Ontario’s physiotherapists want the province to expand their scope of practice to include ordering X-rays and blood tests from their patients.

The Ontario Physiotherapy Association is lobbying the provincial government for action on Bill 179, which was passed 15 years ago and would have expanded the capabilities of physiotherapists. But it never received royal assent.

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

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

Wang likens this process to sick notes and says family doctors are busy enough that they don’t have to take on tasks that other health professionals are qualified to do.

“We physical therapists are almost the first aid for any musculoskeletal injury,” 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 yet been made regarding expanding physiotherapists’ scope of practice in diagnostic imaging.

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