(incompetent) Ontario Health Ministry press release: Improving Patient Care in Ontario

email to Minister:

Please immediately hire a new writer. This has to be the worst press release I have ever read and has a new found meaning in 'dumbing it down'. Give the public a bit, just a bit of credit for health literacy. Also include in the future a direct link to the bill. Was this reviewed by a panel of patients/citizens before it was released? No need to answer as it is obvious.

Ontario

Improving Patient Care in Ontario

December 1, 2009 2:13 PM

Ontario has passed Third Reading of Bill 179 that would improve access to health care for Ontarians by allowing care providers to use all of their training to perform their jobs and to work more effectively in teams. The proposed legislation would:

Expand What Health Care Providers Do

Health profession Acts (e.g., Nursing Act) under the Regulated Health Professions Act would be changed to allow providers to perform specific health care actions (controlled acts) or order diagnostic tests:

Health Care Provider


Proposed New Controlled Acts and Powers

Nurse Practitioners

* Apply specified forms of energy (e.g., diagnostic ultrasound);
* Set or cast a fracture or dislocation of a joint

Pharmacists

* Prick or lance skin to educate a patient

Physiotherapists

* Tell patients their diagnosis
* Treat a wound
* Insert an instrument, hand or finger into certain body openings for assessment or rehabilitation of the pelvic musculature
* Order certain forms of energy (e.g., diagnostic ultrasound)

Midwives

* Tell patients their diagnosis
* Give suppository drugs
* Place a tube in the nose or mouth of a newborn
* Take blood samples from fathers and donors

Dietitians

* Prick skin to check a patient's blood readings

Medical Radiation Technologists

* On the order of a physician be able to:

- perform procedures below the skin (e.g., give a needle)

- suction a tracheotomy

- put contrast media into certain body openings and artificial openings into the body

- put an instrument, hand or finger past certain body openings and artificial openings into the body.

Professional Practice Changes Regarding Drugs

Health professions Acts (e.g., Pharmacy Act) under the Regulated Health Professions Act would be changed to give providers the power to administer, prescribe, dispense, compound (mix), sell and use drugs as follows:

Health Care Provider

Drug Authorities Proposed to be Added

Chiropodists and Podiatrists


Give a patient certain substances by inhalation

Dental hygienists


Prescribe, dispense, sell or mix certain drugs

Dentists

Sell or mix drugs (can already prescribe and dispense)

Midwives

Give a patient any substance on the order of a physician

Naturopaths

Prescribe, dispense, mix and sell certain drugs.

Nurse practitioners

Prescribe, dispense, mix and sell drugs without restrictions.

Pharmacists

Prescribe certain drugs to manage patient health

Give certain substances through injection and inhalation to demonstrate their use or to educate patients

Physiotherapists

Give certain substances by inhalation as ordered by authorized persons (e.g., a physician)

Respiratory therapists

Independently give a patient certain substances by inhalation

Increase Ability to Order X-Rays

Regulations would be changed under the Healing Arts Radiation Protection Act to allow:

* Nurse practitioners to order any X-rays

* Physiotherapists to order X-rays subject to conditions

CONTACTS

* David Jensen
Communications Branch
416-314-6197
media@nullmoh.gov.on.ca
* Ivan Langrish
Minister's Office
416-326-3986

* For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline
1-866-532-3161
null(Toll-free in Ontario only)
* Media Line
Toll-free: 1-888-414-4774
GTA: 416-314-6197
media@nullmoh.gov.on.ca


Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ontario.ca/health

© Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2008 - 2009 - Last Modified:December 01, 2009