Promoting interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is a critical component of CMLTO's role in protecting the public, as patient outcomes vastly improve when Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) collaborate with each other and other healthcare professionals. MLTs have access to highly specialized knowledge and skillsets which offer immeasurable value in patient diagnoses, treatments, and general disease management.

MLTs have an ethical, legal, and professional obligation to participate in IPC. To support this, the CMLTO is pleased to share its updated Collaboration Guideline along with a newly developed IPC Infographic.

The CMLTO Collaboration Guideline for Medical Laboratory Technologists is intended to support MLTs as they partake in IPC initiatives related to their professional practice. The guideline provides insights into IPC enablers and how MLTs can integrate these into their everyday practice and therefore improve the standard of care that they provide. For access to this updated guideline, click here. Pour accéder en français, cliquez ici. 

The CMLTO IPC Infographic was developed by CMLTO staff following a 2022 survey issued to a group of 1000 randomly selected Practising registrants. The infographic presents findings from the survey and showcases how IPC in MLT practice has evolved over time. The infographic is unique in that it also provides information pertaining to the impact of COVID-19 on MLT practice. For access to this infographic, click here. Pour accéder en français, cliquez ici.

If you have any questions about these initiatives, please contact CMLTO staff at qualityassurance@cmlto.com.

In light of the new Emergency Class and "As of Right" pathways to CMLTO registration, the CMLTO is hosting a webinar about Alternative Pathways to Registration as an MLT. The webinar will take place on September 28th, 2023 and is hosted at 12:00 PM EST. If you are unable to participate we will be sharing a recording of the webinar on our website at a later date.

The webinar will run for 1.5 hours in length and the structure of the webinar will involve a CMLTO staff member sharing information about the recent amendments made to the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 and the Medical Laboratory Technology Act, 1991 and the subsequent registration pathways that were created. CMLTO staff will also be providing details about what is involved with each registration pathway focusing on a single specialty, and how this impacts MLTs in Ontario.

To Register for the Webinar:

Please follow this link and complete all of the appropriate information: Registration (gotowebinar.com). You will receive an email for further details on the webinar after you register.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at communications@cmlto.com.

The College of Medical Laboratory Technologists (CMLTO) is pleased to showcase a recent initiative led by the Canadian Alliance of Medical Laboratory Professionals Regulators (CAMLPR), known as the Flexible Pathways to Registration for Medical Laboratory Technologists project. The goal of this project is to address the shortage of Medical Laboratory Technologists in Canada throughout the next ten years by increasing the availability of registered health professionals qualified to work in their respective fields.

The Flexible Pathways to Registration for Medical Laboratory Technologists is funded by the Government of Canada, and involves the creation of an online portal for both internationally and Canadian educated Medical Laboratory Technologists who are unable to register to practice through current registration processes, developing entry to practice competencies in order to guarantee that up-to-date workplace conditions are reflected, and to make the registration process more efficient for individuals whose unique professional backgrounds and qualifications equip them to work within their fields.

The Canadian Alliance of Medical Laboratory Professionals Regulators (CAMLPR) has produced two articles for further context behind the initiative. We strongly encourage you to consult the articles, linked below:

• The Regulation of Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) in Canada: Safeguarding Public Interest and Ensuring Quality Healthcare illustrates the keystone role that Medical Laboratory Technologists play within the Canadian healthcare landscape, a brief overview of the history of regulation in Canada, the role of regulatory bodies, and how regulation of these professionals protects the Canadian public.
• Pathways to Registration throughout Field-Specific Registration of MLTs provides a thorough overview of the benefits of field-specific registration practices and how this will effectively integrate qualified individuals from non-traditional backgrounds to efficiently integrate into the Canadian healthcare landscape.
  

To learn more about this groundbreaking initiative and the impact that it will have on the MLT registration process, please consult the CAMLPR website here. 

The CMLTO is pleased to announce the release of its fourteenth annual Medical Laboratory Technologist Health Human Resource Report. The Health Human Resource Report provides a unique and detailed overview of data pertaining to all CMLTO registrants. This data includes information about MLT age, employment status, career specialties, main areas of practice, and more. The data provides valuable insight into relevant demographics and practice changes within the MLT profession. We highly encourage you to consult a copy of this report here. A copy of the report is available in French here. 

