HEAPHY 1 & 2

DIAGNOSTIC

Jennifer de RIDDER

Sun 1st Sep 2013

Session 1 / Talk 2

09:30 – 09:55

ABSTRACTThe NZ Medical Radiation Technologists Board (MRTB) protects and promotes the health and safety of New Zealanders by ensuring Medical Radiation Technologists are competent and fit to practice.The Board wishes to take this opportunity to present information on its key functions of - Setting the standard for registration in NZ- Monitoring of degrees & post-graduate diplomas in NZ - Registration of new graduates- Registration of overseas qualified MRTs- Issuing of annual practising certificates (APCs)- Ensuring every registered MRT is competent to practise within their scope of practice (SOP)- Disciplinary and complaints investigations This will include the outcomes of the 2012 Practitioner Audit, an update of the scope of practice review and proposed changes in the regulatory authorities’ secretariats that support the Boards functions.

Medical Radiation Technologists Board

Protecting and promoting the health of New Zealanders by ensuring

Medical Radiation Technologists are competent and fit to practise

Jennifer de Ridder

Registration authority in NZ

Medical Radiation Technologists

(Including Mammographers)

Radiation Therapists

MRI TechnologistsSonographers

Nuclear Medicine

Technologists

The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act 2003

Regulates 16 health professions (16 Responsible Authorities)

Introduced

into Parliament

2002

Passed into NZ

Law September

2003

Implemented September

2004

Purpose of the ACT:

To protect the health and safety of members of the public by providing for mechanisms to ensure that health practitioners are competent and fit to practise their

professions

Board Members

• Jennifer de Ridder Chair MRT - RT• Julia Metcalfe Deputy Chair MRT - US• Julia Andrews MRT - DI• Beryl Kelly MRT - DI• Prue Lamerton MRT - NM• Shelley Park MRT - MRI• Sue McKenzie Lay Person• Megan Campbell Lay Person• Roseanne Hawarden Lay person

MRTB responsibilities

The MRTB has an appointed Registrar, and may appoint deputy Registrars.

The MRTB meets 4 times a year in Wellington. Subcommittees of the Board may meet more frequently.

The following MRTB subcommittees have been appointed:• Registration, Registration Examination (REA) and

Recertification Committee• Education Committee• Professional Standards Committee• Communications Committee• Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

MRTB Responsibilities

• Sets the standard for registration in New Zealand,• Monitors degree programmes in New Zealand,• Registration of new graduates,• Registration of overseas qualified MRT’s,• Issuing Annual Practising Certificates,• Ensuring every registered MRT is competent to

practise within their scope of practice,• Competence, conduct, and health investigations.

Practitioner Responsibilities

Keeping the Board Informed

• Once you are on the register you are obliged under the HPCA Act to keep the MRTB updated on your contact details (even if you are not practising),

• Up-to-date email address is essential for you to be able to access your online login profile,

• You can update your contact details through your My Profile login on the MRTB website:

www.mrtboard.org.nz

MRTB - Registrations• Practitioner qualified with NZ recognised qualification must be

registered with MRTB under HPCA Act 2003 to practice.

• Need to provide MRTB with criminal history record (apply through Dept. of Justice) www.justice.govt.nz

• Processing an application will depend on MRTB receiving evidence of the criminal convictions notice.

• Education provider will notify MRTB as soon as you qualify

• Apply for registration online through MRTB website

• MRTB will register you as soon as you apply for registration (incl. fee payment) and has notification of your pass from the education provider

• Must not practise until registered

Registrations Approved for the 2012/2013 Year

DI Gen MRI NM RT US Training MRI

TrainingNM

TrainingUS

NZGraduates

109 11 0 25 11 7 0 8

OverseasTrained

31 22 2 12 14 6 1 20

MRTB - Recertification'sApplying for an Annual Practicing Certificate (APC)

• Complied with the requirements for continuing competency

• A criminal convictions statement• A physical/mental health statement• APC will state your scope of practice (SOP) and any

conditions that are attached to your SOP• MRTB can with-hold your APC if you don’t comply• APC fee is $275.00 – cannot be paid in bulk by your

employer• Reduced APC fee for first APC Dec-March

2012/2013 APC’s Issued

DI Gen MRI NM RT US Training MRI

TrainingNM

TrainingUS

Full APC 1686 169 54 348 390 50 4 72

APC with conditions

53 0 2 3 23 1 0 8

One CPD programme can cover multiple

SOP’s

CPD programme relevant to your SOP and cover all aspects

of your SOP (s)

CPD programmes must be approved by

the MRTB

Approved programs are listed on the

MRTB website at www.mrtb.org.nz

Continuing Professional

Development (CPD)

Board Approved CPD Providers

• New Zealand Institute of Medical Radiation Technology  (NZIMRT),

• Christchurch Radiology,• Australian Institute of Radiography (AIR), • Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine - MOSSIP

(ASUM),• Australasian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR), • Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine

Technologists (ANZSNM),• American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT)• Australian Sonographers Association (ASA).

Criteria for on-going Competency

• Minimum of 800 hours over 3 years (360 patient contact hours)

• Satisfactory annual performance review, demonstrating competency

• Active participation in an MRTB approved CPD programme

• Comply with MRTB code of ethics• Personal medical and physical ability

statement

MRTB AuditsAudit process of APC applications:

• 10% of MRT’s are audited annually to ensure compliance with on-going competency requirements.

