MRTs - The very image of care
- kelseyphelan3
- May 30, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 17, 2022
Prior to this course I hadn’t thought about how my role as a professional could be influenced by my social media use. After some reflection I came to the realization that I use social media in a professional manner more than I initially thought. There are several professional groups I am part of that use social media to communicate to their members. I am thankful for social media connecting me with other MRTs across Canada. We recently dissolved our provincial chapter the Prince Edward Island Association of Medical Radiation Technologists in favour of joining the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists - Atlantic. That change allows us to share resources and volunteers. The larger group provides us with a bigger voice. Members are active on social media which gives us the ability to communicate easily with them. Social communication gives us a place to champion MRTs and makes us more visible to the public. We are often mistaken for nurses or other groups. Not many people know MRTs exist. Social media is a great platform to advocate and advertise for MRTs.
As a Medical Radiation Technologist I want to have a social media presence. The CAMRT has a Member Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct that I am obligated to follow. I am also required to follow the bylaws set out by the College of Allied Health Professionals of Prince Edward Island. I do not share things publicly to ensure my posts are kept professional. I do not plan on using Facebook professionally but I keep the bylaws and code of ethics in mind when I do make a post. After starting our discussion on social media presence I did clean up my twitter account. Twitter will be my main professional account. Now, I have my ePortfolio to add to my professional online presence. As I learn and grow through this program I hope to increase my social communication.
My role as a Medical Radiation Technologist is to be the very image of care. Health care today has shifted focus to be more patient specific. MRTs use their high tech equipment to provide information so intervention and treatment can be performed on an individual basis. Radiation Therapists who provide treatment for many cancers are also MRTs. We not only provide the imaging needed to treat patients but are part of some of the treatment patients receive. More than 30 million diagnostic imaging exams are performed each year in Canada. We are a vital part of the Canadian health care system. Our role as MRTs is always evolving as technology changes and advancements are made. We must be very adaptable and continue our education to keep up with the ever changing technologies (McCourt,2022) .
An important topic in Canada is the appropriate use of diagnostic imaging studies. A study done by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health found that 10-20% of tests ordered are unnecessary. The amount of diagnostic imaging tests done between 2003-2010 doubled. One of the most important concerns they discovered was patient safety due to the amount of radiation patients receive. In Canada, CT is used three times more than MRI. That could be because CT is more accessible and less costly. There has been an increase in the amount of diagnostic imaging tests requested both nationally and internationally. There is no federal legislation addressing the appropriateness of DI testing. Health Canada does have radiation safety codes to help protect the public. Finances of the healthcare system directly affect what equipment is available which then affects wait times. All of which direct physicians to what type of test they chose to order. That brings us back full circle to patient safety and appropriate use of imaging modalities. Diagnostic imaging is part of a very complicated balancing act (CADTH,2015).
References
CADTH.(2015,March). Appropriate Utilization of Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Procedures:
CT,MRI,PET/CT.
CAMRT.(2015). Member Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. https://www.camrt.ca/mrt-
profession/professional-resources/code-of-ethics/.
College of Allied Health Professionals of Prince Edward Island.(2021). Bylaws.
https://www.cahppei.ca/sitefiles/Documents/Bylaws_CAHPPEI_approved_May_3_
2021.pdf.
McCourt,D.(2022). MRTs: At the Forefront of Canadian Health Care.Health Insight. Retrieved
Prince Edward Island Public Health Act.(2005,November 8). Radiation Safety Regulations
Chapter P-30. https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/legislation/p30-
1-06.pdf.
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