Based on feedback from members across the country, CAMRT is making MRT burnout, staffing shortages, and other workforce issues its top priority for advocacy with governments and decision makers in the healthcare sphere. We wanted to give a glimpse into the various different ways CAMRT is approaching this issue for you as members:
Key Collaborations
We are pleased to be involved in a growing number of collaborations and coalitions to address one or more of the workforce issues facing healthcare professionals. Key collaborations over the past few years in these areas have included:
- Collaboration with the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Sciences and Sonography Canada on mental health projects and tools, including the national mental health survey and a Joint Statement on in the Fall of 2021
- Working with the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) on key reports on resiliency and restart in medical imaging (REPORT 1; REPORT 2)
- CAMRT and CAR also partnered to put out statements on the importance of recognizing the MRT workforce [LA PRESSE] and more
- Representing MRTs on the HEAL (Organizations for Health Action) taskforce for health workforce issues. Through HEAL, CAMRT is able to regularly convey MRT priorities directly to the Federal Health Minister and staff, including at HEAL’s March 2022 meeting (HEAL WEBSITE)
- Joining forces with doctors and nurses (CMA and CNA) to bring a national call for workforce planning and strategy in the post-pandemic period (HILL TIMES AD)
- Collaborating closely with the Canadian Health Workforce Network as they call for a Canadian organization to coordinate and track the healthcare workforce nationally (CALL TO ACTION)
Research
For the past few years, CAMRT has strengthened its internal research and evidence gathering capacities to bring more substantial and powerful evidence to its advocacy and other activities. On the issues of burnout and health workforce data, CAMRT is now a leader among health professions. The major research in this area includes:
- CAMRT’s biannual HHR survey, with data and trends from four surveys since 2015 (LINK)
- CAMRT’s three COVID HHR surveys, giving a glimpse into the effects of COVID-19 and workplace restrictions (SURVEY 1, SURVEY 3)
- CAMRT and partners’ National Mental Health Survey, with pre-pandemic and mid-pandemic data points illustrating burnout and other mental health issues in the profession (REPORT)
Direct Advocacy
A healthy health workforce has emerged as a top priority issue for many healthcare professions. The federal government has indicated an interest in leading in this area and has initiated several committee studies in which CAMRT is voicing the concerns of MRTs.
- Submission to the federal budget consultation process (SUBMISSION)
- Submission of briefs to the House of Commons 1) Standing Committee on Health; and 2) Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (SUBMISSION)
- Direct contacts with members of parliament sitting on both committees studying healthcare workforce federally
Public Advocacy (media coverage)
Adding to its collaborations and direct advocacy with decision makers, CAMRT also pursues opportunities to get the MRT side of these stories into the public eye. Below are the major instances of media coverage for burnout and workforce issues in the MRT profession:
- Position Statement and media release on Reducing the Prevalence of MRT Burnout
- CAMRT-led editorials appearing in Canadian media outlets from November to January (LINK 1, LINK 2)
- Radio appearances on CJAD radio in Montreal and syndicated Global News radio (LISTEN)
- CAMRT-ATL response to proposals to reduce wait times with MRT overtime (LINK)
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