The role of nurse practitioners in the delivery of health care to Manitobans has been expanded to allow them to independently authorize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostic tests for their patients. This announcement was made by Health Minister Theresa Oswald.
“Nurse practitioners play a key role in our health-care system as they already provide a wide range of services that help increase access to front-line health-care services,” said Oswald. “This change will save patients from making an extra visit to a doctor to confirm the need for or benefit of an MRI, while helping to reduce demands on a physician’s time and making the system more efficient.”
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with a master’s level education and clinical experience that allows them to diagnose illnesses, treat conditions, prescribe medications and order diagnostic tests.
The expanded authority for nurse practitioners was supported by the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba, the minister said.
“We are pleased to have worked alongside government on this initiative because we know that making full use of the range of care nurse practitioners can provide increases access to health care and is in the best interest of Manitobans,” said Diane Wilson Máté, executive director of the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba.
More than 100 nurse practitioners work in various health-care facilities across the province including hospitals, QuickCare Clinics, primary-care clinics and personal-care homes.
“Nurse practitioners welcome the opportunity to provide this important service to Manitoba families. The ability to order MRIs will expedite diagnosis and allow treatment to begin faster,” said Sandra Christie, president, Nurse Practitioner Association of Manitoba.
The province supports the nurse practitioner program at the University of Manitoba and provided funding to add three additional seats to the program last year, Oswald said.
“With nurse practitioners seeing more and more patients, doctors can accept more patients of their own and spend more time with those who have more complex medical needs. We’re providing faster, more convenient access to quality care and offering more choice for patients and families. These important changes to how care is delivered improve the health-care system and ensure Manitobans have access to the front-line services they need, when and where they need them. The health-care system must continue to evolve to make sure we’re able to meet the needs of Manitobans of all ages in every corner of the province,” said the minister.
More information on primary care in Manitoba is available online.
