Medical Radiation

Technologists Board

Protecting and promoting the health of

New Zealanders by ensuring Medical Radiation Technologists are competent and fit to practice.

Jennifer de Ridder

NZIMRT Symposium 2011Lending A Hand

Overview�HPCCA 2003

�MRTB Membership

�Medical Science Secretariat (MSS)

�APC Holders

�Training scope of practice trends

�Registration applications

�Registration examination assessments

�MRTB projects

�Scope of Practice Review

�Contact details

Medical Radiation

Technologists Board

Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (HPCAA) 2003

Purpose of 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 practice their

professions.

www.mrtboard.org.nz

MRT Board Members

• Jennifer de Ridder Chair MRT -RT

• Julia Metcalfe Deputy Chair MRT - US

• Julia Andrew MRT –DI

• Beryl Kelly MRT -DI

• Prue Lamerton MRT - NM

• Shelley Park MRT – DI&MRI

• Maureen Waaka MRT -DI

• Megan Campbell Lay Person

• Rosanne Hawarden Lay Person

• Sue McKenzie Lay person

Medical Radiation

Technologists BoardHPCA Act 2003

MRTB responsibilities

�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

Medical Science Secretariat

(MSS)Provides operational support to the MRTB &

Medical Sciences Council (MSC)mrt@medsci.co.nz

�MSS is a not for profit company

•CEO/Registrar – Mary Doyle

�Professional Standards Co-ordinator – Jenny Lee

�Registration Managers – Sherly Adie & Lana Guest

�Finance/Administration – Beverley Irvine

•Executive Administrator – Claire Lovewell

Annual Practicing Certificates

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

2009/10 1599 287 111 336 47

2010/11 1503 272 125 332 49

Di-

GeneralRad Th MRI US Nuc Med

Training Scopes – APC Trends

0

20

40

60

80

100

2009/10 89 62 3

2010/11 75 58 4

TSOP

- MR

TSOP

- US

TSOP-

NM

Registration Trends –Diagnostic Imaging General

0

50

100

150

200

2008/09 185 9 37

2009/10 154 12 9

2010/11 131 4 7

Registered Declined Offered REA

Registrations TrendsRT and MRI

0

20

40

60

80

2008/09 38 1 0

2009/10 30 2 1

2010/11 64 1 1

Registered Declined Offered REA 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2008/09 35 1 2

2009/10 29 1 2

2010/11 34 1 2

Registered DeclinedOffered

REA

Registration TrendsUS and Nuclear Med

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

2008/09 29 4 2

2009/10 26 1 3

2010/11 35 3 0

Registered DeclinedOffered

REA

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

2008/09 7 1 2

2009/10 3 0 1

2010/11 4 0 2

Registered DeclinedOffered

REA

Registration Examination

Assessments (REAs)

Registration Examination

Assessments (REAs)

�Previously competency based assessment (CBA)

�Application for registration qualifications are not

considered substantially equivalent to prescribed NZ

qualification – can be offered an REA

�3 month familiarisation period at an approved NZ

clinical site

�Under supervision of a nominated MRT

�Logbook and cultural/legislative questionnaire

completed and returned to the Board prior to REA

Registration Exam Uptake Past 3 years

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

DI-G MRI NM RT US

Total REA offered

Total REA taken up

• Diagnostic General – influx of applications from the

Philippines, however few took up the option of an REA.

Registration Exam Results2008 - 2010

05

101520253035

Pass 31 0 2 3 0

Fail 9 0 1 0 1

Di-Gen RT MRI US NM

NB: Return to work examinations are not included in this data.

Recent MRTB Projects

�Review of overseas qualification assessment process

�Two Board approved assessors�Education and Clinical expert�Review of documentation required

�Australian Registration Board�National Registration July 2012�Radiographers, RTs, Nuc Med

�Website Redevelopment�Update details online�Online renewal of 2012 APCs

�Competency documents�All scopes reviewed

Scope of Practice Review• Why

– Current scopes defined in 2003/04 in preparation for the HPCA Act.

– Seven years on review for relevance to practice and technology.

– 2008 review of the Act recommendation

• Scopes of Practice1. Diagnostic Imaging – General. Practises Diagnostic Imaging –

General: Involves the use of ionising radiation to gain a diagnostic image for evaluation.

2. Radiation Therapist. Involves the use of treatment planning systems, ionising radiation and radionuclide's for radiation treatment planning and delivery.

3. Nuclear Medicine Technologist: Involves the use of radionuclide's to gain a diagnostic image for evaluation.

4. Sonographer. Practises Diagnostic Imaging – Ultrasound: Involves the use of ultrasound waves to gain a diagnostic image for evaluation.

5. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist. Practises Diagnostic Imaging –Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Involves the use of magnetic resonance to gain a diagnostic image for evaluation.

Scope of Practice continued:

6. Trainee Nuclear Medicine Technologist. Undertaking training in an approved medical

radiation technology programme in nuclear

medicine imaging.

7. Trainee Sonographer. Undertaking postgraduate

training in an approved medical radiation

technology programme in ultrasound.

8. Trainee Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist. Undertaking postgraduate training

in an approved medical radiation technology

programme in magnetic resonance imaging.

For Comparison:-

• Scope of Practice - Pharmacist

• The practice of pharmacy includes the custody, preparation and dispensing of medicines and pharmaceutical products, the provision of advice on health and well-being, including health screening, and the selection and provision of non-prescription medicine therapies and therapeutic aids. The pharmacist acts as a medicines manager, ensuring safe, quality use of medicines and optimising health outcomes by contributing to the selection, prescribing, monitoring and evaluation of medicine therapy. The pharmacist researches information and provides evidence-based advice and recommendations on medicines and medicine-related health problems to patients, their carers and other healthcare professionals. The pharmacist is an integral part of the healthcare team.The practice in this context goes wider than pharmacists directly working with patients to include teaching, advising, research, policy development and management, given that such roles influence clinical practice and public safety.

Key Themes

• Working outside parameters of defined SOP.

• Practitioners who don’t have breadth of practice.

• Blending of technologies across scopes.

• The role of training scopes.

• The role of post graduate scopes.

• The international context.

• Practitioners undertaking medical imaging related interventions but are not currently registered – e.g. cardiac sonographers

• Additional themes identified during consultation.

How will the review be undertaken?

• A consultation document about to be drafted.

• Document released via website, email etc

• Consultation results collated.

• Board consideration and decision as to any changes.

• Changes published late 2011 early 2012.

MRTB Contact

Contact with the Board is through its Wellington Office at:

• Level 7Sovereign House34-42 Manners StWellington

• Postal Address:

PO Box 11-905Wellington 6142

Telephone: +64 4 801 6250

Fax: +64 4 381 0270

Email: mrt@medsci.co.nz

Website: www.mrtboard.org.nz