Medical Radiation Technologists - Who are we?

Medical radiation technologists are X-Ray technologists, CT technologists, MRI technologists, nuclear medicine technologists, radiation therapy technologists, and recently added - sonography technologists.

As a medical radiation technologist in Ontario, I belong to CMRTO (College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario). CMRTO sets standards of practice for Ontario and ensures all professionals uphold continuing education and professional practice standards through yearly submissions and reviews. I also belong to CAMRT (Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists), which sets the bar for professionals in this practice by a standardized registration exam. No person in Canada can practice without being registered with CAMRT first. From there, provincial regulatory bodies take over for the most part (CMRTO for me). I am part of a unionized department so I also have protection though OPSEU (Ontario Public Service Employees Union). I also obtain liabiity insurance through OPSEU, however it is also available through the other regulatory bodies. I am accountable for my actions through CMRTO, where anyone can report against an MRT. There are several acts and bi-laws in my profession I must uphold through CMRTO. Please read more about these regulatory bodies under my "Training & Education" section.

Working in an interdisciplinary area within the hospital I come in contact/interact with almost all areas. Most interactions are with nursing staff throughout the hospital as well as physicians and other diagnostic imaging staff. We also have contact with respiratory therapists, laboratory staff, housekeeping staff, senior management, speech language pathologists, physcian assistants, pharmacists, orthopedic technologists, and others. A few areas we don't generally interact with would be occupational and physical therapy. We must speak with nurses about our patients constantly to ensure we can obtain consent and have an open line of communication to enhance patient experience. This is also to be said for physician interactions - we will speak directly with physicians such as radiologists to ensure proper protocolling and necessary tests. We will also speak with ordering/observing physicians regarding their orders whenever necessary. We see surgeons and other specialists in procedures such as cystoscopy and orthopedics - this is also where we generally run into physician assistants. Respiratory therapists are alongside any patient who is vented, so we get to know them when they come with patients from the ICU particularily. Creatinine values are important for CT investigations with intravenous contrast injections, so at times laboratory interaction is necessary. We also speak to the lab when necessary regarding biopsies and specimens. Speech language pathologists regularly come to the X-Ray department to conduct swallowing tests on patients. Housekeeping staff become important in our day-to-day as sick patients are very unpredictable. We also interact with outside family physicians when necessary to confirm orders, and have close relationships with our clerical staff. There is a very large amount of interaction with other professions in Medical Radiation Technology, probably much more than any outside person would think.

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