The CMLTO is pleased to announce the release of its 2022 Annual Report. The CMLTO Annual Report provides a holistic snapshot of the College’s performance and accomplishments each year. The Annual Report consists of updates within all the CMLTO’s regulatory program areas, updates about the Board of Directors, governance-related matters, and financial statements.

A copy of the Annual Report is available here. A French version of the report will be made available soon.

The CMLTO is inviting all Medical Laboratory Technologists or medical laboratory assistants/technicians in Ontario to participate in a survey to inform the College about the important tasks and duties they perform in the laboratory. This will inform the College about how the profession has changed over time. Please note that this survey is for those working in Ontario ONLY.

This survey has 15 questions and should take you less than 10 minutes to complete. Please note this survey is voluntary, and responses are anonymous (i.e., no responses will be linked to an individual). Please complete this survey no later than July 31, 2023. Your participation is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact the Quality Assurance department by email at qualityassurance@cmlto.com.

To access the survey, follow this link: CMLTO 2023 Scope of Practice Survey (surveymonkey.ca)

As part of the CMLTO’s ongoing effort to share information about the responsibilities of MLTs as they relate to their Professional Conduct, the College is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar on May 31, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

In the webinar, CMLTO Professional Conduct staff will provide an overview of the various conduct processes that impact MLT practice. The presentation will be followed by a brief Question & Answer period. For those who cannot attend the live session, the webinar will be recorded and posted on the CMLTO website and social media channels.

Click here to register for the webinar. 

The formal designation of “Medical Laboratory Technologist” or “MLT” is a protected title as defined in the Medical Laboratory Technology Act, 1991 (MLT Act).

The MLT Act states: Restricted titles 9. (1) No person other than a member shall use the title “medical laboratory technologist”, a variation or abbreviation or an equivalent in another language. 1991, c. 28, s. 9 (1). This includes:

• It is prohibited for anyone who is not a registrant of the College to use the title Medical Laboratory Technologist or any variation of that title, including MLT.
• Individuals not registered with the CMLTO, including those who have successfully passed medical laboratory science programs or exams, are not authorized to use the title MLT until they are fully registered with the CMLTO or another applicable College.
• Terms such as “non-registered MLT” or “unregistered MLT” should not be used for those under clinical placement or training under supervision.
• Any individual holding a position that includes MLT in their job title or description must be registered with the CMLTO first prior to using the restricted title.
• Employers are strongly encouraged to state in their job offer letters that the Medical Laboratory Technologist position is to be only started upon employees’ registration with the CMLTO.

It was announced that on April 12, 2023, the Canadian Alliance of Medical Laboratory Professionals Regulators (CAMLPR) along with the Government of Canada will be taking steps to speed up and enhance the registration of medical laboratory technologists (MLTs). The project, undertaken on behalf of the provincial regulatory bodies, will help address an anticipated shortage of MLTs over the next ten years, helping to achieve one of the government’s overall objectives: increasing the supply of qualified health professionals in Canada.
 
We encourage you to read the Canadian Alliance of Medical Laboratory Professionals Regulators (CAMLPR) press release, available here.

The CMLTO recognizes National Med Lab Week this year, which is running between April 9 – April 15, and is intended to encourage all Canadians to grow their understanding and appreciation of the Medical Laboratory profession.

Medical Laboratory Professionals play a pivotal role in delivering safe, high-quality patient care and producing test results that are integral to the diagnosis and treatment of countless health conditions.

Please consult the following Lab Week resources:

The CMLTO will be sharing National Med Lab Week 2023 information via our social media channels. Please follow our Twitter and LinkedIn accounts for ideas about how you can engage with National Med Lab Week this year.

For access to the City of Toronto Proclamation on National Med Lab Week 2023, please download and consult the PDF document here. 

For more information on how to directly participate in National Med Lab Week, including access to the CSMLS Lab Week toolkit, follow this link: NMLW2023 | Members Area (csmls.org)

For access to information about the MLPAO Labs Save Lives campaign, intended to put a face to the integral work that lab professionals achieve, click here: Labs Save Lives | MLPAO