Bone Mineral Densitometry for MRTs (Practical Component)

Hand pointing to screen showing bone mineral densitometry scan

The OAMRS Enhanced Practice Certificate: Bone Mineral Densitometry (BMD) for Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs) course is composed of two portions – practical and didactic. This portion of the course makes up the practical component where you will practise your skills. The didactic component of the course must be completed prior to registering for the practical component. Once both items are successfully completed, the Enhanced Practice Certificate will be issued.

Course at a Glance

Learning Hours: This course has been designed for you to work at your own pace and there are no formal hours identified. To complete your course in a timely manner, it is recommended that you set learning goals and schedule time to complete your studies. We suggest creating a simple chart to help you establish a plan for completion of the course. The chart is not a course requirement; however, it can help you stay organized and also act as a means to log your time to help keep track of your learning hours for professional development activity requirements.

Type of Learning: Online

Prerequisites: Successful completion of the Enhanced Practice Certificate: Bone Mineral Densitometry (BMD) for Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs) (Didactic Portion) course. To succeed in this course, the technologist must:

Have completed an accredited MRT program and be certified to practise as an MRT in Canada
Be a member of a regulatory College or professional association with regulatory authority (where applicable)
Carry personal professional liability insurance (PLI)
Be employed in a diagnostic imaging or nuclear medicine department (or clinic) with access to densitometry scanning equipment
Foster inter-professional collaboration with other allied healthcare professionals in providing clinical services

Accreditation: To receive the full OAMRS Enhanced Practice Certificate, the technologist must first successfully complete the didactic component and then proceed to successfully complete the practical component of the course as well.

Completion Requirement:

Successfully complete a minimum of 100 BMD scans under the supervision of an MRT certified in BMD and provide proof of scans along with a corroborating letter from a reporting Radiologist
Successfully meet the established requirements on a practical clinical competency assessment, as assessed by a BMD-certified MRT approved by OAMRS.

Each learner will be assessed in the following areas:

Use of equipment
Welcoming patient
Exam preparation
Position spine correctly
Position hip correctly
Position forearm correctly
Spine analysis
Hip analysis
Forearm analysis
Perform data archiving and back up
Perform disk defragmentation (as required)

Who Should Take This Course

Practising MRTs who would like to receive the full OAMRS Enhanced Practice Certificate: Bone Mineral Densitometry for MRTs and have completed the didactic component of the course.