Ontario physiotherapists want expanded scope to order diagnostic images

Ontario physiotherapists want the province to expand their scope of practice so they can do things like order X-rays and blood tests for their patients.

The Ontario Physiotherapy Association is lobbying the provincial government to act on Bill 179, which passed 15 years ago and would have expanded what physiotherapists are able to do. But it never received royal assent.

Andy Wang, a physiotherapist with a private practice in Sudbury, says expanding his scope of practice would lessen the burden on family doctors.

He says if patients need an X-ray, for example, he needs to send them to their family doctor (if they have one), and it can sometimes take several weeks before they get their appointment for the X-ray.

Wang compares that process to sick notes, and says family physicians are busy enough without needing to take on tasks that other health-care professionals are qualified to do.

"We physiotherapists, we are almost like primary care for any musculoskeletal injuries," he said.

The Ontario Physiotherapy Association notes that physiotherapists in Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia are currently able to order diagnostic imaging tests for their patients.

In an email to CBC News, Ontario's Ministry of Health said no decisions have been made yet regarding expanding physiotherapists' scope of practice for diagnostic imaging.

"Our government recognizes and values the work of Ontario's physiotherapists and we continue to work with physiotherapists to explore the scope of practice changes that could allow the profession to order additional diagnostic imaging tests," the email said.