• Range of scopes of practice and CPD programs.• Audit is conducted 3 - 6 months prior to the APC renewal

round• MRTB-appointed auditors covering all SOP• Failure to pass audit – Practitioner is given an opportunity

to reach competency standard prior to APC date • All APC renewals are checked to ensure compliance.• There may also be audit requirements from your CPD

programme provider

MRTB Audits

If you are Audited you will have to supply evidence of: • Your hours signed off by your team leader/manager,• Evidence of satisfactory current performance appraisal

stating you are a safe practitioner,• Your CPD portfolio with all CPD information,• Your physical, mental and competency statement

countersigned by your team leader/manager,• A statement from your team leader/manager stating that

you comply with the MRTB code of ethics.

MRTB Audits Results 2010 - 2012

Called for Audit Audited Passed Failed

2010 223 220 210 10

2011 227 215 212 3

2012 257 240 234 6

Professional Standards

The Board has a Professional Standards Committee that investigates:• Competence issues where there may be a risk of

harm to the public;• Health issues for practitioners where they may not

be able to carry out the functions of their profession due to a physical or mental health condition;

• Conduct and discipline issues that may be referred to the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.

Professional Standards

Notifications for the past 3 years

Health; 10

Conduct; 5

Competence; 7

Return to Work Guidelines

Not Practised 3-5 years:• Required to be supervised, and maintain

logbooks

Not Practised 5-10 years:• Offer REA

Not practised more than 10 years:• Recommend retraining or cross crediting

to an educational provider

MRTB Projects

Scopes of Practice Review

Development of Consistent Standards

Information Guides

Shared Secretariat

Cardiac Sonographers

Contact DetailsPhysical Address:Level 10ASB House101-103 The TerraceWellington

Postal Address:The RegistrarMedical Radiation Technologists BoardPO Box 11 905Wellington 6142

Telephone: +64 4 801 6250 Fax: +64 4 381 0270

Email: mrtboard@medsci.co.nz

Website: www.mrtboard.org.nz

Scopes of Practice

• The Professions of Medical Radiation Technology

• Medical radiation technology is a patient centred profession that encompasses the practices of medical imaging and radiation therapy. Medical imaging practitioners use different technologies to create images of the human body for diagnosis and the staging and management of disease. Radiation therapy practitioners use technology to create and evaluate images and data related to the localisation, planning and delivery of radiation treatments

SoP – Medical Imaging Technologist

• Medical Imaging Technologists are responsible for the outcome of the diagnostic imaging examination. The outcome of the examination is recorded electronically to allow for consultation with other health and medical practitioners.

• Medical Imaging Technologists produce high quality diagnostic radiographs or carry out diagnostic procedures using ionising radiation. With appropriate training, Medical Imaging Technologists may practise computed tomography (CT), mammography, and angiography. Medical Imaging Technologists evaluate the diagnostic quality of images and take corrective measures as required.

• Medical Imaging Technologists competencies include, but are not limited to patient care, patient positioning, imaging physics and technology, anatomy and physiology identification and assessment, bioeffects and radiation safety, clinical and organisational responsibility for the examination, and quality assurance.

SoP – Radiation Therapist

• Radiation Therapists are responsible for the planning and delivery of radiation treatment, primarily for people diagnosed with cancer. Radiation Therapists create and evaluate images for the localisation, planning and delivery of radiation treatment according to the prescription of the Radiation Oncologist.

 • Radiation Therapists provide specific care to patients throughout the

course of their treatment and educate patients on the management of any treatment related side-effects.

 • Radiation Therapists' competencies include but are not limited to

patient care, treatment design and delivery, radiation safety, clinical and organisational responsibility for the planning and treatment, and quality assurance.

• Nuclear Medicine Technologists are responsible for the outcome of the nuclear medicine examination. The outcome of the examination is recorded electronically to allow for consultation with other health and medical practitioners.

• Nuclear Medicine Technologists are involved in the preparation, administration, imaging and quantification of diagnostic pharmaceuticals to demonstrate organ and molecular function as well as the delivery of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals to treat a number of pathologies.

• Nuclear Medicine Technologists operate gamma camera systems (SPECT) and PET imaging systems with or without sealed sources of radioactive materials or x-ray tubes for attenuation correction, anatomical fusion, transmission imaging or, subsequent to a Board-approved training programme, diagnostic CT.  

• Nuclear Medicine Technologists' competencies include but are not limited to patient care, patient positioning, preparation and administration of radiopharmaceuticals, radionuclide and radiation safety, in vitro diagnostic testing, radionuclide therapy, clinical and organisational responsibility for the examination, and

quality assurance

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologist

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Technologists are responsible for the outcome of the MRI examination. The outcome of the examination is recorded electronically to allow for consultation with other health and medical practitioners.

• MRI Technologists produce high quality diagnostic images using a powerful magnetic field. MRI Technologists may at their discretion (and in the accordance with clinical and workplace guidelines) extend the examination to include relevant regions and/or sequences not suggested in the referral or protocol.

• MRI Technologists' competencies include but are not limited to patient care, patient positioning, use of magnetic resonance imaging physics and technology, bioeffects and magnetic resonance safety, clinical and organisational responsibility for the examination, and quality assurance.

Sonographer

• Sonographers are responsible for the outcome of the diagnostic ultrasound examination. The outcome of the examination is recorded electronically to allow for consultation with other health and medical practitioners.

• Sonographers perform a wide range of real-time diagnostic examinations and may at their discretion (and in accordance with clinical and workplace guidelines) extend the examination to include relevant regions and/or sequences not suggested in the referral.

• Sonographers' competencies include but are not limited to patient care, ultrasound physics and technology, anatomy and physiology identification and assessment, diagnostic interpretation of the ultrasound findings, bioeffects and the use of ultrasound technology, clinical and organisational responsibility for the examination and quality assurance.