Additional Considerations

7.1. Organizational Policies and Procedures

To support safe and competent practice and ensure consistency between practitioners, each organization develops its own policies and procedures for specific tasks and processes. When a certification program is submitted to the CRTO for consideration, the organization’s policy and procedure should also be included because it serves as part of the curriculum that must be reviewed by the learner undertaking the certification program.

7.2. Record Keeping

Institution

Each organization that has obtained approval for a certification program must retain a complete copy of the program along with a record of the date it was implemented. Each subsequent version of a certification program must go through the CRTO’s approval process and be retained along with previous versions.

Member

Members must keep documentation related to certification and recertification processes in their Professional Portfolio Online for Respiratory Therapists (PORTfolioOM). Members are required to keep this documentation for the duration of their professional career.

Please Note…

RTs who work at multiple sites must ensure that they are following each employer’s policies regarding what procedure below the dermis they can perform.

7.3. Keeping Certification Programs Current

Health care practices are constantly evolving. It is up to each Member to keep up-to-date with current practice standards. If significant revisions are being made to an existing certification package, it will need to be resubmitted to the CRTO. For more information, please contact the CRTO Manager of Quality Practice.

Any additional training or credentials obtained by a Member (e.g., Anesthesia Assistant) does not alter the fact that in order to perform an advanced prescribed procedure below the dermis, they must still complete a CRTO approved certification program.

It is an expectation that Members ensure that the certification package they are using has been approved by the CRTO, and the employer’s policy governing the procedure has received final organizational approval prior to beginning the process of certification.