Safer And Increased Access To Care For Ontarians

TORONTO - Ontario wants to give nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physiotherapists and other medical professionals the freedom to provide a wider range of health services. Patients would get better access to health care and have more choices in who provides it.

The government will propose legislation later today that would increase access to care by:

- Allowing nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physiotherapists, dietitians, midwives and medical radiation technologists to deliver more services that they are now qualified to provide.

- Changing the rules for administering, prescribing, dispensing, selling and using drugs in practice for chiropodists and podiatrists, dental hygienists, dentists, midwives, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physiotherapists and respiratory therapists.

- Removing restrictions on X-rays that can be ordered by nurse practitioners and enabling physiotherapists to order X-rays for specific purposes.

The Regulated Health Professions Statute Law Amendment Act, 2009 would also improve patient safety and strengthen the health care system by:

- Requiring health colleges to work together to develop common standards of knowledge, skill and judgment in areas where their professions may provide the same or similar services.

- Making team based care a key component of health college quality assurance programs which ensure the ongoing competence of registered health professionals.

- Requiring all regulated health professionals to have professional liability insurance.

- Creating a process to ensure new drug prescribing powers are used in the safest possible manner.

"By using the human resources we have, we can provide Ontarians with the health care they need safely, quickly and in more places. Our health care professionals are talented and skilled. It's time to expand their duties to match their qualifications and training. It will mean a more rewarding experience for them, and for all of us." - Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario

"Our government wants to ensure our health care providers are able to practice to the fullest extent of their education and training for the benefit of their patients. This legislation would provide more efficient and effective care from health care providers, and enhance team-based care between Ontario's regulated health professions." - David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

- The proposed legislation is part of HealthForceOntario, the province's health human resources strategy for ensuring Ontarians have access to the right number and mix of qualified health care providers, now and in the future.