The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) has published a news item about legislative amendments affecting nurse practitioner (NP) practice to take effect October 1, 2011.  To view the news item, visit www.cno.org or click here.

The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) has provided the following overview of regulatory amendments affecting nurse practitioner (NP) practice, which may have implications for CMLTO members. The following changes will take effect on July 1^st,  2011.  

• The NP laboratory list will be revoked on July 1^st, 2011. NPs will be authorized to order lab tests as appropriate for client care and in compliance with expectations set out in the NP Practice Standard. This amendment does not affect the lists of drugs, x-rays and ultrasounds that continue to govern the clinical aspects of NP practice.
• Amendments to regulation 965 under the Public Hospitals Act take effect on July 1^st. The changes will permit NPs to order diagnostics and treatments for hospital in-patients (this is in addition to their current authority to treat hospital out-patients). With the exception of the laboratory list, which is being revoked on July 1^st, the other lists (e.g., drugs, x-rays, ultrasounds) continue to apply to their practice.
• If NPs have authority to order procedures under a profession-specific act (e.g., laboratory technology, respiratory therapy) or other applicable legislation (e.g., Healing Arts Radiation Protection Act for x-rays) these recent amendments will enable NPs to order these procedures for hospital inpatients starting July 1^st. These may be procedures that are carried out by your members. 
• Starting July 1^st 2011, NPs will be authorized to certify death of a hospitalized patient subject to the conditions of the Vital Statistics Act (click here for conditions).  
• Starting July 1^st 2011, NPs will be authorized to discharge hospital clients subject to any rules / policies established by the facility.  
• NPs are registered nurses in the extended the class. To confirm that a member of the CNO is an NP, click here  to view the register “find a nurse”.  
• CNO has posted information on its website at:

http://www.cno.org/en/news/2011/06/regulation-amendments-affecting-np-practice/

http://www.cno.org/en/learn-about-standards-guidelines/educational-tools/nurse-practitioners/np-practice-resources/#title13  (scroll down to “hospital privileges”)

On July 1^{st CNO} frequently asked questions will be updated to reflect the new authorities and the laboratory list will be removed from the website and replaced with an explanatory note.

http://www.cno.org/en/learn-about-standards-guidelines/educational-tools/nurse-practitioners/faqs-nurse-practitioners-and-scope-of-practice/            

http://www.cno.org/en/learn-about-standards-guidelines/publications-list/list-of-all-publications/amended-drug-laboratory-and-diagnostic-test-lists/#title1

The Ministry of Heatlh and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) issued an INFOBulletin on June 22nd regarding Laboratory Tests Ordered by Nurse Practitioners.  That bulletin may be accessed on the MOHLTC website at http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/providers/program/ohip/bulletins/bulletin_mn.html or by clicking here.  You may access the PDF version of the INFOBulletin by clicking here.

The College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO) continues to pursue the regulation of medical laboratory assistants and medical laboratory technicians.

In 2010:

• The Regulation of Medical Laboratory Assistants and Medical Laboratory Technicians website was launched.
• The CMLTO Position Paper on the Regulation of Medical Laboratory Assistants and Medical Laboratory Technicians was released.
• An Advisory Working Group (AWG) was established to ensure transparency and appropriate input into the initiative.

A draft Scope of Practice Statement for Registered Medical Laboratory Technicians has now been released. The draft scope of practice statement for medical laboratory assistants and medical laboratory technicians is a fundamental part of this initiative as it facilitates the clear identification of which practitioners the CMLTO is addressing.

In 2011, the CMLTO and the Advisory Working Group will focus on establishing criteria for voluntary rostering for medical laboratory assistants and medical laboratory technicians.

We encourage individuals to share this information with their medical laboratory assistant and medical laboratory technician colleagues so they too can become, or remain, engaged.

The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) has launched a National Medical Laboratory Week commercial at www.knowingmatters.ca.  Please visit the site and help continue to raise public awareness of medical laboratory professionals!

The College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario (CMLTO) is proud to announce the release of its second annual Medical Laboratory Technologist Health Human Resource Exploration report. This report is an analysis of the 2010 CMLTO membership database, reporting on such areas as MLT practice, employment facility and status, and the provision of MLT education.

Health human resource planning in many cases is informed and supported by health professional demographic and practice-specific data. Please feel free to contact John Tzountzouris, Senior Policy and Knowledge Management Specialist, at jtzountzouris@cmlto.com should you have an interest in the data presented in this report, or if you have a specific MLT health human resource data need you would like to discuss.

Members of the MLT profession know the key role they perform in the health care system – now members of the public will have a greater understanding too.

In early December, the College launched a public awareness campaign designed to explain the role of MLTs, generate confidence in the professionals who produce lab test results, and reinforce the College’s role in self-regulation and public protection.

The campaign has two elements: information cards that select lab facilities across Ontario will display on a pilot basis (pilot locations and card images appear below) and related web pages that outline who carries out lab tests, what these tests mean, and who protects the public's right to quality test results ( www.publicprotection.ca and www.trustyourtest.com).

We hope all CMLTO members will spread the word of this initiative to recognize the importance of medical lab tests being performed by self-regulating professionals who are held to the highest standards. To learn more about the campaign, please contact CMLTO Corporate Communications.

Public protection postcard

Trust your test post card

The pilot campaign has been launched at the following locations:
Lake of the Woods District Hospital
London Health Sciences Centre - multiple sites
Sioux Lookout Meno-Ya-Win Health Centre
Peterborough Regional Health Centre
Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc.