The requirement for trained healthcare professionals increases as the pandemic continues to cause overcapacity in hospitals, and as a result, the Ministry of Health is proposing new legislation to support patient care.  The “Advancing Oversight and Planning in Ontario’s Health System Act, 2021 will include many initiatives, including increased funding for community care, increased scope for PSW and the use of Physicians Assistants (PA) as physician extenders.  This would give PA’s the legislative authority to identify and communicate a diagnosis, casting, prescribing medications/eyeglasses/hearing devices.

As Respiratory Therapists, it is important to remember that despite the increased authority that would be given to PA’s under this purposed legislation, we are currently not permitted to receive orders from these professionals. Under  the Respiratory Therapy Act (RTA), RT’s may only receive orders from Members of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the College of Midwives of Ontario, the College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario, and the College of Nurses of Ontario (those who hold the title of Extended Class).  There is the ability for RTs to be able to accept an order from “a member of a health profession that is prescribed by regulation” [RTA s.5 (1)(c)]. However, there is currently no regulation that would allow an RT to accept an order from a PA.

We are permitted, however, to receive the communication of a direct order or medical directive, through a PA, from a physician. This is not considered to be “ordering”. Remember, as a profession, we do not require delegation (or transfer or authority) from any healthcare professional for a controlled act that we are already authorized to perform.

For more information on this topic, and this purposed legislation, please follow these links:

With healthcare workers now becoming vaccinated against Covid-19, we see many of these memorable moments posted on social media, through “vaccine selfies”.  Pictures of band aids, masked smiles and vaccination records reflect celebration and relief, after the culmination of an incredibly long and difficult year.  If you post on public platforms, it is important to be aware of the dangers that exist due to the information shared, and potentially distributed.  Your full name, birthdate, and partial health card number, along with the location that you received the vaccine, is visible on the vaccine card.   If this not blacked out or blocked from view, it can be used by identity thieves to gain access to other private, personal information and may put you at risk for further scams. 

In the UK, who began their vaccination program prior to Canada, there are instances of scammers selling forged vaccination cards using this type of information found on the internet. 

Do not allow something that has been created to protect you from one enemy, be the reason you are exposed to another.  Pause before you post.

The CRTO will be circulating its new document on The Use of Social Media by Respiratory Therapists to members shortly.  We are interested in your thoughts and feedback! 

Throughout this pandemic, we have heard from all different healthcare sectors about how ready, willing and able RTs are to step up and do what needs to be done. Student RTs worked as aides while their educational programs were shut down in the spring and summer. Long-standing RTs came out of a well-deserved retirement to help out their colleagues. And RTs in every practice setting have been showing up day after day, ready to take on whatever comes next.

None of this is surprising. This is who RTs are. This is what they’re made for. But the battle is not over, and although there may be a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a vaccine, there is still a way to go yet.

Stay strong and stay safe. You are needed now more than ever before.

All the best for a much brighter 2021!

“Why did you sign up for this?” is probably a question that others asked of you during the early, frightening days of the pandemic. It might even have been a question you asked of yourself. But then you undoubtedly shook any uncertainty off, wrapped your stethoscope around your neck, and headed off to see the next patient. Because that is what RTs do, they keep moving forward, regardless of the obstacles in their way.

Respiratory Therapy a small and relatively new profession that has faced so many hurdles on its way to gain recognition for the unique body of knowledge its member possess. And maybe that’s why RTs are just able to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Potential staffing shortages, problems obtaining PPE, concerns over ventilator capacity – the list of very real and genuinely concerning issues seemed to grow by the day. But never once did we hear, “this is not what I signed up for”. Rather, what we heard from RTs and what we saw in the growing media attention on our profession was that RTs were standing strong on the front lines doing what they do best – Mcgivering their way through any obstacle in their path (younger RTs, if you are not familiar with the McGiver reference – ask a seasoned veteran).

You may have your own personal reason for why you “signed up for this”, but I bet all your colleagues, coworkers, and – most importantly – your patients are glad you did.

Thank you for rising to the challenge when it mattered the most.

RT practice has evolved tremendously over the years, and it still has lots of room to grow. Sometimes things hold us back, such as restrictions placed on us by our employers, and often there isn’t anything we can do about that. But sometimes, we hold ourselves back by not knowing what we are authorized to do, and we can definitely do something about that.

Based on the questions I receive; I get a sense that some RTs don’t have a full understanding of what RTs are permitted to do. And if they don’t know, I am willing to bet their employer doesn’t know either. Unfortunately, this means the boat can get missed and an opportunity to expand their role is lost.

The profession of Respiratory Therapy has grown to what it is today by RTs saying, “We can do that”. So, it is vitally important for us to know what “that” is. The CRTO has a number of resources to assist RTs in their understanding of the full scope of RT practice, such as the newly revised Interpretation of Authorized Acts Professional Practice Guideline (you can read all about it in the December CRTO ebulletin).

Another resource is to simply ask us. Any questions about what an RT can do can be directed to Carole Hamp. RRT – Manager of Quality Practice at hamp@crto.on.ca. We are here and we are happy to help.