You have tremendous flexibility in the type of professional development and continuous learning activities you can undertake in your QA ePortfolio. They can also be in any format which meets your learning needs (e.g. department in-services, formal courses, reading journals, etc.). We don’t “approve” courses or assign points. You decide which learning activities will be part of your Quality Assurance ePortfolio. Your choice must, however, be related to improving your knowledge, skills and judgement as a CMRITO registrant of the profession. Here are just a few examples of topic areas/types of continuous learning activities:
Examples:
Learning about or teaching others about cross-cultural issues
Learning about or teaching others how to support the needs of various age groups (e.g. children, the elderly)
Working on your facility’s QA Program
Working with the CMRITO or with professional associations, such as Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Sciences (OAMRS)/Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT)/Sonography Canada, on various committees
Record of learning from experts by attendance at rounds, tutorials or CD, video and/or internet learning
Examples:
Working on a facility/community committee to improve patient care or public safety
Keeping your CPR certificate current
Learning about new diseases or new treatments
Examples:
Learning a new technique (e.g. CT scanning)
Technical innovations
Developing new skills in response to multi-skilling requirements
Presenting procedures/techniques/new approaches to fellow health care professionals
Examples:
Setting-up, teaching or attending first aid, CPR, WHMIS
Working on your facility’s Health & Safety Committee
Examples:
Exchange arrangement
Personal research and study
Teaching and learning skills
Coaching skills
Performance-evaluation skills
Note: The resource ideas provided here are suggestions for you to consider when looking for opportunities for continuing education and professional development activities
Professional Associations | The Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Sciences, the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists and Sonography Canada offer articles and papers in journals, as well as correspondence programs in a variety of subject areas. |
The Internet | It provides a list of resources, access to library catalogues, articles, professional associations and conferences, discussion and special-interest groups on a variety of topics. |
Your own and other health care professionals’ libraries | You and other healthcare professionals have libraries of professional and educational materials, and a variety of subscriptions to professional journals and magazines. The libraries also provide information about professional and educational events through newsletters of professional associations and various community organizations. These materials provide many useful sources for continuous learning activities. |
Colleges and universities | These institutions offer various courses leading to degrees, diplomas or certificates. Many offer part-time, evening and weekend courses, and correspondence programs. Colleges and universities also maintain extensive resource libraries. |
Various medical communications, training and publishing companies | These sell audio-visual and/or print materials on a variety of topics. Most of these companies have catalogues available upon request. |
Various equipment, film or pharmaceutical manufacturers | They provide audio-visual and written materials to support products and services they provide. |