6. Professional Relationships

Professional relationships in health care settings are based on mutual trust and respect, and result in improved patient care.

Practice standard

Registrants must be able to practise effectively within interprofessional care teams to achieve the best possible outcomes for the patient.  Registrants are responsible for communicating about and coordinating care provision with other members of the team, and must be able to take the appropriate action to address gaps and differences in judgement about care provision.

Registrants may accept the delegation of controlled acts under the Regulated Health Professions Act not authorized to registrants under the Medical Radiation and Imaging Technology Act, provided they comply with the Regulated Health Professions Act and the Standards of Practice.  Registrants cannot delegate to other individuals controlled acts authorized to registrants under the Medical Radiation and Imaging Technology Act.

Indicators 

Registrants must:

a. use a wide range of communication and interpersonal skills to effectively establish and maintain professional relationships

b. demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the roles, knowledge, expertise and unique contribution by other members of the health care team for the provision of quality care

c. share knowledge with other members of the health care team to promote the best possible outcomes for patients

d. collaborate with other members of the health care team for the provision of quality care

e. participate effectively in interprofessional team meetings

f. resolve concerns about an order or treatment plan by:

  1. discussing the concern directly with the responsible health professional

  2. providing a rationale and best practice evidence in support of the concern

  3. identifying outcomes desired for resolution

  4. documenting the concern and steps taken to resolve it in the appropriate record

g. perform controlled acts not authorized to registrants under the Medical Radiation and Imaging Technology Act, based on delegation, only when the following conditions have been met:

  1. the health professional who is delegating the controlled act (the delegator) is a member of a regulated health profession authorized by their health profession Act to perform the controlled act

  2. the delegator is acting in accordance with any applicable legislation and any guidelines and policies of their regulatory body governing delegation, and has not been restricted or prohibited from delegating the controlled act

  3. the delegator has the knowledge, skills and judgement to perform and delegate the controlled act

  4. the registrant has the knowledge, skills and judgement to perform the controlled act delegated to them safely, effectively and ethically given the circumstances of the situation

  5. a written record of the transfer of authority (delegation) and certification of the registrant’s competence is maintained

  6. the registrant complies with any conditions established by the delegator in order for the registrant to maintain the authority to perform the controlled act

  7. patient consent has been obtained

  8. the appropriate order authorizing the performance of the controlled act delegated to the registrant is in place