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The College of Medical Radiation and Imaging Technologists of Ontario (CMRITO) actively monitors ongoing and emerging health emergencies, and collects information from various governmental agencies and offices, which is shared with MRITs on this page.
The Government of Ontario announced a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 17, 2020. At that time, the Chief Medical Officer of Health began issuing a series of directives to regulated health professionals under the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA). All remaining directives were revoked effective June 11, 2022 and replaced with Ministry of Health the following guidance for health care workers and organizations:
Many health care organizations have implemented their own masking and screening protocols to protect their patients and workers. MRITs are reminded to follow the policies and guidelines of their place of employment as it relates to masking and infection control.
As regulated health professionals, MRITs are accountable to their patients and the public to provide safe, effective and ethical medical radiation and imaging technology services. MRITs do this every day by ensuring that their practice meets the legislative requirements and standards of the profession in all types of practice situations. MRITs provide essential, non-essential and elective services to patients, depending on the type of facility in which they practice, including: hospitals, cancer centres, clinics (integrated community health services centres), and other facilities.
CMRITO’s role is to support MRITs’ ability to provide safe, effective, and ethical medical radiation and imaging technology services, and to help them understand their professional obligations and accountabilities.
The most recent information issued by the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario appears on this page. As circumstances change and new guidance is received from the Ministry of Health and the CMOH, the information on this page will be updated.
Please visit the Ministry of Health COVID-19 page and Public Health Ontario websites for the most up-to-date information, and review our Frequently Asked Questions (below) for information specific to MRITs.
Please continue to keep well by following the infection control processes and protocols implemented by your hospitals and clinics, and stay aware of any pandemic and emergency developments by monitoring the Ontario Ministry of Health and Government of Canada websites.
The following FAQs may be helpful to MRITs.
Why doesn’t CMRITO have a masking policy for MRITs working in hospitals and other health facilities?
CMRITO regulates the profession of medical radiation and imaging technology in Ontario, not the facilities MRITs practise in. As a result, the College does not have the authority to set masking protocols for the facilities where MRITs practise. Neither the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 nor the Medical Radiation and Imaging Technology Act, 2017, the provincial acts that govern the College, allow CMRITO to do this.
Hospitals, independent health facilities, and other health care settings are responsible for establishing and enforcing their own masking policies. In an emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chief Medical Officer of Health for the province may institute masking mandates.
MRITs are reminded to follow the policies and procedures set at each of the locations where they practise, recognizing that different workplaces may have different policies and guidelines in place. As expressed in Standard #4 of the CMRITO Standards of Practice, “Registrants must have and maintain the knowledge, skills and judgement to practise safely by adhering to all relevant provincial and federal legislation and guidelines, departmental protocols and policies and manufacturers’ directions pertaining to health and safety.”
What are the accountabilities of MRITs during a pandemic?
In an emergency like a pandemic, MRITs are key members of the health care team.
MRITs have an obligation to act in the best interests of their patients at all times, regardless of the type of illness the patient may have.
CMRITO suggests that MRITs review the protocols in place at their facility to ensure that patients receive the safe, effective, and ethical medical radiation and imaging technology services necessary for their care. The CMRITO encourages MRITs to discuss with their facilities and/or managers about which services are essential to create plans to serve those in need.
As an MRIT, what is my accountability for providing care for a patient that may have or has been diagnosed with COVID-19?
You are accountable for making decisions that are in the best interests of your patients and for protecting them from harm. You are also accountable for protecting patients from infection risks. You can do this by:
As an MRIT, you must perform your duties responsibly and in a manner that reflects the profession’s commitment to respect the personal dignity of every patient who entrusts themself to your care.
The CMRITO Standards of Practice describe what you are accountable and responsible for as an MRIT in your practice, and reflect the knowledge, skills, and judgement that you need to perform the services and procedures that fall within the scope of practice of the profession. Under the Standards of Practice, medical radiation and imaging technologists are expected to be competent, accountable and collaborative.
You can read about your professional accountability to your patients in the publication “What you must know about … Professional Accountability”