Update on Bill 160 and CMRTO name change

The Ontario government has passed Bill 160, the Strengthening Quality and Accountability for Patients Act, 2017!

Schedule 6 of the Act, the Medical Radiation and Imaging Technology Act, 2017 repeals the current Medical Radiation Technology Act and replaces it with the Medical Radiation and Imaging Technology Act, 2017 (MRITA). The MRITA changes the scope of practice of medical radiation and imaging technology to add the use of soundwaves for the purposes of diagnostic procedures.

Key changes under the MRITA include:

  • updating the name of the profession and of the health regulatory college overseeing the profession to accurately reflect the entirety of its membership
  • changing the scope of practice statement to include the “application of soundwaves” to capture diagnostic sonographers
  • appropriately identifying all radiation and imaging professionals that are members of the college.

This change will require the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario (CMRTO) to change its name. When the Act comes into force, the CMRTO will become the College of Medical Radiation and Imaging Technologists of Ontario (CMRITO). This proposed new name captures the fact that scope of practice of medical radiation and imaging technology will be expanded to include the use of soundwaves for diagnostic ultrasound.

These changes will come into force on proclamation by the Lieutenant Governor. To read the Ministry’s News Release on the Strengthening Quality and Accountability for Patients Act please click here.