Improving Patient Care in Ontario

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.

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