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My Role Within the Canadian Healthcare System


The Canadian Healthcare System

Within Canada, healthcare is provided through a publicly funded healthcare system called 
Medicare. However, this healthcare is divided into the responsibilities of the provincial government and the responsibilities of the federal government.

“The provincial and territorial governments are responsible for the management, organization and delivery of health care services for their residents. The federal government is responsible for: setting and administering national standards for the health care system through the Canada Health Act; providing funding support for provincial and territorial health care services; supporting the delivery for health care services to specific groups; providing other health-related functions”. ("Canada's Health Care System", 2016)

My Role in the Canadian Healthcare System

(Freudenrich, n.d.)
Nuclear Medicine Technology falls under the umbrella term of Medical Radiation Technology and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care provides a general definition for our role that states “Medical radiation technologists use ionizing radiation, electromagnetism and other prescribed forms of energy for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, the evaluation of images and data relating to the procedures and the assessment of an individual before, during and after the procedures.” ("Health Workforce Planning and Regulatory Affairs Division - Health Care Professionals", 2018)

In order to become a Nuclear Medicine Technologist in Canada, you must graduate from an approved school of Nuclear Medicine Technology and write a national certification exam administered by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT). 

There are currently 5 approved schools in Canada. There were previously 6, however, my joint diploma/degree program through the New Brunswick Community College/University of New Brunswick has since closed. A link to these schools with contact information can be found on the CAMRT website, which I have also linked in the reference list below.

When asked what a Nuclear Medicine Technologist does, I like to state that we use radioactive materials that have been combined with other substances that allow us to assess the function of various organs within the body, through the use of imaging. Unlike every other diagnostic imaging modality, we work from the inside out. We may assess heart function, diagnose bone metastases or even treat hyperthryroidism or thyroid cancer.

For those who are more visual, I found a short video that briefly explains the duties of a nuclear medicine technologist but keep in mind that this video and the equipment used in it, are quite old and the educational requirements mentioned are based on American standards:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsWDnT14dmc

Nuclear Medicine Technologists mostly work in hospitals and independent health facilities such as medical imaging clinics. However, our extensive knowledge of radioactivity may allow us to apply that knowledge to nuclear power plants or within the radiopharmaceutical industry.

Overall, my role as an acute-care provider is to ensure that I am working competently within my scope of practice and collaboratively with other healthcare providers to ensure the best care is given to our patient's and their families.

References:

Canada's Health Care System. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/reports-publications/health-care-system/canada.html

Freudenrich, C. How Nuclear Medicine Works [Image]. Retrieved from https://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-medicine.htm

Health Workforce Planning and Regulatory Affairs Division - Health Care Professionals. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/hhrsd/about/regulated_professions.aspx#medical_radiation_technology

Nuclear Medicine (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.camrt.ca/certification-3/nuclear-medicine/

Nuclear Medicine Technologists Job Description. (2007). [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsWDnT14dmc


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