On March 28, 2014 the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care approved changes to the legislation that lists the prescribed procedures below the dermis that Respiratory Therapists (RTs) may perform.  For the vast majority of RTs these changes will not impact their authority to carry out patient care.  However, for Respiratory Therapists who hold certificates of registration with terms, conditions or limitations, these legislative changes may allow for the performance of some procedures which they were previously prohibited from doing.  For example, Respiratory Therapists who hold Graduate certificates of registration (i.e., GRTs) may now perform the following under general supervision, with some exceptions:

• arterial, venous  and capillary punctures;
• insertion, suturing, aspiration, repositioning, manipulation or removal of arterial cannulae;
• insertion, suturing, aspiration, repositioning, manipulation or removal of venous cannulae; and
• tracheostomy tube changes for stomas that are more than 24 hours old.

Facilities may employ Respiratory Therapists who hold Graduate, Limited or General certificates of registration with varieties of terms, conditions and limitations.  Every Respiratory Therapist who holds a certificate of registration with terms, conditions and limitations is obligated to inform his/her employer of those limitations and to not practice beyond his/her competence. 

To review the current terms, conditions and limitation on an RT’s certificate of registration, please visit the Public Register.  In addition, we remind you that an RT may apply to the CRTO to have his/her terms, conditions and limitations revised.