technologist is to also assess the amount of radiation and type of imaging procedure being requested to see if it i) falls within their scope of practice and ii) is aligned with the ALARA principle. If a physician requests 5 x-rays and a CT scan in one day, Technologists are expected to raise concern regarding the amount of radiation a patient is receiving. The Technologist would then bring the concern forward to a Radiologist to assess the appropriateness of the subsequent imaging procedures to deem whether it is reasonable to proceed with the additionally requested procedures.
Another value I uphold is professionalism both in my professional and personal life. While in a professional setting, I always practice with respect, empathy, and compassion to both patients and colleagues. Interprofessional collaboration between MRTs and colleagues in other disciplines (ie: Nurses, RTs, Physicians, etc.) is essential in a hospital setting. Exhibiting clear communication and respect helps to keep those working relationships strong, which is then reflected in providing the best patient centered care possible. Due to social media being very prevalent in our society, it is extremely important that I also maintain that professionalism on all social media platforms. I keep most of my accounts private and limit sharing posts on those platforms to mostly family and friends. Although many of my posts are fun in nature, I would never want something viewed as inappropriate to be shared with others. After moving into a leadership role, I understood that I also had to set boundaries between team members who reported to me and being “friends” online. In order to maintain a professional identity online, I have restricted any interaction of direct reports to LinkedIn only.
As many of those who entered into a healthcare profession, the ultimate goal is providing our patients with the best patient care possible. Whether that involves directing a lost patient in a hallway to providing an extra warm blanket to a patient while waiting for a porter, all of these things adds to the patients’ experience. I strive to always keep this as my main focus when in a hospital setting.
Reference:
About CMRITO. College of Medical Radiation & Imaging Technologists of Ontario. (n.d.). Retrieved January 25, 2022, from https://www.cmrito.org/about/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015, December 7). Radiation studies - CDC: Alara. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/alara.html#:~:text=ALARA%20stands%20for%20%E2%80%9Cas%20low,time%2C%20distance%2C%20and%20shielding.
Mission, vision and values. Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists. (n.d.). Retrieved January 25, 2022, from https://www.camrt.ca/about-camrt/mission-vision-and-values/
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