Ontario Pharmacists, dietitians to gain greater powers

Legislation has been put forward in Ontario that would see health professionals such as pharmacists, dietitians and midwives gain greater powers.

The proposed changes would allow, for example, physiotherapists to order x-rays, midwives to put a breathing tube in the mouth of a struggling newborn, and, pharmacists to refill prescriptions without first checking with a doctor. If the legislation passes, nurse practitioners will be able to order bone density tests and scans such as MRIs, set or cast a fracture or dislocation of a joint and apply specific forms of energy such as diagnostic ultrasounds. The changes are all part of a Liberal government initiative to ease long wait times in doctors offices and hospitals and to improve patient access to health care. Not everyone is happy with the proposals; Ontario's nurses say the changes stop short of doing what's truly needed to ease patient flow in overcrowded hospitals by failing to give them the power to prescribe more drugs and to admit or discharge patients. "No one professional can possibly meet all a patients needs," said Premier Dalton McGuinty. "The next best thing is to ensure we minimize the number of stops a patient makes while travelling through the healthcare system." Under the proposed changes, health professionals will get enhanced power to do more for patients. Dietitians could prick skin to check a patient's blood levels for diabetes control, midwives would be able to tell patients their diagnosis, and, medical radiation technologists could, on the order of a doctor, give needles if needed. The changes will not allow nurse practitioners to prescribe a variety of drugs. Doris Grinspun, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario's executive director said, "Still we are needing to fight, in committee now, for open prescribing."