With the fall return of Parliament, the CAR has the opportunity to bring forward the needs of Canadian radiologists and patients to the federal government through our advocacy recommendations. This year, the CAR’s 9th Annual Day on the Hill takes place on Tuesday, October 29, and will consist of meetings with key federal ministers and demonstrating the use of medical imaging equipment on-site.
Engaging with officials at the federal level is critical to ensuring that the priorities for Canadian radiologists are clearly and adequately conveyed to key decision-makers, and to raise awareness of the crucial role of not only radiologists but Medical Radiation Technologists and Sonographers in Canada’s healthcare system.
The CAR will focus on several key issues with federal ministers:
1.
That the federal government spearheads a national effort to recruit and retain radiologists, medical radiation technologists, and sonographers as part of a national health human resource strategy.
2.
That parliamentarians include the voices of radiologists in their deliberations, particularly deliberations related to breast cancer screening guidelines, of which radiologists are integral players to maintain standards and deliver service.
3.
That the federal government invests in a cost-neutral manner to evolve the medical device licensing process to include post-market surveillance through Health Artificial Intelligence Validation Network.
4.
That the federal government supports ensuring provinces integrate Clinical Decision Support into their electronic medical record systems.
5.
That the federal government guides an investment of $2 billion over three years for radiology equipment to improve access to modern medical imaging equipment.
An additional feature of this year’s Day on the Hill is the mobile MSK and ultrasound clinics that will be on-site to provide real-time demonstrations. In addition, there will be a mobile breast imaging unit on the Hill to showcase how radiology can support smaller more remote communities in mammography procedures. Having imaging equipment in-person will allow the CAR to better demonstrate the radiologist’s role in imaging different body parts and to provide evidence of the CAR’s objectives grounded in real-life context.
The CAR is grateful for the opportunity to advocate on behalf of Canadian radiologists and patients to the federal government. Stay tuned for photos and a full recap of the day.
Posts from 2023 Day on the Hill
Senator @StanKutcher welcomes the CAR to Parliament Hill as we delve into the exploratory session on the integration of AI into healthcare and Canadians' perceptions of the evolving technology. pic.twitter.com/iuxfad61Bp
— The Canadian Association of Radiologists (@CARadiologists) October 19, 2023