Leadership

Sue Martin RRT MA FCSRT

Kelly Hassall RRT FCSRT MEd

The Leadership Committee has been working on several initiatives in support of the RT role within Ontario.  With the current changes at the Ministry level with respect to how transitions in care are being managed within the province, the members of the RTSO Leadership Committee have reviewed documents and provided collective, collated feedback that has been sent forth to Health Quality of Ontario to advocate for the inclusion of Respiratory Therapists as care providers for patients with complex needs.

The Committee is in the midst of finalizing a comprehensive hospital-based role description for the Respiratory Therapist, which can be used to assist in supporting the vast scope of the profession and the many areas in which Respiratory Therapists can enhance patient care.  This role description will be integrated with that of a community-based Respiratory Therapist to assist in supporting the need for Respiratory Therapists across the entire continuum of patient care.  In addition to defining the role and the scope of the Respiratory Therapist, the Committee has been working with the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences to map out RRT resources throughout the province and to highlight how the available resources compare to the needs of the patients in those areas.

There have been several conversations within the Leadership Committee regarding the needs of Respiratory Therapists in Ontario and what can be done to support them.  A subcommittee is working on an appeal to the Ministry of Labour for RTs to be recognized as a group that is at an elevated risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  The subcommittee is also beginning to provide education and resources to RTs working within the hospital setting.  In addition to support for PTSD, the committee has also begun discussions with the Allied Health Professional Development Fund regarding a Learning Management System for Registered Respiratory Therapists.  Recognizing that Ontario is a large province and that we have members in remote areas that cannot easily commute for education and training, the committee is looking at ways to ensure that all members are able to easily and readily access information to enhance learning, knowledge and patient care.

As we move closer to RT week, the RTSO Leadership Committee is very excited to continue preparations for the Leadership Summit and INSPIRE Conference.  These events will be held on October 18^th and 19^th in Toronto, Ontario.  The Committee looks forward to an opportunity to meet with RTs from across the province to address common challenges and share experiences.

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT